Sunday 27 January 2013

La Quimba, Darien, Panama

It must be all of 20 years by now since my friend Hugo Wood-Homer related his 'birding' experiences in the Darien Gap, the 'buffer zone' between Colombia and Panama. A very much restricted area, riddled with armed members of the National Guard, as the center of 'cocaine smuggling' since the stuff was invented. The same continues today, so what an opportunity to visit one of the most restricted areas in Central America.
Your lucky to get this far without a number of car and body searches and passport checks.
 RED-BREASTED BLACKBIRD (male)
 
BLACK-BLUE GRASSQUIT
 
 BLUE-HEADED PARROT
 
CHESTNUT-HEADED OROPENDOLA
 Stopping in transit, I caught just a glimpse of a huge wing protruding from behind a tree.
 Good job it was followed up, a fine 'Lifer'
KING VULTURE
before continuing to the
CRIMSON-CRESTED WOODPECKER
 A brief view of this Lifer' a few days ago, but got to grips today!'
 We haven't managed to connect with a male
GOLD-COLLARED MANAKIN yet, this a female, but heard plenty.
 Another difficult bird, but a 'Lifer'
BLACK ANTSHRIKE
 BUTTERFLY
 Deep in the Jungle again
LONG-BILLED HERMIT
 
 Thought these (this) MOTH (s) were rather interesting as didn't know whether they were copulating or not. Some strange behavior from an insect only the size of a Thistle Ermine Moth
 
BLACK-CAPPED DONACOBIOUS
teased out of the reedbed!
 SMOOTH-BILLED ANI
 
 BUTTERFLY
 ORANGE-CROWNED ORIOLE
 In search of Black Oropendola but only found
CRESTED OROPENDOLA
 Better views of RED-BREASTED BLACKBIRD
 PIED WATER TYRANT
 PLAIN-BREASTED DOVE
 RUDDY-BREASTED SEEDEATER
 
 
 STRIPED CUCKOO
 
 BULLY BOY
 LESSER KISKADEE
 
 YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD
 WATTLED JACANA (juvenile)
 FAMILY GROUP
WATTLED JACANA
 Additions to the Panama List
KING VULTURE, WATTLED JACANA, ROCK PIGEON, YELLOW-CROWNED PARROT, STRIPPED CUCKOO, GREATER ANI, LONG-BILLED HERMIT, BLACK ANTSHRIKE, PIRATIC FLYCATCHER, BLACK-CAPPED DONACOBIUS, RUDDY-BREASTED SEEDEATER, GIANT COWBIRD, PIED WATER-TYRANT, YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD.