Bidwatching El Valle Guided birding Panama 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

EL VALLE BIRDWATCHING

This is a guided birding tour to foothills and rainforest birds in El Valle and surroundings..
To the west of Panama City we find a mountain range cloud forest elevating from 800 m (2500 ft) to 1,007m (3000 ft) from sea level, home to many highlands and foothills species and other more widespread species are here as well. Expect to see an avifauna different from the ones found in the lowlands of the Canal area. Be prepared for chilled nights and mornings. To complete the day, another place worth visiting on the way is Cerro Campana or Punta Chame.
There are always so many birds around El Valle that each outing is sure to produce many El Valle birds in La Mesa, Cerro Gaital and Altos del Maria.

LOCATION
Two hours+ drive from Panama City will take you to El Valle. We recommend to overnight.

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

TOUR DIFFICULTY

Easy... to ■ Moderate high... to ■ Hard

FITNESS
Easy to moderate walking is requireed.
■ Easy... to ■ Moderate high... to ■ Hard

WHAT TO EXPECT
With an early morning start, expect to see by noon 60 to 80 species. By the end of the day a final count of 90+ is common.

AREA DESCRIPTION
You will be birding cooler highlands at about 900m (2700 ft) from sea level.
Transported by car to the birding areas, stopping when needed . Birding in the best areas like Cerro Gaital, Altos del Maria, La Mesa -to mention a few - is done by walking through hilly terrains and trails narrow in places, muddy in others and along roads with grassland on both sides looking for species related to that habitat and for raptors as well.. Be prepared for scattered showers along the day.

WEATHER
The climate in the El Valle region is considerably cooler than that of the Central Panama/Canal Zone. Mornings and evenings are cooler while midday temperatures usually do not exceed the low 80s. Clouds and overcast skies frequently prevail in higher areas, leading to damp conditions.

ACCOMODATIONS
You will find many comfortable and elegant B&B´s and Hotels to choose from. For reservations or for reference contact

.

EATING FACILITIES
Many good local restaurants in the area offering Panamanian and international ditches.

CLOTHING
Besides the light clothing usually recommended, be prepared for chilled nights and mornings at least one warm sweater or jacket plus the 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 any time.

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 describe as the “bible” forPanama 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 the birds we have seen on different tours along El Valle and surrounding areas , 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

BIRDING ALL DAY (5:00am till 4:00pm = 11 hrs... price is per person)

2-3

4-5

El Valle

$275

$135

$100

Among the specialties found in El Valle and Cerro El Gaital:

Purplish-backed Quail-Dove
White-tipped Sicklebill
Slaty Antwren
Black-headed Antthrush
Common Bush-Tanager
Black-faced Grosbeak
Green Hermit
Violet-headed Hummingbird
White-tailed Emerald
Scale-crested Pygmy-Tyrant
White-ruffed Manakin
Blue-and-white Swallow
White-throated Thrush
Silver-throated Tanager
Black-and-yellow Tanager
Orange-bellied Trogon
Yellow-eared Toucanet
Plain Antvireo
Chestnut-capped Brush-Finch
Red-legged Honeycreepers
Thick-billed Euphonias
Clay-colored Robins
Black-chested Jays
Rufous Motmot
Blue-grays Tanager
Flame-rumped Tanager
Crimson-backed Tanager
White-lined Tanager
Palm Tanager, and the odd olive and black
Dusky-faced Tanager
Red-crowned Ant-Tanager
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird
Green Hermit,
Green Thorntail,
White-vented Plumeleteer,
Snowy-bellied hummingbird
Violet-headed hummingbird
Purple-crowned Fairy
Violet-crowned Woodnymph,
Garden Emerald
Stripe-throated Hermit.
Rufous-crested Coquette
Emeral Tanager
Bay-headed Tanager
Golden-hooded Tanager
Flame-rumped Tanager
Tawny-crested Tanager
Silver-throated Tanager
Barred Hawk
Bat Falcon
Lineated Woodpecker
Keel-billed Toucan
Orange-bellied Trogon
Spotted Woodcreeper
Paltry Tyrannulet
Tawny-capped Euphonia
Scarlet-thighed Dacnis

Tody Motmot
Lance-tailed Manakin
Yellow Tryannulet
White-bellied Antbird
Yellow-crowned Euphonia.
Dark-backed Wood-Quail
Brown-billed Scythebill
Rufous-browed Tryannulet
Dull-mantled Antbird
Ochraceous Wren
Rufous-and-white wrens
Black-crowned Antpitta
White Hawk
Blue-headed Parrot
Collared Aracari,
Green-crowned Brilliant
Bay Wren
Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush
Streaked Saltator
Orange-billed Sparrow

Canada Warbler
Mourning Warbler
Purple-throated Mountain-Gem
Red-faced Spinetail
Spotted Barbtail
White-throated Spadebill
White-thighed Swallow
Ochraceous Wren
Pale-vented Thrush
Blue Seedeater
Wedge-tailed Grass-Finches
Rufous-vented Ground-Cuckoo
Black-crowned Antpitta
Rufous-browed Tyrannulet
Mountain-Gem
Snowcap, Spinetail, Barbtail, wren

For the complete list of Central Panama birds Click Here !

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Check the pre - post tour EXTENTION to THE CENTRAL PANAMA BIRDING TOUR