Bird Watching Guatemala Photoblog

Up coming Birdwatching tour in Guatemala

2010-01-18T10:15:00.004-06:00

Up coming Birdwatching Tour
Sunday 14th of March 2010

Birdwatching Tour in Guatemala visiting:
(6 days & 5 nights )

* Hacienda Rio Escondido
* Las Victorias National Park
* Semuc Champey
* Ram Tzul Natural Reserve
* Reserva Bocas del Polochic
* Extension to Tikal National Park

Includes:

* All ground transportation in A/C, mini van

* 1 night of Accommodation at hotel Casa Duranta in Coban

* 1 night of accommodation at hotel El Retiro in Lanquin

* 1 night at Hotel Ram Tzul, in Purulhá Baja Verapaz

* Entrances fees to the sites you will visit

* Birdwatching specialist tour guide

* Taxes

* Guatemala´s Bird Check list

Does not include:

* Meals not described

* Alcoholic and none alcoholic beverages

* Phone calls

* Gratitudes to drivers and guides

* Not described

Hacienda Rio Escondido:

Located at the beginning of the Cloud Forest Biological Corridor and close to the Sierra de las Minas Biosphere Reserve, the reserve has an extension of nearly 178 acres, where you will find Pine-Oak Forest bordering Las Flautas and San Isidro rivers.

The reserve promotes forest conservation and has realized bird monitoring; due to this monitories, there is now a high probability that you will see the Golden Cheeked Warbler, especially between the months of November and February.

Species in the area:

Northern Flicker (Guatemalan race)

Bushy-crested Jay

Rufous-collared Robin

Black-capped Swallow

Yellow-rumped Warbler (Goldman's race)

Golden-cheeked Warbler

Grace's Warbler

Chipping Sparrow

Semuc champey

Champey is located 11km to the south of Lanquín, in a valley with steep walls, surrounded by tropical humid forest. There is a 300m long limestone bridge, on top of which there are several natural pools of different sizes, filled with crystalline mountain spring water.

Underneath the bridge is the Cahabón River. At the end of the bridge, the water from the pools falls rejoining the river, forming a 40ft waterfall.

The color of the water changes during the year depending on the season, sun and other natural factors, making for unique picture-taking opportunities. It is a beautiful place, often called idyllic.

Semuc Champey has a diversity of flora and fauna, including 90 species of birds, 34 mammals, 25 reptiles and amphibians; and 10 species of fish. There are more than 120 species of trees and shrubs.

Species in the area:

Great tinamou

Muscovy duck

little blue heron

american bittern

swallow-tailed kite

great black hawk

common black hawk

gray hawk

white hawk

red-tailed hawk

hook-billed kite

collared forest falcon

bat falcon

plain chachalaca

crimson-collared tanager

blue-gray tanager

yellow-winged tanager

red-legged honeycreeper

Ram Tzul Private Nature Reserve

Created in 2001 to preserve the Cloud Forest biome, the water resources of the area, and to promote environmental education through ecotourism activities. Ram Tzul is part of the Cloud Forest Biological Corridor; the reserve also promotes productive activities that are friendly to the environment like organic coffee, bamboo, reforestation and ecological farm.

Species in the area:

Green-throated Mountain-gem

Resplendent Quetzal

Blue-throated Motmot

Black-headed Siskin

Bushy-crested Jay

Rufous-collared Robin

Blue-and-white Mockingbird

Bocas del Polochic Wildlife Refuge

With 51,300 acres, Bocas del Polochic is a very important region of international concern recognized by the Ramsar Convention, where you can observe more than 250 bird species.

There is a biological station in the area under Fundación Defensores de la Naturaleza administration, which also has promoted research and conservation of the regional biodiversity.

Bocas del Polochic is where the Polochic River flows into Lake Izabal, and because of its high level of conservation it is an ideal place to observe terrestrial and aquatic birds. If you are lucky enough, you will be able to observe the three Toucan species of Guatemala foraging in one tree!

The Motagua/Polochic System covers an area of more than one million acres (440,000 hectares) and is located in the northeast section of Guatemala.

The topography of the Motagua/Polochic System is defined by the Motagua geological fault to the south, the Polochic fault to the north and the Izabal depression, which have created altitudinal ranges from 0 to 10,000 feet.

Species in the area:

Sunbittern

Black and white Owl

Emerald Toucanet

Keel-billed Toucan

Olivaceus Piculet

Royal Flycatcher

White-collared Manakin

Crimson-collared Tanager

Tikal National Park

This is the best place for birding in Guatemala,More than 400 species of birds have been recorded within Tikal National Park, including 30 birds of prey and 60 migratory species.

The exhuberant forest and the impressive temples present magic and mysticism.

Due to the rarity and number of species of fauna, Tikal is considered an important area in Guatemala. Rare species found nesting in Tikal include the orange-breasted falcon (Falco deiroleucus) and the Guiana crested eagle (Morphus guianensis), which makes Tikal one of the few nesting areas in Central America for this species.

One can easily spot species such as the ocellated turkey.

Martsam Tour & Travel, providing a lifetime birding tours!

Birdwatching Guatemala by Martsam Tour & Travel

For more information please feel free to contact us to:

info@martsam.com
www.martsam.com
Guatemala: (502) 7832-2742
USA:(305) 395-3935
Call Toll Free:1-866-832-2776

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2009-01-19T09:53:00.004-06:00

Martsam Travel

Alternative Tourism & Adventure

Bird watching Guatemala

The project Bird Watching Guatemala is an encounter with the wonderful world of birds of Guatemala, involving rural communities, national parks, private reserves and Martsam Tour and Travel as the operator in the circuits and destinations that are blended to take you to the fascinating world of Birds of Guatemala.

Taking into consideration the privileged natural and cultural environment that Guatemala has like 19 ecosystems, 300 microclimates, more than 37 volcanoes, rivers, lakes and beaches that are united in our ethnic diversity forming a destination of mystical magic and adventure.

Biological diversity has enabled Guatemala to stand among the 25 countries with the most variety of natural resources in the world. Millions of species living in its varied ecosystems, more than 700 species of birds, mammals like the jaguar, tapir and a variety of reptiles and insects.

Our programs are developed for sustainable tourism on the basis of our economic policies, social and environmental support to the communities within the reserves and eco-tourism projects becoming an alternative which contributes to slow down the deterioration of our natural and cultural resources.

Our destinations for bird watching are manifested as a journey through different ecosystems and multicolored communities, developed to ensure your complete satisfaction.

The project was born with the merge of two leading companies in Guatemala, Martsam Tour & Travel a well recognized Guatemalan Tour Operator founded in 1994 whose social economic and environmental policies have earned the privilege of being certified with the Green Deal Seal, and sign the agreements of best practices and sustainability with Rain forest Alliance.

By its own means, Otus a company dedicated to biological research of the natural resources of Guatemala for the process of the design of protected areas.

It has also conducted expeditions for The Nature Conservancy, research for the National Council of Protected Areas and defenders of nature among others it has developed projects to train communitarian guides in bird watching and environmental interpretation, localization and monitoring of endemic species threatened or symbolic.

Taking into consideration our unified experience and our proved experience our tours have a high scientific content, and our guides are biologists or naturalists immersed in the field of research and conservation by ensuring the quality of our services and creating unique experiences.

www.birdwatchingguatemala.com is a registered trademark of Martsam Tour & Travel Copyright® 2,008
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www.martsam.com

2009-01-02T18:25:00.003-06:00

Bird Watching Guatemala

by Martsam Tour & Travel

The rain forest:
The tropical rain forests areas are the richest in botanic species in the world. Yaxha is a representative area of this type of forest do to its abundance of water sources that favors a great diversity of fauna. Recent studies have reported 40 mammal species, 14 amphibious, 45 reptiles, 22 fish and 150 types of birds.

With the correct integration and conservation of the natural and cultural patrimony it can be accomplished that foreign and national tourists can identify themselves with this great nature

Yaxha:
Yaxha is located in the Riviera of the lake with the same name and extends over a cliff that is connected to the beach by a trail for about 3 km. Yaxha has around 500 structures aconditionated by nivelations and terraces in descendent order from East to West. Even though Yaxha is the third largest Mayan city in Guatemala after Tikal And El Mirador.

For more information about your vacations in Guatemala please feel free to contact us,

Martsam Tour & Travel

Calle 30 de junio

Ciudad FloresPeten, Guatemala

Antigua Guatemala

San pedro El Alto 3001

PH: (502) 5705 6904

FAX: (502) 7882 4427

USA

2222 Benz View

Kingwood TX 77339

PH: (305) 395 3935

Call Toll Free

1-866-832-2776

www.martsam.com

info@martsam.com

Birdwatching Guatemala is a registered trademark of Martsam Tour & Travel

Birdwatching Guatemala by Martsam Travel

2008-12-30T11:14:00.007-06:00

Bird Watching Guatemala

by Martsam Tour & Travel

"V International Bird Watching Encounter"

The first half of our International bird watching encounter will take place mainly in Antigua Guatemala with daily mini-tours which are half-day birding tours to different locations. Besides these tours, there will be lectures and educational activities for the general public.

The second half of the event is exclusively for traveling birders who want to visit other birding sites in Guatemala. Each visitor has to choose one of 4 options.

Option 1: The Western Highlands:

Visited sites include:

Private Nature Reserve los Tarrales, Nature reserve Los Andes, Municipal Park San Pedro Volcano

Ecosystems: cloud forest and pine-oak forest

Some of the birds that can be seen on this tour: Mountain Trogon Collared Trogon, Resplendent Quetzal, Blue-throated Motmot, Blue-crowned Motmot, Emerald Toucanet, Golden-fronted Woodpecker and White-fronted Parrot, Crested Caracara, Laughing Falcon, Highland Guan, Horned Guan.

Requirements: good physical condition, as this tour includes climbing San Pedro Volcano.

Option 2: The Verapaces region (or Central Highlands):

Visited sites include:

Archaeological site Guaytan, Private nature reserve Rio Escondido, Nature reserve Los Ranchitos, Nature Reserve Chajbaoc, Archaeological park Hun Nal Ye.

Ecosystems: thorn scrub, Pine-oak forest, Cloud Forest, tropical rain forest.

Some of the birds that can be seen on this tour: Russet-crowned Motmot, Turquoise-browed Motmot, Altamira Oriole, Bushy-crested Jay, Rufous-collared Robin, Golden-cheeked Warbler, Black-capped Swallow, Resplendent Quetzal, Highland Guan, Violet Sabrewing, Black-throated Jay, Chestnut-headed Oropendola, Plain Chachalaca, Little Hermit, Collared Trogon, Blue-throated Motmot, Blue-crowned Chlorophonia, Azure-crowned Hummingbird, Crimson-collared Tanager, White-breasted Hawk.

Requirements: walking.

Option 3: Izabal (the Atlantic low-lands):

Visited sites include:

Río Dulce National Park, Caribbean sea, Sarstún Wildlife Refuge, Quiriguá archaeological site.

Ecosystems: tropical rain forest, mangrove forest

Some of the birds that can be seen on this tour: Turquoise-browed Motmot, Orange-breasted Falcon, Anhinga, Black-crowned Night Heron, Ornate Hawk-Eagle, Brown-hooded Parrot, Violet Sabrewing, Emerald Toucanet, Red-lored Parrot, Chestnut-colored Woodpecker, Red-capped Manakin, White-collared Manakin, Golden-hooded, Tanager, Crimson-collared Tanager, Montezuma Oropendola.

Requirements: walking

Option 4 Tikal and the Scarlet Macaw Sanctuary:

(Las Guacamayas Biological Station)

Visited sites include:

Laguna del Tigre National Park, Tikal National Park.

Ecosystems: tropical humid forest.

Some of the birds that can be seen on this tour: Red macaws, Yucatan Flycatcher, Yucatan bob White, Yucatan Jay, Lovely Cotinga, Ocellated turkey, Orange breasted falcon, Grey throated chat, Black catbird, keel-billed toucans.

Requirements: walking

Please note that all prices are per person, and include:

• Land Transportation (in the case of the Peten trip, it includes air fare)
• Hotel accommodation in double occupancy
• Bird watching guide
• Some include all meals, and others include most meals.

If you are interested in any of these tours and would like to see the full detailed information (day by day itinerary, meals and other services included, etc.), please write use for more information

Martsam Tour & Travel

Calle 30 de junio

Ciudad Flores

Peten, Guatemala

Antigua Guatemala

San pedro El Alto 3001

PH: (502) 5705 6904

FAX: (502) 7882 4427

USA

2222 Benz View

Kingwood TX 77339

PH: (305) 395 3935

Call Toll Free

1-866-832-2776

www.martsam.com

info@martsam.com

reservations@martsam.com

www.birdwatchingguatemala.com is a registered trademark of Martsam Tour & Travel
Copyright® 2,009
www.birdwatchingguatemala.com
www.martsam.com

Bird portraits

2008-11-03T18:01:00.003-06:00

Black-throated Green-warbler

Bird pictures have always different rewarding moments, but the opportunity to show a portrait is simply indescribable. These two pictures are a sample of migrant bird images I’ve taken during my birding trips in Guatemalan highlands in the last three years.

Blue-headed Vireo

Photo by Maynor Ovando

Posted by Maynor Ovando

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Birding in San Miguel Village

2008-10-24T12:06:00.005-06:00

Miguel Marin, an expert member of Bird Watching Guatemala Project

Photo by Maynor Ovando

San Miguel is a small village just five minutes in a boat ride from Flores Island in Petén lowlands. And like many places in Guatemala is a great birding hotspot. Miguel Marin is an extraordinary birder and a terrific birding guide who lives in this small bird paradise.

Mangrove Swallow

After years leading birding groups he has got an extra sense to find birds, sometimes people say that Miguel has a treat with birds because just in the moment he speaks about a bird, it comes in front of your eyes. He knows perfectly every bird that can be found in his domains and as members of the Bird Watching Guatemala birding staff I took a couple of hours to walk with him around the place.

Northern Jacana

I was thinking that my chances to get many birds were low because of the rainy weather but my expert friend had no problem to show me 52 bird species in this short visit.
Miguel has been recording patiently every bird since he’s able and to the date the bird list reaches 214 bird species, including Royal Flycatcher he found for the first time two days ago.

Social Flycatcher

I was thinking that my chances to get many birds were low because of the rainy weather but my expert friend had no problem to show me 52 bird species in this short visit.

Blue-gray Tanager

Miguel has been recording patiently every bird since he’s able and to the date the bird list reaches 214 bird species, including Royal Flycatcher he found for the first time two days ago.

This is San Miguel bird list updated to October 22th.

1 Great Tinamou
2 Thicket Tinamou
3 Slaty-breasted Tinamou
4 Least Grebe
5 Pied-billed Grebe
6 Brown Pelican
7 Neotropic Cormorant
8 Bare-throated Tiger-Heron
9 Great Blue Heron
10 Great Egret
11 Snowy Egret
12 Little Blue Heron
13 Cattle Egret
14 Green Heron
15 Black-crowned Night-Heron
16 Boat-billed Heron
17 Black Vulture
18 Turkey Vulture
19 King Vulture
20 Black-bellied Whistling-Duck
21 Osprey
22 Hook-billed Kite
23 White-tailed Kite
24 Double-toothed Kite
25 Gray Hawk
26 Roadside Hawk
27 Black Hawk-Eagle
28 Laughing Falcon
29 Bat Falcon
30 Plain Chachalaca
31 Great Curassow
32 Ruddy Crake
33 Gray-necked Wood-Rail
34 Sora
35 Purple Gallinule
36 Common Moorhen
37 American Coot
38 Limpkin
39 Black-necked Stilt
40 Northern Jacana
41 Laughing Gull
42 Black Skimmer
43 Rock Dove
44 Scaled Pigeon
45 Red-billed Pigeon
46 White-winged Dove
47 Ruddy Ground-Dove
48 Blue Ground-Dove
49 White-tipped Dove
50 Gray-headed Dove
51 Olive-throated Parakeet
52 Brown-hooded Parrot
53 White-crowned Parrot
54 White-fronted Parrot
55 Red-lored Parrot
56 Black-billed Cuckoo
57 Yellow-billed Cuckoo
58 Squirrel Cuckoo
59 Groove-billed Ani
60 Central American Pygmy-Owl
61 Mottled Owl
62 Lesser Nighthawk
63 Common Pauraque
64 Whip-poor-will
65 Vaux's Swift
66 Stripe-throated Hermit
67 Scaly-breasted Hummingbird
68 Wedge-tailed Sabrewing
69 Green-breasted Mango
70 Canivet's Emerald
71 White-bellied Emerald
72 Rufous-tailed Hummingbird
73 Buff-bellied Hummingbird
74 Ruby-throated Hummingbird
75 Black-headed Trogon
76 Violaceous Trogon
77 Collared Trogon
78 Blue-crowned Motmot
79 Ringed Kingfisher
80 Belted Kingfisher
81 Green Kingfisher
82 American Pygmy Kingfisher
83 Rufous-tailed Jacamar
84 Collared Aracari
85 Keel-billed Toucan
86 Golden-fronted Woodpecker
87 Smoky-brown Woodpecker
88 Golden-olive Woodpecker
89 Chestnut-colored Woodpecker
90 Lineated Woodpecker
91 Pale-billed Woodpecker
92 Plain Xenops
93 Tawny-winged Woodcreeper
94 Ruddy Woodcreeper
95 Olivaceous Woodcreeper
96 Northern Barred-Woodcreeper
97 Ivory-billed Woodcreeper
98 Great Antshrike
99 Barred Antshrike
100 Plain Antvireo
101 Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet
102 Greenish Elaenia
103 Yellow-bellied Elaenia
104 Northern Bentbill
105 Slate-headed Tody-Flycatcher
106 Common Tody-Flycatcher
107 Yellow-olive Flycatcher
108 Stub-tailed Spadebill
109 Royal Flycatcher
110 Greater Pewee
111 Eastern Wood-Pewee
112 Tropical Pewee
113 Least Flycatcher
114 Bright-rumped Attila
115 Dusky-capped Flycatcher
116 Great Crested Flycatcher
117 Brown-crested Flycatcher
118 Great Kiskadee
119 Boat-billed Flycatcher
120 Social Flycatcher
121 Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher
122 Piratic Flycatcher
123 Tropical Kingbird
124 Eastern Kingbird
125 Rose-throated Becard
126 Masked Tityra
127 White-collared Manakin
128 Red-capped Manakin
129 White-eyed Vireo
130 Mangrove Vireo
131 Yellow-throated Vireo
132 Warbling Vireo
133 Philadelphia Vireo
134 Red-eyed Vireo
135 Yellow-green Vireo
136 Lesser Greenlet
137 Green Jay
138 Brown Jay
139 Yucatan Jay
140 Purple Martin
141 Gray-breasted Martin
142 Mangrove Swallow
143 Northern Rough-winged Swallow
144 Barn Swallow
145 Spot-breasted Wren
146 Carolina Wren
147 House Wren
148 White-bellied Wren
149 Long-billed Gnatwren
150 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
151 Tropical Gnatcatcher
152 Swainson's Thrush
153 Wood Thrush
154 Clay-colored Robin
155 Gray Catbird
156 Olive Warbler
157 Blue-winged Warbler
158 Golden-winged Warbler
159 Tennessee Warbler
160 Northern Parula
161 Yellow Warbler
162 Chestnut-sided Warbler
163 Magnolia Warbler
164 Yellow-rumped Warbler
165 Black-throated Green Warbler
166 Blackburnian Warbler
167 Yellow-throated Warbler
168 Bay-breasted Warbler
169 Black-and-white Warbler
170 American Redstart
171 Prothonotary Warbler
172 Worm-eating Warbler
173 Ovenbird
174 Northern Waterthrush
175 Kentucky Warbler
176 Common Yellowthroat
177 Hooded Warbler
178 Wilson's Warbler
179 Yellow-breasted Chat
180 Gray-throated Chat
181 Red-legged Honeycreeper
182 Gray-headed Tanager
183 Red-throated Ant-Tanager
184 Summer Tanager
185 Western Tanager
186 Crimson-collared Tanager
187 Blue-gray Tanager
188 Yellow-winged Tanager
189 Scrub Euphonia
190 Yellow-throated Euphonia
191 Olive-backed Euphonia
192 Blue-black Grassquit
193 White-collared Seedeater
194 Yellow-faced Grassquit
195 Green-backed Sparrow
196 Botteri's Sparrow
197 Grayish Saltator
198 Black-headed Saltator
199 Northern Cardinal
200 Rose-breasted Grosbeak
201 Blue-black Grosbeak
202 Blue Bunting
203 Indigo Bunting
204 Dickcissel
205 Red-winged Blackbird
206 Eastern Meadowlark
207 Melodious Blackbird
208 Great-tailed Grackle
209 Giant Cowbird
210 Black-cowled Oriole
211 Orchard Oriole
212 Yellow-tailed Oriole
213 Baltimore Oriole
214 Yellow-billed Cacique

Posted by Maynor Ovando

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La primera ave migratoria de la temporada

2008-10-18T07:57:00.001-06:00

Louisiana Waterthrush (Seiurus motacilla)

La primera ave migratoria que observé esta temporada en Guatemala fue un Louisiana Waterthrush en mi visita al sitio arqueológico El Perú - Waká el 4 de agosto de este año. Curiosamente esta especie y el Magnolia Warbler fueron los últimos que observé a finales de mayo.

Observando y tomando nota de los acontecimientos de cuales somos testigos podemos colaborar a demostrar los cambios que ocurren en las diferentes poblaciones animales del mundo.

Posted by Maynor Ovando

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Ixpanpajul

2008-10-17T19:34:00.003-06:00

Lemuel, Melvin and me birding at Ixpanpajul

Photo by Maynor Ovando

A couple of weeks ago I joined to Melvin and Lemuel, two of the best birding guides in Guatemala, to an early birding walk in Ecological Park Ixpanpajul. We started at 6:00 in the morning and the sound of Blue-crowned Motmot, Clay-colored Robin and Great Tinamou was announcing the sunrise.

Vermillion Flycatcher (female)

The first bird in sight was a female Vermillion Flycatcher and then a complete flycatcher parade was in front of our eyes, including Yellowish Flycatcher, Social Flycatcher, Boat-billed Flycatcher, Great Kiskadee and Tropical Kingbird.
Through the dense vegetation surrounding the trail we observed Green-backed Sparrow, Blue Grosbeak, Red-throated Ant-tanager, Tawny-winged Woodcreeper and Olivaceous Woodcreeper.

Bronzed Cowbird

Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Yellow Warblers, Black-and-white Warblers, Blue-gray Tanagers, Bronzed Cowbirds and hundreds of Northern Rough-winged Swallows were easy to see. Two hours later the bird list included 52 of the 250+ bird species found in this park.

Posted by Maynor Ovando

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Birding in the rain

2008-10-16T10:54:00.004-06:00

Bare- throated Tiger-heron

Last days have been rainy and wet on Guatemala’s highlands and the direct effect on Peten lowlands is flood on areas along rivers. I went with my friends Melvin and Diego from Martsam Tour & Travel to birding around Ceibal and the experience was extraordinary. Hundreds of aquatic and shorebirds feeding on the extended ponds like Great-blue Heron, Snowy Egret, Cattle Egret, Great Egret and Bare-throated Tiger Heron.

Gray-necked Wood-rail

Through the bushes we saw Ruddy Crake, Mangrove Vireo, Gray-necked Wood-rail and Least Grebe. Over clean branches we had this great sight of the Amazon Kingfisher and a couple of Snail Kite.

Amazon Kingfisher

By the end of the day we had a bird list of 98 species.

Posted by Maynor Ovando

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Birdwathing at Cerro San Gil, Guatemala

2008-09-19T22:15:00.002-06:00

Cerro San Gil

The Gulf of Honduras is a marine and terrestrial site located in eastern Guatemala. The Nature Conservancy and its partner, Fundación para el Desarrollo y la Conservación (FUNDAECO), are working to conserve the Gulf of Honduras including the Cerro San Gil Protected Area, which is one of the last remaining tracts of very humid tropical forests within the Central American isthmus. Cerro San Gil also includes important fresh water springs, bird sanctuaries and mangroves.

Location Located on the Atlantic coast of Guatemala between Belize and Honduras, Cerro San Gil comprises more than 19,000 acres of lush rainforest in the Mico Mountains. Intense humidity and rainfall combined with elevations in excess of 3,900 feet have created a unique zone with extraordinary biological value.

AnimalsThe Gulf of Honduras is refuge to 56 species of mammals including the tapir, manatee and the jaguar and more than 50 species of reptiles and amphibians including:
Morelet's crocodile
Hawksbill turtle

More than 350 species of birds are found here, including the keel-billed motmot and the black and white hawk eagle. Over 90 neotropical migrants winter in the area and include the wood thrush and blue-winged warbler.

PlantsMangroves, sea grasses, flooded coastal forests.
The birdlife of the Caribbean Coast of Guatemala is the richest and most varied in the country. In the studies made of Cerro San Gil, 62 families, with 407 species of resident and migratory birds have been identified, which represent more than 58% of the total of Guatemala’s bird species.

The combination of physical factors such as humidity, temperature and altitude with biological factors, have made the Cerro San Gil a zone which is unique and of enormous biological value.

Proof of this is the high degree of endemism, as in the case of three endemic frogs, two salamanders, four trees and three palms been reported for this site (Anonymous, 1990).

This hill is traditionally identified as a water producer. The humidity transported by the winds from
the Caribbean is retained by the plant cover and over the hill there is a considerable displacement of currents of rain water which in turn contributes to the formation of 21 rivers (Anonymous, 1990).

Two rivers originate at the Cerro San Gil, the Tamejá and the Las Escobas. The generation of sweet water, without doubt, is the most valuable resource this forest provides to the people of northwestern Izabal, including the cities of Puerto Barrios and Santo Tomás de Castilla.

TOPOGRAPHY
At Cerro San Gil there are two regions with different climatic and geographic characteristics. The first 900 m.a.s.l. have the conditions of a tropical rain forest, while between 900 and 1200 m.a.s.l., the characteristics are those of a cloud forest. Its highest point is a place in the cloud forest called Samaria.The geological history of this place, in particular the succession of periods when the ocean advanced and receded, played a fundamental role in the definition of present habitats and ecosystems and, in particular, in the distribution and evolution of the local species of flora and fauna (Anonymous, 1990).

CLIMATEThe climate is hot and humid, with temperatures varying between 14º and 36º C. It rains during 212 days of the year and the absolute relative humidity is between 33.8 and 100%. Rainfall is 1800 mm per year on the southern slopes and up to 4000 mm per year on the Caribbean side (Weber & Bucklin, 1995).

BIRDING SPOTSOne of the greatest attractions of this place is the sounds of the birds. At dawn, you will awaken to their song and one of the most frequently heard is that of the Collared Forest-Falcon (Micrastur semitorquatus). From you cabin you can see the motmots and oropendolas, to mention only a couple.

It is very easy to see and/or hear special birds, such as the Melodious Blackbird (Dives dives) and the Ivory-billed Woodcreeper (Xyphorhynchus flavigaster), as well as to watch all the other species from anywhere in the Reserve. There are also species such as the Scaled Antpitta (Grallaria guatimalensis), which would be restricted to the cloud forest elsewhere, whereas at the Cerro San Gil you can find it almost from sea level to its maximum altitude of 1267 m.a.s.l.

At the Cerro San Gil there are two types of birds you can watch very well, one of them of the motmot group of which less than 4 species can be seen, and the other one is that of the birds of prey. According to some observers, Cerro San Gil is the best place to see them and among their species we can mention the Grey-headed Kite (Leptodon cayanensis), the Ornate Hawk-Eagle (Spizaetus ornatus), the Crested Eagle (Morphnus guianensis), with the Solitary Eagle (Harpyhaliaetus solitarius) being one of the most difficult to observe.

Among the more colorful birds of the Reserve are the Keel-billed Toucan (Ramphastus sulphuratus), the White-whiskered Puffbird (Malacoptila panamensis) and the Tody Motmot (Hylomanes momotula).

The best time of the year for bird watching is February through April, a time when you can find species of saltators or hummingbirds, such as the Long-tailed Hermit (Phaeothornis superciliosus), doing their nuptial show or “leks.”The Telephone Towers of Cerro San GilAn interesting part of the Cerro San Gil which lends itself particularly to bird watching are the telephone transmission towers.

To get to them you have to enter through the Port of Santo Tomás de Castilla, just as you do to get to Fundaeco. Take the Atlantic Highway (CA-9) to Santo Tomás de Castilla, where you have to turn left at the sign of the Hotel Green Bay, to Las Escobas.

This is an all weather road and reaches one of the highest parts of the Cerro San Gil, known as “Las Torres” (The Towers), because there are a number of telephone transmission towers there. (maya trail)

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Aventura por la selva

2008-08-06T11:57:00.003-06:00

Rio San Pedro

En los días recientes tuve la extraordinaria oportunidad de visitar una región de la Reserva de Biosfera Maya de Guatemala, el sitio arqueológico El Perú. Una auténtica aventura que necesitó transportarnos en un microbús desde Flores, tomar una lancha en la comunidad de Paso Caballos para navegar el Río San Pedro y caminar 5 kilómetros a través de la selva.

Descubriendo el entorno

Tuve el honor de compartir el viaje con la familia Schroeder, visitantes norteamericanos que buscaban conocer más acerca de los mayas y tener una experiencia cercana a la naturaleza. Además de practicar sus habilidades con el idioma español.

Campamento del Instituti de Arqueología, Etnología e Historia

Sitio arqueológico El Perú
© Maynor Ovando

El entorno natural y las atenciones de nuestro guía comunitario complementan perfectamente la experiencia de visitar una antigua ciudad Maya oculta en el medio del bosque tropical lluvioso. Pavos Ocelados, mariposas Morphos, ranas y monos… una lista completa criaturas viviendo en su entorno natural. Una perfecta combinación de arqueología y ecoturismo.

Un mono araña observando a nuestro grupo.
© Maynor Ovando

Hasta pronto amigos!

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Listado de aves

2008-07-31T10:00:00.000-06:00

Mis amigos Bill Thompson y Julie Zickefoose.

En Guatemala se pueden observar aves en todas partes. Siendo el país relativamente pequeño y con tantas especies de aves, casi en cualquier lugar se pueden ver al menos 10 especies.

Sin mucho esfuerzo se pueden observar en las Ciudad de Guatemala:
Zopilote de cabeza negra (Black Vulture)
Zopilote de cabeza roja (Turkey Vulture)
Zanate (Great-tailed Grackle)
Cenzontle (Clay-colored Robin)
Palomas de Castilla (Rock Dove)
Chocoyo (Pacific Parakeet)
2 especies de Coronaditos (Rufous-collared Sparrow)
(House Sparrow)
1 especie de Gorrión ó Colibrí (White-eared Hummingbird)
1 especie de Mosquero (Social Flycatcher)

Coronadito (Rufous-collared Sparrow)

El anterior es un listado de aves para la Ciudad de Guatemala (Bird Checklist en inglés) y no es más que la lista de las aves que se han observado con certeza en un lugar determinado, ya sea un parque, una ciudad, un departamento o un país.

Zanate (Great-tailed Grackle)

Los pajareros llevan meticulosamente listas de las aves que han visto en diferentes lugares, viajes y finalmente las que han visto a lo largo de su vida (Lifelist).

Zopilote de Cabeza Negra (Black Vulture)

Estos son auténticos ejemplos de aves citadinas.

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Nombres de las aves

2008-07-31T05:00:00.000-06:00

¿Chiltote ó Chorcha?

Si tienen un par de minutos para ver las fotos que presentamos en este espacio, notarán que los nombres de las aves mostradas están en inglés. Para los conocedores del tema no es nada nuevo pero si usted está empezando a participar de la actividad de observar aves, déjeme explicarle.

Los nombres comunes de las aves varían de país a país, incluso de región a región en el mismo país. Durante mi infancia mi papá me enseñó el nombre común de algunas aves, por ejemplo, mientras visitabamos el oriente del país me dijo que un ave anaranjada de garganta negra, con alas negras y manchas blancas se llama Chorcha. Años después, viajando por la costa sur le pregunté a un administrador de una finca cafetalera si en el área se encontraban las Chorchas y me respondió que no. Al describirle el ave me dijo que Chorchas seguramente no, pero por la descripción lo que iba a encontrar eran Chiltotes. Al final es claro que se trata de la misma ave.

Por esta razón los científicos han utilizado un sistema de nomenclatura que llamamos Nombre Científico, para nombrar todos los seres que pueblan el mundo y para el caso se basan en un sistema en idioma latín que identifica el Género y la Especie de cada individuo. Esta forma impide que haya dos seres con el mismo nombre. Para el caso de las Chorchas del oriente de Guatemala o Chiltotes en la costa sur, el Nombre Científico de la especie es Icterus gularis.

Para muchas personas que no científicas y que disfrutan observando aves el uso del latín es un poco engorroso y tomando en cuenta que la mayor cantidad de observadores de aves provienen de países que hablan inglés, se estableció un sistema unificado que identifica los tipos de aves y sus características principales en un idioma que se conoce en todo el mundo. Así pues, el nombre en inglés para las Chorchas ó Chiltotes es Altamira Oriole.

Altamira Oriole (Icterus gularis)

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New 7 Wonders of Nature

2008-07-30T23:52:00.005-06:00

Atitlan Lake

Photo by Maynor Ovando

Have you heard about the New 7 Wonders of Nature? It’s a global campaign to choose 7 nature sites to declare them Treasures of the World.
Atitlan Lake is a nominated candidate for this contest and it makes sense due to the beautiful views you can get in every angle you have of it. But birders have a better reason to support this nomination: the incredible bird diversity.

Resplendent Quetzal

Only around Atitlan Lake you can tick in a couple of days an amazing bird list like this:
Belted Flycatcher
Azure-rumped Tanager
Horned Guan
Resplendent Quetzal
Blue-tailed Hummingbird
Slender Sheartail
Rufous Sabrewing
Bar-winged Oriole
Bushy-crested Jay
Pink-headed Warbler
Hooded Grosbeak
Highland Guan
Green-throated Mountain-gem
Blue-throated Motmot
Rufous-collared Robin
Black Robin
Black-capped Swallow
Rufous-browed Wren
Black-throated Jay
Chestnut-sided Shrike-vireo
Prevost’s Ground-sparrow
Unicolored Jay
Yellow-eyed Junco
Black-capped Siskin
Northern Flicker (Guatemalan race)
Long-tailed Manakin and more than 150 bird species more…

Rufous-collared Robin

Do you agree? So please join us and vote for Atitlan Lake… for the right reason.

Bushy-crested Jay

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¿Bird Watching?

2008-07-30T14:23:00.003-06:00

Observadores de Aves en Parque Ecológico Hun Nal Ye

La observación de aves o Bird Watching es una actividad relativamente nueva en Guatemala. Muchas veces hemos visto turistas de diferentes partes del mundo con cámaras y binoculares en mano, buscando en los árboles de parques y al lado de las carreteras, sin saber que tanto ven. Esta es una rama del ecoturismo en que las personas visitan parques para observar aves libres en la naturalesza.

Nuestro país tiene una gran riqueza de especies de aves, mas de 700, de las cuales alrededor de 500 viven permanentemente en nuestro territorio y las demás pasan el invierno boreal en estas tierras cálidas y regresan a sus territorios norteños para procrear.

Acompáñenos desde este sitio en nuestros diversos viajes de campo a “pajarear” y comparta los increíbles tesoros que la naturaleza del país tiene para ofrecer.

Golden-fronted Woodpecker (Cheje de frente dorada)

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Doves

2008-07-30T10:13:00.003-06:00

Blue Ground-dove

Many times we have a poor concept of some bird species. Vultures have a bad reputation because they made the “dirty job” of nature. They are not good singers or colorful of pretty… but they are efficient.

Doves are seen almost in the same way because many hear the word dove and think in a Rock Dove. People even call them “air rats” because their abundance in almost every city in the world. But when you can show how diverse are members of Columbidae family they will start to think different.
Guatemala has 20 dove species and I digiscoped these doves in a birding trip to El Zotz Biotope in Petén lowlands.

White-tipped Dove

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Top ten birds in Guatemala

2008-07-25T17:38:00.004-06:00

A troop of birders in Peten lowlands

Photo by Maynor Ovando

As many of you already know there are more than 710 bird species from which about 200 are neartic migrants. The question many people is rounding their minds is: What are the best ticks I can expect to add in Guatemala during a birding trip?

I like to have a top ten bird list in mind for these occasions:
1. Horned Guan
2. Pink-headed Warbler
3. Azure-rumped Tanager
4. Belted Flycatcher
5. Blue-throated Motmot
6. Resplendent Quetzal
7. Bushy-crested Jay
8. Bar-winged Oriole
9. Green-throated Mountain-gem
10. Rufous-browed Wren

Blue-throated Motmot

Bushy-crested Jay

Rufous-browed Wren

And there are like 25 more with almost the same restricted distribution that can be seen in Western and Central highlands.But if you are visiting Northern lowland of Petén the bird list should be:
1. Gray-throated Chat
2. Ocellated Turkey
3. Green-backed Sparrow
4. Orange-breasted Falcon
5. Yucatan Jay
6. Lovely Cotinga
7. White-fronted Parrot
8. Pale-billed Woodpecker
9. Rose-throated Tanager
10. White-collared Manakin

Ocellated Turkey

Orange-breasted Falcon

Pale-billed Woodpecker

Of course there are many beautiful and nice birds but these are authentic trophies for keen birders.

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Land of volcanoes

2008-07-24T14:00:00.005-06:00

Lake Atitlan Guardians: Toliman, Atitlan and San Pedro

Photo by Maynor Ovando

Southern Guatemala has a chain formed by volcanoes. They shape the landscape of the foothills from Pacific slope to the highlands; this barrier is responsible for most of the endemism of northern Central America. Birds like Azure-rumped Tanager and Horned Guan are restricted to some volcanic areas between Mexico and Guatemala.

Atitlan Volcano

Photo by Maynor Ovando

Three from the 33 volcanoes in the country are active. Pacaya Volcano is the nearest to Guatemala City and is the most visited. Fuego Volcano is near Antigua Guatemala and Santiaguito Volcano in southwestern is the most active and dangerous.

San Pedro Volcano

Photo by Maynor Ovando

Hiking and birding on volcanoes is just great. All volcanoes has been decalared protected areas and most of them are National Parks that offers services and security to visitors.

Fuego Volcano

Photo by Maynor Ovando

Pacaya Volcano

Photo by Lemuel Valle

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Colorful birds

2008-07-22T16:47:00.005-06:00

A typical handicrafts store

Photo by Maynor Ovando

Guatemala is a unique place in the world; diversity is easily observed in our landscape, nature and people. With 23 ethnic groups and languages we have so many different ways to express ourselves and find the answer to our problems as birds do in a mixed foraging flock in the rainforest.

Textiles

Photo by Maynor Ovando

Something extraordinary about how we see life is the way craftsman use colors. Textiles and handicrafts are the best examples and birds are common motive of inspiration.

Bird motives in textiles

Photo by Maynor Ovando

It’s not hard to understand why if you have the chance to walk in a forest trail and enjoy the sight of amazing colorful birds like Ocellated Turkey, Scarlet Macaw, Keel-billed Toucan or Resplendent Quetzal.

Scarlet Macaw

Photo by Benedicto Grijalva

Keel-billed Toucan

Ocellated Turkey

Resplendent Quetzal

Even if you are not a birder you can’t miss them!

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MoSI

2008-07-22T00:30:00.005-06:00

Black-throated Green-warbler (female)

Photo by Maynor Ovando

MoSI is the abbreviation for Monitoreo de Sobreviviencia Invernal - Monitoring Overwintering Survival Program is a research managed by the Institute for Bird Populations (IBP) along Latin America to estimate statistics of overwintering and survival rates and indices of physical conditions of a group of 25 target bird species.
The MoSI program is based in a protocol of 5 pulses of mist net operation in an area of at least 20 ha, called a “MoSI Station”. This station is placed in a habitat of interest where the target bird species can be captured in good numbers.

Wing feather examination

Photo by Maynor Ovando

A pulse is equivalent to 16 mist nets operated during 3 consecutive days; it means 15 days of work for a winter season. The protocol ask for specific information like weight, sex, age (determined by feather examination and skull pneumatization) and finally banding individuals to track them in future pulses.

All data collected are sent to IBP to analyze them and take the proper actions in conservation efforts.

Banding birds for monitoring

Photo by Maynor Ovando

Guatemala has been part of this program and many ornithologists an birders has been involved in training workshops to collaborate with this important task. These pictures were taken in a MoSI station in a pine-oak forest in Sierra de las Minas Biosphere Reserve.

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Funny bird pictures

2008-07-19T14:41:00.002-06:00

Bronzed Cowbird

Taking bird pictures from nature is a real challenge. Most of us want to have a sharp and perfect image but it is hard to get because circumstances are changing always. Hundreds of shots are not good, even are not good enough to recognize the bird and we usually delete them, but many of them have a story behind or can be seen in a different perspective, artistic or funny…
I took this image of a Bronzed Cowbird in a birding walk around Uaxactun, a Pre Classic Maya City, the weather was stormy and the light conditions were incredibly poor, but looking at the bird trying to dry its feathers made me remember those days when I watched birds just in cartoons. It’s just like a funny bird in a cartoon.

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Birding around Flores, Peten

2008-07-16T14:47:00.008-06:00

Peten Itza Lake

Photo by Maynor Ovando

Flores is the capital of the northernmost department of Guatemala, Peten. If you travel to visit any Maya city like Tikal or Yaxhá, you can’t miss this small and beautiful town. Flores is an island, bordered by Petén Itzá Lake and there’s a lot of options to take a tour on the lake or have a ride in a car to visit neighbor towns.

Last Wednesday I decided to go birding around Flores Island, so I tried to have the two sides of the coin birding in water and land.

I started in a boat at 6:00 am to look for wading birds for 3 hours, this is my bird list:
Pied-billed Greebe
Neotropic Cormorant
Northern Jacana
Purple Gallinule
Limpkin
Green Heron
Little Blue Heron
Ringed Kingfisher
Snail Kite
Mangrove Swallow
Great-tailed Grackle
Laughing Gull
Amazon Kingfisher
Great Egret
Bat Falcon
Social Flycatcher
Rock Dove
Common Moorhen
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Olive-throated Parakeet
Yellow-throated Euphonia
Blue-gray Tanager

Juvenile Little Blue Heron and Northern Jacana

Mangrove Swallow

At 9:00 am I got back to have breakfast and then took a car to El Remate, a town midway to Tikal National Park.

El Remate

Photo by Maynor Ovando

This is the bird list I got on the road:
Roadside Hawk
Vermillion Flycatcher (in front of International Airport Mundo Maya)
Fork-tailed Flycatcher
Gray-breasted Martin
Tropical Kingbird
Gray Hawk
Groove-billed Ani
White-collared Seedeater
Ruddy Ground-dove
Golden-fronted Woodpecker
Black-headed Trogon
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird
Plumbeous Kite
Bronzed Cowbird
Yellow Warbler

Ruddy Ground-dove

Tropical Kingbird

By noon I went back to Flores again. Just great birding!

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Birds and predators

2008-07-15T14:53:00.011-06:00

Yellow-throated Euphonia (male)

Photo by Benedicto Grijalva

Last week I visited Ceibal by boat. Walking near the river looking for birds I saw a couple of Yellow-throated Euphonia flying fiercely near to me. My friend Benedicto told me we should be near their chicks, so we put our attention to neighbor trees. In the root of an epiphyte plant three chicks were perfectly hidden from predators.

Yellow-throated Euphonia chicks

Photo by Maynor Ovando

We walk 5 meters ahead and looked back to the nest when Benedicto told me again about something unusual in a tree branch… “Why does that branch look so strange?” and immediately answered “It’s a Mazacuata!”

A 6 ft. Boa constrictor taking the sun next to Euphonia's nest

Photo by Maynor Ovando

In Guatemala the common name for a Boa constrictor is Mazacuata. The snake was perfectly camouflage in a mango tree. Lay on a branch and taking a sun bath, just getting enough energy to look for the next food.

Mazacuata, the local name of Boa constrictor.

Photo by Maynor Ovando

If you pay attention enough each time you go outside for birding, you can find some other animal species that are looking for them too.

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The Horned Guan Quest...

2008-07-11T15:51:00.013-06:00

Visitor Center at San Pedro Volcano Ecological Park

Photo by Maynor Ovando

Guatemala’s most wanted bird to see bird is definitely Horned Guan. One of the most threatened bird in the world, confined to some deciduous forest above 6000 ft. In field this means volcanoes and the easiest access place to look for it is San Pedro Volcano.

A wonderful groups of birding friends looking for the mythic Horned Guan...

Front: Maynor Ovando, Eduardo Galicia, Barbara Dowell, Bryan Bland, Alexis Cerezo

Back: Lemuel Valle, Jeff Gordon, Dave DeSante, Chandler Robbins

March 2007

Photo by Byron Gonzalez

This is me walking in the trails.

Photo by Benedicto Grijalva

The hike takes 4 hours at a birding pace because the site is full of birds; my bird list has more than 150 bird species including Unicolored Jay, Blue-throated Motmot, Bushy-crested Jay, Mountain Trogon, Prevost’s Ground-sparrow, Chestnut-sided Shrike-vireo, Yellow-eyed Junco, Gray-breasted Wood-wren, Slate-throated Redstart and many Neartic migrants…

Slate-throated Redstart

Photo by Benedicto Grijalva

Even though the physical effort is high and the trail has steps most of the path, but the amazing views of Atitlan Lake, the great birds on the way, the chance to observe this cracid and the adrenaline rushing in your blood makes the trip worth it.

Steps along the trail...

Photo by Maynor Ovando

Views of Atitlan Lake

Photo by Maynor Ovando

After 4 hours hiking this is a "good sign"...

Photo by Maynor Ovando

A priceless reward after hard hiking...

Photo by Lemuel Valle

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More than just birds

2008-07-07T11:25:00.010-06:00

Atitlan Lake

Photo by Maynor Ovando

All of us enjoy birds… no doubts about it, but Guatemala has a particular advantage when you travel along the country, because there’s no birding site without an amazing complement to explore.

Antigua Guatemala

Photo by Maynor Ovando

Guatemala has over 720 bird species, 35 regional endemic birds to southern Mexico and northern Central America, 21 Maya descendent ethnic groups who share their culture everyday; Antigua Guatemala, one of the most famous Colonial City in America; an endless list of Maya archaeological sites, an incredible ecosystems diversity, amazing natural treasures like Atitlan Lake and the most modern and biggest city in Central America.

Guatemala City

Photo by Maynor Ovando

So you can find a lot of possibilities to combine a birding trip with extraordinary complements like living Maya cultures in the western highlands visit ancient Maya Cities like Yaxha in northern lowlands or look for one of Guatemalan star, the Horned Guan, and enjoy sunset with a cup of the best coffee in the world at Lake Atitlan shores.

Archaeology, history, live culture, textiles, handcrafts, landscapes, splendorous nature and Guatemalan friendship plus birds… sounds like paradise, in this corner of the world we like to call “Eternal Spring Country”.

Orchid

Photo by Maynor Ovando

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