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Birding Belize 2006 Journal 19 Jan 06 |
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We were up at 5:40 AM for a 6:00 AM walk with legendary senior guide Gilberto. We couldn't have slept much longer anyhow for the roaring of the Howler Monkeys. Gilberto was one of the construction workers when Chan Chich Lodge was built, who converted to a guide in 1988. We walked down the entrance road to the bridge. Beginning c. 6:30-6:45 AM, birding and the light picked up. About 7:15 it started to drizzle and by 9:00 AM it was serious rain with a kind of permanent feel about it. Hardly any wind.
But we still got a very impressive number of species, including a Bat Falcon, Wood Thrush, Rufous-tailed Hummingbird, Keel-billed Toucan, Western Slaty Antshrike, Olivaceous Woodcreeper and Red-legged Honeycreeper. After breakfast we tried some birding but the rain was hard enough that most everything but the Oscellated Turkeys were hunkered down. We did a little better in the afternoon, climbing up on the mounds to get us into the middle story of the jungle. It might be a bit sacreligious, but it's better birding. We had very nice views of a Masked Tityra, Squirrel Cuckoo, a Blackheaded Saltator and a flock of Emerald Toucanets. The rain let up a little bit in the late afternoon. Maybe better conditions tomorrow? Click on the thumbnails below for a larger photo |
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