My "Lanceolín del Monte" experience... at last!!!

Of all my birding anecdotes, the tale of the Lanceolín del Monte is my favorite one.  And now, thanks to my friend Christian Gernez of Isthmian Adventures, I can told you about it with a happy ending!  You may be wondering what is a Lanceolín del Monte?  Well, it is a VERY rare bird in Panama (and everywhere along its wide distribution), member of the Puffbirds and Nunbirds family: the Lanceolated Monklet.  Is so rare that it used to be known for the country by a single specimen collected back in 1926.  Then, it was "rediscovered" in the 90s at the humid foothills of Bocas del Toro province (now Comarca Ngöbe-Bugle) in western Panamá by an intrepid group of birders including, among others, George Angehr, Loyda Sánchez and the late Wilberto Martínez (who eventually bought the exact place and turned into an eco-lodge, the area is now known as "Willy Mazú").

Foothill of the Ngöbe-Bugle comarca (as seen from the Continental Divide)

For many years, that was the only reliable site for finding that species in Panama and the only site with recent records (except for an isolated and unique report from Cana, in eastern Darien province). Many years after the closure of the eco-lodge, I went with Gloriela looking for the monklet.  The humble keeper of the land and his wife immediately recognized us as birders and invited us to enter the property. Even before I explain them what we were looking for, he told me (in Spanish): "I bet you are looking for the Lanceolín del Monte".  It took me a second to know that he was talking about the Lanceolated Monklet.  I guess that was the closest Spanish name he could elucidate after hearing dozens of birders looking for the enigmatic Lanceolated Monklet! We did not see it that time, but the name was engraved deep in my memory.

Years later, in year 2000, during a Panama Audubon Society's field trip to the foothills above the town of Santa Fe (Veraguas province, central Panama), a Lanceolated Monklet was discovered along the route to the Continental Divide.  It was found by the Mulabá river for the delightedness of all the trip participants (notice the Xenornis report above).  Since then, the road improved a lot, and the Lanceolated Monklet have been reported with certain regularity.  My friend Christian (and others) saw it several times in the very exact place and in new sites but, somehow, that bird eluded me so far.  Some months ago, Christian took me along the road visiting nice birding spots and recording good species, specially mixed flocks including Emerald, Dusky-faced, White-shouldered, Tawny-crested, Black-and-Yellow Tanagers and Yellow-throated Chlorospingus.

Yellow-throated Chlorospingus

Black-and-Yellow Tanager

Tawny-crested Tanager

However, by the time we reached the monklet spot, it was quite late and hot, and I was running out of time so I decided that I would leave it for another occasion.  And that occasion came few months after that.  In my search of new year birds for my Big Year quest, I visited several sites along the central provinces of the country.  Again, I contacted Christian who was willing to show me the exact place were he usually sees the monklet.  This time the monklet was not the only target, since I was also looking for some other goodies at those elevations above Santa Fe.  I got to the site before the first light, the area between the two first bridges over the Mulaba river.  The dawn chorus started with loud Bay Wrens and Buff-rumped Warblers, while the first Tawny-crested Tanagers started to show up along the tangled banks of the river.  As soon as Christian arrived, he took me to the "usual" spot.  He looked confident and relaxed... and just told me to be alert for movement since he was about to play a recorded call just once, in order to not disturb the bird, and wait for it.  After few moments, a little silhouette approached to a nearby tree and stayed still.  Streaked underparts, white-spotted undertail, white front and lores... a LANCEOLÍN DEL MONTE!!!

Lanceolated Monklet a.k.a Lanceolín del Monte

After all these years I finally was in front of one of the most enigmatic birds of the Neotropics!  I can't describe the feeling... but I'm sure that, if you are a birder, you have felt that same sensation... when finally a nemesis bites the dust!  The monklet quietly stayed for a while at the same perch, occasionally doing sally flights to the foliage probably catching some insects.  Reluctantly decided to left it in peace to continue our targets quest... but I was so happy that was sure that the day would not get any better.

Crimson-collared Tanager

Well, as you can see, I was wrong.  My second target for the morning, the awesome Crimson-collared Tanager, took us only 10 more minutes to show up, thanks to Christian experience birding his "area". Considering the great success looking for great bird species in the foothills of Santa Fe, I decided to move to another area (200 km apart) looking for more specialties and then, drive back to Panama City, some 300 km away.  All the way, the image of that Lanceolín del Monte draw me a smile.  What a great lifer and addition to my Big Year.  Thanks Christian for show me it!

Christian and Jan Axel