Belize - Day 5 (continuation of our 2005 trip)

2/18/2005 (Friday) – We were up at 5:30, and walked down the road to the bridge at 6:10. We saw a group of Collared Aracari in the lodge area as we were starting out. Along the road we got good looks at both Tawny-winged and Ivory-billed Woodcreeper and a White-breasted Wood-Wren. Overhead a Scaly-breasted Hummingbird was singing its loud and musical song. We didn’t realize that some hummingbirds could actually sing. At the bridge we saw a Green Honeycreeper high in a tree, and Wilson’s and Kentucky Warbler. The Wilson’s was apparently pretty unusual, and turned out to be a lifer for Ruben who was also down at the bridge. On the walk back we saw Yellow-bellied Tyrannulet and a pair of loudly squawking Red-lored Parrots.

 Pale-billed Woodpecker

After breakfast Rueben took us and another couple up to Norman’s Temple and into the Back Plaza. These areas were quite slow birdwise, but finally in the Back Plaza he began to hear a pair of Blue-crowned Motmots calling. First he saw a single bird, and then a pair in a different tree. They were quite high up, but we had good looks at them. They turned out to be the only new birds of the morning.

Mark and Ruben

After lunch Teri and I checked out the Breadfruit tree behind the cabana and identified a Black-faced Saltator. We then decided to walk down to a swampy area behind the swimming pool on the River Trail. We watched a single Rufous-tailed Jacamar working the pool for about thirty minutes. It was beautifully metallic when in the direct sunlight. We also watched Nashville and Blue-winged Warblers bathing.

We then walked the King’s Tomb / Logger’s Trail. We got close looks at a Ruddy Woodcreeper near the King’s Tomb. Once onto the Logger’s Trail we found our much-anticipated Tody Motmot. It was sitting at eye level on a tree directly beside the trail, perhaps 25 feet away. We studied it closely for about 45 seconds, and then I tried to sneak my camera out for a photo and off it went! As we neared the bridge we found a nice place to sit next to the creek at a pool. It was not nearly as active as the pool that we’d sat next to on Thursday, but we did add a Red-throated Ant-Tanager. A group of Spider Monkeys passed overhead making quite a racket and causing leaves, sticks and fruit to rain down onto the forest floor. 

That night the Howler Monkeys were at it again, growling into the night. Teri finally resorted to earplugs.

This is a short video (sound only) of the Howler Monkeys.  Mark pointed the camara at a light since it was dark out and he couldn't get a picture of the monkeys.