Second visit to Pipeline Road

As the dry season in Panama was winding down—though it’s never truly “dry” here—we’d been lucky with the weather, only experiencing a brief afternoon storm. However, last night brought heavy rain that continued into the early hours, delaying our return to Pipeline Road. Once the rain cleared, we checked in on the feeders and a Boa Constrictor we’d been observing, before setting off towards Gamboa and the start of Pipeline Road. Our aim this time was to reach a point where the pipeline itself becomes visible.

Although we didn’t add many new bird species to our list, the morning was far from quiet. Along the road, we spotted several mammals, including Red-tailed Squirrels, Capuchin and Howler monkeys, Agoutis, White-nosed Coatis, and even a Pocket Mouse.

Our birding efforts were rewarded with excellent views of a Cinnamon Woodpecker, Crimson-crested Woodpecker, Dot-winged Antwren, Red-lored Amazon Parrot, and a Red-headed Manakin that we spotted bathing in a stream. The rain had also drawn out plenty of reptiles and amphibians, providing great opportunities for photography. We captured reasonable images of Middle American Ameiva, Common Basilisks, Green Iguanas, a Leaf Litter Toad, and a Panama Rocket Frog. A closer look at our photos revealed something fascinating—the warty texture on the rocket frog’s skin was actually tadpoles clinging to its back!

Panama Rocket Frog

We learned more about the Panama Rocket Frog’s unique parental behavior. After the female lays her eggs on leaves, both parents guard the eggs, keeping them moist with water from their bladders. Once the eggs hatch, the female carries the tadpoles on her back using specialized suction-cup-like mouthparts. For around nine days, she nourishes them with a nutrient-rich fluid secreted by her skin before releasing them into a fast-flowing stream to complete their development.

Summit Botanical Gardens

After lunch at the Canopy Tower, we headed to the nearby Summit Botanical Gardens. Established in 1923. The gardens originally served as a research farm to study plant adaptation and now function as a rescue centre for local wildlife. Our main goal for the visit was to locate a group of Tent-making Bats, which roost under a palm tree during the day. Along the way, we also encountered a rescued female Harpy Eagle, a striking sight.

Despite a bit of rain and overcast skies, we explored the gardens, where we spotted a Common Nighthawk braving the drizzle and several Pond Sliders leisurely swimming in a pond. Bird activity remained steady, with sightings of House Wrens, Song Wrens, Clay-colored Thrushes, Lesser Kiskadees, Common Tody Flycatchers, Blue-headed Parrots, and a Spotted Antbird. A playful family of Agoutis kept us entertained as we made our way out of the park.

Summit Ponds

As dusk approached, we made our way to the Summit ponds, where Border Patrol Guards were on duty. Here, we were rewarded with views of three Kingfisher species—the Amazon Kingfisher, Green Kingfisher, and the tiny Pygmy Kingfisher. Away from the water, we also added an Anhinga, a Seedeater, Fulvous-vented Euphonia, Gartered Trogon, Smooth-billed Ani, and a Panamanian Flycatcher to our list.

We then returned to the Tower for dinner, and as the day wound down, we began packing for our next destination—El Valle. Nestled in the crater of an extinct volcano and surrounded by cloud forests and mountains.