In my earlier post today I kind of gave an overview of what we did so feel free to read that, this will just be the scraps and pics.
Roseate spoonbills are so great. Had more lovely views of them, although interesting we have yet to get a good medium-short distance look like we have with other waders, only flyovers and at a distance.
At the lagoon area we went to, we flushed some common gallinules along the path and then eventually saw three at once which was exciting! I was hoping they would be wood rails or even a clapper rail but still a nice treat.
This is a Lesser Yellow Headed Vulture! It took quite some time to be confident in the field marks that separated this from the common Turkey Vulture, besides head color, but zoning in on the upper wings being silvery towards the primaries was very helpful (Thanks Sibley!) Great to gain confidence on identifications and overcome challenges.
There was a whole load of shorebirds that we saw amongst the crocodiles and herons. 4 Short Billed Dowitchers, Some Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, Least and Western Sandpipers as well as Wilson's, Black Bellied and Semipalmated Plovers!
At the lagoon area we went to, we flushed some common gallinules along the path and then eventually saw three at once which was exciting! I was hoping they would be wood rails or even a clapper rail but still a nice treat.
We saw dozens upon dozens of snowy egrets as they passed overhead flying from wetland to wetland.
They are so pretty.
Tricolored Heron's seem to be the most rambunctious Heron we have seen so far, always carrying on, jumping back and forth hopping about, tempting fate with crocodiles. It is fun getting to know the personality of some of these birds.
Speaking of rambunctious birds! The olive throated parakeet is such a loud bird! They have a tremendous chattering call and an interesting flight style with these shallow quick wingbeats, reminding you of a swift!
The real MVP for rambunctiousness is the Great-tailed Grackles. They are annoying when you are trying to get an audio recording of some bird and they are drowned out by the creeks and thrashing of them. Still fun though.
This is a Morelets Seed eater, they are tiny things, I expected them to be larger, grosbeak sized birds however they are warbler size, smaller even! We have seen 5 of them on the trip so far, cool birbs!
I went out by myself after snorkelling, just around our place in some off the beaten path parts of San Pedro and managed to see my Lifer Blue Gray Tanager! A species I have lusted after. They are such a sleek looking bird, cloud blue. No picture but I will get one someday! I also saw a bananaquit!
In between fry jacks and chocolate and papusa we managed to have a great birding day!
They say ended with a pair of duetting great horned owls right above our room! Awesome :)
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