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GUATEMALA

19 - 26 November 1995

by Jim Danzenbaker

The following is a summary of a seven day birding holiday to Tikal in Gatemala.  Weather was humid for three days then turning very pleasant for the reamining four days.

All birding done on foot, within about 2 miles of the lodges.

Day 1 - 11/19/95 - AM  airstrip; PM main trail to Grand Plaza ruins, etc.
Day 2 - 11/20/95 - AM  Uaxactun Road; PM  trail to Temple VI (Temple of Inscriptions).
Day 3 - 11/21/95 - AM  group P & Q then Uaxactun Road; PM  Uaxactun Rd.
Day 4 - 11/22/95 - AM  near 3 kms of Park entrance Road; PM  Museum area
Day 5 - 11/23/95 - AM  airstrip, entrance road; PM  entrance road, main grounds
Day 6 - 11/24/95 - AM  trails to Temple IV; PM  exit via Uaxactun Road
Day 7 - 11/25/95 - same as 6
Day 8 - 11/26/95 - AM  entrance road

178 birds seen in and around Tikal Parque Nationale, Guatemala
 
 
SPECIES WHERE OBSERVED
Great Tinamou heard someplace.
Slaty-breasted Tinamou seen off main trail; initially froze for about 5 seconds out in the open, then zigzagged into cover.
Least Grebe pair skulking in wet area along Uaxactun Rd.
Bare-throated Tiger Heron flew over us along airstrip first morning, then seen a couple of times at the aguada near the lodges.
Great Blue Heron seen flying out of the aguada on day 3.
Great Egret seen flying by from the old airstrip.
Little Blue Heron imm. on the aguada Tikal. most of the mornings.
Cattle Egret seen almost everyday at aguada Tikal.
Green Heron several on the aguada Tikal banks most days.
Black Vulture seen everywhere every day.
Turkey Vulture seen around ruins every day.
King Vulture seen soaring days 3 and 7.
Double-toothed Kite flyovers days 4,7,8.
Crane Hawk pair at airstrip day 1; single sat for photos Temple VI trail.
Great Black Hawk flying high over Grand Plaza day 7.
Gray Hawk single immature day 4 AM.
Roadside Hawk seen every day but one at edges.
Black Hawk-Eagle seen soaring Day 4 AM, Day 7 AM.
Barred Forest Falcon zipped across Uaxactun Rd. Day 3.
Bat Falcon seen several days, at aguada Tikal, along entrace road, at Temple IV.
Plain Chachalaca seen every day.
Crested Guan seen several days and places, including a pair strolling into one of the restaurants at dinnertime.
Ocellated Turkey seen every day around lodges; unwary, curious, apparently fed by tourists sometimes.
Gray-necked Wood Rail two seen at aguada Tikal day 3 AM.
Scaled Pigeon three flew over entrance road day 8.
Short-billed Pigeon flybys seen several times in many places; some feeding in trees on Uaxactun Rd.
Gray-fronted Dove seen walking across entrance road, at Temple IV, and flushed a couple of other places.
Olive-throated Parakeet flyovers a few places.
Brown-hooded Parrot pairs seen Temple VI trail, museum area.
White-crowned Parrot only definites a pair which landed in trees around the lodges day 7.
White-fronted Parrot seen along airstrip and Museum.
Red-lored Parrot seen often around museum and lodges.
Mealy Parrot flybys around museum days 5,7.
Squirrel Cuckoo seen every day, many places.
Groove-billed Ani seen along airstrip and at aguada Tikal.
Vermiculated Screech-Owl heard night 1 along airstrip.
Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl heard AM day 3 from airstrip area.
Mottled Owl heard almost every morning around 4:00 at lodge.
White-collared Swift a few flying overhead AM day 4.
Vaux's Swift seen Day 6 Uaxactun Rd.
Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift flying overhead Days 3,6,8.
Long-tailed Hermit seen briefly day 1 around lodges and day 7.
Little Hermit seen most days, many places.
Wedge-tailed Sabrewing photo'd at flowering tree at group P.
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird seen almost every day, many places.
Buff-bellied Hummingbird seen Day 1 airstrip.
Purple-crowned Fairy seen several times dip-bathing in puddles on trails in the park.
Ruby-throated (?) Hummingbird female seen at flowering tree at Group P.
Black-headed Trogon seen several times around edges.
Violaceous Trogon seen a few times on trails, entrance road, Uaxactun Rd.
Collared Trogon one seen Uaxactun Road day 3.
Slaty-tailed Trogon seen and photod many times in park.
Tody Motmot one found and photo'd day 6 between Temple IV and Uaxactun Rd. Also calling pair day 7 Uaxactun Rd.
Blue-crowned Motmot seen or heard every day many places.
Belted Kingfisher seen some mornings aguada Tikal.
White-necked Puffbird seen perched high over entrance road Day 4.
White-whiskered Puffbird seen day 2 Temple VI trail, and several day 6 Uaxactun Rd and Temple IV trail.
Rufous-tailed Jacamar seen several times Uaxactun Rd., Temple IV and entrance road.
Collared Aracari lots seen every day, often foraging low in fruiting trees, photogenic.
Keel-billed Toucan several seen, mostly flying across airstrip.
Black-cheeked Woodpecker one on Uaxactun Road day 6.
Golden-fronted Woodpecker (distinctive race dubious) every day around edges, museum and lodge grounds, etc.
Smoky-brown Woodpecker singles in the forest, days 2 and 3.
Golden-olive Woodpecker beautiful male photod on the way to Temple IV on day 6; another along Uaxactun Rd day 7.
Chestnut-colored Woodpecker seen and photod several times in the forest and also twice near the edge.
Lineated Woodpecker seen most days at edges; one seemed to be excavating a nest cavity on entrance road day 4.
Pale-billed Woodpecker a few seen various locations.
Plain Xenops seen on several different trails in the park.
Scaly-throated Leaftosser one heard (we think) in forest from the entrance road.
Tawny-winged Woodcreeper seen almost every day in forest; photo'd at close range.
Ruddy Woodcreeper seen along Uaxactun Road and photod along entrance road.
Olivaceous Woodcreeper seen several times on the park trails.
Barred Woodcreeper family (?) group seen along entrance road.
Ivory-billed Woodcreeper seen almost every day in park and at edges.
Barred Antchrike pairs along airstrip and Uaxactun Rd.
Plain Antvireo small groups seen frequently along trails in park.
Dot-winged Antwren small groups seen almost every day along edges.
Black-faced Antthrush heard a few times.
Yellow-bellied Tyrannulet one seen along main trail day 1.
Northern Beardless Tyrannulet one heard airstrip day 5.
Greenish Elaenia seen a few times on park trails and Uaxactun Rd.
Ochre-bellied Flycatcher seen several times on park trails, Uaxactun Road and entrance road. One individual with red left leg band and silver right leg band on entrance road day 8.
Sepia-capped Flycatcher seen or heard every day in park and on entrance road.
Northern Bentbill seen at least three times, along entrance road and photo'd in park.
Slate-headed Tody-flycatcher one seen along trail from Temple IV to Uaxactun Rd.
Eye-ringed Flatbill seen a few times on the park trails.
Yellow-olive Flycatcher seen day 2,8.
Stub-tailed Spadebill seen or heard almost every day in numbers; finally photo'd day 7.
Royal Flycatcher photo'd day 3 Uaxactun Road and day 7 main trail.
Ruddy-tailed Flycatcher seen several times along park trails.
Sulphur-rumped Flycatcher seen a couple of times along park trails.
Tropical Pewee one seen at Temple IV.
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher seen most days along park trails, Uaxactun Rd., entrance road.
Least Flycatcher many seen and heard almost every day; edges.
Bright-rumped Attila heard most days from lodge; not seen until last 2 days.
Rufous Mourner one seen Temple IV day 6.
Dusky-capped Flycatcher heard every day many places, few seen.
Great Crested Flycatcher seen and/or heard almost every day, esp. museum area, Uaxactun Rd., entrance road.
Brown-crested Flycatcher seen some mornings around the museum.
Boat-billed Flycatcher one seen along entrance road day 4; another near Temple IV day 6.
Social Flycatcher abundant around museum and lodges every day.
Tropical Kingbird common around aguada Tikal every day.
Couch's Kingbird one in Kapok tree at park entrance day 3.
Masked Tityra two in fruiting tree at aguada Tikal every morning; scattered individuals seen elsewhere.
Black-crowned Tityra two along entrance road day 8.
Rufous Piha one seen along Uaxactun Road day 7.
Thrush-like Mourner heard every day; seen well and photo'd along Uaxactun Rd.
White-collared Manakin seen a few times, along Uaxactun Rd and entrance road.
Red-capped Manakin seen almost every day, mostly females; photogenic males seen along entrance road, fond of berries growing low on edges.
Ridgway's Rough-winged Swallow (see Howell & Webb) roosting in Temple IV.
Northern Rough-winged Swallow flocks flying overhead airstrip, aguada Tikal, etc.
Barn Swallow one seen flying around aguada Tikal day 6.
Brown Jay abundant and noisy around museum, lodges, edges.
Spot-breasted Wren seen several times, airstrip, lodges, entrance road.
White-bellied Wren seen nestbuilding at Temple IV, scattered elsewhere.
White-breasted Wood Wren heard in and around forest areas, seen seldom.
Long-billed Gnatwren seen entrance road day 5; trails and Uaxactun Road day 6.
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher seen and heard several times; edges.
Tropical Gnatcatcher one seen day 8 entrance road.
Swainson's Thrush singles day 3 and 8.
Wood Thrush many seen and/or heard almost every day.
Clay-colored Robin a couple seen along airstrip.
Gray Catbird frequently seen and heard along airstrip, other edges.
White-eyed Vireo heard often and seen occasionally various places.
Mangrove Vireo seen day 1 along airstrip.
Philadelphia Vireo one seen day 6 on edge near park entrance.
Red-eyed Vireo one seen day 3 at aguada Tikal.
Tawny-crowned Greenlet several in park with ant swarm followers.
Lesser Greenlet seen every day many places.
Green Shrike-Vireo we think we saw one day 4 while eating breakfast on entrance road.
Blue-winged Warbler seen a few times in park, entrance road, airstrip.
Golden-winged Warbler seen thrice; day 2 Uaxactun Road, day 7 in park, day 8 entrance road.
Tennessee Warbler only one, day 3 Group P.
Northern Parula seen twice; day 4 entrance road, day 5 airstrip.
Yellow Warbler seen almost every day, esp. museum and lodge area.
Chestnut-sided Warbler seen most days, esp. in park.
Magnolia Warbler seen every day, many places.
Yellow-rumped Warbler seen twice in park.
Black-throated Green Warbler seen twice in park.
PALM WARBLER one seen near Grand Plaza; from Howell & Webb, this may be a first for Guatemala.
Black and White Warbler seen almost every day, in park and edges.
American Redstart seen almost every day, in park and edges.
Worm-eating Warbler seen a few times, in park.
Ovenbird seen day 1 airstrip, day 2 in park, day 8 entrance road.
Northern Waterthrush seen day 2 Uaxactun Rd.
Louisiana Waterthrush one seen day 2 along trail to Temple VI.
Kentucky Warbler seen several times in dense undergrowth in park.
Common Yellowthroat seen/heard several times at edges and wet areas.
Gray-crowned Yellowthroat one seen at wet place along Uaxactun Rd.
Hooded Warbler seen several times in dense undergrowth in park.
Golden-crowned Warbler seen a few times in the park.
Yellow-breasted Chat seen day 2 Uaxactun Rd., day 8 entrance road.
Masked Tanager one seen Grand Plaza day 1, family group eating berries along entrance road day 4, down low for photos.
Green Honeycreeper one seen bathing in pool in tree crevice day 6 along trail from Temple IV to Uaxactun Rd.
Red-legged Honeycreeper female glimpsed Uaxactun Road day 2.
Scrub Euphonia pair seen day 3 in park.
Yellow-throated Euphonia seen frequently many places with Olive-backed feeding on seed catkins of low-growing shrub.
Olive-backed Euphonia as Yellow-throated.
Yellow-winged Tanager seen mostly in museum area.
Gray-headed Tanager seen a few times with ant swarm followers.
Black-throated Shrike-Tanager females at Uaxactun Rd. and behind Grand Plaza; easier to hear than see.
Red-crowned Ant-Tanager one seen along main trail.
Red-throated Ant-Tanager seen every day among ant swarm followers.
Summer Tanager seen every day, esp. outside our room.
Black-headed Saltator seen every day, esp. museum, Uaxactun Rd.
Black-faced Grosbeak flock seen last day along entrance road.
Blue-black Grosbeak single seen skulking along Uaxactun Rd.
Blue Bunting several females glimpsed along grassy edges; only one male seen briefly along airstrip.
Blue Grosbeak male seen bathing in puddle along trail to Temple VI.
Indigo Bunting female seen along entrance road day 5.
Green-backed Sparrow seen several times at edges; only photos distinguished from very similar Olive Sparrow.
White-collared Seedeater seen every day grassy places, esp. museum and lodge areas.
Thick-billed Seed-Finch a couple seen around Group P.
Melodious Blackbird seen every day around museum and lodge areas.
Great-tailed Grackle as preceding.
Black-cowled Oriole in palms back of Grand Plaza day 7.
Baltimore Oriole seen a few times in park and along entrance road.
Montezuma Oropendola seen/heard every day, many places.

Posted by Jim Danzenbaker for Mike Danzenbaker & Lee Hung

DANZENBAKER1@APPLELINK.APPLE.COM