Starlings...

Starlings are a great group of birds. Generally either loved (for their cheeky character, quirky manners and colourful plumage  or ignored (pests, noisy, too common), I'm certainly in the former group. An adult European Starling in breeding plumage is one of our most attractive birds IMO.

In recent days we've seen an influx of scarce Rosy Starlings from Eastern Europe and Asia, they've been popping up in flocks of regular starlings up and down the country. Yesterday a pair were found in Seaton, Devon about 12 miles away from here. When I heard the news I turned and looked out of the window to see a small group of half-a-dozen starlings foraging in the field behind our house. My heart jumped as a pale bird moved randomly among them - bloody hell! Could it be a Rosy Starling here too?  I frantically ran for my camera and bins and after a few tense seconds realised that it was in fact a leucistic European Starling! An individual that was completely snow white (but with a dark iris, so not albino). My short-lived disappointment (at it not being a Rosy) was soon replaced with awe as this stunning little bird weaved in and out of the tussocks and crept ever closer. Later in the day it appeared on the wires outside the house and I was able to get decent images of it.

Fast forward to Sunday (today). After hearing the news that the Rosy Starlings were 'showing well' at Seaton again this morning, I had to go and see them. They are stunning birds and being so close to home, it would have been amiss not to pay a visit. Nigel couldn't resist going for this one either and joined me there.

On arrival a few birders were wandering around, scanning the rooftops and it was apparent the birds were not showing. An older couple told me they had been there 45 minutes and not seen it. As I said 'that's a shame' I glanced up at a chimney pot and said, there it is! 

Rosy Starling...punk hair!

Rosy Starling, male singing its heart out!

This could grace my chimney any day.

The female never materialised but the male made up for it in showiness, what a fantastic bird and my best views for sure.

 

 A stroll along the under cliff afterwards produced in excess of 20 spikes of Bee Orchid, the perfect way to round-off a great morning.

Bee Orchid - a personal favourite.

Fingers crossed that lockdown will cease (or at least be relaxed) soon so that we can travel further and get more active.

Panama - return to Canopy Tower...

We were getting towards the end of our filming trip in Panama and returned once more to the Canopy Tower for a few more days before heading into Panama City itself. There were still some great birds to be seen, my favourite being this shy Crimson-crested Woodpecker.

Crimson-crested Woodpecker

A large, rather stunning woodpecker

Crimson-crested Woodpecker

They are very weary birds and this one never came very close. They are found from Panama south to Paraguay - sadly their numbers are declining.

Blue Cotinga - a magnificent bird!

Blue Cotinga

Blue Dachnis, female

Purple-crowned Fairy.
They have a very distinctive bill, even from a distance.

Plain-colored Tanager

Palm Tanager

Palm Tanager

Tennessee Warbler

The moth light was worth staying up for too. The sheer number and variety of species was simply staggering. Some species looked similar to families found here in the UK while others are like nothing I've ever seen before. This is just a small selection of the  species on the sheet...a nice way to end our stay here.

Panama...Canopy Lodge

The Canopy Lodge is a high-end eco-lodge situated a few hours west of the Canopy Tower. Our aim here was to film some of the localised amphibians, reptiles and birds that are found in this old volcanic region. The Lodge sits in beautiful gardens and is home to a great selection of birds.

Crimson-backed Tanager, male

Crimson-backed Tanager, female

Fulvous-vented Euphonia

Grey-capped Flycatcher

Green Honeycreeper, male

Rufous-capped Warbler after a quick bath

Rufous-and-white Wren

Summer Tanager

Summer Tanager

Summer Tanager...they were very common

Chestnut-sided Warbler

Dusky-faced Tanager

Dusky-faced Tanager

That night we filmed in the grounds of the lodge with local herpetologist Mario Urriola. We found some great creatures around their pond, which was just ringing out with the sounds of frogs.

A tiny freshwater crab.

Mario, Nigel and a rather nice Central American Tree boa

Snub-nosed or Panamanian Cross-banded Tree Frog
Smilisca sila, female

Red-webbed Tree Frog, Hypsiboas rufitelus

Neither of these species are particularly uncommon but the next day went to meet a very special frog. Now considered extinct in the wild, we get to meet the critically endangered Panamanian Golden Frog (Atelopus zeteki) at a centre set up to study and save them.

These amazing frogs (actually classified as 'true toads') were once common along Panama's rivers and streams but were decimated by Chytrid Fungus and presumed extinct in the wild since 2007.  Like many tropical frogs and toads they are capable of secreting a water soluble neurotoxin as a defense against predators. Edgardo Griffith and his partner have devoted their working life to studying and captive breeding the species in the hope that they can one day release a chytrid resistant gene pool of the frogs back into the wild.

An extremely rare Golden Frog Atelopus zeteki

Panamanian Golden Frog

The next day we headed back to the Canopy Tower.