Pipeline Road Weekend Hike

Where to go? June 24th, 2008

Was out walking along the pipeline road last weekend. Not sure it happens just to me or to everybody but there seam to be days when those birds just don’t want to be seen or my eyes cant find em (even do I hear many quite well) then there are other days when they just seam to sit in front of you and ask please take my picture. Well question: are bird count numbers generally down and might it be to changes in the environment or because of road works going on along the pipeline road? (Also guess it does not help to have so many cars driving along there) A couple weeks ago I did see the Harpy Eagle spotting some howler monkeys (see attached photo), some Trogons and many other birds, this time almost nada. So I exchange the long lens for the macro and look around for strange alien insects and butterflies when suddenly this Blue Chested Hummingbird makes a short appearance (see attached images) nice only wished he would have stayed a bit longer, well anyway for me the hike along the pipeline road is always a refreshing adventure even without seeing to many birds, the fresh air, the many sounds from zirpping to howling filling the rain forest’s air and all the diversity of life forms around, there is never a dull moment. Just standing there experiencing it all is a great and satisfiing feeling, just wish I could be there more often! For more information about the Pipeline Road including a little map from the SSI see this page here and for other great places to hike in Panama see the index here.