Buses, Blue Cotingas, and Yellow-eared Toucanets

Fernando (striped shirt) with his kids, Ron, and Mario at Massiel's Restaurant, owned by the wonderful Fernando and Lula - our primary givers-of-sustenance for 2 weeks.

Last Tuesday (March 16th), a little reluctant to leave lovely El Valle, we took the bus from El Valle to Panama City. What a ride! The bus assistant took quite awhile rounding up passengers at the major stops, then the bus driver floored it to the next stop. For the first third of the trip, popular Panamanian music played with a heavy bass beat as we held tight to our seat backs, then for the last two-thirds we had the opportunity to watch (with a completely-engrossed bus-full of Panamanians) a Jackie Chan movie, dubbed in Spanish. Somehow, we think this made the driver go even faster - so much shooting, yelling, and otherwise crazy stuff.

We made it to Panama City (just called "Panama" here) and disembarked into the deafening bus station, where we waiting successfully for Janice and Guido to pick us up. Then on to the also-busy Toucamen Airport for the rest of our bird tour group from northern Massachusetts.

We landed in Gamboa at the Sobariana Lodge, the outpost owned and operated by Advantage Tours Panama. Guido Berguido is the owner of Advantage Tours Panama, based in Gamboa, a bit east of Panama City. He is a primo bird guide, and along with his full-time guide Rey and the rest of the exxcellent staff, has been taking very good care of our birding and bodily needs.

On Thursday (March 18), we birded the famous Pipeline Road and were not disappointed. Remember the Dot-winged Ant Wren seen near the start of this blog? Great looks, just after seeing the Checkered-throated Ant Wren, Great Tinamou, and Southern Bentbill. We also visited the Discovery Center there for hummingbirds and - later that day - the tower.

Ron, Guido, and Rey on Achiote Road

Yesterday we went to Achiote - what place!!! Toucan, Oropendolas, and Howler Monkeys calling constantly and many new and fabulous birds seen. We also has lunch in Achiote - great little local restaurant with an outdoor wood-fired kitchen.

Today to an area near our Lodge to see Blue Cotinga and other lovely creatures, then to Cerro Azul - a higher altitude park north of Panama City. It was cool and green, a nice change form the heat and humidity in the Canal area. Birds of the Day there: Yellow-eared Toucanet.

So much to see, so little computer time. Denny's turn now. Hasta luego, Friends!