I was able to add an extra day at the end of the Wings tour, and organised an overnight at a place which is iconic for birdwatchers, indeed I had heard of the place years before I became a birder. The Canopy Tower is an old US military radar installation, on top of a hill, so the tower pierces the forest canopy, giving eye-level contact with canopy birds, as well as amazing views of the canal itself. From there I had a couple of outings, including to the Pipeline road. The header image is a Black-faced Antthrush, normally quite shy, this guy came right close to our feet as he was singing away.

Black-faced Antthrush

The largest of the new world Kingfishers.

If you look carefully, you can see the notches on the bill of the kite that give it its name.

In the afternoon, after some photography at the hummingbird feeders, the trip was to the Gamboa rainforest reserve.

The bill of this kite is just as frightening as the Hook-billed Kite

As you can see the immature Little Blue Heron isn’t blue, but snowy-white with as a bluish tinge to the beak and legs.