Honduras: Atlantic Slopes Feb 13—21, 2007
Posted by Robert Gallardo
Robert Gallardo
Robert Gallardo grew up in California, and from an early age he loved nature. He started collecting butterflies at age 11 and has continued that passion ever since. He bega...Related Trips
This year nine of us set off on VENT’s third Honduras: Atlantic Slope trip. We were all delightfully surprised on this visit to wetlands, rainforests, and an arid thorn forest.
Around Lake Yojoa we witnessed flotillas of mostly migrant ducks, but we did see Muscovies and Fulvous Whistling-Ducks as well. Near the hotel we saw three Soras as we came in from an afternoon boat ride. White-throated Flycatchers were seen once again along the shoreline.
At Los Naranjos we were surprised by a Ruddy Quail-Dove in the understory and a Yellow-breasted Chat that sat in plain view. The lake was at a historic high so some of the paths were flooded, but we made our way around and got the Rufous-breasted Spinetail.
Around Meambar National Park we spotted a pair of Prevost’s Ground-Sparrows and a stunning male Painted Bunting. Up at the park a Northern Bentbill fed close by and afforded us many views. A pair of Blue-crowned Chlorophonias were found feeding in a fig tree, and we were surprised by a pair of male Black-crested Coquettes.
We made our way to a beach near Tela and found a solitary Collared Plover and a pair of Black-cowled Orioles. At the Lancetilla Botanical Gardens the rain caught up to us, so a normally productive morning produced only a Scaly-breasted Hummingbird, Tawny-winged Woodcreeper, and a pair of Smoky-brown Woodpeckers.
Our visit to the arid Aguan Valley brought a couple of wonderful surprises. Besides seeing a perched Plumbeous Kite, the endemic Honduran Emerald, White-bellied Wren, and other area specialties, we saw a pair of Lesser Roadrunners on a fence post and four King Vultures that were feeding on a fresh cow carcass. Three of the vultures landed in a nearby tree and we all had life looks at one of the most colorful vultures on this planet. A small group of Green Jays seemed to be out of place in this arid environment.
Our stay at the Lodge at Pico Bonito turned up some great birds. A large mixed flock on the trail produced Green Shrike-Vireo, Rufous Mourner, Russet Antshrike, White-shouldered Tanager, Black-throated Shrike-Tanager, and Sulphur-rumped Flycatcher. Lovely Cotingas were quite cooperative as they fed in a fruiting tree near the reception area. Amy and I took near macro photos of a male Green Honeycreeper as it fed on an orange. Chestnut-colored Woodpeckers were seemingly everywhere, and some fruiting mistletoe produced five species of euphonias and a Blue-crowned Chlorophonia all at once! A male Elegant Euphonia was a treat, as were close looks at a pair of Pale-billed Woodpeckers near the cabins. The shy Scaly-throated Foliage-Gleaner and a pair of Cocoa Woodcreepers were also found along the trail.
From the second canopy tower we observed a Little Tinamou and a Pheasant Cuckoo, as well as a pair of Gray-headed Piprites along the trail. At the Cuero y Salado Wildlife Refuge we saw Slaty-tailed Trogon, howler monkeys, proboscis bats, and a charming White-eyed Vireo.
Nineteen species of Parulids were found this year with Slate-throated Redstart, Golden-winged Warbler, Worm-eating Warbler, and Kentucky Warbler topping off that list.
This year we recorded 252 species representing nearly 35% of the birds of Honduras.