Belize Trip - March 2022 - The "North"

[Dave]

Greetings Birders,

My three kids, wife and I spent 14 days in Belize over Spring Break. We rented a vehicle and toured around this relatively small country enjoying the warm temperatures, beautiful beaches, Mayan ruins, waterfalls, jungle, snorkeling, culture and cuisine. Of course, plenty of birding opportunities as well. I ended up with 294 species on the trip with 63 being life birds.


Red-lored Parrot at River Bend Resort by Dave Beeke

Red-lored Parrot the first morning at River Bend Resort right by the international airport. Always fun waking up the first morning in a new country!

We first headed north to Crooked Tree Sanctuary

On route were the first of abundant Jacanas

Northern Jacana at Ladyville Pond at Belikin Factory by Dave Beeke


And the mighty Jabiru

Jabiru at Philip Goldson Hwy--Belize District by Dave Beeke


Pinneated Bittern was an exciting lifer and definitely not a guaranteed sighting

Pinnated Bittern at Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary by Dave Beeke


Lineated Woodpecker was not a lifer but neat to see again as well.

Lineated Woodpecker at Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary by Dave Beeke


Yucatan Woodpecker was a regional bird on my key wish list and was right on the grounds of our place for a few nights - Beck's Bed & Breakfast. A great place for a family with a pool, awesome hosts, beautiful grounds, and positioned in great "birdy" habitat.

Yucatan Woodpecker at Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary by Dave Beeke


Cinnamon-bellied Saltator

Cinnamon-bellied Saltator at Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary by Dave Beeke


A trip to the Mayan Ruins started with an Altamira Oriole

Altamira Oriole at Tower Hill bridge by Dave Beeke


Snail Kite

Snail Kite at New River (waterway) by Dave Beeke


Bat Falcon

Bat Falcon at New River (waterway) by Dave Beeke


Ringed Kingfisher

Ringed Kingfisher at New River (waterway) by Dave Beeke


The forest had goodies such as Keel-billed Toucan

Keel-billed Toucan at Lamanai Maya site by Dave Beeke


Black-headed Trogon

Black-headed Trogon at Lamanai Maya site by Dave Beeke


and Slaty-tailed Trogon

Slaty-tailed Trogon at Lamanai Maya site by Dave Beeke


Back at Beck's we had Aplomado Falcon

Aplomado Falcon at Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary by Dave Beeke


A boat trip gave us good views of Black-collared Hawk

Black-collared Hawk at Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary by Dave Beeke


Roseate Spoonbill

Roseate Spoonbill at Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary by Dave Beeke


and a big target of mine - Agami Heron

Agami Heron at Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary by Dave Beeke


Boat-billed Heron

Boat-billed Heron at Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary by Dave Beeke


Bare-throated Tiger-Heron

Bare-throated Tiger-Heron at Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary by Dave Beeke


Rufous-browed Peppershrike back at Beck's B&B

Rufous-browed Peppershrike at Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary by Dave Beeke


After 3 days we headed SE - next post....

[ed]

So good you got to do this with your family! The birds there are outstanding and your pictures are so fun to look at.
Ed