Panama: Parque Natural Metropolitano

Astounding and overwhelming! We got out just before 6 this morning to bird the rich grounds of the Albrook Hotel, where White-shouldered Tanagers and Piratic Flycatchers competed for our attention with Fork-tailed Flycatchers and Orange-chinned Parakeets. It was unbelievably birdy, but our excellent guide, Luis Paz, was waiting, so it was off to the Metropolitan Park for more.

The location is a scant 45 minutes from the airport, and travelers with layovers can arrange with the Panama La Verde birding circuit to be picked up by a guide and returned, or better yet, to bird the park and then stay the night at the Albrook before continuing. I can’t imagine anything better to remove the stress of an international trip!

It’s late and I’m tired, so just one highlight from today: Ruddy-tailed Flycatchers, incredibly cute little rusty birds with red tails and the endearing habit of lifting and shaking their wings on alighting. We’ll see more of them later in the week, but tomorrow and the next day we spend in the Chiriqui highlands, and I can’t wait!