Sunday, November 20, 2011

Panama highlights

I am linking up with Mosaic Monday  and Our World Tuesday

I wish everyone a HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

In these mosiacs are some of the highlights from the first two days of our Panama vacation.







Seeing 7 new hummingbirds was also a treat for me the first day, the Violet-Bellied Hummingbird had the prettiest colors.

In the two previous posts I showed some more of my first day birding the Rainforest Discovery Center and the Pipeline Rd.

The second day included Panama Viejo (Old Panama) ruins and visitors center.


On our city tour I was still looking for birds, you never know when you might see a new bird.

And I did see a new bird as we were leaving the ruins. It is called the Saffron Finch. A pretty yellow bird and another lifer for me.





The Tropical Kingbirds were all over the place.


We also visited the San Jose Church with the gold alter and had  lunch at the Panama Canal's Miraflores Locks. The lunch banquet room at the locks included our own viewing area to watch the ships pass thru the locks. My blog Travel with Eileen has a little more info and photos on the Panama Viejo visitor's center and the ruins.




San Jose Church, we were told a story that in the old days the alter was painted black to hide the gold.


Right now they let ships go thru the locks in one direction for 12 hours and then they switch the directions for the other 12 hours. Ships have to wait in line for their turn either at the entrance of the Pacific or Atlantic Oceans. Additional locks are being built to handle even larger size ships than the ones we saw, so there is construction work constantly happening at the Panama Canal.


The brown pelicans seem to like fishing at the Canal locks. Other birds seen near the locks were the Magnificent Frigatebirds, Swallows, Black Vultures and Turkey Vultures and Laughing Gulls .


Please check out all the mosaic and photos at Mosaic Monday and Our World Tuesday.  Thanks to Mary for hosting Mosaic Monday and to all the hosts of Our World Tuesday: Arija, Sylvia, Gattina, Lafy Fi and Sandy. Thanks also for stopping by to see my post, I hope everyone has a safe and happy week ahead.

46 comments:

  1. those hummingbirds are truly like flying jewels! wow!

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  2. Wow,great capture of the hummingbirds and I love the butterflies too.

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  3. Looks like you had a wonderful time.
    I love the ruins. Those hummers are so pretty. Very different than our ruby throats. Must have been a thrill to see them.

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  4. Eileen, looks like an exciting trip to Panama. The colors of the hummingbirds --- amazing! Thanks for being our travel guide!

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  5. What a fantastic trip! Enjoyed your pictures and the mosaics. Beautiful colored hummingbirds, so pretty!

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  6. Stunning and exotic pictures...that one image of the hummingbird is just amazing!

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  7. Wow, I didn't even know hummingbirds came in such varieties!! Gorgeous photos!

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  8. I like your first comment! They DO look like jewels! How beautiful! I'm sending a link to your blog to my hubby's computer! We love birds and have never seen a humming bird like yours! ♥

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  9. Exceptional pictures! Wow!!! Takes my breath away! Wishing you well! C athy

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  10. those hummingbirds are priceless! So beautiful!

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  11. oh, love love your hummingbird pictures, they are always a joy and any birds too, to see.

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  12. Hi Eileen...Lovely ...the ruins and the scenes of the area are so great to see, and flowers and bird..love the name Saffon Finch nice color , and the highlight of it all... the jewel of a hummingbird amazing!!

    Grace

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  13. Those hummingbirds are just gorgeous. Like flying jewels.

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  14. What an interesting place. watching the ships go through the locks must be fun. Of course seeing lifers would be the best treat for you.

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  15. You must be having a wonderful time! All that colour- so exotic. I love the shot of the pelican - like a little grey waif.

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  16. Oh that hummingbird was so beautiful. I am glad you are enjoying your visit to Panama. V

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  17. What a fantastic journey, and the hummingbirds are gorgeous. I only saw one with red throat recently, and was over joy to watch..

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  18. Love the hummingbirds and the the butterfly. Looks like you had a very nice trip to Panama! Have a great week.

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  19. What a wonderful photo story. The birds are fascinating and photos are excellent. I am fascinated by locks.Any where I visit I just cannot take my eyes off the operations. Would love to visit there one day. Blessing and Happy Thanksgiving.
    QMM

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  20. Love that shot with all the hummingbirds. All neat photos - I enjoyed the virtual vacation. :)

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  21. What a place to go! You know I love the hummingbirds! Good for you!

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  22. Lovely mosaics, especially the first one with the Bird of Paradise. Those hummingbirds are gorgeous!
    xx

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  23. Wow, wow and wow!!! What an amazing trip you went on Eileen, I have enjoyed traveling along with you through these amazing photos.

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  24. Eileen, Thanks for visiting my site regularly and leaving comments. I'm hopeful that things will calm down from the last few months and I can be a more regular follower. Enjoyed reviewing your pics from Panama - it's on my list of places I'd like to visit.

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  25. i love the hummingbirds, but all the pics are beautiful :)

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  26. Looks like a great trip with lots of great sights to see. Love the birds! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

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  27. Oh, I do love the hummingbirds! All of your photos are terrific and it looks as though you're having a great time! Thanks for sharing with us! Hope you have a lovely holiday!

    Sylvia

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  28. I'm enjoying the photographs from your trip so much. The hummer is a beauty and I love your spotting the pelican on the lock. I like the diversity of shots you showed us.

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  29. Wow! Great collages. Terrific captures.

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  30. Great photos. I'd love to travel through the Panama Canal one day.

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  31. Happy Thanksgiving, Eileen! I love all your little hummingbird photos :-)

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  32. Fasciating humming birds! I am enjoying your tour of Panama.

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  33. What an exciting trip you are on, Eileen! The hummingbirds were so beautiful and the lock is so interesting.

    Have a very happy Thanksgiving!

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  34. Hi Eileen, Lovely collage with the hummingbird/s. Thanks too for the Panama Canal inclusion - went through it some 40 years ago enroute to the UK and it was fascinating then. Thanks also for visiting my blog.

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  35. What amazing captures - such a variety! Have a joyful Thanksgiving.

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  36. what cute photos of hummingbirds!
    a feel of joy which actually your photos describe it perfectly!!

    love your shot!

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  37. I wished we had hummingbirds in my part of the world. I have only seen them in a zoo !

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  38. ooooohhhhh gorgeous!! the hummingbirds are amazing!!

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  39. I was in Panama in 1972... and of course I expected that it's changed... a LOT! I live in a similar climate so I recognize the heliconia. I know there are birds here, lots of them, but I've not seen any as colorful as the ones you show us today. Happy Thanksgiving, Eileen!

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  40. The hummers are just dazzling! Lovely shots. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.

    Carolina Mts

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  41. love the hummingbirds, but teh butterfly is really something. Gorgeous!

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  42. Thankyou for the tour through Panama. It is so far away from me I don't think I will ever get there - so thanks for taking us there.
    And the hummingbirds are lovely - certainly not something we have in Australia.
    thank you also for stopping by my blog to say hi.
    Have a great week.

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  43. Wonderful Eileen -- what a beautiful vacation and lovely birds. I will go to your travel blog and just drool as soon as I get time. (Hard when on the road to keep up@)

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Hello, thank you for visiting my blog. I always appreciate your comments.

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Have a happy day, Eileen

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