Oct 31 2008
Birders along the Rio Sabinas, Tamaulipas, Mexico, November 2007
They all went to Mexico
Buenas dias, got to go
Tengo que obedecer
Mi corazon
–Greg Brown, “They All Went to Mexico”
See you all in a couple of days–don’t forget to vote!
Oct 29 2008
On the recent Panama press trip, all our days were full ones, but the one that stands out as the fullest was the one we spent along the canal’s east side in the Albrook/Gamboa/Pipeline Road area. It would have been tight to cover this much territory in four days–doing it in one was way, way [...]
Oct 27 2008
We had a terrifically successful sparrow trip yesterday, tallying 14 species of Emberizids (the family that includes New World sparrows, as well as things like towhees, longspurs, juncoes & some of the buntings).
photo by Jim White
We began at Indian River Inlet, where the marsh was very, very good to us. We enjoyed soul-satisfying studies of [...]
Oct 26 2008
I’m just getting ready to walk out the door to lead a sparrow trip for the Delmarva Ornithological Society. Wish us luck–it’s shaping up to be a good year!
In the meantime, if I haven’t already overloaded you with Panama posts, there are 3 other fine bird bloggers who are posting about the trip–you might want [...]
Oct 23 2008
El Valle de Anton is a posh, weekend retreat village that offers lovely foothill scenery and cool climate just two-hour’s drive west of often-sweltering Panama City. It’s filled with lush, meticulously-groomed gardens, like the one that surrounds the Park Eden Bed & Breakfast, where we spent a very pleasant day.
Above, tour organizer Yenia (l) joins guide Luis [...]
Oct 21 2008
At times I’m suspicious of the whole idea of humans rescuing wildlife. We cause so much harm to native plants and animals in nearly everything we do that aiding an individual animal in distress can seem like the exception that proves the rule; one step forward in the course of a headlong retreat.
Still I can’t [...]
Oct 20 2008
Greetings from Tocumen International Airport, just east of Panama City. I’m about to fly home from a great week of travel and birding. The last few days have been devoid of internet access, so I’ve got a little catching up to do here.
I mentioned in the last post that there was more to the Los [...]
Oct 17 2008
OK, Sharon, this one’s for you, in particular…
While the volcanic highlands that stretch across the Costa Rica-Panama border don’t have quite the bird diversity of some of the surrounding lowlands, they are especially rich in a couple of groups. Hummingbirds, while also well-represented elsewhere, are a major attraction here, especially at Los Quetzales Ecolodge & [...]
Oct 15 2008
Greetings from Panama!
I’m one day into a press tour of Panama, sponsored by the Panama La Verde Birding Circuits. It’s absolutely wonderful to be back here in one of my favorite countries.
Yesterday morning we were up early and flew from Panama City to Chiriqui, Panama’s western province. A beautiful but somewhat ominous cloud bank hung [...]
Oct 11 2008
Halloween is Liz’s favorite holiday, so she really gets into decorating the yard for it. But not with prefabricated junk–she strives for something far more authentic.
Friday, she started weaving a web. When complete, I won’t be able to walk through it, as I did when making that afternoon’s trip to the mailbox, where a wonderful [...]
