2018 Panama Journal - Day 10 - Part 1

Monday 2/19/18

Our nice cool weather turned into a warm, muggy night.  We’ve only had one decent nights sleep in over a week!

Our trip today was supposed to be a long drive to the Pacific Ocean beach (10 hours to the beach and back).  We would be in a van with several other people and it was going to be very hot at the beach - in the 90’s.  Around 3:00 a.m. this morning, while tossing and turning, Mark asked me if I really wanted to go to the beach.  My answer was “no.”  We were both pretty worn out and tired of being hot.  It turned out to be the best decision we made!

We got up early to let the guide know we wouldn’t be going to the beach then had a pleasant breakfast.  There was a wonderful couple from South Africa staying here and we spent a lot of time visiting with them.

After breakfast we decided to walk the grounds.  Neither of us remembered the pools and tower from when we were here in 2006.

We stopped by the compost pile first to see what was there. We could always count on seeing an Agouti or two at the pile. This one was enjoying a little corn-on-the-cob!

A few birds were seen only at the compost pile and nowhere else. These were shy birds that liked to stay in the dark forest. One was a hummingbird called the White-vented Plumeleteer. It seems odd that a hummingbird isn't out in the sun, enjoying flowers, but this species likes to stay in the shadows.

 White-vented Plumeleteer

There are many different species of Dove in Panama, and most frequent open areas, but the Gray-chested Dove is difficult to find as they skulk around on the forest floor. 

 Gray-chested Dove

Gray-chested Dove

We walked around the grounds and saw this beautiful hedge of Aphelandras.

Aphelandras

There is a nice creek that meanders through the Lodge property.

Mark sitting by the river.

This treehouse has been here a while.  The tree has grown around the metal.

View from the treehouse.

There were lots of flowers and this unusual tree:

Rainbow Tree.  We've seen these trees in Costa Rica too.

Begonia

We saw several birds around the grounds. The Stripe-throated Hermit is very small, at only 3.5" from the tip of its bill to the end of its tail. In fact, it used to be named Little Hermit. 

Stripe-throated Hermit

One of the most beautiful birds here is the Crimson-backed Tanager. They are pretty common on the grounds and at the feeding table.

Crimson-backed Tanager male

The females looks similar, but lack the silver base on the bill and are not quite as intensely red.

Crimson-backed Tanager female

Another very distinctive bird is the Flame-rumped Tanager. It is often called the Lemon-rumped Tanager which seems to be a better description.

Flame-rumped Tanager male

In this Tanager species the female looks quite different than the male, though she does share the blue-colored bill and a (lighter) yellow rump. 

Flame-rumped Tanager female

We headed back to the Lodge.  While we waited for lunch we watched the fruit feeders.

Putting out fruit.

The large Chestnut-headed Oropendulas will gobble up food in a hurry.

Chestnut-headed Oropendula

Clay-colored Thrushes were common visitors as well. They aren't colorful but are wonderful singers.

Clay-colored Thrush

As Tanagers go the Dusky-faced Tanager is not colorful, but we enjoyed the variety of different species that frequent the feeding table. 

Dusky-faced Tanager

Birds this morning on the Lodge grounds:  Bay Wren, Gray-cowled Woodrail, Cocoa Woodcreeper, Buff-rmped Warbler, Dusky-faced Tanager, Red-Crowned Ant-Tanager, Rufous Motmot, Orange-billed Sparrow, Gray-chested Dove, Gray-headed Chachalaca, Green Hermit, Buff-throated Saltator, Crimson-backed Tanager, Thick-billed Euphonia, Red-crowned Woodpecker, Clay-colored Thrush, White-vented Plumeleteer, Black-and-White Warbler, Bay-breasted Warbler, Blue-gray Tanager, Green Honeycreeper, Rufous-tailed Hummingbird, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Lemon-rumped Tanager, White-tipped Dove, Tropical Gnatcatcher.  Red-tailed Squirrel, Agoti.

Next time:  We go on an afternoon tour.