American Wigeon — Pato Chalcuán (Anas americana)

Lesser Scaup — Pato-boludo Menor (Aythya affinis)

Brown Pelican — Pelícano Pardo (Pelecanus occidentalis)

On July 10, 2008, two Brown Pelicans appeared on Lago Atitlán. They are considered rare visitors to this inland lake, as they are predominantly coastal birds that are resident breeders in the Baja region, and there are a few breeding colonies on the Yucatán Peninsula. I digiscoped this photo at full magnification from quite a distance and was lucky it came out as well as it did. Every day there are new surprises here in the highlands of Guatemala.

Great Blue Heron — Garzón Cenizo (Ardea herodias)

Great Egret — Garza Grande (Egretta alba)

Reddish Egret — Garza Rojiza (Egretta rufescens)

American Kestrel — Cernícalo Americano (Falco sparverius)

The smallest member of the falcon family, right in my backyard!

Spotted Sandpiper — Playero Alzacolita (Actitis macularia)

These little sandpipers bob their tails incessantly and don’t hold still for long,
so I was grateful to get this shot

Laughing Gulls — Gaviota Reidora (Laurus atricilla)

in hurricane-force wind

Royal Tern — Charrán Real (Sterna maxima)

On May 14, 2008, I took this photo of a female Ruby-throated Hummingbird. This was the last time I saw her. Last year, that last female Ruby-throated Hummingbird departed on May 1, 2007, so quite a difference in departure dates. I can only speculate that global warming is beginning to have its impact in the neotropics.

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker — Chupasavia Vientre-amarillo
(Sphyrapicus varius)

Western Wood-Pewee — Pibí Occidental (Contopus sordidulus)

Eastern Wood-Pewee — Pibí Oriental (Contopus virens)

Ash-throated Flycatcher — Copetón Gorjicenizo (Myiarchus cinerascens)

Western Kingbird — Tirano Occidental (Tyrannus verticalus)

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher — Tirano-tijereta Rosada (Tyrannus forficatus)

Bushtit — Sastrecillo (Psaltriparus minimus)

a Bushtit enjoying the sprinkler

Tennessee Warbler — Chipe Peregrino (Vermivora peregrina)

Listen to his song:

 

Here’s another wonderful Yellow Warbler,
caught in action by my Casio shooting at 30 frames per second

Yellow Warbler — Chipe Amarillo (Dendroica petechia)

Listen to his song:

The following warbler shots were all taken at a small marsh along the lake, where a friend has set up a small café called Café La Puerta. He built cute wooden fences and planted beautiful small gardens with winding paths outlined in rocks; it’s really a hot spot for wood warblers, since there are many willow trees, a couple of oak trees, and other native and non-native plants that attract the warblers. The café itself is a wonderful place to relax and enjoy the scenery. Out in the water there are remnants of posts that used to be a dock, before the lake rose to the point where it is currently. I always feel like I’m home in California looking out at the Monterey Bay when I see the Brown Pelicans, Great Blue Herons, Great Egrets, an array of ducks and of course, the Laughing Gulls (who are not on the West Coast, but take me back to Maine).

I hope you enjoy the overview of one of my favorite birding spots.

The marsh

Café La Puerta

Sunflowers

Brown Pelicans and Laughing Gulls

Black-throated Green Warbler — Chipe Dorsiverde (Dendroica virens)

Listen to his song:

Black-and-white Warbler — Chipe Trepador (Mniotilta varia)

Black-and-white Warblers remind me, only in their conduct, of White-breasted Nuthatches. They seem to go up and down the trunks of trees, at times upside-down, in pursuit of insects. They are charming to watch.

Listen to his song:

 

Louisiana Waterthrush — Chipe-suelero Arroyero (Seiurus motacilla)

Listen to his song:

Common Yellowthroat — Mascarita Común (Geothlypis trichas)

Listen to his song:

Wilson’s Warbler — Chipe de Wilson (Wilsonia pusilla)

Listen to his song:

Red-faced Warbler — Chipe Carirrojo (Cardellina rubrifrons)

Western Tanager — Tángara Occidental (Piranga ludoviciana)

This jocote tree had several Western Tanagers, Bushy-crested Jays, Red-legged Honeycreepers, several Baltimore Orioles and a few Tennessee Warblers. It’s just a huge tree about a quarter-mile from my house, and I’ve gone there the past three days to get pictures. These photos show the glorious colors of Guatemala and the North American migrants who feast on the fruits.

Dickcissel — Arrocero Americano (Spiza americana)

 

Orchard Oriole — Bolsero Castaño (Icterus spurius)

juvenile

Orchard Oriole — Bolsero Castaño (Icterus spurius)

female

Baltimore Oriole — Bolsero de Baltimore (Icterus galbula)

Male, in jocote tree

 

Baltimore Oriole — Bolsero de Baltimore (Icterus galbula)

Listen to his song: