Tour Price Included: transportation, professional guide, tolls and taxes. From Panama an early start required.

Overnight is available in rustic private cabines with bath and shower and breakfast included.  Restaurant available.  Quote

TARGET BIRDS:  Spiny-faced (Speckled) Antshrike and the Broadbilled Sapayoa

LOCATION 
Location Carti Road
 

PARK FEE
Entrance park fee for foreigners is us $25.00 per person when crossing to Guna Yala comarcal territory. Local us $0.00
 

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.  Overnight Nusagandi close to Ibe Igar trail is posible.                      Go Back

EATING FACILITIES
There is a new facility/"restaurant" along the road to Carti. It is a  "fonda" type food...prepare by Gunas.   When planning a complete day in the area also can bring your 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.                         Go Back
“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

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 Go Back
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),  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       Go Back 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.                                Go Back