Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Toucan and Monkey Island

I am linking up with World Bird Wednesday  and Nature Notes

During our trip to Panama, our tour group took a boat ride out to Monkey Island. This tour reminded me of the boat rides we took on our Costa Rica vacation. Very cool! The guys driving the three boats were pretty experienced at finding the Capuchin monkeys. Plus, I think it helped they had some spare grapes on board.



This is the second three toed sloth we saw during our time in Panama. The boat drivers were quick to spot this cool looking critter. It is actually the first time I was able to see a face on the sloth. Usually, it is hidden.


We were warned not to laugh at the monkeys because it could make them agressive. But, as soon as the drivers spotted the monkeys, the monkeys immediately came closer to the boats. I think they knew where the spare grapes were kept. Some of the ladies in our tour group started screaming when the monkeys jumped on the boat. At that point I was laughing hysterically and trying to take some shots of the monkeys at the same time.

These are the white faced Capuchin Monkeys.



We were told if they were NOT fed by the drivers they could get agressive. There is only so much food on this little island and they are use to being fed.


The Capuchin monkey trying to make a get away with the grapes.




One of the Capuchin monkeys walking on top of the other boat.



More of the Capuchin Monkeys


My favorite sighting... the Keel Billed Toucan




One of the main highlights of Monkey Island for me was seeing the Keel Billed Toucan. I just love these birds.

To see more wonderful birds click on my link World Bird Wednesday and Nature Notes.

Thanks to Springman for hosting World Bird Wednesday and to Michelle for hosting Nature Notes. Also, I appreciate your visits and comments. I hope everyone has a great week and a Happy Thanksgiving.

40 comments:

936000 said...

That is a great bird! I hope you enjoy your Thanksgiving Eileen!
meggs.xx

Anonymous said...

Oh my! I don't think I would be able to NOT laugh at the monkeys! Great pictures!

Debbie said...

what a beauty he is, the colors are soooo vibrant. he really doesn't look real!!

i have sooooo enjoyed all your photo's. thanks so much for sharing your journey!!

CameraCruise said...

Great shots!
The Toucan is so beautiful, love the colours.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.

TexWisGirl said...

the toucan is beautiful! but, yeah, those monkeys would freak me out a bit if they just came jumping onto the boat, rifling for food. :)

DeniseinVA said...

That's a pretty exciting trip out to Monkey Island Eileen. I loved the look of the sloth, always been fascinated by them, funny about the monkeys and the grapes and the toucan was just beautiful. Did you know that the President of Panama was brought up in Virginia?

Saun said...

Awesome set! the monkeys are my favorites, very pretty bird. Thanks for sharing....

mick said...

Great photos and what a fantastic holiday trip you had. I'm happy just seeing photos of the monkeys but I would love to really see a Toucan!

Brian King said...

The bill on that Toucan is awesome! Tons of color! Cool shots of the sloth and monkeys, Eileen!

holdingmoments said...

That Keel Billed Toucan is amazing. I've never heard of these before.

One said...

These monkeys are so very different from the ones I see here. Awesome photos, Eileen.

diane b said...

The Toucan is amazing. Their beak looks too big for them, but what great colours they have. The monkey episode sounded hilarious. They are a nice colour too. I love the sloth, it has a human face.

Jo said...

Oh I just love the toucan, Eileen. And the Capuchin monkeys are very pretty. This is the first time I see a slot and both other critters, so thank you for sharing. Hope you're having a great day. Greetings. Jo

Bob Bushell said...

The Capuchin monkeys are unique and the Billed Toucan, brilliant photos.

Carole M. said...

the toucan is AMAZING; but the sloth equally so. Monkey is handsome too; great colour fur. What a wonderful photographic and memorable jurney

caite said...

my..that sloth is such an odd fellow.

Liz said...

What cheeky monkeys, Eileen!
That Toucan is quite a capture. Well done!!

Larry said...

Thanks for sharing your Panama trip photos Eileen. The Keel Billed Toucan would be an awesome bird to add to my list of course but the monkeys are so cool and the Three Toed Sloth is too totally awesome!

Jen Sanford said...

WOW a toucan!!! I can't even imagine seeing one in the wild... And the monkeys on the boat must have been funny- love the monkey with the grapes photo!

Hilke Breder said...

Enjoyed your post, Eileen. Great sighting, and pictures, of a Keel-billed Toucan! Great colors. I always wonder how they can manage with that type of beak.

Anonymous said...

Hi Eileen, Of course I focused on the bird. Oh that Toucan is spectacular. I have never seen one in the wild only in a zoo. Have a great day and a lovely Thanksgiving tomorrow!

Nature Rambles said...

That must have been a wonderful trip! Great capture of the local wildlife. Loved the toucan...beautiful colours!

Reena said...

That Toucan is gorgeous! Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Anonymous said...

The sloth - what a sweet face! Great sightings and photos!

theconstantwalker said...

A wonderful post... many thanks for sharing.

NatureFootstep said...

makes me want to go back to that part of the world. :)

laurak/ForestWalkArt :) said...

(finally! this is my 3rd try here...i keep getting a flash not responding message! i hope this goes thru!)

what a trip!! i'm glad you were able to get those pictures through your hysterical laughter!! the monkeys are bold curious creatures! and the SLOTH!! wow!! he's smiling!! i always thought they had such weird looking faces! the toucan is gorgeous!! wow!! GREAT shots!

gobble gobble :)

Phil Slade said...

It must have been wonderful to see the sloth Eileen - they are so primitive. The Toucan too is very impressive - I envy your trip to Panama Eileen, so exciting to see all that unfamiliar wildlife.

Unknown said...

What a great post!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

Springman said...

Don't laugh? Good luck. I'm glad the monkeys didn't take offence to your laughter. There could have been a sad end to this story! Personally I don't trust monkeys and will not be going to Monkey Island any time soon. You are braver than I Eileen! The toucan is awesome!

Carver said...

What a great story and fantastic shots. I think it would be impossible not to laugh at the woman screaming hysterically. I bet the monkey's laughed at her too.

Carver said...

PS I hope you and your family have a happy thanksgiving.

Sondra said...

THe monkeys are very cool....and a beautiful toucan too. Must have been a fabulous trip.

SquirrelQueen said...

Not laughing would have been near impossible with those fellows around. I love your shot of the sloth, you got a great shot of his face.

Barb said...

I loved the toucan shot. It's almost surreal seeing them in the wild. Sounds like you had a great time in Panama.

Betty Manousos said...

the toucan is gorgeous!
and those monkeys look so alert and funny!

gorgeous photos, eileen.

happy thanksgiving!

Chad said...

I remember when we were in Costa Rica a few years ago and the White-faced Monkeys' immediately hopped onto our boat as we pulled ashore. They were so cool, but, I do remember they did threaten us with their teeth which made it a little scary. Nonetheless, a very cool experience!

Rambling Woods said...

That is so interesting that a monkey would know what a laugh means.. What a wonderful trip Eileen...Happy Thanksgiving...Michelle

LV said...

What a great presentation. I saw the Panama Canal once when I took a cruise. I was not impressed with what I saw. From a ship deck you do not always see the most interesting things.

Stewart M said...

Hi there - sorry about the delay in responding, have been away with work all week!

What a great bird - I think it must be in my top ten "want to see one of those" list! Splendid post.

Stewart M - Australia

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