We connected with the calling Mottled Owl in the car park this morning as we loaded the luggage
before dawn. Then we drove up into the hills, checking a roadside site that
held 3 brief Purplish-backed Jays, San Blas Jay and a Russet-crowned Motmot.
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| Russet-crowned Motmot (near endemic only found in Mexico & Guatemala) |
Then we drove higher and went to one of
Kim’s secret sites where we played with a group of stunning Elegant Quails that took some effort
but it was worthwhile, as eventually everyone got very good views.
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| Elegant Quail (endemic) |
At this spot
we also enjoyed fantastic looks at a gang of noisy Black-throated Magpie-Jays in a large tree right overhead our
picnic table.
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| Black-throated Magpie-Jay (endemic) |
There was also close Boat-billed
Flycatcher, Lilac-crowned Amazon, Orange-fronted Parakeets
and another Russet-crowned Motmot
interrupting our field breakfast.
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| Boat-billed Flycatcher |
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| Lilac-crowned Amazon (endemic) |
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| Orange-fronted Parakeet |
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| Russet-crowned Motmot |
Moving up the cobbled track a group of 5 Swainson’s Hawks were seen migrating
north, but with time pressing we drove to another area to search for Five-striped
Sparrow. This drew a blank but a Blue
Mockingbird showed well, as did MacGillivray’s
Warbler, Varied Bunting and
others.
Lunch was taken at a beachside restaurant complete
with Vaux’s Swifts flying overhead
in San Blas and then we had a short siesta before we drove to the small quay
for our late afternoon boat trip.
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| Definitely not endemics! Photo courtesy of Lynne Rackstraw |
This time we went along the main river,
getting close and I mean very close to common herons and egrets perched on some
rocks before heading into a narrow channel.
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| Boat-billed Herons |
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| Great Kiskadee |
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| Green Kingfisher |
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| Louisiana Waterthrush was a common sighting along the river |
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| Red-billed Pigeons |
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| Who doesn't love Western Osprey? |
We again enjoyed nice close views
of lots of birds and it was a shame that a calling Spotted Rail never showed. But our main purpose for doing this boat
trip would have to wait until our boatman took us to a day roosting Northern Potoo and this incredible bird
was much larger than we expected with the cryptic plumage being a sight to
behold.
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| Northern Potoo |
After dark we spotlighted at least 2 different Northern Potoos, Common
Pauraque and lots of Lesser Nighthawks
before returning to the quay. It had been a fantastic experience.
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| Northern Potoo |
