2018 Panama Journal - Day 10 - Part 2

Monday 2/19/18 continued.

After lunch we heard that Eli would be going on a walk at 3:00 p.m.  We decided to go along. 

I saw a Jaguarundi running down the trail towards the compost pile.  One of the other ladies in the group saw it but no one else did.

As we headed out we passed by the roost of a Tropical Screech-Owl. Like most owls they do a great job of hiding during the day, so getting pictures is tough.

Tropical Screech-Owl

The Canopy Family owns Canopy Adventure which is a zip line through the jungle.  It’s not too far down the road from the Lodge and we started walking in that direction.  We heard a single whistle from the creekbed next to the road and Eli immediately stopped. He started looking down into the creek and excitedly told us that the call was from a Sunbittern.

Sunbittern

Sunbitterns are the single species in this neotropical family of birds. They somewhat resemble herons but are more closely related to rails. We've had poor looks at a couple on past trips to Central America, but we saw this one very well and for several minutes. 

Sunbittern

When we arrived at Canopy Adventure there were two trails.  One that led up to the zip line and one that led up the mountain.  We took the mountain trail.

Eli going first over the hanging bridge.

We didn’t know it but the end of the trail led to this pair of Mottled Owls on a perch:

Mottled Owl pair

Like the Tropical Screech-Owl back at the Lodge, these owls did a great job of choosing a day roost that kept them well hidden!

As we walked the trails we spotted two different species of Motmot. Motmots have interesting racquet-tipped tails that they flick from side-to-side like a pendulum. 

Rufous Motmot

Broad-billed Motmot

Broad-billed Motmot

After we came back down the mountain the 2 other people with us left our group and we continued on with Eli.  Eli wanted to walk up the road to another trail to see if there was still fruit on the trees.  We saw lots of birds, including an Emerald Toucanet. As you might guess from the name a Toucanet is a small Toucan. 

Emerald Toucanet

We also saw a different Euphonia species than the common Thick-billed Euphonias we see at the feeding table. This Tawny-capped Euphonia was sharing the fig tree with the Toucanet.

Tawny-capped Euphonia

I addition to the birds we enjoyed seeing some Geoffroy's Tamarins (a small species of monkey) alongside the road.

Geoffroy's Tamarin

Birds seen this afternoon:

Dusky-faced Tanager, Orange-billed Sparrow, Bay Wren, Red-crowned Ant-Tanager, Gray-headed Chachalaca, Bananaquit (H), Rosey Thrush-Tanager, Buff-rumped Warbler, Broadwinged Hawk, Chestnut-headed Oropendola, Crimson-backed Tanager, Tropical Screech Owl, Flame-rumped Tanager, Golden-hooded Tanager, Bay-headed Tanager, Thick-billed Euphonia, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Summer Tanager, Keel-billed Toucan, Sunbittern, Broad-billed Motmot, Blue-headed Parrot, White-vented Plumeleteer, Rufous Motmot, Cocoa Woodcreeper, Mottled Owl, Snowy-bellied Hummingbird, Varible Seedeater, Yellow Warbler.  Agoti, Zebra Heliconia Butterfly, Toas Swallowtail Butterfly, Two-toed Sloth, Green Iguana, Tamarin Monkey, Jaquarundi.

Next time:  Our last full day in Panama.