PANAMA Canal Zone and Chiriqui Highlands
January 7-17, 2010 Trip completed with 12 participants. Group sightings totaled 349 species seen plus another 26 seen by just one person or heard only - for a grand total of 375 species!
"Thank you so much for the great trip to Panama! I'm so glad that I went. You two made sure everyone was comfortable and having a good time. Seeing 96 lifers was great, but being with such great people as yourselves was even more important to me. I hope I can join you again on a future trip!"- Mary Warren, Ohio
"It was much more than we expected. Guido was undoubtedly the best guide we've ever had. Jim and Cindy went out of their way to ensure our comfort and enjoyment. At all times we felt safe." - Bernie and Jude Uerbersetzig, Texas
Why Panama?
Located between 7 and 9 degrees north of the Equator, Panama boasts immense tracts of tropical rainforest. Within its small surface exists a great variety of tropical habitats, including Caribbean coral reefs, Pacific mangrove wetlands, dry tropical forests, wet rainforests, and mountain cloudforests with their moss-laden, orchid-covered trees. These tropical ecosystems harbor an incredible diversity of colorful flowers and plants and a wide array of wild animals like sloths, toucans, anteaters, and monkeys. There are about 960 different species of birds - more than the total number of species found in the U.S. and Canada combined, and more than found in neighboring Costa Rica! Having more than 30% of its national territory protected, Panama presents excellent opportunities to see wildlife and learn about tropical environments. Many of these protected areas are readily accessible, only minutes from the modern capital, Panama City.
Our itinerary offers opportunities to bird in most of the habitats that Panama has to offer. We will search the protected wet rainforests, mangroves, wetlands, and dry forests of the Canal Zone before we fly to the highlands to search for Resplendent Quetzals and other birds of the cloud forest. Visit many of the same habitats and see many of the same species you would encounter in Costa Rica for a fraction of the cost.
We saw over 325 species following this itinerary in 2007!
Canal Zone and Chiriqui Highlands
ITINERARY:
Day 1: Arrive in Panama City, Panama (no meals)
Upon our arrival at the Tocumen International Airport, we will be transferred to Soberania Field Station and Lodge in Gamboa.
Day 2: Soberania National Park/Gamboa (BLD)
After breakfast this morning, we will visit sites near the field station in Gamboa. Over 170 species have been seen just in the yard of the field station! Other nearby sites we will visit include the Ammo Dump where we might see White-throated Crake among other species, the Marina of the Gamboa Rainforest Resort, and the entrance to the famous Pipeline Road.
Day 3: Plantation Road and Summit Gardens (BLD)
We will be visiting another great trail inside the Soberania National Park. At Plantation Road we will be on the lookout for interesting inhabitants of the lowland rainforests including Black-chested Jays, Black-breasted Puffbirds, Purple-throated Fruitcrows, among many others. In addition, we will also search the skies above for raptors like White Hawk, Bat Falcon, Black Hawk-eagle, and even a majestic King Vulture. At Summit Ponds we can expect to see Boat-billed Heron, and we might be lucky enough to find Capped Heron.
Day 4: Madden Dry Forest/ Panama City Wetlands (BLD)
Following breakfast, we will visit the lowland tropical forests of the Chagres National Park. In the dry forests near the Madden Dam we will be on the lookout for such specialties as Lance-tailed Manakin, Rosy Thrush-tanager, Orange-billed Sparrow, Rufous-and-white Wren, White-bellied Antbird, and with some luck, the endemic Yellow-green Tyrannulet.
Later today we will visit the wetlands of Panama City, keeping our eyes on the sky and on the mudflats for seabirds like Magnificent Frigatebirds, Neotropical Cormorants, Brown Pelicans, as well as shorebirds including White Ibis, Yellow-crowned Night-herons, Collared Plovers, Gull-billed Terns, Marbled Godwit, Ruddy Turnstones, and many more. This place has even been declared a site of Hemispheric Importance by the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network as well as a Wetland of International Importance by the RAMSAR Convention.
If time permits, we will enjoy a historical tour of the French Quarter and Old Panama City at the end of the day.
Day 5: Pipeline Road / Fly to David (BLD)
Today we will have the opportunity to hike along the world famous Pipeline Road at the Soberanía National Park. With just over 48,287 acres, this park boasts outstanding biodiversity, including most of the 500 species of birds recorded for the Panama Canal area. Frequently you can come across a mixed-species foraging flock containing literally dozens of different birds like Dot-winged and White-flanked Antwrens, Fasciated and Western-slaty Antshrike, Plain Xenops, Olivaceous Flatbill, Black-tailed Flycatcher, Cocoa Woodcreeper, and many more. This area is also famous for the occurrence of Army Ant swarms who, by raiding the forest floor, flush out many insects that in turn attract a series of properly named Antbirds. Possible are Spotted, Bicolored, and Ocellated Antbirds, along with many Woodcreepers including Northern-barred, Plain-brown, and Black-striped. In addition, you may come across a Gray-headed Tanager, or an opportunistic White-whiskered Puffbird, or even an elusive Streak-chested Antpitta.
Later in the afternoon, we will see first-hand why Panama harbors such high biodiversity as the landscape changes dramatically during our short 50-minute flight to the Chiriqui Province. (airfare included)
Day 6: Baru Volcano National Park (BLD)
Today we will explore the forests of the Los Quetzales Trail at the Baru Volcano National Park. Because of its importance in preserving unique elements of the flora and fauna, the UNESCO has declared this area a Biosphere Reserve. Amidst the moss-covered, epiphyte-laden trees of the cloudforest we may spot Buffy Tufted-cheek, Sooty-capped Bush-tanager, Long-tailed Silky-Flycatcher, and Large-footed Finch. Flowering bushes by the trail may yield White-throated Mountain-gem, Stripe-tailed, Scintillant, and Volcano Hummingbirds.
Later today, if time permits, we will visit the Dracula Orchid Farm where we will enjoy seeing hundreds of these enchanting flowers, all the while staying on the lookout for Silver-throated Tanager, Black-faced Solitaire, Ruddy-capped Nightingale-thrush, Magnificent Hummingbird, and others.
Day 7: La Amistad International Park (BLD)
Early in the morning we will travel into La Amistad International Park (jointly protected by Panama and Costa Rica). Endemism is high in this Important Bird Area (IBA) and we will make special efforts to see many birds restricted to the Chiriqui/Talamanca Range. We are not only referring to the well-camouflaged "LBJ"s like Zeledonia or the skulking Silvery-fronted Tapaculo, but rather to some of the most gaudy birds in the World, like the Spangle-cheeked Tanager, Collared Redstart, and the Flame-throated Warbler. There we may also find the breathtakingly gorgeous Resplendent Quetzal.
Day 8: Western Foothills and Coffee Plantations (BLD)
Today we will explore nearby forests in search of foothill bird species. We will start by visiting the Volcan Lakes where we may discover some waders like Northern Jacana, Masked Duck, Least and Pied-billed Greebes. In addition, the lush forest around the lakes may yield Olivaceous Piculet, Slaty Spinetail, and possibly the nearly endemic Fiery-billed Aracari.
Late in the afternoon, we will be transferred back to David, where we will board our flight back to Panama City. Time permitting, we may bird the airport grounds for Fork-tailed Flycatcher, Brown-throated Parakeet, and the endemic Veraguan Mango.
Day 9: Achiote Road (BLD)
Tentative plans call for us to leave very early in the morning to drive northwest toward Colon. Our early departure will allow us to arrive at Achiote Road early enough to find the birds when they are most active. Target species include Hook-billed Kite, Black-breasted and Pied Puffbirds, Spot-crowned Barbet, White-headed Wren, and mixed flocks of colorful tanagers.
Day 10: Cerro Azul / Cerro Jefe (BL)
After an early drive this morning, we will be birding the foothills of the Chagres National Park. With over 320,000 acres, this is the largest protected area in the Panama Canal Watershed. Here we can find humid forest species like Rufous-crested Coquette, Bronze-tailed Plumeleteer, White-tipped Sicklebill, and even the endemic Stripe-cheeked Woodpecker. At close to 3,000 feet above sea level, in the Cerro Jefe area we will come across some mountain specialties like the Scale-crested Pygmy-tyrant, Spotted Woodcreeper, Yellow-eared Toucanet, and Black-and-Yellow, Bay-headed, Rufous-winged, and Olive Tanagers. If we are lucky, we may find the nearly endemic Tacarcuna Bush-tanager.
Later in the afternoon, we will be transferred to the Airport Riande Hotel where we will have dinner on our own before we prepare to leave the next day.
Day 11: Departure (B)
In the morning we will take the hotel shuttle to the Tocumen International Airport.
Includes: Lodging in comfortable hotel/lodges, all meals as indicated, all local terrestrial, aquatic and air transportation within Panama, transfers, entrance fees, bilingual birding guide, as well as a donation to the conservation efforts of the Panama Audubon Society.
Does not Include: International airfare to Panama City, Panama, tourist card (USD$5), Airport departure tax (USD$20), alcoholic drinks, travel insurance, gratuities, and expenses of a personal nature (laundry, mini-bar, phone calls, extra drinks and snacks, etc.).
PAYMENT INFORMATION:
Deposit of $400 with registration (link for registration form is at the bottom of this page). Balance due on or before November 30, 2009.
Checks should be made payable to Cheepers! Birding on a Budget and mailed with the registration form to Cheepers! Birding on a Budget, Post Office Box 385, Spring Valley, OH 45370.
Cancellation policy:
Before July 6 – full refund of deposit
Before October 6 – 50% refund of deposit
After October 6 – No refund of deposit
If cancellation occurs after full payment is made, a refund will be given only if the vacant spot is filled. Trip insurance is recommended.
Lodging is subject to change.
Contact us
email: cheepers@sbcglobal.net
Home phone: 937-862-4505
Cell phone: 937-974-0803
Snail mail: PO Box 385
Spring Valley, OH 45370
| panamacanal_chiriqui_registration_form.doc |