Sunday 13 January 2013

Belize City, Belize I

Next port of call is BELIZE CITY not to be confused as the nations capital which is Belmopan.
A good start as a small pod of Short-fin Harbour Porpoise were spotted on the waty to dropping anchor.That meant 'tender' to get to shore, but despite the mile and a half ride the local Marine Division provided a superb service. Another taxi ride in prospect but before that a quick look around some local gardens close to the port, which produced White-fronted Parakeet and
 OLIVE TANAGER an early 'lifer'.
 
Lots of rain had obviously fallen in recent days and spotting a small waterbird in a roadside pond this fine
VERMILION FLYCATCHER
 
was added to the Trip List.
The Waterfowl was a
NORTHERN JACANA
On the way to the Reserve we encountered COUCH'S FLYCATCHER,
some huge GREEN IGUANA,
COLLARED SEEDEATER
and what a 'Special'? a MAGNOLIA WARBLER.
At one of several bridges, crossing a series of rather large rivers
 
 
we secured GREEN KINGFISHER,
an aray of beautiful BUTTERFLIES, this being the only one to perch,
and a colony of
MANGROVE SWALLOWs
c2 overflying medium size 'raptors' were both too high and too fast to make judgement,
but the photographic evidence points to
BLACK-COLLARED HAWK
Part II tomorrow.