Finally spending some time at home thanks to some compensatory time off the hospital. Apart of staying at home, enjoying my family, I have to admit that I get impressed by the nature around our apartment building. This time, I noticed a blooming tree right at the social area due to some activity over its yellow flowers.
To be honest, it was the first time I noticed such a tree. After a while I realized that there were more similar trees in the area, but only the one at the social area was in bloom. After some research, I finally found the name of this tree: a Yellow Flame Tree (Peltophorum pterocarpum). Native of South-east Asia, this tree now is part of our urban landscape in Panama City. What impressed me more is the fact that, in spite of not being a native tree, its flowers attracted a huge number of critters, from bees and other bugs to hummingbirds, honeycreepers and other birds!
Just in few minutes I was able to photograph several different species of bees and related insects. I only have a superficial idea of what they may be, but there is no doubt that this tree was a rich source of nectar for them, due to the swarms of these flying insects around it.
The usual hummingbird species were around too, both Rufous-tailed and Sapphire-throated Hummingbird were zipping around, chasing each other. Then, I heard the characteristic metallic call of a species that I had never recorded at my house. A quick look and I was able to find not one, but two Snowy-bellied Hummingbirds feeding on the yellow flowers!
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| Snowy-bellied Hummingbird |
The Snowy-bellied Hummingbird was new for my apartment list, another addition due to the quarantine!
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