This March we set out to do a birding vacation in the country of Belize. For those who are not familiar with Belize, it is a country on the north-eastern coast of Central America. It is bordered by Mexico to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the east, and Guatemala to the west and south. It has been recorded to have around 600+ species of birds. For this birding trip we decided to have it planned by a local experience tour guide. The person we chose came highly recommended by the Belize Audubon Society as he has extensive knowledge of flora and fauna throughout the country of Belize. For more info on our guide Roni you can see his bio here.
Working with Roni on this trip was a breeze. He took care of everything. All we had to do was give him a list of birds and he planned the rest. Once we arrived at the airport, he was waiting for us with a big smile. He took us to our first location in the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve. Since our flight arrived late in the day so it was turning dark as we drove the two hours from Belize Airport toward our destination. Along the way, we stop to help a Boa sitting in the middle of the road to make sure it made its way to safety. We shortly arrived at Pine Lodge owned and operated by Neil.
Pine Ridge Lodge is an eco-friendly lodge located near the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve. We spent two nights there and stayed in the riverside cabana. Since we arrived after sunset, we were unaware of the what was waiting for us at sunrise the next morning. The riverside cabana felt miles away from civilization and made us feel immersed in the forest. The next morning we woke up to the sounds of birds signing and flowing water. As the sun began to rise over the horizon to light the blue skies, we were awed at the beauty of the river in front of the Cabana. This sight recharged our soul and fueled our first day of birding.
We had a wonderful Mayan style breakfast prepared by Neil on the first day. Shortly after breakfast we set out to do birding on the grounds of the lodge. We spotted a Pygmy Owl, Acron Woodpeckers, Golden-olive woodpecker, Chachalacas, and many other birds. We ventured to thousand foot falls located within the reserve to look for the Orange breasted falcons. Unfortunately, we did not see one on this day but was able to capture King Vultures in flight and humming birds in the trees around the falls. On the final day in Mountain Pine Ridge, we saw the National Bird, the Keel billed Toucan, and a nesting pair of Plumbeous kites.
On the third day, we started the journey to La Milpa where we stayed at the La Milpa Eco Lodge. While driving we caught views of White Hawks soaring in the blue skies. We also stop at the Green Hills Butterfly Ranch which is Belize’s largest Butterfly Ranch. The ranch has several feeders for humming birds which attracts several species of hummers. This allowed great close up shots of the White-necked Jacobin Hummingbird, Rufous-tailed Hummingbird, and many others.
To get to La Milpa we went through farm land and through the Rio Bravo Conservation Area. On this route we passed several Ocellated Turkeys walking though the green grass. The Ocellated Turkey is the gaudier tropical cousin of the world’s only other turkey species. The drive along the one lane dirt road felt like an endless drive with good reason. This because La Milpa is nestled deep in the forests of northwestern Belize and is known for the third largest archaeological site in Belize which is located three miles away from the Lodge.
At La Milpa, we also had two days to do birding and we even got a chance to go out in the jungle at night to search for Owls. One of the days at breakfast we were able to see a Coati looking for ripe custard apples just a few feet from the outside dining area. Here we were able to see a lot of lifer birds: red capped manakin, Aracari, Red Lored parrot, several types of Trogons, and too many birds to list out.
The last place we stayed on this Belize Birding Tour was at the Birds Eye View lodge within the Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary. The lodge is located along the famous Crooked Tree Lagoon within the Crooked Tree Village. After a visit to Lamanai, a Mesoamerican archaeological Mayan site, we arrived after lunch to Crooked Tree. We were excited to see what Crooked Tree had to offer since water birds like Herons are some of our favorite birds to photograph.
We set out on a boat ride just after sunrise in such of birds the following morning. The sunrise at the lagoon was majestic against the lagoon waters. We cruised the waterways to see many species of birds including a large number of King fishers (Ring, Belted, and Green), Green Herons, Jacanas (with chicks in various stages), Limpkins, Great Blue Herons, and Great Egrets. We were not limited just to water or wading birds but got great views of two Raptors on the lagoon: the Black Collard Hawk and the Snail Kite. The boat captain also pointed out a couple of crocodiles relaxing just beneath the water level. As we continued through the waterways which consist of 16,400 acres, we caught glimpses of Agami Heron, Bats, and Boat Billed Herons sleeping in the mangroves.
This birding trip to Belize was by far the best birding trip we have been on. The number of birds and areas to watch them in their natural habit seems endless. Another story that needs to be mentioned about Belize is its conservation efforts and how they are doing the right things when it comes to nature. Everywhere we went the people truly cared and protected wildlife and nature so that everyone can enjoy it. Hats off to our guide and new friend Roni for showing us the wildlife and educating us about the history and culture of Belize. To view the photographs of the birds and other wildlife seen on this trip click here.
BELIZE IS UN-BELIZABLE, YOU BETTER BELIZE IT.