World Birding Expeditions

Tikal

2007-02-10T09:21:00.001-08:00

Parque Tikal - Guatemala
Species:
109; in 1 and 1/2 days (no guide)
94; 1 day high tally
Birding:
***** This was humid lowland birding at its best. With several ponds, a drier scrubbier area, and the lush jungle you can see why there are so many birds here. As with many of the places we visited, we only saw a fraction of what was actually out there, but a great day none the less.
Trails:
Great. You can easily walk the them for days, don’t get lost though!
Where:
El Peten in Northeastern Guatemala, 2 1/2 hours from Belize border.
How Do I get there:
By far the most common way to get there is on a tour package from Flores or Belize. It wasn’t terribly expensive, $7 or so, with a return ride the next day included.
You might be able to take a (chicken) bus to the entrance of the Reserve and then hitch(?) your way the remaining 17kms to the actual park entrance itself. I suppose you could if need be rent a car as well.
Accomodations:
There are several nice places to stay right outside the entrance to park some a bit cheaper than others but all considerably more than outside this touristy area.
We tented it for about $5 a night for the both of us at the Jaguar Inn. They have a nice shower and bathrooms for the tenters. You can also leave your stuff at the front desk if need be.
What to bring:
· Good flashlight/headlamp, it gets very dark in the jungle and its about 300m to the cheaper places to eat.
· Food, if we were to do it again we would probably bring more food in that we did. There are no descent tiendas within walking distance and the food at the restaurants was around $6-8 a meal. Beers for about $2.
· Tent, it worked out great.

Phalacrocoraciadae
1. Neotropical Cormorant Phalacocorax brasilianus
Podicipedidae
2. Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps
Anhingidae
3. Anhinga Anhinga Anhinga
Ardeidae
4. Great Egret Ardea alba
Cathartidae
5. Black Vulture Coragyps atratus
6. Turkey Vulture Carthartes aura
Accipitridae
7. Gray Hawk Asturina nitida
8. Ornate Hawk-eagle Spizaetus ornatus
9. Short-tailed Hawk Buteo brachyurus
Falconidae
10. Bat Falcon Falco rufigularis
11. Orange-breasted Falcon Falco deiroleucus
12. Barred Forest-Falcon Micrastur ruficollis
Cracidae
13. Great Currasow Crax rubra
14. Crested Guan Penelope purpurascens
15. Plain Chachalaca Ortalis vetula
Phasianidae
16. Ocellated Turkey Meleagris ocellata
Rallidae
17. Grey-necked Wood-rail Aramides cajanea
Aramidae
18. Limpkin Aramus guarauna
Columbidae
19. Ruddy Ground-dove Columbina talpacoti
Psittacidae
20. Mealy Parrot Amazona farinosa
21. Red-lored Parrot Amazona autumnalis
22. Brown-hooded Parrot Pionopsitta haematotis
Cuculidae
23. Squirrel Cuckoo Piaya cayana
Strigidae
24. Black-and-white Owl Strix nigrolineata
25. Mottled Owl Ciccaba virgata
Apodidae
26. Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift Panyptila cayennesis
27. Vaux’s Swift Chaetura vauxi
Trochilidae
28. Rufous-tailed Hummingbird Amazilia tzacatl
29. Purple-crowned Fairy Heliothryx barroti
30. Canivet’s Emerald Chlorostilbon canivetii
31. Little Hermit Pygmornus longuemareus
Trogonidae
32. Violaceous Trogon Trogon violaceus
33. Black-headed Trogon Trogon melanocephalus
Momotidae
34. Tody Motmot Hylomanes momotula
35. Blue-crowned Motmot Momotus momota
Alcedinidae
36. Ringed Kingfisher Ceryle torquata
Ramphastidae
37. Keel-billed Toucan Sulfuratus sulfuratus
38. Collared Aracari Pteroglossus torquatus
Picidae
39. Smokey-brown Woodpecker Veniliornis fumigatus
40. Golden-fronted Woodpecker Melanerpes aurifrons
41. Golden-olive Woodpecker Piculus rubiginosus
42. Chestnut-colored Woodpecker Celeus castaneus
43. Lineated Woodpecker Dryocopus lineatus
44. Pale-billed Woodpecker Campephilus guatemalensis
Dendrocolaptidae
45. Olivaceous Woodcreeper Sittasomus grisicapillus
46. Ivory-billed Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus flavigaster
Furnariidae
47. Plain Xenops Xenops minutus
Thamnophilidae
48. Barred Antshrike Thamnophilus doliatus
Tyrannidae
49. Least Flycatcher Empidonax minimus
50. Ochre-bellied Flycatcher Mionectes oleaginus
51. Great Crested Flycatcher Myiarchus crinitus
52. Dusky-capped Flycatcher Myiarchus tuberculifer
53. Brown-crested Flycatcher Myiarchus tyrannulus
54. Sulphur-rumped Flycatcher Myiobius sulphureipygius
55. Vermillion Flycatcher Pyrocephalus rubinus
56. Royal Flycatcher Onychorhychus coronatus
57. Boat-billed Flycatcher Megarynchus pitangua
58. Social Flycatcher Myiozetetes similes
59. Couch’s Kingbird Tyrannus couchii
60. Great Kiskadee Piangus sulphuratus
61. Eye-ringed Flatbill Rhynchocyclus brevirostris
62. Stub-tailed Spadebill Platyrinchus cancrominus
63. Cinnamon Becard Pachyramphus cinnamomeus
64. Slate-headed Tody-flycatcher Todirostrum sylvia
65. Masked Tityra Tityra semifasciata
Estrildidae
66. White-collared Mannakin Manacus candei
67. Red-capped Mannakin Mentalis mentalis
Vireonidae
68. Yellow-throated Vireo Vireo flavifrons
69. White-eyed Vireo Vireo griseus
70. Red-eyed Vireo Vireo olivaceus
71. Warbling Vireo Vireo gilvus
72. Lesser Greenlet Hylophilus 73. decurtatus
Corvidae
73. Brown Jay Cyanocorax morio
Hirundinidae
74. Tree Swallow Tachycineta bicolor
75. Gray-breasted Martin Progne chalybea
76. Northern Rough-winged Swallow Stelgidopteryx serripennis
Troglodytidae
77. White-bellied Wren Uropsila lieucogastra
78. White-breasted Wood-wren Henicorhina leucosticte
Sylviidae
79. Long-billed Gnatwren Ramphocaenus melanurus
80. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Polioptila caerulea
Turdidae
81. Wood Thrush Catharus mustelina
Mimidae
82. Gray Catbird Dumetella carolinensis
Parulidae
83. Yellow Warbler Dendroica petechia
84. Western Palm Warbler Dendroica palmarum
85. Magnolia Warbler Dendroica magnolia
86. Black-throated-green Warbler Dendroica virens
87. Chestnut-sided Warbler Dendroica pensylvanica
88. Yellow-rumped Warbler Dendroica coronata
89. Tropical Paurla Parula pitiayumi
90. Kentucky Warbler Oporornis formosus
91. Hooded Warbler Wilsonia citrina
92. Black-and-white Warbler Mniotilta varia
93. American Redstart Setophaga ruticilla
94. Worm-eating Warbler Helmitheros vermivorus
95. Ovenbird Seiurus aurocapillus
96. Golden-crowned Warbler Basileuterus culicivorus
97. Common Yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas
98. Yellow-breasted Chat Icteria virens
Thraupidae
99. Black-throated Shrike-tanager Lanio aurantius
100. Red-crowned Ant-tanager Habia rubica
101. Olive-backed Euphonia Euphonia gouldi
102. Scrub Euphonia Euphonia affinis
103. Summer Tanager Piranga rubra
Cardinalidae
104. Blue Bunting Passerina caerulea
105. Indigo Bunting Passerina cyanea
Emerizidae
106. Green-backed Sparrow Arremonops chloronotus
Icteridae
107. Black-cowled Oriole Icterus dominicensis
108. Montezuma Oropendula Psarocolius montezuma
109. Melodious Blackbird Dives dives

Los Tarrales Private Reserve- Guatemala

2007-02-10T07:35:00.000-08:00

Los Tarrales Private Reserve is a world class birding preserve located on the Pacific slope of Vulcan Atilan in Guatemala. With 3 life zones and a huge elevation gain of nearly 13, 500 ft, the bird diversity is amazing with 22 species of hummingbird possible.

If you need a guide, Josue de Leon knows this area very well and will be a great benefit on your birding adventure. He can be contacted by visiting the Las Tarrales website.

The following list was compiled on November 1-2, 2006. 113 species seen.

Field notes from Las Tarrales:

Tennessee Warblers were by far the most common warbler from the states but as you went higher in elevation it became more diverse with several Worm-eating warblers seen at the highest/ steepest portions of the trail. Mixed flocks dominated by North American migrants were common with Red-legged honeycreepers being the most frequent resident within the flocks. Swainson’s thrushes were found equally on the ground and in the trees and were by far the most frequent turdidae, besides Clay-colored robins (resident) which were seen at the lower elevation levels. Saw many more Baltimore Orioles on the 1st than the 2nd.

Flycatchers favored newly planted, less shade grown coffee, while few other birds were seen in non-shade grown coffee (except a few Magnolia and Chestnut-capped warblers). Heavily shaded coffee was generally very good birding with very high diversity.

Speices:
113; in 1 and 1/2 days (1/2 day with guide;$10)
98; 1 day high tally
Birding:
***** It really doesn't get any better than Las Tarrales. With a huge elevation gain and great trails that aren’t that hard to hike it is a birder’s paradise.
Trails:
The Reserve has a great trail system that cut their way through the shade-grown coffee and surrounding forest.
Where:
Western Central Guatemala. Between Cocales and San Lucas Toliman
How Do I get there:
There are many buses and several trucks that go in-between Cocales and San Lucas Toliman. You could also probably take a rent-a-car.
Accomodations:
Las Tarrales offers nice rooms for around $20. Or you can pitch a tent next to the lagoon for $6 (recommended). You can leave your valuables at the office if you need to. They also have furnished tree houses for around $20.
Not much else in the vicinity besides these choices.
What to bring:
· Good flashlight/headlamp, it gets pretty dark in town and on the walk to the lagoon.
· Food, it’s a bit pricey there ($8 average), but is largely organic. There are a few tiendas in the neighboring village but it would be easiest to bring from the get-go.
· Tent (there are actually quite a few places to camp in Guatemala) But bring a lock.

Ardeidae
1. Little Blue Heron - Egretta caerulea
2. Cattle Egret -Bubulcus ibis

Cathartidae
3. Black Vulture -Coragyps atratus
4. Turkey Vulture -Carthartes aura
5. King Vulture -Sarcoramphus papa

Anatidae
6. Blue-winged Teal- Anas discors

Accipitridae
7. Gray Hawk Asturina nitida
8. Broad-winged Hawk Buteo platypterus
9. Short-tailed Hawk Buteo brachyurus

Falconidae
10. Collared Forest-falcon -Micrastur semitorquatus
11. Northern Crested Caracara -Caracara cheriway

Cracidae
12. Crested Guan -Penelope purpurascens

Columbidae
13. Red-billed Pigeon -Columba flavirostris
14. Band-tailed Pigeon -Columba fasciata
15. Inca Dove -Columbina inca
16. White-tipped Dove -Leptotila verreauxi

Psittacidae
17. Pacific Parakeet -Aratinga strenua
18. Orange-fronted Parakeet -Aratinga canicularis
19. Orange-chinned Parakeet -Brotogeris jugularis

Cuculidae
20. Squirrel Cuckoo -Piaya cayana
21. Groove-billed Ani -Crotophaga sulcirostris

Strigidae
22. Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl -Glaucidium brasilianum
23. Mottled Owl -Ciccaba virgata

Caprimulgidae
24. Lesser Nighthawk -Chordeiles acutipennis

Apodidae
25. White-collared Swift -Streptoprocne zonaris
26. Vaux’s Swift -Chaetura vauxi

Trochilidae
27. Violet Sabrewing -Campylopterus emileucurus
28. Berylline Hummingbird -Amazilia berylline
29. Blue-tailed Hummingbird -Amazilia cyanura
30. Cinnamon Hummingbird- Amazilia rutila
31. Long-billed Starthroat -Heliomaster longirostris
32. Ruby-throated Hummingbird- Archilochus colubris
33. Magnificent Hummingbird -Eugunes fulgens
34. Blue-throated Sapphire -Hylocharis eliciae

Trogonidae
35. Violaceous Trogon -Trogon violaceus
36. Collared Trogon -Trogon collaris

Momotidae
37. Tody Motmot -Hylomanes momotula
38. Blue-crowned Motmot -Momotus momota

Alcedinidae
39. Green Kingfisher -Chloroceryle Americana

Ramphastidae
40. Collared Aracari -Pteroglossus torquatus

Picidae
41. Golden-fronted Woodpecker -Melanerpes aurifrons
42. Golden-olive Woodpecker -Piculus rubiginosus
43. Lineated Woodpecker -Dryocopus lineatus
44. Pale-billed Woodpecker -Campephilus guatemalensis

Furnariidae
45. Rufous-breasted Spinetail -Synallaxis erythrothorax

Thamnophilidae
46. Barred Antshrike- Thamnophilus doliatus

Tyrannidae
47. Greenish Elaenia -Myiopagis viridicata
48. Common Tody-flycatcher -Todirostrum cinereum
49. Yellow-olive Flycatcher -Tolmomyias sulphurescens
50. Tropical Pewee -Contopus cinereus
51. Western Wood-pewee -Contopus sordidulus
52. Least Flycatcher -Empidonax minimus
53. Yellowish Flycatcher -Empidonax flavescens
54. Buff-breasted Flycatcher -Empidonax fulvifrons
55. Pacific-sloped Flycatcher -Empidonax difficillis
56. Dusky-capped Flycatcher -Myiarchus tuberculifer
57. Great Kiskadee -Piangus sulphuratus
58. Boat-billed Flycatcher -Megarynchus pitangua
59. Social Flycatcher- Myiozetetes similes
60. Rose-throated Becard -Pachyramphus aglaiae
61. Grey-collared Becard -Pachyramphus major
62. Masked Tityra -Tityra semifasciata

Vireonidae
63. Cassin’s Vireo -Vireo cassinii
64. Yellow-throated Vireo -Vireo flavifrons
65. Warbling Vireo -Vireo gilvus
66. Rufous-browed Peppershrike -Cyclarhis gujanensis

Corvidae
67. White-throated Magpie-Jay -Calocitta formosa

Hirundinidae
68. Gray-breasted Martin -Progne chalybea
69. Northern Rough-winged Swallow -Stelgidopteryx serripennis

Troglodytidae
70. Rufous-naped Wren -Campylorhynchus rufinucha
71. Rufous-and-white Wren -Thryothorus rufalbus
72. Spot-breasted Wren -Thryothorus maculipectus
73. Plain Wren -Thryothorus modestus
74. Gray-breasted Wood-wren -Henicorhina leucophrys
75. White-breasted Wood-wren Henicorhina leucosticte

Sylviidae
76. Long-billed Gnatwren -Ramphocaenus melanurus
77. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher -Polioptila caerulea

Turdidae
78. Orange-billed Nightingale-thrush -Catharus aurantiirostris
79. Swainson’s Thrush -Catharus ustulatus
80. Clay-colored Robin -Turdus grayi
81. White-throated Robin -Turdus assimilis

Parulidae
82. Tennessee Warbler -Vermivora peregrine
83. Bay-breasted Warbler -Dendroica castanea
84. Yellow Warbler -Dendroica petechia
85. Magnolia Warbler -Dendroica magnolia
86. Townsend’s Warbler -Dendroica townsendi
87. Blackburnian Warbler -Dendroica fusca
88. Black-throated-green Warbler -Dendroica virens
89. Black-and-white Warbler -Mniotilta varia
90. American Redstart -Setophaga ruticilla
91. Worm-eating Warbler -Helmitheros vermivorus
92. Ovenbird -Seiurus aurocapillus
93. Wilson’s Warbler -Wilsonia pusilla
94. Slate-throated Redstart -Myioborus miniatus
95. Fan-tailed Warbler- Euthlypis lachrymose
96. Golden-crowned Warbler -Basileuterus culicivorus
97. Chestnut-capped Warbler -Basileuterus delattrii

Thraupidae
98. Summer Tanager -Piranga rubra
99. White-winged Tanager -Thraupis episcopus
100. Yellow-winged Tanager -Thraupis abbas
101. Yellow-throated Euphonia -Euphonia hirundinacea
102. Red-legged Honeycreeper -Cyanerpes cyaneus

Emerizidae
103. White-eared Ground-sparrow -Melozone leucotis

Cardinalidae
104. Painted Bunting -Passerina ciris
105. Black-headed Saltator -Saltator atriceps
106. Rose-breasted Grosbeak -Pheucticus ludovicianus

Icteridae
107. Melodious Blackbird -Dives dives
108. Great-tailed Grackle -Quiscalus mexicanus
109. Spot-breasted Oriole -Icterus pectoralis
110. Altamira Oriole -Icterus gularis
111. Baltimore Oriole -Icterus galbula
112. Yellow-billed Cacique -Amblycercus holosericeus

Fringillidae
113. Lesser Goldfinch -Carduelis psaltria

Crooked Tree Sanctuary

2007-02-10T07:15:00.000-08:00

Speices:
113; in 1 day (3 hours on boat with guide; $20 with Ruben a good guide and true Belizean)
98; 1 day high tally
Birding:
***** Wow ! Now this was amazing birding ! There were not only quanity of species but also the shear numbers of each species was amazing. From what I understood Crooked Tree (the name of the town, which the Belizean Audubon Society named the sanctuary after), is an island surrounded by mangroves and forest.
Trails:
The sanctuary has a well developed trail system, most of which go right through town. Unfortunately, the boardwalk was destroyed, I’m sure it would be a great hike if it does one day reopen.
Where:
North central Belize, 5kms of the main highway.
How Do I get there:
Take any bus going from Belize City to Orange Walk or to the Mexican boarder. From here you might have to hike the 5kms down a gravel road, otherwise there are a few buses or simply hitch a ride, the locals sure seem nice enough. This is the only road going into Crooked Tree so its only a matter of time before someone will come along.
Accommodations:
Accommodations in Crooked Tree are surprisingly somewhat limited. There were only two places that I knew of, both of which were somewhat on the pricier side (compared to what we were paying in Guatemala), with a room with private bath for $35-45 at Sam Tillets. We ended up tenting at Sam Tillets for $10 a night with a bathroom with hot shower to use, a very good deal.
What to bring:
· Food and beer was quite cheap if you went to the local eateries. Sam Tillet’s was a bit steep though ($4 average for a skimpy breakfast).
· Dry bag? You might want it if you go on the early morning birding tours.
· Sunscreen, it gets to be pretty warm and most of the trails/roads are in the sun.
· Tent (it really saved us a ton here) But bring a lock.

Guide Books for Guatemala

2007-02-10T07:13:00.001-08:00

Guide Books for Guatemala

Wildlife Guide Books
General Wildlife
Lonely Planet’s Watching Wildlife Central America.
Lonely Planet’s Watching Wildlife Central America.
$20 or so. Not a very good book for Guatemala and I don’t even think I would recommend it for Belize (which it does cover). The one nice thing about the book is that it tells you which parks (in Belize, Costa Rica, and Panama) to hit for wildlife viewing.

Belize and Northern Guatemala. Ecotravellers’ Wildlife Guide
Belize and Northern Guatemala. Ecotravellers’ Wildlife Guide
$25 or so. If you looking for one guide for the region this is it. An all inclusive wildlife guide, including birds, reptiles, amphibians, and mammals. It doesn’t give all that much information about each specific species but it does give the meat: range maps, illustrations, and a bit of the biology.
Birds
A Guide to The Birds of Mexico and Northern Central America.
A Guide to The Birds of Mexico and Northern Central America.
$25 or so. A very good guide book in my opinion, some of the range maps were a bit off but for the most part it was a great book. I thought the illustrations were adequate and there was a ton of information on each bird. That being said, the book is huge! It is not ideal for in the field use. This book does not have the illustrations for many of the migrant breeders.
While traveling I believe I saw a field guide of much smaller size, with smaller, but all of, the illustrations and no other information other than the range maps. It very well might have been an updated field guide version. It was orange and white.

Amphibians and Reptiles
A Field Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of the Mayan World.
A Field Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of the Mayan World.
$35 or so. A great book that has photos and not illustrations, a downfall in my opinion. It does have range maps for all species in addition to the hundreds of drawings. The range maps only show the Mayan World.
Travel
Lonely Planet Guatemala
Lonely Planet - Central America on a Shoestring
In our opinion the better of the two guides for Guatemala. We ended up getting the Central America on a Shoestring edition along with 75% + of the other travelers, its only downfall in my opinion. If they were to put out an updated Guatemala specific edition, I would recommend it. It’s a fun guide, that centers around nature based travels on the cheap.
Rough Guide Guatemala
The Rough Guide to Guatemala: Includes Copan and the Honduran Bay Islands
A much more thorough guide, partly because it was a Guatemala specific guidebook. My first, and probably the last time we will buy a Rough Guide. Unlike the Lonely Planet it didn’t give the times the buses were leaving, which is very important when it is you r only means of travel and your trying to plan out your week.

Guide Books for Belize

2007-02-10T07:05:00.000-08:00

Wildlife Guides
Lonely Planet’s Watching Wildlife Central America.
Lonely Planet’s Watching Wildlife Central America.
$20 or so. I would not recommend this book, I think the latter book Costa Rica: Ecotravellers’ Wildlife Guide is a better wildlife guidebook. The one nice thing about the book is that it tells you which parks (in Belize, Costa Rica, and Panama) to hit for wildlife viewing.
Belize and Northern Guatemala. Ecotravellers’ Wildlife Guide
Belize and Northern Guatemala. Ecotravellers’ Wildlife Guide
$25 or so. If you looking for one guide for the region this is it. An all inclusive wildlife guide, including birds, reptiles, amphibians, and mammals. It doesn’t give all that much information about each specific species but it does give the meat: range maps, illustrations, and a bit of the biology.
Birds
A Guide to The Birds of Mexico and Northern Central America.
A Guide to The Birds of Mexico and Northern Central America.
$25 or so. A very good guide book in my opinion, some of the range maps were a bit off but for the most part it was a great book. I thought the illustrations were adequate and there was a ton of information on each bird. That being said, the book is huge! It is not ideal for in the field use. This book does not have the illustrations for many of the migrant breeders.
While traveling I believe I saw a field guide of much smaller size, with smaller, but all of, the illustrations and no other information other than the range maps. It very well might have been an updated field guide version. It was orange and white.

Amphibians and Reptiles
A Field Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of the Mayan World.
A Field Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of the Mayan World.
$35 or so. A great book that has photos and not illustrations, a downfall in my opinion. It does have range maps for all species in addition to the hundreds of drawings. The range maps only show the Mayan World.

Travel
Lonely Planet Belize
Lonely Planet - Central America on a Shoestring
We ended up getting the Central America on a Shoestring edition along with 75% + of the other travelers, its only downfall in my opinion. It’s a fun guide, that centers around nature based travels on the cheap.