BIRDING TO THE EDG

The middle of our press trip to Panama on the circuit included a day going out of Hotel Albrook heading off to the internationally renowned Gamboa/Pipeline roads. For all intensive purposes the birding was a bit below average as we encountered no antswarms at all. Furthermore, given the fact that the birding wasn't as usual it was still magnificent. Really tells you something about the place. These areas of lowland tropical rainforest host hundreds of species of birds not to mention amphibians, insects, and mammals. We had the chance to spend the morning at the newly built Panama Rainforest Discovery Center halfway down Pipeline Road. Morning birding yielded Blue Cotinga, Cinnamon Woodpecker, Crimson-crested Woodpecker, Southern Bentbill, Western Slaty-Antshrike, etc. There are four levels on the canopy tower they have and they adequately enable you to survey different stratified layers of the canopy which is essential for birding in the tropics. I really need to get back to this place for sure!

The photo up top of the male Dot-winged Antwren was taken adjacent to the headquarters. The females are very different and have a completely rufous coloring on the ventral side of the bird. There are many trails from which to explore and access to a lake where we were able to pick up birds like Fasciated Antshrike, Snail Kite, Green Heron, and Rusty-Margined Flycatcher to name a few.


Of course there are a plethora of birds to see, but this Three-toed Sloth was trying to cross the road in midday. Luckily, the oncoming traffic stopped (as did we) for this guy! Moving at the speed of a sloth our guide Luis craftily grabbed the sloth under the armpits from the back (the textbook way to move a sloth out of the road) and placed him in the ditch to avoid tragedy. I was impressed and felt lucky to see this gorgeous creature so close in real life. I learned that Three-toed sloths are gentle and will allow necessary contact without attacking whereas the Two-toed Sloth will react vigorously.

Jeff Gordon (check his blog out) had noted to me that Two-toeds like the interior of the forest and have what I like to say gremlin look to them. They have a longer snout, meaner look, and a mohawk so-to-speak. Three-toeds like the periphery of the forest and often enough will be out in the open grasping a Cecropia tree.


Birding in a group is always a blast, but I also try to find some private moments in the forest. I find that staying completely silent allows life to come to you. Sure enough I broke free of the group for about 45 minutes and a pair of Broad-billed Motmots perched inquisitively in front of me allowing for photos. WOW! This is my type of birding.