Costa Rica and Panama 1/5-18/2024
All photos are © Marshall Faintich
January 16-18; Panama City trip extension
We had docked in Colon for the night. Our cabin door was exactly at dock level, and within a few feet of the dock. All night long long I heard the thump ... thump ... thump of containers being loaded onto container ships. We disembarked from the Quest early in the morning. Those ending the tour were bussed to the Panama City airport, and 27 of us started on the Panama City extension tour.
Our Lindblad rep, Julian, was a retired real estate agent, and he said that the wildlife part of the trip was over. The NatGeo naturalist, Sam, did help with the remaining wildlife that we did see. We crossed the Atlantic Bridge and drove to Fort San Lorenzo, and then Sam led a short hike into the proetcted forest area.
Panama_extension_map
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Tropical Mockingbird
Short-tailed Swift
Black-crowned Antshrike
Tropical Kingbird
Howler Monkeys
Howler Monkey
Two-toed Sloth
Termite nest
We crossed back over the Atlantic Bridge and drove to Panama City, where we stayed at the Waldorf Astoria hotel. Our room there was at least four times the size of our cabin on the Quest. I was amazed at the buildings in Panama City, including 80 story apartment buildings, offices, etc. I did not expect this.
Panama City skyline
We were having a glass of wine with the group on an outdoor patio mid-level up in the hotel when a flock of large birds flew by some of the tall, nearby buildings. I pointed to them and asked Julian, "What are they?" He replied, "Apartment buildings." Guess you can't make a real estate agent into a naturalist :-)
The next morning was a tour of the old city, and Alice and I started on it, but cut it short and went back to the hotel to rest up. We had a long journey home the next day and into the wee hours of the morning after. The only birds I saw in Panama City were House Sparrows, Rock Pigeons, one Tropical Kingbird, Cattle Egrets on the way to the airport, and one unidentifed bird whose photo was so poor that it was not worth considering.
Tropical Kingbird
Today's life bird (trip# 64-65): Short-tailed Swift; Black-crowned Antshrike.
Click here to go to my final remarks and trip bird list
Jump to start of trip; January 5/6
Jump to Monteverde Cloud Forest; January 7
Jump to Monteverde Cloud Forest; January 8
Jump to Tarcoles River Cruise; January 9
Jump to Corcovado National Park; January 10
Jump to Golfo Dulce; January 11
Jump to Golfo Dulce; January 12
Jump to Coiba National Park; January 13
Jump to Panama Canal; January 14
Jump to Gatun Lake January 15
Jump to Panama City trip extension January 16-18
Jump to Final remarks and trip bird list