Paraiso Miramar (San Blas area), Jan. 26 - Feb. 15

Mangroves Birding

 
 
 

        Nowhere was birding more visually intense than on our boat trip through the mangroves.  In addition to the main morning cruise from nearby Mantanchen, Carolyn and Charlie joined Jim and Pat Coe for an afternoon cruise, and another group took a cruise from San Blas lasting into the night.
Mantanchen landing
Early risers waiting for the boatmen
First boat
Our boatman
Second boat
"What's that up there?"

 
 
        Even the familiar North American wading birds were a treat when seen at such close range and in such abundance.
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Green Heron
Yellow-crowned Night Heron
Black-crowned Night Heron
White Ibis

 
        Especially interesting were some of the rarer and more bizarre denizens of tropical marshes.  Unfortunately the Northern Potoo, an owl camouflaged to resemble a rotting tree snag, was seen only on the night trip and could not be photographed.
Bare-throated Tiger Heron
Boat-billed Heron
Anhinga

 
       There were also plenty of interesting non-water birds along the way..
Great Kiskadee
Grey Hawk
Lesser Nighthawk

 
       Birds were not the only intriguing creatures present.
Iguana
Crocodile
Close-up

 
        This faunal spectacle unrolled against a backdrop of marshy variety.  The pleasant waterside cafe at bucolic La Tovara Springs, our halfway turnaround point, offered a brief respite for overtaxed senses.
Mangrove jungle
Into the tunnel
Fishing huts
La Tovara Springs
La Tovara cafe
Egret roost
Twilight
Night
Debarking



Photographs copyrighted 2004 by Carolyn Merchant