Day 8 and 9
It's our last full day in Panama and we intend to make the most of the beautiful Canopy Camp and its wildlife. After a lie-in we are having breakfast at 7 am and listening to the sound of Howler Monkeys in the hills nearby and it's magnificent!
The hummingbird feeders and feeding stations are busy and there seemed to be life everywhere. A pair of Palm Tanagers nest in the hanging baskets by the lounge area, Chestnut-headed Oropendolas grace the fruit table and brightly coloured Thick-billed Euphonias chase each other around the bushes. Before long we've added Bananaquit, Whooping Mot-mot, Orange-chinned Parakeet, Red-lored Parrot, White-necked Jacobin, White-vented Plumeleteer, Saphire-throated Hummingbird, Yellow-throated Toucan, Streaked Flycatch and Rusty-margined Flycatcher.
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| Orange-chinned Parrot |
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| Thick-billed Euphonia, male |
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| Thick-billed Euphonia, male |
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| Rusty-margined Flycatcher |
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| Palm Tanager |
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| Ruddy Ground Dove |
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| And another.... |
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| And one more for luck. |
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| Streaked Flycatcher |
After breakfast we went to check out a Rufous Nightjar nesting just 30 meters from the breakfast area. This gorgeous bird had two chicks that were nearly fledged.
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| Rufous Nightjars |
Another 300 m further on and we were listening to the incredible rattling/snapping sound of male Golden-collard Manakins as they danced to attract a female. These stunning little birds suddenly kick-off into a frenzy of action and bounce from sapling to sapling in an area just a few meters squared. Absolutely mesmerising.
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| Golden-collard Manakin, male |
After watching these amazing little birds for nearly an hour, it starts to rain and we decide it's a good opportunity to have lunch and head back to the Camp.Over lunch the rain sets in (with the obligatory thunder/lightening) putting paid to any further plans to continue filming that afternoon.
Eventually it eased a little and with it came some activity in the shape of a small troupe of Geoffroy's Tamarin, a scarce primate confined to Panama and Colombia. They gave amazing views before vanishing into the dense jungle once more.
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| Geoffroy's Tamarin |
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| Geoffroy's Tamarin |
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| Sapphire-throated Hummingbird |
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| Chestnut-headed Oropendola |
We have to leave by 9 am the next morning so after a fantastic evening meal (the food and hospitality at Canopy Camp are second to none) we go through the process of checking and packing all the camera gear and getting an early night.
Next morning we load the van, bid goodbye to our wonderful hosts and start the journey back to Tocumen International Airport. On the way back we stop again at the cafe visited on the way to the Camp on day 2. Hummingbirds buzz around the feeders by the dozen.
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| Scaly-breasted Hummingbird |
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| White-necked Jacobin |
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| Black-throated Mango, female |
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| Black-throated Mango, female |
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| Rufous-tailed Hummingbird |
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| Rufous-tailed Hummingbird |
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| Sapphire-throated Hummingbird, male |
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| Snowy-bellied Hummingbird, male |
An amazing way to finish the trip.
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Wild Life
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