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

Yellow Warbler — Chipe Amarillo (Dendroica petechia)

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, peeking out from a clavel bush

Baltimore Oriole — Bolsero de Baltimore (Icterus galbula)

Female