Lamanai Day 0 - Goodbye Black Rock Lodge

Today was our day to leave Black Rock and to depart for Lamanai. I took one last stroll around the lodge in the morning.

I saw this banded Red-throated Ant-Tanager.

As well as this odd couple feeding on bugs attracted to the compost pile.

Spotted Sandpiper and Russet-Naped Wood-Rail.

I also saw yet another Yellow-Breasted Chat. I again recognize that they, along with Kentucky Warblers are not rare South of Ontario. However they still are so fun to find.

These mushrooms look cool.

This Collared Araçari is always nice to see. They enjoy coming to the feeding station.

We ran into our first guide Fernando at the dining area and got to thank him for the great experience. Him and Victor, our new guide, are tremendously knowledgeable about birds and the natural world. We learnt a lot from them.

On the way to meeting the driver from Lamanai, we made one last stop with Victor at a place near Black Rock where Yucatán species tend to thrive. One main feature of this habitat was Poison Wood, a tree in the same family (the poison family, just kidding) to Poison Ivy, Poison Oak etc.

Here is a habitat shot with the Poison Wood in the center.

The targets were Rose-Throated Tanager, Gray-Breasted Chat and Yucatán Flycatcher. The Yucatan Flycatcher was very obliging, vocalizing frequently and showing well. However the Rose Throated Tanager and the Gray-Breasted Chat gave us a couple vocalizations each and that's it.

We did have great looks at the Canivets Emerald.

Note the fork tail of the male here.

As well as the Green-Breasted Mango.

Such beautiful names for such beautiful birds, both lifers.

Victor really worked hard to find us these life birds.

We said goodbye to Victor and loaded up into the van for Lamanai.

This van took us to a boat where we made the hour long ride to the Lodge. 

Ringed (above) and Belted Kingfishers were everywhere. Ospreys were abundant also.

The guide pointed out some roosting Lesser Nighthawks. Never had such a nice view of a nightjar like this before.

There were several Morelet's Crocodiles, an endemic freshwater croc.

Look st those teeth!

This Black Collared Hawk is so beautiful. They primarily eat fish.

A great start to the day at Lamanai, it is a tremendous area. The number 1 and 2 ebird hotspots for Belize are here so I'm hoping many birds await.