ORIOLE BIRDING Proposed Itinerary James Adams, March, 2015
DAY 1- Arrive San Pedro Sula, Honduras
Transfer to The Lodge at Pico Bonito (2½ hours drive):
After a mid-day/afternoon arrival into San Pedro Sula International Airport, we head east along Honduras’ North Coast, to The Lodge at Pico Bonito, the acclaimed birding/rain forest resort within 270,000 acre Pico Bonito National Park. If needed, we can stop for a snack break along the way, and a late afternoon arrival at The Lodge will afford us time to unpack, refresh and enjoy some light birding of the Lodge grounds before dinner.
DAY 2: The Lodge at Pico Bonito - Lovely Cotingas
Our first day at Pico Bonito will begin at 6:00 AM, with an early breakfast/orientation on the spacious, front deck of The Lodge’s Itzama Restaurant. For the next several hours our guide will lead us throughout the Lodge grounds, spotting numerous bird species that are common in the early hours. A climb to the top of the “Toucan Tower” observation platform, offers a bird’s eye view of the forest canopy that can include heart-stopping views of the coveted Lovely Cotinga.
Throughout the morning we will bird areas of tropical, secondary and gallery forest and plantations areas along the Rio Coloradito. Along this route, diversity is the rule and examples of sightings include Lovely Cotinga, Masked and Black-crowned Tityra, Blue crowned and Turquoise-browed Motmot, Tody Motmot, Keel-billed Toucan, Collared Aracari, Ferruginous Pigmy Owl, Black-cowled Oriole, Black-headed, Gartered, Collared and Slaty-tailed Trogon, Royal Flycatcher, Green, Shining and Red- Legged Honeycreeper, and up to 20 species of Hummingbirds including Crowned Woodnymph, Blue-throated Sapphire, Violet Sabrewing, Purple-crowned Fairy, Stripe- tailed Hummingbird, Brown Violet-ear, Green Violet-ear and White-necked Jacobin.
Lunch at The Lodge at Pico Bonito
In the afternoon, after lunch and a light siesta, we’ll ascend with our guide along The Lodge’s loop trail system in search of the more forest interior birds this rain forest paradise has to offer.
In addition to the Toucan Tower at the trail’s beginning, this route offers an elevated ridge platform, which overlooks the Rio Coloradito and surrounding forested slopes. Well also visit observation Tower #3 along the way, set amidst an area of bird-rich secondary forest and overgrown plantation. White-collared and Red-capped Manakin occur at various locations here and the Grey-headed Piprites may (rarely) be seen as well. Both Keel-billed and Tody Motmot are frequently encountered along this route. Other species here include the Great Curassow, Crested Guan, Slaty-breasted Tinamou, Little Tinamou, Scaly-throated Leaftosser, Keel-billed Toucan, Emerald and Yellow-eared Toucanet, Collared Aracari, a host of Flycatcher species, including the coveted Royal Flycatcher, and many of the Trogon, Woodpecker, Woodcreeper, Tanager and Oriole species on The Lodge’s 420+ bird list.
In addition to superb viewing from The Lodge’s towers, this route passes several overlooks along the Rio Coloradito and sightings of many Raptor species can be made here. Great and Northern Potoo are common here as well.
Dinner at The Lodge at Pico Bonito
DAY 3: Cuero y Salado Wildlife Refuge
Cuero y Salado Wildlife Refuge is named for the Cuero and Salado Rivers which here meet the ocean, The Refuge comprises over 35,000 acres of rivers, lagoons, mangroves, and forests that are home to diverse wildlife and a variety of birds exceeding 350 species. We’ll meet our guide early for breakfast, and depart for the refuge by 6:30. Access into this wilderness is via a small motorized train, which takes us along a century old track through bird-rich ranchlands, marshlands and plantation areas, ultimately arriving at the mouth of the Salado River and the Refuge itself. Birding from the train is always fun and exciting, as the conductor is eager to stop and point out species of interest along the way. Depending on season, a variety of raptors, wading birds and edge-habitat species abound along the railway.
Once at the Refuge, we will explore the various aquatic and forest habitats from a small, motorized skiff. Our guides and boat handlers are superbly trained spotters and when needed, prefer to silence our boat’s motor and quietly paddle in for a better look.
Agami Heron, Boat-billed Heron, Bare-throated Tiger Heron, Yellow-crowned Night Heron, Tri-colored Heron, Jabiru Stork, Pigmy Kingfisher, Sungrebe, Laughing Falcon, Bat Falcon, Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture, and Gray-necked Wood Rail, are but a few potential highlights of a visit to Cuero y Salado. During the right season (Feb. – March), we may have the opportunity to visit an established Boat-billed Heron rookery, consisting of several hundred pairs of these broad billed, wide eyed, bill clapping mangrove inhabitants.
Other tropical wildlife commonly seen here include: Black Howler Monkeys, White- faced Monkeys, Lesser Anteater, Central American Coati, Raccoon, Green Iguana, American Crocodile, and Spectacled Caiman. Lunch at The Lodge, and afternoon to visit The Lodge’s butterfly farm, or birding the Lodge’s grounds and gardens.
Dinner at The Lodge at Pico Bonito.
After dinner, we’ll be guided around the Lodge’s gardens and plantation areas where Mottled Owl, Vermiculated Screech Owl, Black and White Owl, and both Great and Northern Pootoo may be found. A stop by The Lodge’s frog ponds nearly always delights with the sounds and sights of a breeding Red-eyed Tree frog colony there.
DAY 4: Rio Aguan Valley and The Endemic Honduran Emerald
We’ll begin this full day of birding Honduras’ unique dry forest habitat with an early breakfast at The Lodge, and departure by 4:30 AM.
The target of our search, the beautiful but critically endangered Honduran Emerald survives only in remaining pockets of tropical dry forest to the south of Pico Bonito National Park. Descending the “rain shadow”, or southern side of the Park, cloud forested peaks and pine studded slopes give way to an arid, almost desert-like plain, once dominated by tropical thorn or dry forest. Although endangered, the Honduran Emerald is considered common within its habitat. As such, regardless of season, our chances of seeing the Honduran Emerald are very good.
Our ride into Emerald country can be equally exciting, as a surprising number of bird species inhabit dry forest. Along the way, we’ll also visit localized wet areas within this arid region. These sites can be magnets for wading birds and other species. We’ll go after species such as; Double-striped Thick-knee, Lesser Roadrunner, Lesser Ground Cuckoo, Beardless Tyrannulet, White-lored Gnatcatcher, White-throated Magpie-jay, Banded Wren, White-bellied Wren, and Stripe-headed Sparrow, and Salvin’s Emerald among others.
We’ll enjoy lunch in the nearby ranching town of Olanchito, and return to The Lodge by 4:00 PM.
Dinner at The Lodge at Pico Bonito
DAY 5: Hummingbirds of Rio Santiago
Rio Santiago Nature Resort is a 150 acre, private preserve located 30 kilometers west of The Lodge at Pico Bonito. Its secluded, rain forest location and impressive numbers of hummingbird feeders has earned it the name of “hummingbird capital of Honduras”. Throughout most of the year, Santiago’s trails and main garden areas abound with bewildering numbers of some of Honduras’ most well-known hummingbird species.
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird, Cinnamon Hummingbird, Brown Violet-ear, Band- tailed Barbthroat, Violet Sabrewing, Crowned Woodnymph, Stripe-throated Hermit, Long-billed Hermit, Stripe-tailed Hummingbird, White-bellied Emerald, and Scaly- breasted Hummingbird are but a few of those species that frequent Santiago’s feeders. Black-crested Coquette can also be seen on Santiago’s main trail.
In addition, both the spectacular Keel-billed Motmot and Rufous-tailed Jacamar are frequently seen along with Red-capped and White-collared Manakins along Santiago’s trail system.
Lunch/Dinner at The Lodge at Pico Bonito
DAY 6: Lancetilla Botanical Gardens
We’ll meet our guide for breakfast, and depart for The Lancetilla Botanical Gardens by 5:30 AM. Set amidst a coastal valley flanked by low, rain-forested hills, The United Fruit Company founded Lancetilla as a station where tropical fruit and wood trees were studied for commercial value. The Gardens were founded in 1925, and some of that work continues. However this diverse tropical treasure, composed of a mosaic of forest and edge habitats, is today best known for its superb birding.
Honduras ‘annual Christmas Bird Count is held at Lancetilla, and every December, bird watchers flock to confirm, and add, to the Garden’s growing list of colorful, tropical species. The current bird list reads like a who’s who of tropical birds, and includes Motmots and Manakins, Woodcreepers and Warblers, Woodpeckers, Toucans, Tanagers, and scores of others.
Thanks to this diversity; a typical day of birding here could yield: Little Tinamou, Common Black Hawk, Ornate Hawk-eagle, Ruddy Crake, White-fronted Parrot, Red-lored Parrot, Squirrel Cuckoo, Black-headed Trogon, Gartered Trogon, Collared Trogon, Turquoise-browed Motmot, Blue-crowned Motmot, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, Great Antshrike, Barred Antshrike, Long-billed Gnatwren, and a host of other resident and migrant species.
We’ll complete our morning at Lancetilla with lunch in the beach-side town of Tela, and return to The Lodge by late afternoon.
Dinner at The Lodge at Pico Bonito
Day 7: Optional Day
(This day I’m leaving open so we can re-bird any areas you might want to visit again. Many of our birding clients want this day for more photography/birding, etc. Alternately we can leave one day early for the highlands, or if interested do the snorkeling trip described below).
Snorkeling: We depart at 6:30 AM for the true tropical island paradise known as “The Cayos Cochinos”. This small, Caribbean archipelago is a group of 15 remote islands located about 9 miles north of the Honduran mainland and due south of the island of Roatan. The entire system of pristine islands and surrounding coral reef is designated as a biological reserve. Birds here can include Yucatan Vireo, White-crowned Pigeon, Brown Booby, Brown Pelican, Caribbean Dove, Bridled Tern, Roseate Tern, Canivet’s Emerald, and others. The Cayos are also home to Honduras’ endemic pink Boa Constrictor (often seen).
Day 8: Breakfast and Depart The Lodge at Pico Bonito for San Pedro Sula International Airport
(Dave on to La Tigra National Park)
Day 8 (cont’d): Transfer to Hotel Los Gloriales
PM birding in the grounds of Hotel Las Gloriales. Lunch on the way, dinner and lodging at Los Gloriales
Day 9: La Tigra National Park
We’ll make an early departure at 5:00 AM for La Tigra’s trail system, where we’ll hike up into pristine cloud-forest looking the Resplendent Quetzal, Slate-colored Solitaire, Singing Quail, Scaled Antpitta, Green Breasted Mountain Gem, Green Throated Mountain Gem, White Breasted Hawk, White-naped Brushfinch, Black-vented Oriole, Magnificent Hummingbirds, Ruddy-capped Nightingale Thrush, Strong-billed Woodcreeper and many others. This is going to be a full morning birding in this park so our breakfast and lunch will be in the field, after 1:00 pm we will depart to Panacam Lodge.
Dinner and Lodging at Panacam Lodge.
Day 10: Panacam Lowlands and Lake Yojoa
We’ll spend some time in the morning birding the Panacam lowlands for Prevost Ground- Sparrow, Green-backed Sparrow and the numerous hummingbirds in the lake region. After breakfast we will walk the trails of this tropical humid forest. This is home and one of the best windows to find Keel-billed Motmot. Blue-crowned, Tody and Turquoise-browed Motmot should be seen along the way, as well as Collared Trogons. The lovely Black-crested Coquette, White bellied Emerald and many more Hummingbirds are found as well in the park at feeders close to the visitors’ center. Red-capped and White-collared Manakins should also be present.
After lunch, we’ll head for Lake Yojoa, a very large, natural lake in central part of Honduras. This is a great place for water birds including Black-bellied Whistling and Muscovy Ducks, Spotted Rail, Ruddy Crake, Gray-breasted Crake, Northern Jacana and many more. We might get lucky and find other good species as well.
Breakfast, lunch, dinner and lodging at Panacam Lodge.
Day 11: Early Departure for San Pedro Airport