Steve Happ Photography Ramblings and dissertations

El Retiro Resort Birding.

Yesterday morning I jumped on the bus to Lanquin. What a torture ride. It took us more than two hours to go sixty kilometers! The road turned to dirt and it was bumpy, windy and steep. Eventually we got there and I poured off the bus and into some dinner of chicken and rice. I got a tuk-tuk to El Retiro Resort. It is right by the river. First thing I did was jump into the river for a swim. I have not done that for ages. I forget the last time I went for a swim.

Red-billed Pigeon (Patagioenas flavirostris)

First up is the Red-billed Pigeon. You can tell this one by the yellowish bill with some red at the base of it.

Spot-breasted Oriole (Icterus pectoralis)

I have seen so many orioles, but they keep coming at me like a plague of zombies.

Streaked Flycatcher (Myiodynastes maculatus)

Collared Aracari (Pteroglossus torquatus)

This one was quite small compared to something like a toucan or macaw.

Spotted Sandpiper

This Spotted Sandpiper was in a creek that was discharging toxic waster into the river where everyone was swimming.

Social Flycatcher

Jumping out of the nest looking for building materials.

Lanquin bird list

Red-billed Pigeon (Patagioenas flavirostris)
Spot-breasted Oriole (Icterus pectoralis)
Streaked Flycatcher (Myiodynastes maculatus)
Collared Aracari (Pteroglossus torquatus)
Spotted Sandpiper
Great-tailed Grackle
Clay-colored Thrush
Blue-and-Grey Tanager
Social Flycatcher
Bronzed Cowbird
Great Kiskadee
Yellow-winged Tanager
Baltimore Oriole and female
Altamira Oriole
Clay-colored Thrush

Orquigonia

This morning I just walked out of the hostel, bought a sweet bread roll from the panadaria and a coffee from a street stall and jumped on the bus to San Cristobal. Easy-peasy. The bus driver dropped me off at the turn-off for the Orquigonia and I walked about two hundred meters to the facility.

Rose-throated Becard (Pacyramphus aglaiae sumichrasti) male

I asked about just wandering around by myself but they said it was compulsory to take a guide, which would cost fifty quetzals, less than ten dollars. Ha, why not? My guide was very good and spotted quite a few birds for me and was very patient when I wanted to hang around a while to wait for some birds to turn up. All in all a very good day and cheap at half the price!

Rose-throated Becard (Pacyramphus aglaiae sumichrasti) female

This female Rose-throated Becard was collecting sticks for her nest. Spring is coming I think.

Canada Warbler (Cardellina canadensis)

Quite a few warblers in the forest. This one came all the way from Canada.

Black-throated Green Warbler (Setophaga virens)

It was very hard to get photos of these warblers as they were flitting all over the place.

Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla)

And at the end of my tour, there was an Ovenbird at the feeding dish. It was so dark I had to use my flash. Ergo, red-eye.

Lineated Woodpecker (Dryocopus lineatus) male

As I was walking back down the track to the main road, I spotted this Lineated Woodpecker hammering away at a pine tree.

Chestnut-headed Oropendola nests

And just before the main road, lots of Chestnut-headed Orpendola nests in a big pine tree hanging over the track.

Wilson’s Warbler

With a nice slick-back hairdo. Pimpin’ it!

Orquigonia bird list

Rose-throated Becard (Pacyramphus aglaiae sumichrasti)
Canada Warbler (Cardellina canadensis)
Black-throated Green Warbler (Setophaga virens)
Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla)
Lineated Woodpecker (Dryocopus lineatus)
Black-headed Saltator
Wilson’s Warbler
Bushy-crested Jay (Cyanocorax melanocyaneus)
Common Chlorospingus (Chlorospingus flavopectus)
Slate-throated Redstart
Plain Chachalaca
Collared Trogon (Trogon collaris)
Chestnut-headed Oropendola (Psarocolius wagleri)

Parque Nacional Las Victorias

I am in Coban, Central Guatemala. I think I am about 1000 meters up. Not sure. This morning I went to the Parque Nacional Las Victorias. I was not expecting much but it was fantastic. Lots of new birds and a smattering of old friends.

Townsend’s Warbler (Setophaga townsendi)

Eastern or Western Wood-peewee – not sure

Thanks to Luis and Mark for the ID help. It seems that you cannot separate them except by their song, so I will call them Contopus spp.

House Wren ( Troglodytes aedon)

Supposed to be common in North and Central America. First I heard about it. ha ha.

Magnolia Warbler (Setophaga magnolia) non-breeding.

Wilson’s Warbler

Black-headed Saltator (Saltator atriceps)

Crimson-collared Tanager (Ramphocelus sanguinolentus)

Bushy-crested Jay (Cyanocorax melanocyaneus)

Snowy Egret (Egretta thula)

Great-tailed Grackle

Little Blue Heron (Egretta caerulea) juvenile

Chestnut-headed Oropendola (Psarocolius wagleri)

Least Grebe (Tachybaptus dominicus)

Agouti

“Agouti – Rodent. The term agouti or common agouti designates several rodent species of the genus Dasyprocta. They are native to Middle America, northern and central South America, and the southern Lesser Antilles.” (wiki)

Crocodile or Alligator ?

They called it El Lagarto, which means lizard in Spanish. Not much help in trying to identify it. It was abandoned in the park by some unscrupulous persons.

Coban bird list

Eastern or Western Wood-peewee
House Wren ?
Black-headed Saltator (Saltator atriceps)
Crimson-collared Tanager (Ramphocelus sanguinolentus)
Magnolia Warbler (Setophaga magnolia) non-breeding.
Chestnut-headed Oropendola (Psarocolius wagleri)
Least Grebe (Tachybaptus dominicus)
Townsend’s Warbler (Setophaga townsendi)
Wilson’s Warbler
Great-tailed Grackle
Bushy-crested Jay (Cyanocorax melanocyaneus)
Snowy Egret (Egretta thula)
Little Blue Heron (Egretta caerulea) juvenile
Tennessee Warbler (Oreothlypis peregrina)
Golden-fronted Woodpecker
Green Heron (Butorides virescens)
Melodious Blackbird (Dives dives)

Agouti
El Lagarto ?

Ranchitos del Quetzal.

Before I get to Ranchitos del Quetzal, I had some photos left in my camera from my last day at Panajachel from the verandah of my apartamento. A male Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia) attached itself to the tree in front of the house, so I had to take its photo.

Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia) male

Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia) male has underparts with chestnut streaking. Underside of tail yellow. And so on to the Biotopo. I stayed one night in Guatemala City and got my bird book finally. Too bad it only covers me until El Salvador, doh! And so, this morning I wait an hour for the horrendously expensive shuttle bus that was going all the way to Lanquin, a nine to ten hour journey. My 160 kilometer journey took me four hours! That is an average of 40kms/hour. Horrendous!

Common Chlorospingus (Chlorospingus flavopectus)

I found this Common Chlorospingus on a hike to the river near the compost heap. I could not believe how sparse the supply of birds were. It was completely dead. I was shocked. Nothing around.

Common Chlorospingus (Chlorospingus flavopectus)

The next day I found another Common Chlorspingus. I think this photo might be a bet better than the other one.

Unicolored Jay (Aphelocoma unicolor)

The unicolored Jay is blue all over with a black mask through the eyes. They were quite common in this location.

Slate-throated Redstart (Myioborus miniatus)

This is a very boring name for a very colourful bird. I went for a walk up the mountain around mid-day and saw quite a few lizards but no birds.

Collared Trogon (Trogon collaris)

Right at the end of the day I spied this Collared Trogon high up in a tree.

Black-headed Nightingale-thrush (Catharus mexicanus)

It was nearly night when I took this photo of the Black-headed Nightingale-thrush. That is why it is so bad. doh!

lizard 1

lizard 2

Not sure if this is the same species or not.

Biotopo del Quetzal bird list

Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia)
Rufous-collared Sparrow (Zonotrichia capensis)
Common Chlorospingus (Chlorospingus flavopectus)
Wilson’s Warbler
Unicolored Jay (Aphelocoma unicolor)
Common Chlorospingus (Chlorospingus flavopectus)
Slate-throated Redstart (Myioborus miniatus)
Collared Trogon (Trogon collaris)
Black-headed Nightingale-thrush (Catharus mexicanus)
Great-tailed Grackle

Atitlan Nature Reserve, Day Three.

Day three and back at the Nature Reserve. But first here is a Northern Rough-winged Swallow that was at my window the afternoon before.

Northern rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis)

The light was terrible and the birds were not co-operating so most of the photos are pretty terrible. They are mostly just record shots.

Band-backed Wren (Campylorhynchus zonatus)

Nashville Warbler – Chipe de Nashville (Oreothlypis ruficapilla)

Golden-olive Woodpecker (Colaptes rugiginosus)

Black-headed Grosbeak – female (Pheucticus melanocephalus)

Azure-crowned Hummingbird (Amazilia cyanocephala)

Gray-collared Becard, female – mosquero-cabezón mexicano (Pachyramphus major)

Acorn Woodpecker, female (Melanerpes formicivorus)

Flame-colored Tanager (Piranga bidentata)

Yellow-winged Tanager – Tangara Aliamarilla (Thraupis abbas)

American Coot – Gallareta Americana (Fulica americana)

Green Heron (Butorides virescens)

White-eared Hummingbird (Hylocharis leucotis)

Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula)

Panajachel Bird List

Northern rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis)
Band-backed Wren (Campylorhynchus zonatus)
Golden-olive Woodpecker (Colaptes rugiginosus)
Black-headed Grosbeak – female (Pheucticus melanocephalus)
Azure-crowned Hummingbird (Amazilia cyanocephala)
Gray-collared Becard, female – mosquero-cabezón mexicano (Pachyramphus major)
Acorn Woodpecker, female (Melanerpes formicivorus)
Flame-colored Tanager (Piranga bidentata)
Nashville Warbler – Chipe de Nashville (Oreothlypis ruficapilla)
Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula)
Wilson’s Warbler (Cardellina pusilla)
Yellow-winged Tanager – Tangara Aliamarilla (Thraupis abbas)
American Coot – Gallareta Americana (Fulica americana)
Green Heron (Butorides virescens)
Golden-fronted Woodpecker
White-eared Hummingbird (Hylocharis leucotis)

Atitlan Reserva – Panajachel.

The next morning in Panajachel, I get up not that early, have muesli for breakfast. No coffee. Then start walking towards the reserve, looking for a tuk-tuk to take me there. Finally one comes along and drops me off outside for 15 Quetzals ($2.50).

Blue-and-White Mockingbird (Melanotis hypoleucus)

I am too early. It does not open till 8am. So I walk down the road and look for some birds. There are a few around. I spot a Blue-and-White Mockingbird rooting around in the dry loaves on the hill slope above me.

Nashville Warbler (Oreothlypis ruficapilla)

When the reserva opens, I pay my 70 Quetzals and up the trail I climb. There are birds everywhere. The spanish name for the Nashville Warbler is Chipe de Nashville.

Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus)

Townsend’s Warbler (Setophaga townsendi)

Yellow-Winged Tanager – Tangara Aliamarilla (Thraupis abbas)

Slate-throated Redstart (Myioborus miniatus)

Wilson’s Warbler (Cardellina pusilla)

Bushy-crested Jay (Cyanocorax melanocyaneus)

Blue-gray Tanager (Thraupis episcopus)

Wood Thrush – zorzal maculado (Hylocichla mustelina)

Tennessee Warbler (Oreothlypis peregrina)

Western Tanager, female. ( Piranga ludoviciana).

White-eared Hummingbird (Hylocharis leucotis)

Rufous-browed Peppershrike (Cyclarhis gujanensis)

Atitlan Reserva Bird List

Blue-and-White Mockingbird (Melanotis hypoleucus)
Nashville Warbler – Chipe de Nashville (Oreothlypis ruficapilla)
Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus)
Townsend’s Warbler (Setophaga townsendi)
Yellow-Winged Tanager – Tangara Aliamarilla (Thraupis abbas)
Slate-throated Redstart (Myioborus miniatus)
Wilson’s Warbler (Cardellina pusilla)
Bushy-crested Jay (Cyanocorax melanocyaneus)
Blue-gray Tanager (Thraupis episcopus)
Wood Thrush – zorzal maculado (Hylocichla mustelina)
Rose-breasted Grosbeak – picogordo pecho rosa (Pheucticus ludovicianus)
Western Tanager ( Piranga ludoviciana).
Tennessee Warbler
Rufous-browed Peppershrike (Cyclarhis gujanensis)
Clay-colored Robin (Turdus grayi)
Sociable Flycatcher
Golden-fronted Woodpecker
3788 Bronzed Cowbird (Mothothrus aenueus)
White-eared Hummingbird (Hylocharis leucotis)
White-tipped Dove

Others

Spider Monkey (Ateles geoffroyi paniscus)
squirrel. ??
Coati (Nasua nasua)

Panajachel, Lago Atitlan. Guatemala.

Day one in Lago Atitlan, Guatemala. I got here about mid-day from Xela. I caught three chicken buses which were quite good. No crowding or smelly chickens. It only took me about three hours to get here.

Black-capped Swallow (Atticora pileata)

In the afternoon I walked down to the lake to see if there were any birds about. I am staying by the river so it is pretty close to the lake shore. First up I saw a whole bunch of Black-capped Swallows perching on the wires above the sewerage treatment works.

Black-vented Oriole (Icterus wagleri)

I saw this new Oriole in the tree next door. I keep finding new species of Orioles. There must be hundreds of them.

American Coot (Fulica americana)

The only birds on the lake were the American Coots. No ducks, nothing. The spanish name for American Coot is Gallareta Americana.

Black Phoebe (Sayornis nigricans)

I could not identify this Black Phoebe at first because I thought it had too much rufous colouring in it. But I was wrong, again!

Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius)

There was one solitary wader by the shore. The spanish name for Spotted Sandpiper is Playero Alzacolita. I think it had its breeding plumage happening. Last time I saw one of these was in Campeche, Mexico. By this time the wind was getting up and it started to rain. So I high-tailed it back home.

Tennessee Warbler (Oreothlypis peregrina)

Back at the house, I saw this Tennessee Warbler in the trees.

Panajachel Bird List

Black-capped Swallow (Atticora pileata)
Black-vented Oriole (Icterus wagleri)
American Coot – Gallareta Americana (Fulica americana)
Black Phoebe (Sayornis nigricans)
Spotted Sandpiper – Playero Alzacolita (Actitis macularius)
Tennessee Warbler (Oreothlypis peregrina)
Rufous-collared Sparrow (Zonotrichia capensis)
White-winged Dove
Great-tailed Grackle
House Sparrow