Panamania! May 23-June 3 2021: My first visit to the Neotropics (4 Viewers)

[njlarsen]

For me, the one week stay in Darien was during our second trip to Panama (and I had been to Ecuador and Costa Rica prior to this). During the week in Darien I had 125 species with 14 lifers, and we visited a location in eastern Panama province with another 4 lifers and several other species not seen previously on this trip.
Niels

 

[njlarsen]

Please let us know how it goes! I went during the pandemic when things were almost completely empty, so I am curious how a more normal season compares, since I assume, even with inflation, that the number of birders visiting has gone up. Darien is definitely somewhere I would like to visit in the future, but it will be awhile!

Just returned from Panama. We arrived in a Wednesday to the Tower, where two other groups of three were present. These both left next morning, and we were alone (not counting employees) for the next two nights. Then we were transferred to the lodge for another five nights. The first two days we were alone there, and the last two there was another couple. Most of the guides were on vacation due to it being low season according to what we were told.
Niels

 

[Mysticete]

Just returned from Panama. We arrived in a Wednesday to the Tower, where two other groups of three were present. These both left next morning, and we were alone (not counting employees) for the next two nights. Then we were transferred to the lodge for another five nights. The first two days we were alone there, and the last two there was another couple. Most of the guides were on vacation due to it being low season according to what we were told.
Niels

Kind of sounds like my time. I had three days at the lodge, and overlapped the entire time with 2 guests. I had 7 days at the tower, and there was a private tropical birding tour there that I would see in the evening but they otherwise had there own guide...I think we overlapped for probably 3 days?

Doing a trip report here?

 

[njlarsen]

Doing a trip report here?

Undecided. If I do it probably will be less elaborate than yours
Niels
Ps: I have more than 2000 photos to go through first.

 

[kkdd]

Mysticete, thank you so much for taking the time to write this elaborate trip report. It was a fun read for sure. I took several notes that will help me better plan my upcoming trip to Panama!

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