| Panama: January 22 to February 7, 2009 Plus Extension to February 13 Norm Erthal, as Host, to a Covey of Adults Excellent Local Bird Guides This adult only trip will be hosted by Norm Erthal who has lead 10 international birding trips to 8 different countries. Norm excels at pulling together small groups of birders on trips focused on bird watching. Great local bird guides will assure seeing a number of endemic, other key species and from 325 to 360 total species of birds. When not birding at short stops, hiking will range from easy to moderate. Some hiking trips will be up to 4 hours at a time. The Darien, Fantastic Panama Bird Watching: The Darien Peninsula is home to 30 endemics and other species that can only be seen in adjoining Colombia. These include Russet-crowned Quail-Dove, Azuero Parakeet, Rufous-cheeked Hummingbird, Greenish Puffleg, Dusky-backed Jacamar, Double-banded Greytail, Varied Solitaire, Pirre Warbler, Green-naped Tanager, Viridian Dacnis, and Yellow-green Finch. It is one of the most magnificent and remote wild areas in the world. Darien National Park and Biosphere Reserve encompasses 1.3 million acres. El Valle, Cocle, Altos de Campana National Park: This region is in the Caribbean foothills with cloud forest. El Valle is in the crater of an extinct volcano with numerous waterfalls and jagged peaks. We will expectedly see Green Hermit, White-tailed Emerald, Scale-crested Pygmy-tyrant, and Black-and-yellow Tanager. We will likely see Yellow-eared Toucanet and Chestnut-capped Brush-Finch. Rare possibilities include Barred Forest-Falcon, Rufous-crested Coquette, White-tipped Sicklebill, Black-headed Antthrush, and Tody Motmot. Nusagandi: This portion of the trip will visit tropical rainforest at 40,000 hectare Nusagandi National Park on the summit of the San Blas range dividing the Caribbean and Pacific slopes. The area at Burbayar has been designated an Important Bird Area. Some species that we could encounter here are Plumbeous Hawk, Red-throated Caracara, Tawny-faced Quail, Sungrebe, Olive-backed Quail-Dove, Black-breasted Puffbird, several species of woodcreeper, Speckled Antshrike, Ocellated Antbird, Streak-chested Antpitta, Black-crowned Antpitta, Broad-billed Sapayoa, Brownish Flycatcher, Scaly-breasted Wren, Sulphur-rumped and Rufous-winged Tanager, and Scarlet-rumped Cacique. We hope to find Great Curassow, Rufous-vented Ground-Cuckoo, and Purplish-backed Quail-Dove. Extension: Canal Zone and Chiriqui Highlands: In the Canal Zone, we will bird a full day along the Pipeline Road in spectacular old growth humid forest in Soberania National Park, stopping at the ammo dump for Crimson-backed Tanager, Rufescent Tiger Heron, and White-throated Crake. We should also see several species of tanagers and greenlets new to the trip. We will then visit the Limbo Camp Trail for White-bellied Antbird, Semiplumbeous Hawk, Black-breasted Puffbird, Purple-throated Fruitcrow, Blue Cotinga, Pheasant Cuckoo, Boat-billed Heron, and Rosy Thrush-Tanager. Hopefully, we will encounter an ant swarm and its attendant species, like Bicolored Antbird, Rufous-vented Ground-Cuckoo, and Black-crowned Antpitta. We will consider ourselves fortunate to find an Agami Heron along with Sunbittern, and Buff-rumped Warbler. The Chiriqui Highlands are an extension of the highlands of southern Costa Rica. We will spend most of the time in the area of Volcan Baru National Park. Volcan Baru is the highest point in Panama at 11,398 feet. Specialties of the area include Black-breasted Wood-Quail, Spotted Wood-Quail, Chiriqui Quail-Dove, Crimson-fronted Parakeet, Costa Rican Pygmy-Owl, Dusky Nightjar, Charming Hummingbird, Veraguas Mango, White-crested Coquette, and many other hummingbirds, Resplendent Quetzal, Scaly-throated Foliage-gleaner, Streak-breasted Treehunter, Grey-throated Leaftosser, Black-banded Woodcreeper, Silvery-fronted Tapaculo, White-throated Flycatcher, Barred Becard, Black-and-white Becard, Yellow-billed Cotinga, Turquoise Cotinga, Bare-necked Umbrellabird, Silvery-throated Jay, Riverside Wren, Ruddy-capped Nightingale-Thrush, Long-tailed Silky-Flycatcher, Collared Redstart, Sooty-capped Bush-Tanager, Spot-crowned Euphonia, Large-footed Finch, and Slaty Flower-piercer. |
| Nestling Tour's Itinerary for Panama in 2009 The Darien, Fantastic Panama Bird Watching: The Darien Peninsula is home to 30 endemics and other species that can only be seen in adjoining Colombia. These include Russet-crowned Quail-Dove, Azuero Parakeet, Rufous-cheeked Hummingbird, Greenish Puffleg, Dusky-backed Jacamar, Double-banded Greytail, Varied Solitaire, Pirre Warbler, Green-naped Tanager, Viridian Dacnis, and Yellow-green Finch. It is one of the most magnificent and remote wild areas in the world. Darien National Park and Biosphere Reserve encompasses 1.3 million acres.
El Valle, Cocle, Altos de Campana National Park: This region is in the Caribbean foothills with cloud forest. El Valle is in the crater of an extinct volcano with numerous waterfalls and jagged peaks. We will expectedly see Green Hermit, White-tailed Emerald, Scale-crested Pygmy-tyrant, and Black-and-yellow Tanager. We will likely see Yellow-eared Toucanet and Chestnut-capped Brush-Finch. Rare possibilities include Barred Forest- Falcon, Rufous-crested Coquette, White-tipped Sicklebill, Black-headed Antthrush, and Tody Motmot.
Nusagandi: This portion of the trip will visit tropical rainforest at 40,000 hectare Nusagandi National Park on the summit of the San Blas range dividing the Caribbean and Pacific slopes. The area at Burbayar has been designated an Important Bird Area. Some species that we could encounter here are Plumbeous Hawk, Red- throated Caracara, Tawny-faced Quail, Sungrebe, Olive-backed Quail-Dove, Black-breasted Puffbird, several species of woodcreeper, Speckled Antshrike, Ocellated Antbird, Streak-chested Antpitta, Black-crowned Antpitta, Broad-billed Sapayoa, Brownish Flycatcher, Scaly-breasted Wren, Sulphur-rumped and Rufous- winged Tanager, and Scarlet-rumped Cacique. We hope to find Great Curassow, Rufous-vented Ground- Cuckoo, and Purplish-backed Quail-Dove.
Return Home??: February 7: Return home in morning for those not staying for the the Canal Zone and Chiriqui Highlands portion of the trip. Extension Start: Canal Zone:
Continue Extension: Chiriqui Highlands: The Chiriqui Highlands are an extension of the highlands of southern Costa Rica. We will spend most of the time in the area of Volcan Baru National Park. Volcan Baru is the highest point in Panama at 11,398 feet. Specialties of the area include Black-breasted Wood-Quail, Spotted Wood-Quail, Chiriqui Quail-Dove, Crimson-fronted Parakeet, Costa Rican Pygmy-Owl, Dusky Nightjar, Charming Hummingbird, Veraguas Mango, White-crested Coquette, and many other hummingbirds, Resplendent Quetzal, Scaly-throated Foliage-gleaner, Streak-breasted Treehunter, Grey-throated Leaftosser, Black-banded Woodcreeper, Silvery-fronted Tapaculo, White-throated Flycatcher, Barred Becard, Black-and- white Becard, Yellow-billed Cotinga, Turquoise Cotinga, Bare-necked Umbrellabird, Silvery-throated Jay, Riverside Wren, Ruddy-capped Nightingale-Thrush, Long-tailed Silky-Flycatcher, Collared Redstart, Sooty- capped Bush-Tanager, Spot-crowned Euphonia, Large-footed Finch, and Slaty Flower-piercer.
Home after the Extension: February 13: We can all fly back home. Most flights will require arriving at the airport by 7 AM. |
| About Your Host: Norm Erthal Norm has birded extensively throughout the United States including a trip to Attu, Nome, and Gambell. He has led trips to Costa Rica, Oaxaca Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago, Spain, Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands, Spain and the Canary Islands, Jamaica, the United Arab Emirates, and Alaska. Norm has recently retired from the Colorado Division of Wildlife after 30 years of service, but he looks forward to leading several bird watching trips around the world each year. Norm has served the birding community in several capacities by participating in the Colorado Breeding Bird Atlas, serving as President and Board member of the Denver Field Ornithologists, and by compiling and publishing the Colorado Rare Bird Alert for seven years. |
| To learn about our other great trips, click here. For information about the the price of these services, click here. For more information, contact us at 1-888-203-7464 or by email at travel@nestlingtours.com. |
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Small Group Adult Trip to Panama: January 22 to February 7, 2009
| Brief Itinerary Note: You can fly in on January 22 (or before with additional lodging and transfer costs) and fly out on February 15 (or later with additional lodging and transfer costs). Please call us to discuss flight plans so that we can assure your arrival and departure plans can be well accommodated. 8 Days of Fantastic Birding in the Darien
El Valle, Cocle, Altos de Campana National Park: This region is in the Caribbean foothills with cloud forest.
Nusagandi: This portion of the trip will visit tropical rainforest at 40,000 hectare Nusagandi National Park on the summit of the San Blas range dividing the Caribbean and Pacific slopes.
Sunday, Feb. 7: Return home??? Better yet, extend the trip. Extension available based upon particpant interest. 1 Day Extension in Canal Zone: Bird the Pipeline Road in spectacular old growth humid forest in Soberania National Park. Continue Extension: Chiriqui Highlands: Day 2 to 6: The Chiriqui Highlands are an extension of the highlands of southern Costa Rica. We will spend most of the time in the area of Volcan Baru National Park.
Extension Return Day, February 13: We can all fly back home. |
For more information, contact us at 1-888-203-7464 or by email at travel@nestlingtours.com. To learn about our other great trips, click here. |
| For more information (including an easy to print itinerary), contact us at 1-888-203-7464 or by email at travel@nestlingtours.com. |