At sunrise, we awoke to a chorus of singing birds and the smell of fresh brewed Panamanian coffee on the observation deck of the Tower. On one side of the platform, we observed an elegant pair of Keel-billed Toucans, while on the other, the first ships of the day making their way thru the Canal. We met our excellent guide, Nando, who we would soon find to be an expert at bird calls and spotting. His efforts (in addition to the team of guides at the Canopy Lodge) would be critical for the very successful wildlife observation and photography on our trip.
Upon leaving the tower for our first tour, we encountered an enormous swarm of army ants blanketing the ground and surrounding trees. With this bounty of food, the underbrush was alive with a feeding frenzy of birds. It was one of the more remarkable wildlife events I have experienced. Three different Antbirds were identified -- the highlight sighting was the elusive Ocellated variety!
Later in the morning, we visited a nearby feeding station which yielded some great images of both the red-legged and green honeycreepers.
We then made several unsuccessful attempts to keep up with a lesser anteater (Tamandua) quickly climbing through the canopy.
The rest of the day was essentially washed out with heavy rains; unfortunately, La Nina has resulted in an extended rainy season this year.
