Green Season Trip Report

I'm sending you a few recollections of my recent July 'Green Season' visit to the Canopy Tower. The dawn chorus, starting often with a softly calling Mottled Owl, then various Rufous Motmots, wrens, toucans and commuting parrots, was delightful. Evenings on the observation deck featured many of the same characters, plus refreshing breezes, as well as, swifts and soaring raptors (which one evening featured both light and dark phased Short-tailed Hawks). At just about any time, a walk down Semaphore Hill yielded good birds (puffbirds, woodpeckers, woodcreepers and antshrikes), amazing butterflies, army ants (and antbirds) and usually White-faced Capuchins or Geoffery's Tamarins.

Outings with guide, José, were always productive as he not only knew all the birds, but, more importantly, their vocalizations. José was generous in sharing his knowledge of the latter, and, was able to answer most questions about the various life forms we encountered. While not particularly interested in totals, I did encounter a good number of species (170+) for the season. Of more interest were some of the outing highlights. In one thicket near the Pipeline Road we watched a pair of Rosy Thrush-Tanagers build a nest while being serenaded by a Black-faced Antthrush, a pair of Black-bellied Wrens and several Song Wrens. A Pipeline Road Streak-chested Antpitta crossed the road in front of us and later, after a brief shower, we had a great look at an American Pygmy Kingfisher, a Northern Tamandua, several extravagant Helicopter Damselflies, eye-level Roseate Skimmers and a bewildering array of mimicry-complex butterflies. Spectacular Morpho butterflies were common on the Pipeline Road.

The Old Gamboa Road offered close-up looks at wailing juvenile Collared Forest-Falcons, a female Jet Antbird feeding a baby, and, after a flock of Greater Anis flew past, a quick look at a Capped Heron.

Throughout my visit, bugs were not a factor and, while there were showers, even these could yield benefits. As one downpour lessened, I ventured down Semaphore Hill to find an apparently irritated Black Hawk-Eagle perched nearby on a snag. Shortly after another shower near the Pipeline Road, we encountered the week's best mixed-passerine flock.

I was impressed with the efficient and courteous manner of all Tower personnel. When a couple of minor problems arose, staff quickly solved them rather than explain why they couldn't.

I feel I have only scratched the surface at the Canopy Tower and area and can hardly wait to return.