We are under an extreme cold warning from Environment Canada. Wind chill has been in the minus 20s for most of the week. There are frost feathers on our windows again.
Before the serious cold set in, Susan was on a walk when she witnessed high drama in the trees along the river. A Bald Eagle flew in and landed in a tree overlooking the water. From it’s perch in a nearby tree, a Red-tailed Hawk shrieked as it dove toward the eagle, forcing it to fly off. The eagle circled the area several times with the hawk in pursuit before it departed down the river. There was a second Red-tailed Hawk flying over the river at the same time. That leads us to think that a pair might be nesting in the area.
Canopy Lodge 2019
Given the cold weather, we’ve decided to continue reviewing our visit to Panama in 2019. On February 9, we were taken from Panama City on the two-hour drive to Canopy Lodge in the mountain valley El Valle de Antón in Coclé Province.
The lodge is in a comfortable setting amidst the tropical forest. A main attraction of the lodge is the fruit feeder that draws in a variety of bird species and sometimes small mammals. In cooperation with the Cornell Lab, the lodge hosts a feeder cam that is available for viewing at https://www.allaboutbirds.org/cams/panama-fruit-feeders/
From the comfort of the lodge’s patio, we had our first exposure to many of the local birds: Gray-headed Chachalacas, Chestnut-headed Oropendola, Dusky-faced Tanager, Clay-coloured Thrush.
The grounds and nearby trees also provided happy bird sightings.
Thick-billed Euphonia, Barred Antshrike, Rufous Motmot
Each day, our guides took us to different locations. Their exceptional skill ensured that we saw so much more that we would have if left to our own devices. In addition, we were in the company of a small group of congenial, knowledgeable birders.
February 10, on a nearby plateau in the mountains, our guides spotted sloths and located hard-to-find birds such as the Sunbittern and Spectacled Owl. They were adept at digiscoping to provide photos of the owl on everyone’s cellphone. Also shown: Smooth-billed Anis and Tawny-crested Tanagers.
February 11 was an all-day excursion. We were headed for the Pacific Ocean for lunch with several stops along the way. Our morning stops yielded a variety of birds on the ground and in the trees.
Crested Oropendolas, Southern Lapwing, Tropical Mockingbird, Wood Stork, Green Kingfisher, Rufous-browed Peppershrike, emerald hummingbird, Squirrel Cuckoo.
As we drove toward the coast, our driver spotted smoke in the distance and abruptly sped up. As he suspected, there was a grass fire that he knew would attract raptors hunting the small rodents fleeing from the fire.
Swainson’s Hawk
Savanna Hawk
At the ocean, Magnificent Frigatebirds flocked and chased.
There were a few birds in nearby trees, Blue-grey Tanagers, Straight-billed Woodcreeper, and one familiar migrant, a Summer Tanager.
On our way back to the lodge, our guide stopped for us view a special bird, one of the best of the day, a Ferruginous Pygmy Owl.
We will likely continue our tour of Panama in coming posts.
Sunset Colour Evolving
Garth Hudson of The Band
Garth died this week. He was the last surviving member of The Band, one of my favourite bands. I bought almost all of their albums. The movie of their farewell concert, The Last Waltz, featured several top performers and a lot of great music.
From the movie: Up on Cripple Creek.
With Ronnie Hawkins: Who Do You Love? “Big time, Bill” refers to Bill Graham who provided the venue. “Take it easy Garth. Don’t you give me no lip” was addressed to Garth, the quietest member of The Band.
Garth is often hidden in the back, but has a solo in The Shape I’m In.
On The Band’s self-titled album, the recording sessions involved multiple takes within no overlays. While working on a song, they would fiddle with the choice of singers on each verse. King Harvest being recorded here.
Joan Baez frequently sang The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down. Here is The Band’s version.
