I visited Panama from the 6th to the 23rd August last year with my parents. I had previously visited Costa Rica in 2003, so it wasn't my first experience of the spectacular avifauna of the neotropics, although that wasn't specifically a birding trip.
First we stayed at the Canopy Tower for 5 days, definitely the coolest hotel i've ever stayed in! We birded a lot from the tower as well as Semaphore Hill, Gamboa Town, Pipeline Road, Summit Ponds, the Botanical Gardens and the Chagres River plus a night drive down Semaphore Hill. The birding was amazing everywhere, and i particularly enjoyed Pipeline Road! Highlights included all of the Central panamanian Trogons, numerous Antbirds, Blue Cotinga, lots of Tanagers, some Manakins, Southern Bentbill, Common and Great Potoos, White Hawk and lotsa hummingbirds! My personal highpoint though was birding Pipeline Road for the second time with Jose. He heard a Streak chested Antpitta calling, and we wandered off the path to track it down. After ten or so minutes we caught sight of this little beauty! The spotted breast, large spectacles and strange shape were just so cool! Although its not so rare or hard to see as other Antpittas, I'd been waiting see one for a while and was delighted with the sighting!
After the intense birding at the Canopy Tower we headed into Chiriqui province to Cala Mia on Isla Boca Brava for a more relaxing few days on the Pacific Coast. Exploring the forest and coast I saw few new species but some really cool birds. Lance Tailed Manikins and Black Hooded Antshrikes were around but often hard to see. Spotted Sandpiper, Willet, Whimbrel and American Oystercatcher foraged along the shore and Brown Boobies were seen offshore. On one occasion while walking the forest, I saw a Black Hawk, which would be Mangrove as it was on the Pacific Coast. Does anyone know the current thinking on the Black Hawk complex?
A birding and snorkelling trip on a boat took us past a breeding colony of White Ibis. Sat on a rock a few miles offshore were two Blue Footed Booby, accompanied by two Browns. They cetainly lived up to their name!
More to follow tomorrow, when we went into the Chiriqui Highlands and then further East again to finish off...