4 days birding to:

Central Panama and Canal

ITINERARY

Day 1 Our first birding day will start at 6:15 am at the Metropolitan Nature Park in Panama city (470 acres of dry second and youngest growth forest with patches of grassy areas ) giving us the opportunity to beginning  with the  search of the  Lance-tailed Manakin, the endemic Yellow-green Tyrannulet, Rosy Thrush-Tanager (uncommon), Orange-chinned Parakeets, Pheasant Cuckoo (rare) and more; after lunch birding will continue until around 3:00pm when we will start our ride to Achiote Town.  On the road (driving slowly) we’ll stop for birds along the road and at well known spots like at Gatun Lock and at the Chagres River (Gatun Dam spillway) in search of Road-site Hawk, American Kestrel, Cocoi Heron, Tricolored  Heron, Kill-billed and Chessnut-mandible Tucan, Yellow-headed Caracara…  after dinner we will go over the bird-list and vote for the best bird of the day (bb of the d), follow by  a short night birding walk in search of owls, nightjars, nighthawks and pauraques.  .  And after a long and productive day, a well deserved night sleep.

Day 2  The early birding day starts in Achiote Road and surrounding areas looking for species that favor humid condition.  We will be on the search of the  Spot-crowned Barbet, White-headed Wren, Long-tailed Tyrant, Blue Cotinga, White Hawk, Flame-rumped Tanager, Montezuma Oropendola and many other species that can be found here. At 8:30am a well deserved breakfast with binoculars at hand to catch a gleans of a Rufous-tailed Hummingbird, a probable Barred and Fasciated Antshrike and others.  After breakfast the birding fiesta will continue at trails and in shaded coffee plantation.   After lunch (2:00pm) in route to Fort Sherman and Fuerte San Lorenzo (wet lowland tropical forest with also areas of grass, scrubs, mangroves , marshes and coastline)  we will look for the Straight-billed Woodcreeper, Golden-collared Manakin, Rufous Motmot, Checker-throated Antwren, Piratic Flycatcher,  birding along the way and later on the afternoon  back to Gamboa Town. After dinner we will go over the day bird-list and select the high light and the bbd.  Overnight to recuperate for the next day.

Day 3 Early birding on the Old Gamboa Rd. also known as the Summit Pond area traverses areas of dry forest, scrub, grassland and natural ponds.   A walk down the road will allow a great views of many species including Great Antshrike, Pale-vented Pigeons, Blue Ground-Doves, Orange Chinned Parakeets, Red-crowned Woodpecker, Lesser and Great Kiskadee, Boat-billed Heron, Streak Saltator, Ringed, Amazon and Green Kingfishers are possible and more.  Later in the afternoon on  Plantation Trail and the El Charco Trail we will listen to the call and look for the Slaty-tailed Trogon; Golden-crowned Spadebill, Southern Bentbill, Blue-crowned Manakin and other great forest birds, And the day bird-list with the “bb of the d” and comments  will end a successful day. Overnight.

Day 4 Early birding on Pipeline Road ( a secondary forest with some scrubbier areas, with many streams crossing it).  We will heard and look for the Southern Bentbill, Pheasant Cuckoo, Green Shrike-Vireo, Grey Elaenia, Streak-chested Antpitta, Spotted Antbird, Long-billed Gnatwren, Great Jacamar and, before heading for lunch a visit to the Ammunition Ponds (marshy area), very productive during any hour of the day, we will search for the Snail Kite, White-throated Crakes, Ruddy-breasted Seedeaters, Rufescent Tiger-Heron, Variable Seedeater, Smooth-billed Ani and more. In the afternoon we will visit The Summit Gardens for Oropendolas, Caciques and Hummingbirds and El Charco Trail to see the Black-breasted Jay, Collared Arassari, White-wiskered Puffbird and more.   At noon before the farewell dinner we will work on our “last day bird-list” and vote for the “bb of the d”.  The group will summarize on the complete tour bird-list, a vote for the best bird and for the best day of the tour and the correspondent comments for the complete tour will be appreciated.

·    Included  in tour price:  English / Spanish bird guide with field scope, laser pointer, and the latest  Panama field-guide.    birding  6 am-4 pm

·    Not Included in the tour Cost:  entrance fees to parks, government taxes, lodging, transportation, meals , personal items, gratuities, arrival (pickup) and departure dates (drop-off).

·         -  Areas to visit during the tour:  We will visit the most and the least frequented birding hotspots in Central Panama, including the world-renowned Pipeline Road, Achiote Road, Old Gamboa Road (Summit Ponds), Plantation Trail, Fort Sherman, San Lorenzo Road and more.
-  Expect to see:  As a conservative estimate between 160+ species during this trip (a much higher number is possible).  Please note that the species mentioned in the list below are merely representative of the birds that might reasonably be expected in the areas involved.                                                -  Birding Group Size:  1 –  4 persons maximum      We keep our group size “petite”.  This way everyone gets a personalized attention especially when seen a bird at its maximum detail. Note: for an extra fee we can provide transportation during the tour and do all the lodging and meal arrangements.

      Last up date: