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FIELD GUIDES BIRDING TOURS: Belize: Birds, Banding & Mayan Ruins

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FIELD GUIDES BIRDING TOURS: Belize: Birds, Banding & Mayan Ruins Please note: We have revised our Belize itinerary for 2015 to visit Crooked Tree Lagoon and the Punta Gorda area in the southern part of the country. We believe this will be a very productive trip to a less-traveled area with some rich birding sites. Despite the itinerary differences, we expect the cross section of birds we'll see in 2015 to overlap in all important aspects with what is reported in this triplist in the pages that follow, perhaps with the exception of Orange-breasted Falcon. We look forward to seeing you in Belize!! Field Guides Tour Report Belize: Birds, Banding & Mayan Ruins Apr 9, 2011 to Apr 16, 2011 Peter Burke & Lety Andino A wide-angle view of the ruins at Caracol and the surrounding forest (Photo by participant Peter Heilbroner) This trip to Belize marks a revival of Field Guides trips to this popular Neotropical destination. We chose Blackrock for its beauty, comfort, and birdlife and were not disappointed! With such a dramatic landscape and comfortable birding from the Lodge's veranda, who couldn't help but enjoy this place? Our novel approach to introduce birders to some new families through bird banding was also a great success, with some fun opportunities to see birds like woodcreepers, Schiffornis, tanagers, and flycatchers up close and personal. We also had some exciting opportunites to see prime examples of Neotropical Ornithology's great shows -- hummingbird niche partitioning, an oropendola nesting colony, manakin lek biology, and the unforgettable chaos of an army ant swarm. All of this combined made for a great tour with super folks, and we're really pleased to have been able to share it with you. Hope to see you again soon on the birding trail! --Peter and Lety We have more information about this itinerary and future departures on our web page for Belize: Birds, Banding & Mayan Ruins. KEYS FOR THIS LIST One of the following keys may be shown in brackets for individual species as appropriate: * = heard only, I = introduced, E = endemic, N = nesting, a = austral migrant, b = boreal migrant BIRDS Tinamidae (Tinamous) GREAT TINAMOU (Tinamus major) – Regularly heard in the first and last hour of light each day. THICKET TINAMOU (Crypturellus cinnamomeus) – One heard on our first evening walk together. [*] Anatidae (Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl) BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCK (Dendrocygna autumnalis) – A large group of these tree-perching ducks were seen near the Mennonite community of Spanish Lookout. BLUE-WINGED TEAL (Anas discors) – A single lingering male with the whistling-ducks. Cracidae (Guans, Chachalacas, and Curassows) Field Guides Birding Tours • www.fieldguides.com • 800-728-4953 1 PLAIN CHACHALACA (Ortalis vetula) – Several during our forays from Blackrock. GREAT CURASSOW (Crax rubra) – Two males made brief road crossings near Caracol. Odontophoridae (New World Quail) SPOTTED WOOD-QUAIL (Odontophorus guttatus) – Heard our first night at Blackrock. [*] Phasianidae (Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies) OCELLATED TURKEY (Meleagris ocellata) – This stunning bird was seen on the entrance road to Caracol. Ciconiidae (Storks) WOOD STORK (Mycteria americana) – Soaring high above Aguacate with vultures. Phalacrocoracidae (Cormorants and Shags) NEOTROPIC CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax brasilianus) Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns) BARE-THROATED TIGER-HERON (Tigrisoma mexicanum) – The rapids below the lodge hosted an actively feeding adult on our second to last day. SNOWY EGRET (Egretta thula) LITTLE BLUE HERON (Egretta caerulea) – Several at scattered locations, mainly white immatures. CATTLE EGRET (Bubulcus ibis) GREEN HERON (Butorides virescens) Cathartidae (New World Vultures) BLACK VULTURE (Coragyps atratus) TURKEY VULTURE (Cathartes aura) LESSER YELLOW-HEADED VULTURE (Cathartes burrovianus) – Rather brief views of soaring birds near the Ladyville Airport. KING VULTURE (Sarcoramphus papa) – This species can be difficult on visits to the tropics, but in Belize it is usually dependable. We were not disappointed and were treated to daily views. Pandionidae (Osprey) OSPREY (Pandion haliaetus) – A high-flying migrant on the MPR. Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, and Kites) HOOK-BILLED KITE (Chondrohierax uncinatus) – Distant views of a soaring dark morph at Slate Creek lookout. SWALLOW-TAILED KITE (Elanoides forficatus) – Several encounters with this graceful raptor during our stay. WHITE-TAILED KITE (Elanus leucurus) – A couple of birds in the farmland around San Ignacio. Our group had several great views of White-whiskered DOUBLE-TOOTHED KITE (Harpagus bidentatus) – A couple Puffbird. (Photo by guide Peter Burke) of high-soaring birds on two separate days. PLUMBEOUS KITE (Ictinia plumbea) – Once we got traveling around, it became obvious that this is a common breeder. We even encountered a nest with an incubating female near El Pilar. WHITE HAWK (Leucopternis albicollis) – One of the coolest raptors around, and we saw plenty of them well. COMMON BLACK-HAWK (Buteogallus anthracinus) – An immature perched on the road into Blackrock one morning. GREAT BLACK-HAWK (Buteogallus urubitinga) – A soaring adult at Blackrock fooled me into thinking it was a Solitary Eagle. We later enountered an immature soaring in the Macal River valley. ROADSIDE HAWK (Buteo magnirostris) – We had a few opportunities to get to know this 'great deceiver' of tropical raptors. Field Guides Birding Tours • www.fieldguides.com • 800-728-4953 2 GRAY HAWK (Buteo nitidus) – Several of these smart looking raptors. SHORT-TAILED HAWK (Buteo brachyurus) – A couple of these, including a dark morph bird soaring at Blackrock. BLACK HAWK-EAGLE (Spizaetus tyrannus) – Two high-flying birds at Slate Creek Valley allowed us to see their distinctive soaring profile. Falconidae (Falcons and Caracaras) COLLARED FOREST-FALCON (Micrastur semitorquatus) – A resident pair at Blackrock started the morning chorus of birds daily, but we never got a visual on them. [*] LAUGHING FALCON (Herpetotheres cachinnans) – Lety pulled this one out of a roadside Cecropia tree en route to Caracol. BAT FALCON (Falco rufigularis) – Caracol gave us nice views of a high, perched male near the back plaza. ORANGE-BREASTED FALCON (Falco deiroleucus) – A nesting pair on the face of Hill 2 at Blackrock. Those of us that made the steep, difficult ascent to the top of the Summit Trail on the afternoon of Day 3 were rewarded with some unfortgettable views of the male as he perched just 30 feet away. Charadriidae (Plovers and Lapwings) KILLDEER (Charadrius vociferus) – The artificial pond at the Mennonite complex. Jacanidae (Jacanas) NORTHERN JACANA (Jacana spinosa) – Several on the ponds going into Blackrock. Scolopacidae (Sandpipers and Allies) SPOTTED SANDPIPER (Actitis macularius) SOLITARY SANDPIPER (Tringa solitaria) – One at the Mennonite Pond and on the road into Blackrock were lingering migrants. LESSER YELLOWLEGS (Tringa flavipes) – Three at the Mennonite Ponds. LEAST SANDPIPER (Calidris minutilla) – One at the Mennonite Ponds. Columbidae (Pigeons and Doves) ROCK PIGEON (Columba livia) – Very scarce in Belize; we saw singles in San Ignacio and San Antonio. PALE-VENTED PIGEON (Patagioenas cayennensis) – Nice looks at Aguacate. RED-BILLED PIGEON (Patagioenas flavirostris) – Well seen right at Blackrock in numbers. SHORT-BILLED PIGEON (Patagioenas nigrirostris) – Heard on several occasions. [*] PLAIN-BREASTED GROUND-DOVE (Columbina minuta) – A recent arrival in the San Ignacio area due to the clearing of land. RUDDY GROUND-DOVE (Columbina talpacoti) – We caught one bird at Blackrock but it was otherwise common. BLUE GROUND-DOVE (Claravis pretiosa) – A couple of birds seen a Blackrock by a few folks and occasionally heard. WHITE-TIPPED DOVE (Leptotila verreauxi) – Commonly encountered at Caracol as well as other places during the trip but most often heard. GRAY-HEADED DOVE (Leptotila plumbeiceps) – Heard at El Pilar and the entrance gate to the MPR. [*] GRAY-CHESTED DOVE (Leptotila cassini) – One was seen at Blackrock and heard there as well. Psittacidae (Parrots) OLIVE-THROATED PARAKEET (Aratinga nana) – Fine views along the Blackrock road and Aguacate. WHITE-CROWNED PARROT (Pionus senilis) – A couple of good scope views at Blackrock for some one morning. WHITE-FRONTED PARROT (Amazona albifrons) – Noisy and conspicuous at Blackrock as well as the San Ignacio area. RED-LORED PARROT (Amazona autumnalis) – A nesting pair just outside of Aguacate gave great views. Cuculidae (Cuckoos) SQUIRREL CUCKOO (Piaya cayana) – Great views of this attractive cuckoo. GROOVE-BILLED ANI (Crotophaga sulcirostris) Tytonidae (Barn-Owls) BARN OWL (Tyto alba) – A distant bird during our night drive at Blackrock. Field Guides Birding Tours • www.fieldguides.com • 800-728-4953 3 Strigidae (Owls) FERRUGINOUS PYGMY-OWL (Glaucidium brasilianum) – Heard only during the night drive. [*] Caprimulgidae (Nightjars and Allies) COMMON PAURAQUE (Nyctidromus albicollis) – Great views of a roadside bird during the night drive. Nyctibiidae (Potoos) NORTHERN POTOO (Nyctibius jamaicensis) – Peter nailed this one for us along the Blackrock road during the night drive as it perched on a vertical tree trunk at forest's edge. Apodidae (Swifts) WHITE-COLLARED SWIFT (Streptoprocne zonaris) – Small groups along the MPR, perhaps driven down by large amounts of smoke in the air. VAUX'S SWIFT (Chaetura vauxi) – A big group of birds at Blackrock that would occasionally drop below us to drink from the Macal River. LESSER SWALLOW-TAILED SWIFT (Panyptila cayennensis) – High fliers at Blackrock; we never really got to see the bird
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