Belize Birds

There aren't a lot of birds on the small island we're on, but I'm still having fun photographing them. The most common are the Tropical Mockingbirds.

One of the first birds I photographed on the island was this Yellow Warbler, which is funny because they are widespread and we have them at home as well.

And another warbler, this one a Cape May Warbler

This American Redstart landed on the railing while we were having breakfast.

Many of the trees have holes from woodpeckers, but the woodpeckers themselves are elusive. I caught a few glimpses, but never enough to get any photos. Finally one of them stayed long enough for me to run into our cabin, grab my camera, run back and get three shots before it flew away. Only one of the shots was even half decent. It was enough to identify it as a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.

There aren't a lot of shorebirds, but occasionally I spot one. This is a Black-bellied Plover, although with winter colors so no black belly. It's come a long way - they breed in the arctic.

This Tricoloured Heron was hunting by the mangroves.

This Great Egret was less skittish and continued to hunt while I took photographs. It caught this large shrimp or crayfish and carried it over to the shore. I wondered why, but then it dropped it several times and picked it back up again. If it had been in the water it probably would have escaped.

On our day trip to the Blue Hole we stopped on Halfmoon Caye which is an Audubon bird sanctuary. It is one of the only breeding sites for Red-footed Boobies in the western Caribbean. While the red feet are striking, I almost like their blue beaks better.

There were also Magnificent Frigatebirds with the males displaying their bright red throat sacs. It takes them up to 20 minutes to inflate. (These photos are from the bird observation tower.)

At first I thought the white headed ones were the females but it turns out they are juveniles.

They are one of the fastest birds, flying up to 95 miles per hour.

At home we have Black Turnstones, here there are Ruddy Turnstones.

I thought I'd seen and photographed the small range of birds on the island but then we saw these Hooded Orioles. I didn't have my camera (it had been raining) so I went and got it and came back. Luckily I found the pair again. As usual with birds, the male has the more striking coloration.

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Iguana

We're currently scuba diving at Turneffe Island Resort. It's about a 1.5 hour boat ride from Belize City. I'm taking (literally) thousands of photographs, both above and below the water. There's no way I can keep up with editing them so I'll just start posting some random selections.

We were walking back from lunch when I spotted a small iguana (Black Spiny-tailed) on the sand. Of course, I was carrying my camera so I started taking photos. I realized it was eating the flowers that had fallen on the ground.

Then it decided the ones still on the bush were more appetizing.

After grabbing the low hanging flowers it climbed up into the bush to reach more.

Belize City

Shelley and I are on a scuba diving trip to Belize and spent the night in Belize City on the way. We didn't have time (or energy) to do much, but we wandered the few blocks around the hotel. And I managed to find a little wildlife. When I looked out the window I saw this reddish dove on a power line and it stuck around long enough to have its photo taken. I think it's a Ruddy Ground Dove.

Of course, there were gulls around. I think this is a Laughing Gull - one we don't get at home.

I have a hard time identifying shore birds. I think these are a Least Sandpiper and a Sanderling.

Great-tailed Grackles are one I can identify.

From Costa Rica, I figured this was either a Great Kiskadee or a Social Flycatcher. I think it's a Social Flycatcher.

I always like seeing the Brown Pelicans.They seem to have a lot of character.

I even managed to see a few lizards, a medium size Black Spiny-tailed Iguana and a tiny Brown Anole.

Clouds

Most people don't pay too much attention to the views from airplanes. To me, it's still amazing to fly through the sky, miles above the ground.

Sadly, flying over British Columbia is mostly a view of logging.

Bufflehead

This Bufflehead came a little closer to shore than they usually do and with sunshine to show off his colors. He still spent most of his time underwater, popping up to the surface briefly at random spots. It was a challenge to get photos before he submerged again. I was also trying to line him up with good reflections in the water, by moving back and forth along the walkway. They still aren't as sharp as I'd like, but better than usual.

Crab Dinner

This otter was on a rock right below the walkway. Eating the crab was obviously more important than the people walking by.

A crow was waiting patiently for any leftovers.

Sadly, when it turned to leave, I could see its back leg was damaged - maybe broken or dislocated? On the photos you can see the foot is swollen too. It still seemed to be managing alright but I wonder if it will survive with the injury. I hope so.

More Birds

Catching up on my recent bird photos. I saw this little bird with such a colorful background and I really want to get a photograph but it wasn't very cooperative. I think it's a Yellow-rumped Warbler.

Another hyperactive little bird. I think this one is a Ruby-crowned Kinglet, but a female so no ruby crown.

Another bird that wouldn't sit still - a Downy Woodpecker.

The winter ducks are coming back - Hooded Mergansers and Buffleheads.

Of course, the usual suspects are still around.

My camera's bird detection has a hard time finding a black eye on a black head with Dark-eyed Junco's.

I normally wouldn't pay too much attention to sparrows, but the yellow on this Golden-crowned Sparrow caught my eye.

I noticed these Spotted Towhees but they were deep in the branches and I just walked by. But when I glanced back they had both moved out into the open so I went back and got a few photographs. Occasionally I see one near my bird feeder, seemingly gazing longingly at it. But I've never seen them actually feed from it.

A final parting shot of a gull's colorful feet.

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