Honduras: Atlantic Slope Mar 21—30, 2009
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
Our 2009 Honduras tour brought some nice surprises and good views of many key species, as we visited a wide array of habitats along the Caribbean slope.
We spent three days in Cerro Azul Meambar National Park, where the nights were quiet and cool. We often woke up to many birds feeding in the Cecropia behind the rooms. Just feet away was a resident Black-crested Coquette male. Up-close scope views afforded us a great look at all the intricate details of this magnificent Mesoamerican endemic. Other birds found here included Barred Parakeet, Barred Woodcreeper, Brown-hooded Parrot, and a pair of Plain Antvireos. Near the park gate we were fortunate to get a flock of Bushy-crested Jays, which are typically associated with pine/oak forests. Up one of the trails we encountered a very cooperative Keel-billed Motmot, and we watched it feed at nearly eye level. Honduras still proves to be the best place to find this prized species.
Down at Lake Yojoa we saw much waterfowl including a number of wild Muscovy Ducks at Los Naranjos. Orioles and wood-warblers were rife and almost seemed to explode from every bush. Also observed was a female Sungrebe, just recently recorded at the lake. Two searches for the Olivaceous Piculet at a reliable spot left our hands empty—for the time being.
Our visit to the Lancetilla Botanical Gardens proved to be quite productive, as it has so many times before. Along the powerline road it was almost non-stop action for more than three hours. Our 400 ft. stroll produced more than 80 species! We got great looks at a male Great Antshrike, Yellow-bellied Tyrannulet, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, and a Scaly-breasted Hummingbird. A Ruddy Crake and Tawny-winged Woodcreeper made brief appearances as well. One unexpected surprise was a Thrush-like Schiffornis, found out of its normal habitat. Lastly, as I scanned the treetops, I spied a diminutive bird: an Olivaceous Piculet. It soon came down for a closer look. Farther up in the garden, some owl tooting brought in two more. Lancetilla produced nearly 100 species.
We continued on to Olanchito where we encountered a completely different environment: a thorn scrub forest. During our early morning visit we saw many Honduran Emeralds, the country's only known endemic. We also found the White-bellied Wren, White-lored Gnatcatcher, and a Gray-necked Wood-Rail of all things.
During our three-day stay at the Lodge at Pico Bonito we saw some great birds. Coming up the entrance road we saw a Great Potoo on a day roost, and the cliff behind Cabin 14 produced a very cooperative Tody Motmot. We made several walks along the loop trail and saw the Black-throated Shrike-Tanager, Slaty-breasted and Little tinamous, and many other rainforest species. Some White-vented Euphonias showed up to feed on the last of the mistletoe fruits, and a night walk produced a close view of a Guatemalan Screech-Owl. Trying to find the Lovely Cotinga, however, proved to be more difficult than usual, as many of their usual fruiting trees had stopped producing food. On the last morning we had an early breakfast and then staked ourselves out at the riverside tower. Bingo—a male appeared atop a far tree. Then he flew right to us and ended up very close by on an observation perch. This must be the most superlative of all our rainforest species and, along with our motmot, Honduras remains the best place to see it.