Reach is now in Shelter Bay marina, nestled in the jungle that has taken over the former Ft. Sherman Army base. We know it well having spent five months here refitting electronics after our lightning strike in 2011 and by now are accustomed to seeing all types of impressive weather in Panama.
We don't typically seek out marina time unless looking for a safe and secure place to store our home when we travel inland. However, I must admit that I'm excited to be back here since this isolated peninsula hosts an amazing array of birdlife.
Each afternoon I trek outside and am not disappointed. My new Panasonic FZ200 superzoom camera can capture some fairly distant photos with good light as long as my eyes-back-in-training can find those elusive avian friends... not to mention the butterflies, critters and monkeys hanging about.
I'd consider the view shown here close-range for most of my birding.
The subject is the same bird in the cover-photo above with the subject in mid-frame.
The fun part of the challenge is first to find the bird... and then to identify it!
After only four afternoon walks, I already have waaay too many cool subjects to identify and process their photos ~ so here are just a few ready to share.
The mangrove black hawk is a very large bird of prey that I first saw at Playa Diablo many years back.
They must thrive in the jungle by the sea between here and the Rio Chagres.
This mature hawk flew right in front of me to pose at the beginning of one walk.
Mangrove black hawk
A few hours later as I was heading back to the marina when this juvenile mangrove black hawk flew right up to me and also stopped to pose. After taking lots of photos, I finally realized that this little guy was making some noises and getting a bit nervous, maybe looking for mama....?!
Juvenile mangrove black hawk
Speaking of posers, the trogons are either prima-donnas or very curious of humans.
They seem to always fly and perch right up ahead in my walk to primp for the camera.
This beauty is a female black-tailed trogon that had an interesting, multi-colored underbelly.
Female black-tailed trogon
Others are more reluctant to pose, but can sometimes be tracked down due to their chatter.
Parrots and parakeets are especially noisy.
Green parrots travel in large flocks and are very hard to find in the foilage if it weren't for their incessant screeching, reminiscent of some kind of ritual sacrifice.
Just as noisy were these yellow orioles, buzzing at me from a safe distance.
Yellow orioles
Sometimes even a hummingbird will halt its flitting to pose for the camera.
Black inca hummingbird
Flycatchers and seedeaters are abundant and usually can be found doing what they are named for... eating bugs and seeds!
Common-tody flycatcher
Female variable seedeater:
Dusky-capped flycatcher