Introduction

Sites visited

1. Flores, Peten      15-18th December, 2004

   Flores was used as a base to visit Tikal. It is an island in the large Lake Peten Itza reached by a causeway from the town of Santa Elena. A few species could be seen from the causeway and round the edges of the island. The only real species of note was Royal Tern. Normally a coastal species but has been seen inland in Peten before.
19 species including 0 lifers.

Pied-billed Grebe	Podilymbus podiceps
Neotropic Cormorant	Phalacrocorax brasilianus
Great Egret	Ardea alba
Little Blue Heron	Egretta caerulea
Snowy Egret	Egretta thula
Cattle Egret	Bubulcus ibis
Black Vulture	Coragyps atratus
Turkey Vulture	Cathartes aura
Plain Chachalaca	Ortalis vetula
Laughing Gull	Larus atricilla
Royal Tern	Sterna maxima
Rock Dove	Columba livia	Introduced species
Ruddy Ground-Dove	Columbina talpacoti
Belted Kingfisher	Ceryle alcyon
Ringed Kingfisher	Ceryle torquata
Couch's Kingbird	Tyrannus couchii
Summer Tanager	Piranga rubra
Blue-gray Tanager	Thraupis episcopus
Great-tailed Grackle	Quiscalus mexicanus

2. Tikal National Park, Peten      16-17th December, 2004

   The ruins at Tikal were reached in an hour and a quarter from Flores by minibus. The area has some excellent lowland tropical rain forest and a high diversity of birds. I spent the first day birdwatching around the ruins and the second at the disused airstrip and along trails into some good (mosquito infested) forest away from the public. The aguada between the carpark and the ruins and 2 ponds next to the airstrip were also checked for water birds. I saw both my target species, Crested Guan & Ocellated Turkey, by the side of the road on the way in. Tame Ocellated Turkeys were also common next to the car park.
I saw a total of 82 species including 9 lifers.

Cattle Egret	Bubulcus ibis
Green Heron	Butorides virescens
Black Vulture	Coragyps atratus
Turkey Vulture	Cathartes aura
Roadside Hawk	Buteo magnirostris
Crested Guan	Penelope purpurascens
Great Curassow	Crax rubra	Near-threatened
Ocellated Turkey	Meleagris ocellata	Near-threatened Photographed
Spotted Wood-Quail	Odontophorus guttatus
Gray-necked Wood-Rail	Aramides cajanea	Photographed
Purple Gallinule	Porphyrio martinica	Photographed
Ruddy Quail-Dove	Geotrygon montana	Possibly seen
Olive-throated Parakeet	Aratinga nana
White-crowned Parrot	Pionus senilis
White-fronted Parrot	Amazona albifrons	Photographed
Red-lored Parrot	Amazona autumnalis	Recorded
Mealy Parrot	Amazona farinosa
Groove-billed Ani	Crotophaga sulcirostris
(Little Hermit)	Phaethornis longuemareus
Western Long-tailed Hermit	Phaethornis longirostris
Wedge-tailed Sabrewing	Campylopterus curvipennis
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird	Amazilia tzacatl
White-bellied Emerald	Agyrtria candida
Purple-crowned Fairy	Heliothryx barroti	Photographed
Tody Motmot	Hylomanes momotula	Photographed
Collared Aracari	Pteroglossus torquatus	Recorded
Keel-billed Toucan	Ramphastos sulfuratus	Photographed Recorded
Golden-fronted Woodpecker	Melanerpes aurifrons
Smoky-brown Woodpecker	Veniliornis fumigatus
Golden-olive Woodpecker	Piculus rubiginosus
Lineated Woodpecker	Dryocopus lineatus	Photographed
Pale-billed Woodpecker	Campephilus guatemalensis	Photographed
Plain Xenops	Xenops minutus
Ruddy Woodcreeper	Dendrocincla homochroa
Olivaceous Woodcreeper	Sittasomus griseicapillus	Photographed
Northern Barred-Woodcreeper	Dendrocolaptes sanctithomae
Ivory-billed Woodcreeper	Xiphorhynchus flavigaster
Barred Antshrike	Thamnophilus doliatus
Dot-winged Antwren	Microrhopias quixensis
Dusky Antbird	Cercomacra tyrannina
Black-faced Antthrush	Formicarius analis
Greenish Elaenia	Myiopagis viridicata
Northern Bentbill	Oncostoma cinereigulare
Eye-ringed Flatbill	Rhynchocyclus brevirostris
Yellow-olive Flycatcher	Tolmomyias sulphurescens
Stub-tailed Spadebill	Platyrinchus cancrominus
Ruddy-tailed Flycatcher	Terenotriccus erythrurus
Sulphur-rumped Flycatcher	Myiobius sulphureipygius
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher	Empidonax flaviventris	Possibly seen
Dusky-capped Flycatcher	Myiarchus tuberculifer	Possibly seen
Brown-crested Flycatcher	Myiarchus tyrannulus
Social Flycatcher	Myiozetetes similis
Couch's Kingbird	Tyrannus couchii
Thrush-like Schiffornis	Schiffornis turdinus
Masked Tityra	Tityra semifasciata
Carolina Wren	Thryothorus ludovicianus
White-breasted Wood-Wren	Henicorhina leucosticta
Gray Catbird	Dumetella carolinensis
Wood Thrush	Hylocichla mustelina	Photographed
Clay-colored Robin	Turdus grayi
Brown Jay	Cyanocorax morio
White-eyed Vireo	Vireo griseus	Photographed
Tawny-crowned Greenlet	Hylophilus ochraceiceps
Lesser Greenlet	Hylophilus decurtatus
Magnolia Warbler	Dendroica magnolia
Black-and-white Warbler	Mniotilta varia	Photographed
Worm-eating Warbler	Helmitheros vermivorus
Ovenbird	Seiurus aurocapilla
Louisiana Waterthrush	Seiurus motacilla
Hooded Warbler	Wilsonia citrina	Photographed
Golden-crowned Warbler	Basileuterus culicivorus
Red-crowned Ant-Tanager	Habia rubica	Recorded
Red-throated Ant-Tanager	Habia fuscicauda	Recorded
Summer Tanager	Piranga rubra
Yellow-throated Euphonia	Euphonia hirundinacea	Recorded
Olive-backed Euphonia	Euphonia gouldi
White-collared Seedeater	Sporophila torqueola
Blue Bunting	Cyanocompsa parellina	Possibly seen
Melodious Blackbird	Dives dives
Great-tailed Grackle	Quiscalus mexicanus
Black-cowled Oriole	Icterus prosthemelas	Photographed
Montezuma Oropendola	Gymnostinops montezuma

3. Biotopo del Quetzal, near Coban       18-20th December, 2004

   Reserva Mario Dary (or Biotopo del Quetzal as it is more commonly referred to) was reached in just over an hour from Coban by bus. I stayed 2 nights at a cheap (Q30) hostel called Hospedaje Ranchito just 200m from the entrance to the reserve. I only spent 1 morning in the Biotopo itself but I also walked a trail at the back of the hostel 2 afternoons. The trail lead for just 500m but had excellent cloud forest and this is where I saw my 2 target species, the Resplendent Quetzal and Highland Guan. The reserve also had good cloud forest but the slopes were steep it was not easy to see the birds.
29 species including 11 lifers.

Highland Guan	Penelopina nigra	Near-threatened
Singing Quail	Dactylortyx thoracicus
Green-throated Mountain-gem	Lampornis viridipallens	Photographed Recorded
Garnet-throated Hummingbird	Lamprolaima rhami
Resplendent Quetzal	Pharomachrus mocinno	Near-threatened Photographed
Emerald Toucanet	Aulacorhynchus prasinus
Golden-olive Woodpecker	Piculus rubiginosus	Possibly seen
Scaly-throated Foliage-gleaner	Anabacerthia variegaticeps	Recorded
Spotted Woodcreeper	Xiphorhynchus erythropygius	Photographed
Yellowish Flycatcher	Empidonax flavescens	Photographed
House Wren	Troglodytes aedon	Recorded
Gray-breasted Wood-Wren	Henicorhina leucophrys
Slate-colored Solitaire	Myadestes unicolor	Photographed
Black-headed Nightingale-Thrush	Catharus mexicanus
Wood Thrush	Hylocichla mustelina
Mountain Robin	Turdus plebejus
Black-throated Jay	Cyanolyca pumilo	Heard only
Unicolored Jay	Aphelocoma unicolor	Recorded
Hutton's Vireo	Vireo huttoni	Photographed
Black-throated Green Warbler	Dendroica virens
Black-and-white Warbler	Mniotilta varia
Louisiana Waterthrush	Seiurus motacilla
Wilson's Warbler	Wilsonia pusilla
Slate-throated Redstart	Myioborus miniatus
Golden-crowned Warbler	Basileuterus culicivorus	Recorded
Golden-browed Warbler	Basileuterus belli	Photographed
Common Bush-Tanager	Chlorospingus ophthalmicus	Photographed
Flame-colored Tanager	Piranga bidentata
Red-legged Honeycreeper	Cyanerpes cyaneus

4. Fuentes Georginas, near Quetzaltenango       22nd & 26th December, 2004

   Fuentes Georginas (about 2,400m elevation) is a popular hot spring resort. It was reached by taking a 20 minute bus ride to the town of Zunil (about 2,100m) from Quetzaltenango (known locally as Xela) followed by another 20 ride 8km uphill in a pick-up. These could be easily hired (Q25) in Zunil. On 22nd I walked from the hot springs up a very steep trail heading to the summit of Volcan Zunil (about 3,400m). I didn't reach the summit but just to 3,270m. I saw my 1 of my target species, the Pink-headed Warbler, on this trail at 2,930m. The second day I walked a short trail from the hot springs around the valley at the same elevation. On both days I walked the first part of the road back down to Zunil which also has some good forest. I saw none of my other target species: the Resplendent Quetzal, Highland Guan and Horned Guan. The presence of the latter here is uncertain. I did however see many other highland species. I saw a total of 46 species including 4 lifers.

Black Vulture	Coragyps atratus
Singing Quail	Dactylortyx thoracicus
Band-tailed Pigeon	Patagioenas fasciata
Maroon-chested Ground-Dove	Claravis mondetoura
Green Violet-ear	Colibri thalassinus
White-eared Hummingbird	Hylocharis leucotis
Amethyst-throated Hummingbird	Lampornis amethystinus
Garnet-throated Hummingbird	Lamprolaima rhami
Magnificent Hummingbird	Eugenes fulgens
Wine-throated Hummingbird	Atthis ellioti
Mountain Trogon	Trogon mexicanus
Emerald Toucanet	Aulacorhynchus prasinus
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker	Sphyrapicus varius
Eastern Wood-Pewee	Contopus virens
Black-capped Swallow	Notiochelidon pileata
Gray Silky-flycatcher	Ptilogonys cinereus
Band-backed Wren h	Campylorhynchus zonatus
Blue-and-white Mockingbird	Melanotis hypoleucus
Brown-backed Solitaire	Myadestes occidentalis
Ruddy-capped Nightingale-Thrush	Catharus frantzii
Black Robin	Turdus infuscatus
Mountain Robin	Turdus plebejus
Rufous-collared Robin	Turdus rufitorques
Bushtit	Psaltriparus minimus
Black-throated Jay	Cyanolyca pumilo
Tennessee Warbler	Vermivora peregrina
Crescent-chested Warbler	Parula superciliosa
Yellow-rumped Warbler	Dendroica coronata
Townsend's Warbler	Dendroica townsendi
Black-and-white Warbler	Mniotilta varia
Ovenbird	Seiurus aurocapilla
Wilson's Warbler	Wilsonia pusilla
Pink-headed Warbler	Ergaticus versicolor	Vulnerable
Slate-throated Redstart	Myioborus miniatus
Golden-browed Warbler	Basileuterus belli
Common Bush-Tanager	Chlorospingus ophthalmicus
Western Tanager	Piranga ludoviciana
Cinnamon-bellied Flowerpiercer	Diglossa baritula
White-naped Brush-Finch	Atlapetes albinucha
Chestnut-capped Brush-Finch	Buarremon brunneinucha
Rufous-collared Sparrow	Zonotrichia capensis
Yellow-eyed Junco	Junco phaeonotus
Rose-breasted Grosbeak	Pheucticus ludovicianus
Great-tailed Grackle	Quiscalus mexicanus
Baltimore Oriole	Icterus galbula
House Sparrow	Passer domesticus	Introduced species

5. Km 197, near Quetzaltenango       24th December, 2004

   Km 197 (about 1,300m elevation) was reached by taking a 20 minute bus ride to the town of Zunil from Quetzaltenango followed by another 25 bus ride 17km downhill Towards Reu and the pacific coast. A bus could however be caught directly from Quetzaltenango from the terminal. The difficult part was knowing where to get off. My bus driver didn't know of the place so I had to keep an eye on the poorly marked kilometre marks on the road. There was actually a white concrete post at a right turn that had been knocked over which read 'Km197 Finca Chicharros'. My site guide said Km197 was called Finca Pantonil and road at that point was marked as Km 198.4! I was confused by this so checked further down the road but the next turn was at Km 196.3. I turned right here and walked through coffee plantations with some forest and scattered trees. This track actually met up with the first one. This area had many birds and as I only birded a few hours from 9am, my list is just scratching the surface. I saw 2 Azure-rumped (Cabini's) Tanagers (my target species) feeding in a fruit tree at 1,315m just a few hundred metres from the Km 197 sign. I also heard the distinctive call of the Highland Guan down in the valley at the coffee plantation. Other notable species were Black Hawk-Eagle (slightly out of geographical and altitudinal range) and Blue-tailed Hummingbird which was seen feeding young. I saw a total of 35 species including 2 lifers. My site guide mentioned bandit activity in the area but I had no problems. Once off the main road and into the coffee plantation there should be no problem. However the entrance to the tracks were either fenced off or a gate locked so travelling by car might mean leaving it by the main road.

Black Vulture	Coragyps atratus
Turkey Vulture	Cathartes aura
Black Hawk-Eagle	Spizaetus tyrannus
Highland Guan h	Penelopina nigra
White-tipped Dove	Leptotila verreauxi
White-fronted Parrot	Amazona albifrons
Violet Sabrewing	Campylopterus hemileucurus
Blue-tailed Hummingbird	Saucerottia cyanura
Blue-crowned Motmot	Momotus momota
Golden-fronted Woodpecker	Melanerpes aurifrons
Eastern Wood-Pewee	Contopus virens
Tropical Pewee	Contopus cinereus
Yellowish Flycatcher	Empidonax flavescens
Dusky-capped Flycatcher	Myiarchus tuberculifer
Boat-billed Flycatcher	Megarynchus pitangua
Social Flycatcher	Myiozetetes similis
Gray Silky-flycatcher	Ptilogonys cinereus
Band-backed Wren	Campylorhynchus zonatus
House Wren	Troglodytes aedon
Brown-backed Solitaire	Myadestes occidentalis
Swainson's Thrush ?	Catharus ustulatus
White-throated Magpie-Jay	Calocitta formosa
Blue-headed Vireo	Vireo solitarius
Warbling Vireo ?	Vireo gilvus
Tennessee Warbler	Vermivora peregrina
Magnolia Warbler	Dendroica magnolia
Black-and-white Warbler	Mniotilta varia
Wilson's Warbler	Wilsonia pusilla
Rufous-capped Warbler	Basileuterus rufifrons
Common Bush-Tanager	Chlorospingus ophthalmicus
Western Tanager	Piranga ludoviciana
Yellow-winged Tanager	Thraupis abbas
Azure-rumped Tanager	Tangara cabanisi
Red-legged Honeycreeper	Cyanerpes cyaneus
Baltimore Oriole	Icterus galbula

6. Volcan Toliman, from San Lucas Toliman       27-8th December, 2004

   I climbed Volcan Toliman from the town of San Lucas Toliman on the southern edge of Lake Atitlan. San Lucas was reached from Panajachel by local bus in about an hour. San Lucas has many places to stay and eat and the locals were very friendly. I attempted to climb

Black Vulture	Coragyps atratus
Red-tailed Hawk	Buteo jamaicensis
Highland Guan	Penelopina nigra	Near-threatened
Horned Guan	Oreophasis derbianus	Endangered
Band-tailed Pigeon	Patagioenas fasciata
White-winged Dove	Zenaida asiatica
White-tipped Dove	Leptotila verreauxi
Green Violet-ear	Colibri thalassinus
White-eared Hummingbird	Hylocharis leucotis
Amethyst-throated Hummingbird	Lampornis amethystinus
Green-throated Mountain-gem	Lampornis viridipallens
Wine-throated Hummingbird	Atthis ellioti
Acorn Woodpecker	Melanerpes formicivorus
Golden-fronted Woodpecker h	Melanerpes aurifrons
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker	Sphyrapicus varius
Golden-olive Woodpecker	Piculus rubiginosus
Tufted Flycatcher	Mitrephanes phaeocercus
Dusky-capped Flycatcher	Myiarchus tuberculifer
Rose-throated Becard	Pachyramphus aglaiae
Northern Rough-winged Swallow	Stelgidopteryx serripennis
Gray Silky-flycatcher	Ptilogonys cinereus
Band-backed Wren	Campylorhynchus zonatus
Brown-backed Solitaire	Myadestes occidentalis
Mountain Robin	Turdus plebejus
Rufous-collared Robin	Turdus rufitorques
Bushy-crested Jay	Cyanocorax melanocyaneus
Black-throated Jay	Cyanolyca pumilo
Blue-headed Vireo	Vireo solitarius
Olive Warbler	Peucedramus taeniatus
Tennessee Warbler	Vermivora peregrina
Crescent-chested Warbler	Parula superciliosa
Black-throated Green Warbler	Dendroica virens
Townsend's Warbler	Dendroica townsendi
Wilson's Warbler	Wilsonia pusilla
Slate-throated Redstart	Myioborus miniatus
Summer Tanager	Piranga rubra
Western Tanager	Piranga ludoviciana
Great-tailed Grackle	Quiscalus mexicanus
Bronzed Cowbird	Molothrus aeneus
Black-headed Siskin	Carduelis notata
House Sparrow	Passer domesticus	Introduced species