Sea Turtle babies

Insect babies

Momma & baby Sloth

Panama Wildlife - 2011 Episode 3

Changuinola Canal Excursion # 5

Jean and Bob were with us on this trip. We passed by Bird Island on our return to Tranquilo Bay to check out what we might see there as well. It was a fabulous day. Come try it with us some time!

Changuinola Canal Excursion # 4

Changuinola Canal Excursion # 3

Changuinola Canal Excursion # 2

Changuinola Canal Excursion # 1

This week we are focusing on a specific excursion we have been doing recently - a slow trip down the Changuinola Canal. According to Clyde Stephen's Outline of History of the Province of Bocas del Toro, Panama, this canal was dug from Almirante Bay to the Changuinola River sometime between 1899 and 1903 as part of an agreement between the Snyder Banana Company and Colombia.

This canal has served many different purposes over the years. It was originally created in order to move bananas grown in different locations throughout Bocas del Toro. In the recent past, it served as a water route for many tourists coming into Panama from Costa Rica. The tourists would catch a water taxi outside of Changuinola which delivered them to Isla Colon. About four years ago during one of the big November rains, many trees from up river and large amounts of sand ended up in the canal, making it impassable for the water taxis. It is navigable again by small boats, but the water taxi service has not returned.

It is a gorgeous trip. Taking it slowly down the canal allows one to take in all of the wildlife and nature alongside both edges of the canal. At one point along the canal, we stop and walk along the beach to check out other areas. This week's photos give you a glimpse into taking this excursion. We have developed the excursion for birders, but it is an excursion that any naturalist would enjoy.

Mainland Birding - Chiriqui Grande

We had a long day full of birds in nice weather while we were hiking the low lands and enjoying great sea views.

At noon we had a really nice surprise when we found the Boat-billed Heron. We saw two in different perches by the naked eye, but when we looked with our binoculars we saw a third one, behind one of the other two. It was great. We stayed there watching those calm and quiet birds for a while. Then in flew another one, then another, then another… and like that over 10 of them landed. They were perching in the tree behind the one we were watching and then flew to another tree where we could see most of the group “disperse” in two trees next to one another.

In the afternoon we had a perfect view of a couple of King Vultures flying in circles over us. We wondered if we were smelling bad, but the truth is at that point we had been exploring a lot and maybe we were attractive to a vulture. Anyway, it was great for us to have an opportunity to see those majestic birds for a while.

The highlights for the day:

White-crowned Parrots
Laughing Falcon
Green-breasted Mango
Pied Puffbird
Boat-billed Heron
King Vulture
Bat Falcon



FAMILY & COMMON NAME

Cracidae: Gray-headed Chachalaca

Fregatidae: Magnificent Frigatebird

Phalacrocoracidae: Neotropic Cormorant

Ardeidae: Great Egret, Boat-billed Heron

Threskiornithidae: Green Ibis

Cathartidae: Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, King Vulture

Accipitridae: Roadside Hawk

Falconidae: Laughing Falcon, Bat Falcon, Crested Caracara

Rallidae: White-throated Crake, Gray-necked Wood-rail, Common Moorhen

Jacanidae: Northern Jacana

Scolopacidae: Solitary Sandpiper

Columbidae: Pale-vented Pigeon

Psittacidae: Blue-headed Parrot, White-crowned Parrot, Red-lored Parrot

Cuculidae: Squirrel cuckoo, Groove-billed Ani

Apodidae: White-collared Swift

Trochilidae: Purple-crowned Fairy, Green-breasted Mango, Rufous-tailed Hummingbird

Alcedinidae: Green Kingfisher

Bucconidae: Pied Puffbird

Ramphastidae: Collared Aracari, Keel-billed Toucan

Picidae: Black-cheeked Woodpecker, Lineated Wookpecker

Furnariidae: Streak-headed Woodcreeper

Thamnophilidae: Western Slaty-Antshrike

Tyrannidae: Black-capped Pygmy-Tyrant, Common Tody-Flycatcher, Acadian or Willow Flycatcher, Panama Flycatcher, Great Kiskadee, Tropical Kingbird

Tityridae: Masked Tityra, Cinnamon Becard

Vireonidae: Lesser Greenlet

Corvidae: Black-chested Jay, Brown Jay

Troglodytidae: Band-backed Wren, House Wren

Polioptilidae: Tropical Gnatcatcher

Turdidae: Clay-colored Thrush

Coerebidae: Bananaquit

Thraupidae: White-lined Tanager, Passerini´s Tanager, Blue-gray Tanager, Palm Tanager, Plain-colored Tanager, Golden-hooded Tanager, Buff-throated Saltator, Black-headed Saltator

Emberizidae: Thick-billed Seed-Finch, Black-striped Sparrow

Icteridae: Orchard Oriole, Red-Breasted Blackbird, Great-tailed Grackle, Montezuma Oropendola

Fringillidae: Yellow-crowned Euphonia, Olive-backed Euphonia

Mainland Birding - Around Palo Seco National Forest

We spent the most of the day walking trails in the forest. There were creeks with big rocks and fresh clear water, surrounded by great vegetation around and within Palo Seco National Forest. In one of those amazing creeks we saw the Sunbittern which was a most spectacular experience. The abundance of hummingbirds was rather remarkable. We saw a whole exhibition of colors, shapes and birds humming around us.

Some of the highlights of the day:
Sunbittern
Green Hermit
Violet Sabrewing
Buff-rumped Warbler
Double-tooth Kite
Ornate Hawk-Eagle







FAMILY & COMMON NAME

Cracidae: Gray-headed Chachalaca

Accipitridae: Double-toothed Kite, Ornate Hawk-Eagle

Rallidae: White-throated Crake

Eurypygidae: Sunbittern

Columbidae: Pale-vented Pigeon

Apodidae: White-collared Swift

Trochilidae: White-necked Jacobin, Green Hermit, Stripe-throated Hermit, Purple-crowned Fairy, Violet Sabrewing, Bronze-tailed Plumeleteer, Violet-crowned Woodnymph, Rufous-tailed Hummingbird

Trogonidae: Slaty-tailed Trogon

Ramphastidae: Collared Aracari, Chestnut-mandibled Toucan, Keel-billed Toucan

Picidae: Black-cheeked Woodpecker, Lineated Wookpecker, Pale-billed Woodpecker

Furnariidae: Spotted Woodcreeper

Tyrannidae: Mountain Elaenia, Torrent Tyrannulet, Tropical Kingbird, Long-tailed Tyrant

Vireonidae: Lesser Greenlet

Troglodytidae: Bay Wren, House Wren

Turdidae: Mountain Thrush

Parulidae: Buff-rumped Warbler

Thraupidae: Tawny-crested Tanager, Crimson-collared Tanager, Passerini´s Tanager, Blue-gray Tanager, Palm Tanager, Plain-colored Tanager, Emerald Tanager, Silver-throated Tanager, Green Honeycreeper, Buff-throated Saltator

Emberizidae: Thick-billed Seed-Finch, Black-striped Sparrow

Fringillidae: Tawny-capped Euphonia, Olive-backed Euphonia

Even in the rain

Mainland Birding - Tower Road

Ramon and Natalia got an early start, walking on a road near the border between the provinces of Bocas del Toro and Chiriquí. This road is one of the limits of the Palo Seco National Forest. The road is in very good condition. It is asphalt with some nice shoulders to stop and enjoy the incredible view of the mountains and the canopy of the magnificent trees. Some of the side trails are clean to walk but are very steep. The morning was great, very clear and sunny, we found and observed a couple of Tawny-capped Euphonias making a nest.

The afternoon was cloudy with some rain and mist, but the birds were especially active when the mist was thick. We observed, before and during the rain, several mixed flocks of Emerald Tanagers, Silver-throated Tanagers and Tropical Parulas.

Some of the highlights today were:

Blue-throated Toucanet
White-throated Mountain-gem
Crimson-collared Tanager
Blue-and-gold Tanager (Look at the comments for more information)
Emerald Tanager
Silver-throated Tanager
Spangle-cheeked Tanager



Birds Seen by Family and Common Name

Cathartidae: Black Vulture

Rallidae: White-throated Crake

Psittacidae: Sulphur-winged Parakeet

Apodidae: White-collared Swift

Trochilidae: Stripe-throated Hermit, Violet Sabrewing, White-throated Mountain-gem

Ramphastidae: Blue-throated Toucanet, Collared Aracari, Chestnut-mandibled Toucan, Keel-billed Toucan

Picidae: Black-cheeked Woodpecker

Thamnophilidae: Immaculate Antbird

Tyrannidae: Tufted Flycatcher, Long-tailed Tyrant

Hirundinidae: Blue-and-white Swallow

Troglodytidae: House Wren

Turdidae: Mountain Thrush, Black-faced Solitaire

Parulidae: Tropical Parula, Slate-throated Redstart, Buff-rumped Warbler

Coerebidae: Bananaquit

Thraupidae: Black-and-yellow Tanager, White-lined Tanager, Crimson-collared Tanager, Passerini´s Tanager, Blue-and-gold Tanager, Emerald Tanager, Silver-throated Tanager, Spangle-cheeked Tanager, Buff-throated Saltator

Emberizidae: Thick-billed Seed-Finch, Black-striped Sparrow, Common Bush-Tanager

Cardinalidae: Black-faced Grosbeak

Fringillidae: Tawny-capped Euphonia

Mainland Birding - Cauchero Road

We (Natalia and her friend Clara) took a beautiful morning walk along a quiet country road on the mainland between Almirante and Cauchero.

Here are some of the highlight species we observed:

Crimson-fronted Parakeet
Common Black-Hawk
Great Antshike
Black-cowled Oriole
Black-crowned Tityra Yellow-crowned Euphonia.



Birds Seen by Family and Common Name

Cracidae: Gray-headed Chachalaca

Fregatidae: Magnificent Frigatebird

Cathartidae: Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture

Accipitridae: Common Black-Hawk, Roadside Hawk, Black Hawk-Eagle

Falconidae: Yellow-headed Caracara, Laughing Falcon

Rallidae: White-throated Crake

Columbidae: Pale-vented Pigeon, Short-billed Pigeon, Ruddy Ground-Dove, Blue Ground-Dove

Psittacidae: Crimson-fronted Parakeet, Olive-throated Parakeet, Blue-headed Parrot, Red-lored Parrot

Cuculidae: Groove-billed Ani

Nyctibiidae: Common Potoo

Apodidae: Gray-rumped Swift

Trochilidae: Stripe-throated Hermit

Trogonidae: Violaceous Trogon

Alcedinidae: Green Kingfisher

Ramphastidae: Keel-billed Toucan

Picidae: Black-cheeked Woodpecker, Lineated Wookpecker

Furnariidae: Slaty Spinetail, Plain Xenops, Streak-headed Woodcreeper, Long-tailed Woodcreeper

Thamnophilidae: Western Slaty-Antshrike, Chestnut-backed Antbird, Pacific Antwren

Tyrannidae: Yellow-bellied Elaenia, Ochre-bellied Flycatcher, Common Tody-Flycatcher, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Tropical Pewee, Dusky-caped Flycatcher, Panama Flycatcher, Great
Kiskadee, Boat-billed Flycatcher, Social Flycatcher, Gray-capped Flycatcher, Tropical Kingbird

Cotingidae: Purple-throated Fruitcrow

Tityridae: Black-crowned Tityra, Masked Tityra

Corvidae: Black-chested Jay

Hirundinidae: Purple Martin

Troglodytidae: Bay Wren, House Wren

Polioptilidae: Tropical Gnatcatcher, Long-billed Gnatwren

Turdidae: Clay-colored Thrush

Coerebidae: Bananaquit

Thraupidae: White-lined Tanager, Passerini´s Tanager, Blue-gray Tanager, Palm Tanager, Plain-colored Tanager, Golden-hooded Tanager, Buff-throated Saltator

Emberizidae: Variable Seedeater, Thick-billed Seed-Finch, Yellow-faced Grassquit, Black-striped Sparrow

Cardinalidae: Black-faced Grosbeak

Icteridae: Black-cowled Oriole, Montezuma Oropendola

Fringillidae: Yellow-crowned Euphonia

Living in the Jungle - Gabe's Point of View

Living in the remote jungle of Panama is very interesting. Every day is a new day. I never know what animals I might see. No matter what the weather, I always find something to catch my interest. One day it is sunny and I can go fishing, go hiking, and take photos and another day it can ran all day so I sit inside and listen to the thunder and watch the lightning bolts. Indoors or out, there is always something to do living in the jungle.

I can watch the hummingbirds bathe themselves. I can watch and listen as a mangrove tree falls down slowly. The cracking and breaking of branches is really cool to listen to as the tree slowly makes its way down and the forest goes through its life cycle. One of my favorite things to do while out in the jungle is to listen to all the different noises coming from the jungle plants and animals.

Here are a few of the photos I caught last week.

Best Views from a Hammock

Just in case you missed our post on Facebook last week, Tranquilo Bay was recently featured in a slideshow on Frommers.com about 8 great hotels with wonderful views from their hammocks. Hammock time is one of the best ways to pass a bit of time in the tropics. I highly recommend it to anyone visiting a tropical area. A nap in a hammock is a super sweet treat. Check out the entire slideshow here. Tranquilo Bay is the fifth hotel in the slideshow - you can't miss us.

Gallery Updates: Arachnids

As we make our way through all of the photo galleries, we plan on updating a mix each week. This week it has been Birds, Beaches and now Spiders. The Spider page is not one that will attract each person who is visiting Bocas del Toro or those who have been here before either for that matter, however, there are a number of people who are extremely interested in the arachnids. Thus we have the information available.

If you asked anyone with whom I grew up if I would make my home in the jungle one day, they would answer unequivocally "no." Yet, here I am. And I love it.

When I first arrived here in the jungle, I was not particularly happy to share my space with spiders. I have since gotten over it. I see the beauty in many of the spiders and in the webs that they weave. Now, I still dislike walking into a spider web and will avoid it if at all possible. I get all sticky and the sider must begin its work yet again.

Take at look at this gallery. Natalia Decastro Gonzalez has curated a nice set of eight legged creatures here in the jungle.

Hanging Sloth

Spider & Grasshopper

So, we know that a spider isn't an insect, but these two photos belong more together than any of the other photos that Gabe took, so we grouped them together.

Small Reptiles