Jan 5 After breakfast at the Hampton Inn at the SJO Airport we took a short walk before taking the shuttle to the airport. We flew on Copa Airlines so was able to enjoy the small but nice lounge area. It as a bit crowded as it is a bit small but we found a table and enjoyed a few treats. Our 50 minute flight to Panama City was uneventful. After arriving at the airport Jose from Birding Panama picked us up along with Chris and Margaret M. from Canada to take us to the hotel. After checking in we walked the grounds then met the group at 6:00 for orientation and dinner.
Parrots roosting at the hotel
Arrival to Panama City - Tocumen PTY airport
After checking in we walked the grounds
sloth!!
met up with the group for dinner and orientation
Sunset from our room
You are met at the airport and driven to the hotel located at the Old Canal Zone. The place is in a nice area surrounded by nature and with easy access to the main bird spots of the Panama Canal Rainforest.
Night: Summit Rainforest & Golf Resort
This day your specialist leader will guide you through the famous Pipeline Road. We'll walk the forests of Pipeline looking for Golden-collared Manakin and Slaty-tailed Trogon. We’ll help you to find and identify some of the tiniest ones, such as the Southern Bentbill. In the afternoon we’ll explore several aquatic habitats around Gamboa, searching for Rufescent-Tiger-Heron and Yellow–tailed Oriole.
Night: Summit Rainforest & Golf Resort (B,L,D
Jan 7 Pick up again was at 7:00. Breakfast in the hotel. Brian did not join us as he was feeling quite ill......
Old Gamboa Road & Plantation Road
Explore another hot spot at the Canal Corridor, looking for Spectacled Owls and Blue-crowned Motmots. Scan the Summit Ponds for Amazon, Green, Ringed Kingfishers and nesting Boat-billed Herons. Bird walk under the evergreen forest of Plantation Road, there are possibilities to find army ant-swarms and many of the birds that follow these ants, such as Spotted Antbird, and Ocellated Antbird. Some other specialties of the Plantation Road include: Golden-crowned Spadebill, Olivaceous Flatbill, White-whiskered Puffbird and more. The rainforest of the Panama Canal are highly diverse, we go over the list every day!
Night:Summit Rainforest & Golf Resort (B,L,D)
Jan 8
Very cute hotel
Drive to El Valle
We’ll look for specialties like: the Panama endemic Yellow-green Tyrannulet (rare), Lance-tailed Manakin, Pheasant Cuckoo and Rosy Thrush-Tanager. After lunch in a local restaurant, we’ll be driven 2 hours west to El Valle.
Night:Casa Grimaldo - Valle de Anton (B,L,D)
Jan 9
EL Valle Foothills
This morning explore the Cerro Gaital and La Mesa area. This area is at higher elevation than the town itself; here look for wet forest species typical of the Western Foothills of Panama such as Tody Motmot, Spectacled Owl, Spot-crowned Barbet, Flame-rumped Tanager, Yellow-eared Toucanet and more.
Night: Casa Grimaldo - Valle de Anton (B,L,D)
Jan 10
Christmas decorations still up!
El Valle - Western Highlands
Morning Birding El Valle, a picturesque town, located in the crater of an extinct volcano. The town has year-round spring weather thanks to its 700 meter altitude. Some other birds that could be found are; Silvery-throated Tanager, Orange Bellied Trogon and Blue-throated Toucanet. Afternoon transfer to Volcan (Western Chiriqui Highlands), where we will stay 3 nights to find Highland Birds and many endemics.
Night: Hotel Dos Rios - Chiriqui Highlands (B,L,D)
Chiriqui Highlands
Jan 11. Good hiking today. our hotel had a garden out front that all the locals like to visit.
yes I am now officially part of the Flintstone family!
Volcan Baru National Park & Los Quetzales Trail
Find Resplendent Quetzals with the help of your specialist guide. The bird could be found eating the wild avocados and everyone will like to have the perfect photo. The Quetzal was the most sacred symbol of the Aztecs and Mayas. The name quetzal is an ancient Indian term for tail feather and the bird itself represents liberty. We should look also for Long-tailed Silky-Flycatcher, Barred Becard, Black-faced Solitaire, Chestnut-capped Brush-Finch, Black-capped Flycatcher, Buffy Tuftedcheek, Ruddy Treerunner Blue-throated (Emerald) Toucanet and more. Continue birding around the area of Cerro Punta looking for more highland birds and endemics.
Night: Raddison - Chiriqui Highlands (B,L,D)
Jan 12
Eric stayed behind as he was feeling poorly...
La Amistad International Park
Visit to La Amistad International Park. This Park also known as PILA, is a World Heritage site and part of the Talamanca Mountain Range, a volcanic origin formation that congregates the highest concentration of endemic and threatened species in Panama, such as Silvery-fronted Tapaculo, Yellow-thighed Finch, Collared Redstart, Flame-throated Warbler, Prong-billed Barbet and Wrenthrush (Zeledonia). Afternoon visit to Birding Paraside, a private reserve with a trail, that winds through hillside forest, passing several streams, providing an opportunity to see some of the lower highland bird species. Enjoy several sets of hummingbird feeders around the reserve where you can watch the Scintillant Hummingbird, Green-crowned Brilliant, Green-fronted Lancebill, Long-billed Starthroat, Green Violet-ear, Snowy-bellied Hummingbird, Stripe-tailed Hummingbird and more.
Night: Raddison - Chiriqui Highlands (B,L,D)
Jan 13
Volcan Lakes & Flight back to Panama City
The lakes near Volcán are very good to find species not found on the higher slopes of Cerro Punta. Some species include: Masked Duck and Northern Jacanas. Interesting birds of woodland areas such as Golden-winged Warbler, Olivaceous Piculet, Spotted Wood-Quail, Pale-breasted Spinetail and Collared Trogon could be found. After lunch, the small group we’ll go back to David to take the afternoon flight to Panama City.
Night: Summit Rainforest & Golf Resort (B,L,D)
Darien - Lowlands
Jan 14
Our hotel was very comfortable
Darien Lowlands
Transfer to the Tocumen airport or continue with the Darien extension. Depart in mini-bus from Panama City along the Pan-American, stop for morning birding at the Bayano Lowlands, search for Darien specialties such as Rufous-winged Antwren, Black Antshrike, Orange Crowned Oriole, White-eared Conebill and Green-and-Rufous Kingfisher; scan the edge of the Bayano Lake searching for Pied Water-Tyrant and Cocoi Heron, after lunch we’ll continue in route to Torti, afternoon birding in the Torti River, to look for Pacific Antwren and Royal Flycatcher.
Night: Portal Avicar (Torti) (B,L,D)
Jan 15
Torti River
Only 10 minutes from our hotel, the area holds many Eastern Panama and Darien specialties. We will be looking for Black-and White Hawk-Eagle, Bare-Crowned Antbird, Barred Puffbird, Spot-breasted Woodpecker, Great Jacamar and more. After lunch we will be driver more deep in to the Darien to keep birding and spend one night in Meteti.
Night: Hotel (Meteti) (B,L,D)
Jan 16
Most of our group road horses to the Eagle nest but we decided to walk it. It was not an easy walk as it was muddy and a cow path! Manualito was our guide to walk us to the nest. He was also the boat operator! He was a very good birder too! took us about 1.5 hours to get to the nest, almost falling a few times.
after getting back to the hotel, I bought a brush to clean our boots that were covered in mud....
Darien Lowlands - Harpy Eagle
If the status of a Harpy Eagle Nest is active, we will take half to one hour boat ride deeper into the Darien to admire this majestic bird. Morning birding, looking for more Darien specialties such as Golden-headed Manakin, Rufous-winged Antwren, Great Antshrike, Olive-backed Quail-Dove and more.
Night: Meteti (B,L,D)
Jan 17
Darien Lowlands
We'll explore several spots around the village in search of some Darién specialties, such as Black Oropendolas, Bicolored Wren, Gray-cheeked Nunlet, Red-rumped Woodpecker and more. Other typical birds of the zone are Red-throated Caracaras and Laughing Falcons. This Darien area is perfect for those looking to find species from South American origins not found in the rest of Central America. We will plan the transfers out accordingly, depending on departure flights.
Night:Summit Rainforest Panama (B,L)
Jan 18
Departure to Tocumen Airport PTY - International Flight
Transfer to Tocumen Airport (PTY) for international flight. (B)
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