Join us on this exciting field trip. The itinerary offers birding with local guides in various beautiful habitats. We will have plenty of eyes working to maximize the number of bird sightings. Janet and I scouted this trip this past winter and had a wonderful time finding 372 birds’ species.

Registration is open so register early. Call Rich Cimino 925-353-0266

The trip will not exceed 6 birders including spouses. In Panama City we will be staying in the Summit Rainforest Resort surrounded by walking paths along an open grassland golf course, also used by birders. The resort is known for its Sloth Rehabilitation Center within a tropical garden.

Day 1: Welcome to Panama! After arriving at Tocumen International Airport you will transfer to your hotel where you can prepare for the upcoming days of birding. Around the gardens you can find Blue-gray, Palm, and Crimson-backed tanager, Black-cheeked Woodpecker, Collared Aracari, Whooping Motmot, Bat Falcon, Spot-crowned Barbet, and other common Neotropical birds. We overnight at Summit Rainforest Resort.

Day 2: Pipeline Road & Summit Ponds: Morning birding at the world-famous Pipeline Road. Our first stop will be at the Ammo Dump Ponds to scan open wetland for Rufescent Tiger-Heron, Purple Gallinule, Wattled Jacana, White-throated Crake, Greater Ani, Yellow-tailed Oriole, and forest edge species. The unpaved Pipeline Road winds through the lowland rainforest of Soberania National Park and is home to hundreds of species, including Red-capped Manakin, Black Hawk-Eagle, Purple-throated Fruitcrow, Slaty-tailed Trogon, Spotted Antbird, Cinnamon Woodpecker and some other less common rainforest species, including Ocellated Antbird, Streak-chested Antpitta and Pheasant Cuckoo. After lunch and a rest, we’ll explore the forested wetlands at Summit Ponds. Streaked Saltator, Collared Forest-Falcon, Great Black Hawk, Fulvous-vented Euphonia, Golden-collared Manakin, and Blue Dacnis can be seen along the road. At the ponds, we’ll scan the edges for Lesser Kiskadee, American Pygmy Kingfisher, Boat-billed Heron, and Greater Ani.

Day 3: Cerro Azul & Bay of Panama: Today we’ll enjoy a day of birding in the cooler foothills of Cerro Azul and Chagres National Park. It is one of the best places to look for Yellow-eared Toucanet, Sulphur-rumped, Emerald, Speckled and Rufous-winged tanagers, Black-eared Wood-Quail, White-ruffed Manakin and the endemic Stripecheeked Woodpecker! We’ll scan the open vistas for King Vulture and Black-andwhite Hawk-Eagle. But most of all, Cerro Azul is a paradise for hummingbirds and hummingbird photography–White-tipped Sicklebill, Violet-capped Hummingbird, Snowy-bellied Hummingbird, Bronze-tailed Plumeleteer, Green Hermit, Purple-crowned Fairy and Rufous-crested Coquette can be found here. We’ll enjoy a picnic lunch in the field, surrounded by the beautiful nature of Cerro Azul. In the afternoon we’ll stop at Costa del Este or Panama Viejo to scan the mangroves and mudflats for shorebirds and waterbirds. Overnight at Summit Rainforest Resort.

Day 5: Flight to David with afternoon birding around Cerro Puna & Las Nubes: This morning we will take a short flight to the Chiriqui Province, the gateway to Panama’s western highlands. Upon arrival we will transfer to our lodge in the lush cloud forests of Cerro Punta. After lunch we will head to the Las Nubes area. A quiet trail here is a great place to see Black-and-yellow and Long-tailed silkyflycatchers, Acorn Woodpecker, Large-footed Finch, Slate-throated Redstart, Scintillant and Talamanca hummingbirds, Golden-bellied Flycatcher, Torrent Tyrannulet, Flame-colored Tanager, Prong-billed Barbet, among many others. Overnight at Los Quetzales Lodge.

Day 4: Panama Rainforest Discovery Center & Gamboa Reserve: A visit to the Panama Rainforest Discovery Center will bring us up above the canopy of the rainforest on a 100-foot tower, where Blue Cotinga, Black-breasted Puffbird, and Gray-headed Kite are often seen. Along the trails we’ll watch for Blue-crowned Manakin, White-whiskered Puffbird, Little Tinamou, antbirds and more. The covered veranda, with buzzing hummingbird feeders, brings us up-close to White-necked Jacobin, Violet-bellied Hummingbird, Long-billed Hermit and other amazing hummingbirds. In the afternoon we will stroll around the grounds of the Gamboa Rainforest Reserve. This area has trails, forest, open areas, wetlands and is particularly ‘birdy.’ Here we’ll keep an eye out for Gartered Trogon, Golden-hooded Tanager, Yellow-throated Toucan, and Black-striped Sparrow. Overnight at Summit Rainforest Resort.

Day 6: Los Quetzales Trail & Volcan Lakes: The Los Quetzales Trail at the west entrance of Volcan Baru National Park is a great place to find Resplendent Quetzal, Brown-capped Vireo, Yellowish Flycatcher, Yellow-thighed Brushfinch, Ruddy Treerunner, Slate-throated and Collared redstarts, Flame-throated Warbler, Streak-breasted Treehunter, and Dark Pewee. Three-wattled Bellbird, Black Guan, and Volcano Hummingbird can also be found here. This afternoon, we will head to Volcan Lakes, where a trail leads us to a quiet lake where we will scan for Northern Jacana at the water’s edge. The forest is full of great birds here – Slate-headed Tody-Flycatcher, Goldencrowned Warbler, Collared Trogon, White-winged Tanager, Spotted Wood-Quail, White-throated Thrush and many more. Overnight at Los Quetzales Lodge. Crimson Cacique

Day 7: La Amistad International Park Las Nubes Station & Hummingbird feeders: La Amistad International Park, shared with Costa Rica, is home to dozens of Talamancan regional endemics. The Las Nubes Ranger Station in the park is an excellent place to seek out Wrenthrush, Silvery-fronted Tapaculo, Sooty-capped Chlorospingus, Buffy Tuftedcheek, Ruddy Treerunner, Barred Becard, and a dozen other hummingbird species. We’ll enjoy the lush forests and refreshing streams and waterfalls along the way. This afternoon we will visit some local feeders in Guadalupe to see and photograph Talamanca Hummingbird, Scintillant Hummingbird, White-throated Mountain-gem, Stripe-tailed Hummingbird, Chestnut-capped Brushfinch, Gartered (Violaceous) Trogan and a lovely array of tanagers. Overnight at Los Quetzales Lodge.

Day 8: Paradise Birding & flight to Panama City: We will be up early today to head to Paraiso Birding, hoping to catch the Fiery-billed Aracaris as they take in their breakfast at the fruit feeders. This morning we will focus our attention on the hummingbirds and the lovely trails this property has to offer. Species include Charming Hummingbird, Long-billed Starthroat, Brown Violetear, and Green Hermit. We will also look for Blackhooded Antshrike, Costa Rican Brushfinch, Orange-collared Manakin, and Spotcrowned Euphonia. After lunch we will return to David to catch our flight back to Panama City. We will enjoy a final dinner together. Overnight at Riande Aeropuerto Hotel.

Day 9: Departure This morning after breakfast we will transfer via hotel shuttle to the international airport for our return flights home.

The field trip includes all guides, lodging, meals, ground transportation and airfare to David in the north. Not included is your air travel to Panama City, alcohol beverages and gratuities.

Cost: $3700.00

January 2023 Darien Lowlands extension:

Cost: $895.00

A minimum of 4 persons is needed for the trip to go.

*Please note that this itinerary is flexible and subject to change without notice due to weather, bird activity, or other factors.

With Appreciation and excited to meet you, Rich Cimino-Yellowbilled Tours Cell: 925-353-026