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.