2018 Panama Journal - Day 11

Tuesday 2/20/18

It cooled off again (as it should be in the mountains!) and we had a much more comfortable night. Breakfast was at 6:30.  We were going out with Danilo this morning.

It was very foggy and misty as we headed out.  Both guides were with us and the van was full.  When we got to Las Minas everyone got out.  Eli and several other people started walking to an area that Mark and I birded yesterday.  We followed Danilo and a few other folks up Las Minas.

We followed the ridge line and had foggy views of forested mountains and grasslands.

Visibility was limited but Danilo pointed in the direction of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.  On a clear day both oceans can be seen.

Atlantic ocean this direction.

Pacific Ocean this way.

We don’t only look at birds!

Some type of beetle.

 Unknown flower.

Orange orchid.

These are red bananas.  Danilo told us they were not good to eat but the animals liked them.

 Beautiful flowering red banana plant.

 Red bananas are very small.

Ripe and opened up.  The animals love them!

There were plenty of birds to see too! One of the specialty birds in this area is the Orange-bellied Trogan. We saw both a male and a female as we walked up the road.

Orange-bellied Trogan male

Orange-bellied Trogan female

This female Red-crowned Woodpecker posed for a photo.

Red-crowned Woodpecker

Another specialty bird in this area is the Wedge-billed Grass-Finch. This sparrow-like bird occupies high grasslands and is difficult to locate. Danilo knows the call and said that is the only way to find them. We walked quite a ways before he stopped and started scanning the grasslands. Sure enough, he found us our life Wedge-billed Grass-Finch.

Wedge-tailed Grass-Finch

Wedge-tailed Grass-Finch singing

We made our way back down the road, and saw several Yellow-faced Grassquits along the fenceline.

Yellow-faced Grassquit male

Yellow-faced Grassquit female

We met back with the other group and had a light snack before heading back to the Lodge for lunch.

After lunch Mark went to the kitchen and got a couple of bananas to take back to the feeder outside our room.  We spent the rest of the afternoon sitting out on our balcony watching birds and relaxing.

Blue-gray Tanager

Crimson-backed Tanager

Thick-billed Euphonia

Birds today:  Orange-billed Sparrow, Louisiana Waterthrush, Lessons Motmot, Keel-billed Toucan, Great-tailed Grackle, Golden-collard Manakin, Northern Emerald Toucanet), Silver-throated Tanager, Tropical Kingbird, Bay-headed Tanager, Cattle Egret, Clay-colored Thrush, Palm Tanager, Giant Cowbird, Scarlet-thighed Dacnis, Golden-hooded Tanager, Buff-throated Saltator, Chestnut-headed Oropendola, Tawny-crested Tanager, Paltry Tyrannulet (H), Striped-throated Hermit, Orange-bellied Trogon - male and female, Black-faced Antthrush, White-breasted Woodwren (H), Red-crowned Ant-Tanager (H), Tawny-faced Gnatwren, Scale-crested Pygmy-Tyrant, Tawny-capped Euphonia, Rufous-capped Warbler, Long-billed Gnatwren (H), Bronze-tailed Plumeleteer, Hepatic Tanager (H), Turkey Vulture, Broad-winged, Wedge-tailed Grassfinch, Blue-headed Parrot, Bananaquit, Common Chlorospingus (H), Tawny-crested Tanager, Black Hawk-Eagle (H), Silver-throated Tanager, Bronze-tailed Plumeleteer, Violet -crowned Woodnymph, Rufous-capped Warbler, Eastern Meadowlark, Isthmian, Gray-breasted Martin, Plain Ant-vireo, Spotted Woodcreeper, Checkered-throated Antwren, Scaley-crested Pygmy-Tyrant, Yellow-faced Grassquit, Southern Rough-winged Swallow, Cocoa Woodcreeper, Blue-and-White Swallow, Shiny Cowbird, White-tipped Dove, Flame-rumped Tanager.

   

Next time:  Going home and some additional pictures.