On the way back from Cerro Azul, we stopped in Panama City at Costa del Este to do a bit of shorebirding. Mostly, the birds there are the species we’re accustomed to from either the east or West Coast of the United States that have headed south for the winter. However we did spot one life bird here, #680 Cocoi Heron. This is similar to our Great Blue Heron (coincidentally also present.) This was one of my target birds for the tip (i.e. one I could remember from the field guide).
I also spotted three rare for Panama Black Skimmers. What’s rare-bird-alert worthy mostly depends on where you are when you see it. :-)
Magnificent Frigatebird
Neotropic Cormorant
Brown Pelican
Cocoi Heron
Great Egret
Osprey
Southern Lapwing
Black-bellied Plover
Semipalmated Plover
Black-necked Stilt
Spotted Sandpiper
Greater Yellowlegs
Willet
Whimbrel
Western Sandpiper
Black Tern
Common Tern
Black Skimmer
Then it was back to the Tower for dinner where, sadly, my Black Rapid Camera Strap disconnected while exiting the van, dropping the 7D onto the pavement and cracking the LCD and the case. That’s a real pisser. Camera still seems to function, but I’m hesitant to take it out into the field for fear of further damage. At least my binoculars and scope still work. I bright a spare pair of binoculars but sadly not a spare camera body. Damn.
Tomorrow it’s another 4:00 AM wakeup call, 5:00 AM departure.
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