Burbayard Nusagandi guided birding tours

Knowledgeable skill bilingual birding guides to show endemic and mix of Central-South-America Panama birds visiting rainforest and freshwater birdingboat. Photo by Barbara Sounders.

STAFF... soon!

COMMETS... soon!

THE PANAMA BIRDING EXPERIENCE

Burbayard and Nusugandi

LOCATION
Located on a

PARK FEE
Entrance park fee for foreigners is us $5.00 per person. Local us $2.00

TOUR DIFFICULTY

■ Easy... to ■ Moderate... to ■ Hard

FITNESS
Easy to moderate walking is require.
■ Easy... to ■ Moderate... to ■ Hard

WHAT TO EXPECT
Expect to find species typical of both the drier Pacific and the wetter Atlantic sides. With an early morning start, expect to see by noon 50 to 65 species. By the end of the day a final count of 75+ is common.

AREA DESCRIPTION

WEATHER
The climate in Central Panama /Canal Zone is usually warm, with mornings in the 70s and afternoons in the 80s. Conditions at midday can be humid and very warm, with temperatures reaching into the lower 90s. Rainstorms may occur at any time of year, but are more likely during the rainy season, which runs from the summer months into early December. Generally, the weather in Central Panama is mild and pleasant, with our activities corresponding to the cooler parts of the day and heightened bird activity.

ACCOMMODATIONS
Easily done as a day trip from Panama City. Go Back

EATING FACILITIES
There is no restaurant. If planning a complete day in the area bring lunch.

CLOTHING
Light clothing is recommended: cotton shirts or t-shirts - earth colors preferable- long (preferable) and short pants, poncho, hiking shoes, hat, insect repellent and sun block. Dress as for tropical hot humid weather and be ready for rain.

GEAR
Binoculars, scope (optional), field guide, notebook and camera (optional ).

GUIDE BOOK RECOMMENDED
These two books are an example of hard work put into, and for the benefit, of conserving Panama’s birds:
“The Birds of Panama, a field guide by George R Angehr and Robert Dean Can be described as the “bible” for Panama and some Costa Rica birds. First published 2010 .This excellent field guide is highly recommended as your primary reference book on the birds.
“An Illustrated Field Guide to the Birds of Panama” by Ernesto Ponce and Giselle Muschett, 2006, 1st Edition. It can be described as “a descriptive fieldwork tool” for fast information .

BIRDS TO LOOK FOR
This is a listing of some birds (by memory) we have seen along the Pipeline Road and surrounding areas on different tours, and some additions from friends, guess and people who have collaborated sharing with us their sightings. The list is continuously on the move. Feel free to send your findings and comments toinfo@birdingbyboattour.com

...more soon!

Our first morning was spent in the Bayano Valley, which represents the westernmost
outpost for many species more typical of the Darien and of points farther east and south
in South America. Although our time here was limited, it was extremely productive. The
biggest prize was the Black Antshrike, which has a tiny distribution that is limited to
eastern Panama and western Colombia. We enjoyed prolonged studies of a pair of these
seldom-seen birds. Other Bayano area prizes included Cocoi Heron, Pied Water-Tyrant,
and Rufous-winged Antwren—all species whose Central American distribution is
essentially limited to eastern Panama. We also enjoyed some exceptional studies of
Geoffroy’s tamarins, an exquisite little primate. After birding Bayano for a few hours, we
made the short drive to Burbayar Lodge, which straddles the boundary between eastern
Panama Province and the Kuna Indian Comarca of San Blas. As always, we found the
temperatures in this foothill area most pleasant, the biting insects essentially non-existent,
and the hospitality of the lodge staff exceptional.

Foremost among the target birds would have to be the two signature birds of Burbayar
and the entire Nusagandi region—the Spiny-faced (Speckled) Antshrike and the Broadbilled
Sapayoa. Both of these species had been missed by various guided and unguided
groups at Burbayar in the couple of weeks prior to our arrival, so we knew that our work
was cut out for us. Fortunately, we located a male Spiny-faced Antshrike on our first
morning at the lodge, and enjoyed repeated close views that were duplicated on two other
days. This enigmatic species is the sole representative of a monotypic genus (Xenornis),
(VENT 2007 Nusagandi, Panama Birdlist) 2
and has an extremely localized distribution in eastern Panama and Colombia. It went a
few decades without being seen by anyone until it was rediscovered in the mid 1980s. It
remains one of the least known of all antbirds. The Broad-billed Sapayoa has a slightly
more expansive range (reaching to Ecuador), but is no less of a mystery.

Other highlights would have to include the magnificent pair of Plumbeous Hawks that
taped in; the spectacular Black-crowned Antpitta that, with some coaxing, actually
hopped right onto the trail; the endearing Streak-chested Antpitta that allowed even
better, more prolonged views; the incredibly cooperative pair of Dull-mantled Antbirds
that paraded around at our feet; the rare Green Manakin so intent on mobbing a brown
vine snake (with an assist from a Bronze-tailed Plumeleteer) that it ignored our presence
just a few feet away; the various tanager flocks with such prizes as Sulphur-rumped,
Rufous-winged, Black-and-yellow, and Tawny-crested tanagers, and Scarlet-thighed
Dacnis; the well-behaved Stripe-throated Wren and Spot-crowned Antvireo; the five
King Vultures in one day; and the Red-throated Caracara that Jose had in the scope as we
rolled into the Burbayar driveway on that first morning.

or ' call +(507) 6728-3501 and personally
answer your questions on the birds of Panama
info@birdingbyboattour.com