Honduras: Western Highlands Feb 21—Mar 01, 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 marked VENT’s inaugural Honduras: Western Highlands tour and our group enjoyed some wonderful birdwatching highlights in one of the most scenic and seldom visited areas in the country.
Our visit to Celaque National Park turned up our first Bushy-crested Jays which would be our constant companions throughout the trip. We observed a Strong-billed Woodcreeper on both days as it probed bromeliads for food. A number of lovely male Flame-colored Tanagers were also seen, as well as a pair of resident American Dippers and our first Black-vented Orioles; the latter, oddly enough, are found typically around human habitations.
Around the cabins in La Esperanza there were several Rufous-collared Robins on the lawns, resident Eastern Bluebirds, and Steller’s Jays. Just outside of town we saw a Sedge Wren (Honduras’ highest population) and enjoyed a brief look at a Blue-and-white Mockingbird.
In the Opatoro-Guajiquiro area we turned up a Hermit Thrush, which was the first well-documented record for the country. On a night walk around the hotel we saw a Whiskered Screech-Owl, and on both days many birds were observed at a flowering Erythrina tree. Amongst the visitors were a Western Tanager, Altamira and Yellow-backed orioles, Chestnut-headed Oropendola, and Bushy-crested Jays. A Cave Swallow was found resting on the wire at the hotel, and it has only been recently recorded for Honduras.
In the highlands we saw a gorgeous male Sparkling-tailed Woodstar as it fed in slow, bumblebee-like motion right before us. A number of Barred Forest-Falcons were calling and one was quite cooperative, allowing us a number of great views. We also saw our first male Resplendent Quetzal in all his glorious armament, out of six that were heard calling. Hank and Mary finally got a good look at this Mesoamerican endemic of which they had only a fleeting glimpse in Costa Rica. Six resident Black-capped Swallows also came into view. Slate-colored Solitaires were everywhere, and one morning a Highland Guan was seen on the road. Many Cinnamon-bellied Flowerpiercers were seen feeding on flowers and we encountered our first clan of Band-backed Wrens. A female Emerald-chinned Hummingbird was seen atop some blackberry bushes.
Our first responding Blue-throated Motmot proved to be impossible to locate, but not the second. After an exhaustive search I realized I was looking too high, and then found it perched conspicuously just above eye level. Some sun came through the treetops and lit up this wonderful bird, which for many an avid Neotropical birder usually proves to be their last motmot species to be seen. Nice photos were taken of it as well.
Our last site was La Tigra National Park high above Tegucigalpa. On the first morning a flower-filled gulley turned up some good looks at Green Violet-ear, many Indigo Buntings, and many White-eared Hummingbirds. At the park headquarters a pair of Black Hawk-Eagles took to clear skies at their altitudinal limit. Up the road we saw and heard many Crescent-chested Warblers and several cute Rufous-browed Wrens. A bit farther we ran into a flurry of activity and found three species of woodcreepers: Northern Barred, Spotted, and Spot-crowned, as well as a number of Mountain Trogons. Then came another male Resplendent Quetzal that was seen even better than the one in Marcala. A biologist who accompanied us said there may be as many as 70 individuals in this small park.
Our last full day was our 6-km walk over the park. Our first sighting was a pair of Black-throated Jays at the parking lot. At a bush with lovely bell-shaped flowers we found a bonanza of hummers. Near-endemic Green-breasted Mountain-gems were all over, as well as Amethyst-throated and Garnet-throated hummingbirds. A female Sparkling-tailed Woodstar buzzed around and we obtained up-close views of a lovely male Wine-throated Hummingbird. Over the ridge line we enjoyed close views of male Singing Quail and ran into two White-faced Quail-Doves. Our hike through the beautiful cloud forest was well worth the effort.
Our tour recorded 162 species. Both Honduras tours combined recorded 352 species, or nearly half of the species found in Honduras.