We left Texas first thing this morning to fly to Panama.where we were met at the airport by Kilo of Advantage Tours Panama. We stopped briefly in the outskirts of the city at a fast-food joint to grab a late lunch, and immediately picked up a new bird for the list, and a lifer to boot: Orange-chinned Parakeet. Then back in the car for a short drive to an area of mangrove swamp squeezed between the edge of the dock development and a residential area. Not the most promising of areas at first glance, but no sooner were we out birding than we began to add new birds. First up, Scarlet-backed Tanager, a locally common bird but still a stunner nonetheless. As we approached the mangrove Yellow-crowned Night Heron and White Ibis were immediately seen, quickly followed by Northern Waterthrush and Yellow Warbler. Next came bird of the day as a Straight-billed Woodcreeper swept in and landed right in front of us. Turning our attention to the wooded gardens behind us we quickly picked up Snowy-bellied Hummingbird. We were then whisked off to the airport for a short internal flight northwest to David, just an hour away. A small airport we were through the formalities within minutes and birding again still within sight of the runway: a small park with a pond and adjacent forest. This area was alive with birds including Scaly-breasted and Sapphire-throated Hummingbirds, Garden Emerald, Striped Cuckoo, Common Nighthawk, Ruddy-breasted Seedeater. As dusk fell, we headed off for the Highlands and our hotel, dos Rios at Volcan. A big thank-you to Kilo for such a fantastic introduction to birding in Panama - can`t wait for our first full day tomorrow!Bird Species total: 1973Posted 9.30pm, 17th April, Volcan, Panama