Black Rock Lodge Day 3 - Xunantunich Maya Site

After our night drive last night, we were all feeling quite tired this morning as the howler monkeys woke us up. Screaming to announce a new day.

We met with Fernando after our lunch of Chaya (apparently 4 times healthier than spinach!!!), eggs and Fry Jack (for me) and granola, yogurt and fruit (for my parents).

The birds were not up as early so we did not see as many at the feeder during breakfast.

The Ornate Hawk Eagles were BOTH around the nest 

Driving along the Black Rock Road is incredibly difficult as every 10 meters you have to pull over to checkout what that bird that crossed the road was! At the ornate hawk eagle spot alone, we saw Northern Barred Woodcreeper,

Collared and Gartered Trogon (Collared Pictured Below, the hardest to see due to their specific habitat requirements - Fernando). Seeing the Collared Trogon completed our Trogon Grand Slam!! They are very stately birds, calm relaxed, which is a stark contrast to when your dad points out the bird and you frantically get an angle to see it, getting laser pointer assistance etc. Not that I'm speaking from personal experience...

You can just barely see the white collar of this bird. 

We also finally saw this spot breasted Wren. Took us so long to finally see one after hearing their very loud songs for so long.

We also saw the very elusive White-Eyed Flatbill, look at that eye ring!

This butterfly, called the banded peacock was very common.

We also saw a White-Tailed Kite munching on something in a farm field on the drive . Also Green Jays!! Which are so nice looking and lived up to the hype in my head.

We arrived at at Xunantunich via a hand cranked ferry as we crossed the Mopan river.

Perched on the tree was a male (pictured) and female Amazon Kinfisher. Look at the beak on this lad!

We walked through Xunantunich, which led to some very pleasant birding through the forest. 

This tree is called by the locals "horse balls".

Some expert snapping by Fernando imitating the White Collared Manakin's courtship dance provided us with a view of this cute male.

The temples were fascinating, I've never seen anything like this before.

Read more here:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xunantunich

I learnt that Allspice is the seed of this tree:

This beautiful tree is a Mahogany Tree.

This Spiny-Tailed Lizard surveying his (males are gray) domain.

We stopped for lunch and then headed home!

I think this pink tree, called a Mexican Lilac is so lovely. There are many of them around.

On the way home I saw this cool Fungus.

Look at this view, I love mountains.

Another wolf spider camping out on our hammock, this one was huge. If this doesn't give you shivers I don't know what would.