Belize Field Notes

Baby on Board

2012-01-26T13:00:00.000-06:00

A few weeks ago, Chan Chich Lodge guest snapped this unusual photograph of a Short-tailed fruit bat (Carollia sp.). Liz took this great photo in the Upper Plaza, right next to the Lodge. Short-tailed fruit bats are very common throughout tropical Central and South America. They play a very important role, consuming fruits and dispersing copious numbers of seeds in their droppings. Many of the seeds are important colonizers helping the forest to regenerate in denuded areas.

What makes Liz's photo so charming and unique is the baby on board. Can you imagine the energy and strength it takes to fly carrying a baby one third your size?

White Heron ... or Egret?

2012-01-19T13:00:00.000-06:00

This mystery bird has been hanging around Gallon Jug for the past several weeks. More specifically, along the Rio Bravo in Sylvester Village. My neighbor Alan finally snapped photos of it, which took the ongoing local debate to a higher level. At first glance, you'd assume it was a Great Egret (Casmerodius albus). Common enough and readily seen in Gallon Jug during the winter months. Something about the bill doesn't seem quite right though ... and it is using a slightly different habitat than we are accustomed to seeing for Great Egrets. This bird seems to prefer shady areas along the river rather than the more open areas where we Great Egrets are more readily seen.

That habitat preference seems a bit more Great Blue Heron-ish (Ardea herodias) and it sort of has the Great Blue's form. In fact, there is a rare white morph (=form) of the Great Blue Heron called Würdemann's Heron found only in the Caribbean . And it's apparently not been recorded inland. So is this Würdemann's Heron? Our references were inconclusive.We consulted an upcoming ornithologist here in Belize, Roni Martinez, to get his opinion. This is what he had to say:

"This bird is almost certainly a white morph Great Blue Heron ... note the white plume originating on the back of the crown and the gray, not black, legs. Great Egrets have black legs and do not have neck/crown plumes. Also, the bill is too thick for Great Egret."

The Audubon Society Master Birding Guide shows yellow legs and yellow bill as a field marks for the "Great White Heron" (aka Würdemann's Heron). The photographed bird clearly has dark legs. The same reference says "yellow bill, black legs and feet" on the immature Great Egret. That said, I do agree that the bill appears heavier.

Roni replied:

"The legs on the Rio Bravo bird are definitely darker than normal but they are not black. The bill is right on for Great White, and the single head plume by itself eliminates Great Egret. The Sibley Guide has an illustration of a Great White Heron that approaches the bird in the photograph. Also check out the bill shape and color in the photo at http://www.oceanwanderers.com/NYGWHeron.html

"I am no expert by any means on Great White Heron, so you should get a second opinion from someone with more experience with the species. Keep in mind that soft part colors (legs, bill, eyes) on Great White Heron are likely to be more variable than in a true species like Great Egret. Various intermediate stage between the Great White morph and the Great Blue morph are frequent (e.g., Wurdemann's Heron), and the Great Blue morph does have dark legs."

So what do you think? Opinions? Guesses anyone? Alan is going to try to get another photograph of it ... thanks Alan!

Summary of the 2011 Gallon Jug CBC

2012-01-11T09:00:00.000-06:00

The 2011Gallon Jug Christmas Bird Count was held, in conjunction with the NationalAudubon Society, on December 31, 2011. This marked the 22^nd year of the GallonJug Estate Christmas Bird Count (GJE CBC) since it began in 1990. Over the years there have been ups and downsin species, individual birds counted as well as in the number of participants. Along with the variation in number ofobservers, there has been a range of good, bad and mixed weather conditions thatinfluenced bird activity and detectability.

Speciesnumbers have ranged from a low of 171 to 238 (Figure 1), averaging 203.Individuals counted have previously ranged from 1718 to 4772 (Figure 2), averaging 2,849. This was one ofthe years when intermittent heavy rain impacted bird detectability and bird activityas well as “observer” activity. Allparticipants experienced rain that seemed to begin just when we thought it wassafe to step out of the vehicle again.

Given theslow start of the count day and the many hours of light to heavy rain, we werepleased that the 183 species recorded this year was not the lowest on record (2006and 2007 were tied at a low of 171). However, the number of individuals counted was at an all time low with 1,646. Anadditional 35 species were recorded for the Count Week, but not seen on thecount day.

Figure 1. Summary of unadjusted species recorded for each year of the GJE CBC.

Figure 2. Summary of unadjusted individuals recorded for each year of the GJE CBC.

This year’s Top 20 are listed in Table 1 and can be compared with 2010. During the 2010 CBC there were scantfrugivores (= "fruit eaters") as a result of the impact of Hurricane Richard (October 24, 2010). As the forest regenerates, the birds arereturning and many of the frugivores that had evidently movedelsewhere in 2010, made it back into the Top 20 list for 2011.

The topspecies this year as in 2010, was the Ocellated Turkey. While the individual numbersrecorded this year were somewhat lower, many were no doubt huddled out of sightunder vegetation trying to stay dry. This was not the case for many of the observers who were soaked to theskin.

Notably lowthis year with only 10 counted, was the Gray Catbird, ranked 5^th in 2010 with94 individuals. Last year the White-whiskered Puffbird was notable with a record 32individuals recorded. The average numberof individuals of this species per count for the previous 20 years was only 9.This year we had none. However, 2White-necked Puffbirds were recorded.

Table 1. The 2010-2011 Top 20. Comparison of species with the highest individualnumbers.

2011
Species	Number
Ocellated Turkey	195
Olive-throated Parakeet	119
Montezuma Oropendola	116
White-collared Seedeater	63
Brown Jay	56
Red-lored Parrot	46
Tropical Kingbird	37
Cattle Egret	36
Social Flycatcher	35
Turkey Vulture	33
Roadside Hawk	30
Keel-billed Toucan	29
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird	26
Yellow-throated Euphonia	26
Pale-billed Woodpecker	24
Plain Chachalaca	21
White-breasted Wood-Wren	21
Black-headed Trogon	20
Melodious Blackbird	20
2010
Species	Number
Ocellated Turkey	273
Cattle Egret	219
White-collared Seedeater	114
Melodious Blackbird	102
Gray Catbird	94
Turkey Vulture	87
Killdeer	86
Tropical Kingbird	83
Montezuma Oropendola	58
Wood Thrush	56
Clay-colored Thrush	54
Brown Jay	52
Black Vulture	51
Olive-throated Parakeet	48
Mangrove Swallow	46
Vaux's Swift	44
Great-tailed Grackle	42
Ruddy Ground-dove	40
Blue-black Grassquit	39

We had atotal of six parties (aka “teams” or groups counting birds) with a combinedtime of 34 observation hours. Party results ranged from a minimum of 20 to ahigh of 72 species and individuals ranged from 38 to 624. Last year the numberof parties and hours counted were significantly higher.

In order tocompare the CBC results over time, the data is standardized by the number ofparty hours for each species. This is how results are posted on the NationalAudubon Society's CBC web site for each year’s results. Party hours for the GJE CBChave ranged from 22.75 to 77.25 with an average of 52 per count year. By usingthe data standardized per 50 hours, even with reduced hours of counting due to the rain, this year’s count ofindividuals, while down a bit, was actually not bad.

Figure 3. 2011 GJE CBC summary basedon standardized number of individuals.

Based on theeffort all participants put forth and standardizing the data we actually had anincrease in species per party hour over last year (Figure 4). So while there were fewer of us for a shortertime, we counted more species than the teams did last year under considerablymore favorable weather conditions.

Figure4. 2011 GJE CBC GJE CBC summary based on standardized number of species.

As always wethank all participants, including Chan Chich Lodge guests and guides, and ourCorozal contingent who traveled to be here on Count Day. One their way to Gallon Jug, they stopped atthe rice fields near Blue Creek to see the Gadwalls and Redheaded ducks, rarespecies for Belize. They reported that Gadwallswere still around but the Redheads had apparently moved on.

Thanks alsoto Chan Chich Lodge for their continued sponsorship of the GJE CBC. We wish to especiallyacknowledge Victor Emanuel Nature Tours as they have contributed to all of theGJE CBCs since the beginning. Ourspecial thanks go to VENT leaders Brian Gibbons and Bob Sunderstrom who providedthe VENT trip report that contributed to the Count Week birds, as well as their effortsduring the day of the count.

Submitted by:

Bruce W. Miller PhD.

Carolyn M. Miller MSc.

Gallon Jug, Belize

January 10, 2012

Rainy Day in the Neighborhood

2012-01-06T09:50:00.000-06:00

If these vultures look a little dejected, it's because they are soaking wet and have been for the past few days. Seems we had near record rain ... and over the Christmas Bird Count too. Still, we managed to muster a few teams of hardy souls, braved the elements and conducted our count on 31 December. Those of you facing snow and ice on your Christmas Counts likely do not feel too sorry for us. Even so, torrential downpours beginning late morning and lasting throughout the afternoon put a "damper" on bird activity. We are still tabulating "count week" birds and I'll post the results next week. Stay tuned!

Christmas Count Turkey

2011-12-30T09:43:00.000-06:00

With the 112th Christmas Bird Count underway across the Americas, and the Gallon Jug 21st Christmas Bird Count coming up this weekend, I thought this bird would be an appropriate subject. It is, of course, the Ocellated Turkey (Meleagris ocellata). This colorful species has become something of an icon at Chan Chich Lodge, where a dozen can be seen at any given moment, and dozens more found in Gallon Jug. On average, we record 119 each Christmas Bird Count. The least we've counted was 37 (way back in 1990). And the overall best count for this near-threatened, endemic species in our count area is 236 (see below).

Clearly, good management on the Gallon Jug Estate has helped the Ocellated Turkey thrive in Gallon Jug/Chan Chich. Wonder if we'll break the record on Saturday?

Jingle Bells -- Gallon Jug Style!

2011-12-22T17:04:00.000-06:00

Every year we look forward to the Casey Community School Christmas carolers as they make the rounds in Gallon Jug and Chan Chich. It's the official kick-off of the holiday season for us. And while it is true that there is no snow or ice, they lack nothing in holiday spirit.

This year, teacher Miss Debbie composed a more "relevant" verse for the familiar favorite "Jingle Bells." Listen carefully! Those of you familiar with Belize's normal modes of transport will get a chuckle out of this one.

With Season's Greetings to Belize Field Notes readers from sunny Gallon Jug!

Sneak Peek

2011-12-16T15:30:00.000-06:00

We finally got a good "hit" on our single camera. We'd placed it at a junction near Laguna Verde over the past week. Any idea what this animal is?

This is a tayra, Eira barbara, taking a sneak peek at the remote camera. The tayra is a large member of the weasel family and in my experience anyway, is not often photographed. It's a common diurnal animal, very curious and bold and frequently encountered. Tayras seem always to be in perpetual motion and it is my guess that they move so fast and frequently that the remote camera is just too slow to catch them. In this case, there were several "blank" photos (after an image of its departing backside) indicating it was still in the immediate area.

Pretty clear than animals notice what's new in their environment, even if it is camouflaged!

Sure to be Counted

2011-12-09T15:00:00.000-06:00

This time of year, our thoughts turn to the annual Christmas Bird Count (see my November 18 post). Pictured here, thanks again to Frank Buck, is a bird that will almost certainly be recorded on the Gallon Jug count: the Chestnut Woodpecker, Celeus elegans. It is a species that, with a little effort, can be seen on any given day here in our neck of the woods. This particular bird appears to be a male with its red cheek patch -- females lack this. Otherwise, the sexes appear alike. They are richly chestnut in color, even orangish in brighter light. The Chestnut Woodpecker is fairly large in size. It prefers dead trees for nesting and foraging in good quality tropical forest which the Gallon Jug Estate and Chan Chich Lodge are fortunate to have. Join us, if you'd like to see this attractive species.

Nocturnal Visitor

2011-12-02T16:00:00.000-06:00

So we had this hole in our downstairs door. And after a while, there was a sort of well-worn path to it.

Finally got the remote camera up last night ... and here's the culprit: an opossum. We have a few different opossum species in Belize but so far as I can tell, this is the common Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana). Found not only in Virginia, and the eastern half of the US, this adaptable creature's range extends all the way through Central America as well. It is fairly frequently seen here in the Gallon Jug Estate. As you know from personal experience, this is a creature that often raids the garbage. Fortunately for us, it so far has left our garbage untouched.

Very Creepy, Very Crawly

2011-11-25T14:30:00.000-06:00

It's probably a safe bet that this little predator isn't often featured in nature blogs. In fact, when we stumbled over it (well, not literally), I wasn't even sure what it was. Recently, it has been common on the Gallon Jug Ring Road in the early mornings, exactly the time when I take my walk or run. But I wasn't seeing it in late afternoon. Finally, Bruce took a few minutes to research it.

As it turns out, it is a flatworm or land planarian, (Bipalium kewense). It preys upon earthworms, slugs, larvae and is even cannibalistic. Evidently it is Asian in origin and has been accidentally introduced around the world. It requires high humidity which probably explains why we only are seeing it on the roads in the early morning when it tends to be especially damp and/or foggy. How this invasive species arrived in our remote corner of Belize, we'll never know. Exotic species like this one can be hard to eradicate (how would you even go about it?) and often negatively impact local species. So interesting though this little creature is, it's not exactly a wonderful sign to have it here. If you want to learn more about Bipalium kewense, check it out here.

112th Christmas Bird Count

2011-11-18T14:33:00.000-06:00

Thanksgiving is just a few days off and Christmas is right around the corner. So it seems appropriate to feature the Slaty-tailed Trogon (Trogon massena), festive in holiday colors, for a post about the Christmas Bird Count. Yes, it's that time of year again ... and we're planning for 21st Christmas Bird Count to be held in Gallon Jug and Chan Chich Lodge. The date we've selected is December 31. So just think, we're going to count birds all day, including the Slaty-tail, and retire to beautiful Chan Chich Lodge on New Year's Eve to compare results and raise a Belikin beer. What could be better?

Not familiar with Christmas Bird Counts? Here's more detail from the National Audubon Society:

Citizen Science in Action
The count period for the 112th Christmas Bird Count will begin on December 14, 2011.

From December 14 through January 5 tens of thousands of volunteers throughout the Americas take part in an adventure that has become a family tradition among generations. Families and students, birders and scientists, armed with binoculars, bird guides and checklists go out on an annual mission - often before dawn. For over one hundred years, the desire to both make a difference and to experience the beauty of nature has driven dedicated people to leave the comfort of a warm house during the Holiday season.

Each of the citizen scientists who annually braves snow, wind, or rain, to take part in the Christmas Bird Count makes an enormous contribution to conservation. Audubon and other organizations use data collected in this longest-running wildlife census to assess the health of bird populations - and to help guide conservation action.

From feeder-watchers and field observers to count compilers and regional editors, everyone who takes part in the Christmas Bird Count does it for love of birds and the excitement of friendly competition -- and with the knowledge that their efforts are making a difference for science and bird conservation.
***
We'd love to have you join us ... or join a count closer to your home. Check out the National Audubon Society's website for more details about how to go about signing up online, past count results, why Christmas Bird Counts are important and much more.

My thanks to Frank Buck for the use of his Slaty-tail image!

Catching Some Rays

2011-11-11T13:59:00.000-06:00

I think it is pretty obvious what this bird is doing: sunbathing. Birds sunbathe for various reasons. In cooler climates, it can be to warm up. In hot climates, it is thought that sunning supports feather health, distributes Vitamin D (from the oil from the preen gland, located at the base of the tail) and even dislodges feather parasites. Sunning can involve various body postures from fluffed up feathers, spread wings and tails with the bird angling its body for maximum sun exposure.

In the case of this Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura), on our hill here in Gallon Jug, I think it was enjoying catching some rays and drying off after a rainy night.

Just to Prove My Point ...

2011-11-03T14:31:00.000-06:00

Just to prove my point, my neighbor, Alan, reminded me that the water was even higher over the Chan Chich Bridge last year ... and he had the photos to prove it! That's October 26, 2010 with water well over the bridge, the lower bridge submerged entirely and people marooned on the Chan Chich side (although one staff member is making his way along the railing!). Impressive! And, all things considered, there are worse places to be than being stuck on the Chan Chich side!

High Water

2011-10-27T13:48:00.003-06:00

For those of you that have seen Chan Chich Lodge's famous suspension bridge during the dry season, you may well have thought it was, well, a bit extravagant. After all, Chan Chich creek is not very wide and ankle deep and here's this big bridge arcing over it.

That all changes during the rainy season!

Recent photos from our rainy season (above) show how much water is passing beneath it these days. Since our area includes a vast drainage network, we can often have near flood conditions depending on what the rainfall has been in Guatemala.

And, while you may have thought the bridge is overkill, keep in mind that every few years it actually is under water!

Impressive Creepy-Crawly

2011-10-25T08:16:00.000-06:00

Halloween is coming -- it's time for a creepy-crawly! This large spider (genus Nephila) is a Golden Orb-Weaver, named for its web which often glints gold in the sunlight. Its web is made of incredibly strong stuff and has been investigated for potential commercial use with regard to the compounds that comprise it and give it strength. Genus Nephila is widespread in warm climates and, as you can see, in the case of females anyway, can be quite large. So large that, in fact, there are reports of orb weavers that can entrap and consume small birds! (Warning! If you are an arachnophobe, you do not want to check out this link).

While no one wants to be bitten by a spider, the Golden Orb-Weaver is only mildly toxic and not a danger to humans (unless, of course, you were to have an allergic reaction). With a little effort, you should be able to see this impressive spider at Chan Chich Lodge.

It's a Violated Trogon!

2011-10-18T15:56:00.000-06:00

"I saw a violated trogon!"

What a chuckle we got out of that when a beginning birder shared his excitement over seeing the Violaceous Trogon. Now there are no more Violaceous Trogons or Trogon violaceus at Chan Chich Lodge. Oh the birds are still here, but now we must call them by their new official name: the "Gartered Trogon (Trogon caligatus)."

Who comes up with these names? Well, in the case of North, Central and South America, that would be the august members of the American Ornithologists' Union (AOU). As science marches on, ornithologists are uncovering minute differences in some populations of species that had been lumped together as one. Often these differences have been detectable via recent DNA studies and are thus responsible for some some populations being split off and renamed. In the case of the attractive bird above, apparently there was a slight difference in the call of the Gartered v. the Violaceous trogon and a slight difference in color. So "violated" no more, we now have added the Gartered Trogon to Chan Chich list.

Horning In

2011-10-11T11:11:00.000-06:00

It's that time of year ... when the rhinoceros beetles appear (family: Scarabaeidae). And I don't mean just one or two. No, multitudes of these giant -- and by that I mean fist-sized -- creatures congregate around the lights by the Gallon Jug Airstrip. They move like wind-up toys and are relentless (and totally harmless to humans, it should be noted).

It is always interesting to me that these giant beetles seem to spend a lot of time upside down, legs flailing in a vain effort to flip over. Even with an assist, some seem doomed to upending again. Is this evolutionarily "smart?" Apparently, it works because they appear year after year.

My neighbor, Alan Jeal, snapped this series of images of a male rhino beetle -- note its impressive "rhinoceros horn" -- feasting on the newly planted elephant ears in Gallon Jug. For size reference sake, well, they aren't called elephant ears for nothing -- they really are (almost) that big. Thanks Alan!

Seeing Red

2011-10-04T10:18:00.000-06:00

Love the red eye on the Giant Cowbird (Molothrus oryzivorus) -- really stands out on this otherwise plain black bird. This is a male bird, who can be readily seen puffing up his chest and strutting his stuff to attract a female. Like most cowbirds, this one is a brood parasite, meaning it lays its eggs in other birds' nests, specifically, the Montezuma Oropendola (Psarocolius montezuma) who then raises the cowbird babies as its own.

It's said that the Giant Cowbird can be found in forests -- something I have not witnessed myself -- and that it prefers open areas. That is the case here where it can be readily seen on the Gallon Jug Farm. Birders from Chan Chich Lodge are known to make the 20 minute drive to the Farm in order to add it to their lists. The call of this bird can best be described as fairly irritating.

Another nice view

2011-09-27T09:13:00.001-06:00

Here's another nice view of a coatimundi (Nasua narica) taken by Frank Buck while at Chan Chich Lodge. This shows the typical stance as the coati moves through the forest, with the ringed tail upright. The males often travel alone, but it is not at all uncommon to see large groups of females and young animals.

Coati Portraits

2011-09-20T07:18:00.000-06:00

We are treated to these portraits of coatimundis (Nasua narica) from Frank Buck. They are such curious animals and rarely seem to worried about encountering people which is probably fairly frequently, around Chan Chich Lodge. Frank had this story to share:

"As we walked down a trail, these coatis were coming up. At first they seemed somewhat distressed by encountering us as I shot this picture and the next. As we watched each other, the troupe became more alarmed and dissipated. When we got back to the lodge about an hour later, we learned that two ladies who had followed us had seen a jaguar just a little later in the same vicinity."

A Pair of Ant-followers

2011-09-13T08:14:00.001-06:00

Although these two birds look dissimilar (dimorphic), they are in fact, the same species. This denizen of the forest, is found commonly around Chan Chich Lodge: the Red-throated Ant-tanager (Habia fuscicauda). The female is the mustard colored bird and the male is the red bird. As the name suggests, they are ant followers and are often seen in pairs or small flocks. They are loud and noisy birds and thus fairly easy to find.

Thanks to Frank for sharing these images!

Not a Peacock

2011-09-06T10:29:00.001-06:00

Many people, used to the plainer North American version, can hardly believe this large bird is a turkey. In fact, I've heard it referred to as "that peacock that hangs around by the Lodge." This is the Ocellated Turkey (Meleagris ocellata), a species that has nearly been wiped out throughout its range. Fortunately for us, this gorgeous bird, is common, really common around Chan Chich Lodge and the Gallon Jug Estate.

While I don't often "guarantee" that visitors will see a particular bird, I'm not going out on a limb when I say I absolutely guarantee that you'll see this one. And you'll be lucky enough to get as close as Frank Buck did, to get some spectacular pictures of a spectacular bird.

Puffbird with Prey

2011-08-30T16:09:00.000-06:00

Here's another engaging photo from Alan Dahl: a White-whiskered Puffbird (Malacoptila panamensis) with prey. This appears to be a female with her more subdued buffy coloring. Not sure exactly what that tasty morsel is but looks like it'll make a good meal.

White-whiskered Puffbirds are quite easy to see around Chan Chich Lodge. I've posted about them before and how their numbers seem to have increased since last October's Hurricane Richard. Or maybe in the modified forest, they are simply more conspicuous.

Which hummingbird?

2011-08-23T16:05:00.000-06:00

This hummingbird is a bit more colorful than the Little Hermit of last week. When Alan sent this image to me, we had a bit of debate as to which hummingbird it actually was: Scaly-breasted (Phaeochroa cuvierii) or Rufous-tailed(Amazilia tzacatl)? Both can be readily seen around Chan Chich Lodge although the Rufous-tailed is by far the more common. This photo seems to show a "scaly" breast ...

However, I recently learned that female Rufous-tails have white edged feathers on the throat. So we'll go with Alan's original ID!

It's a Little Hermit

2011-08-16T16:01:00.000-06:00

Most hummingbirds are brilliant in jewel-like colors. Even though this little hummer is more plainly colored, it is readily seen around Chan Chich Lodge. It's a Little Hermit (Phaethornis longuemareus) also known these days, as the Stripe-tailed Hermit. It's tiny, at about 3.5 inches.

The males congregate in "leks," where they show off in an effort to attract females with lots of tail-flashing and squeaky little songs. With their slightly decurved bill, hermits are well suited to feed in heliconia flowers such as make up some of the natural landscaping at Chan Chich. Thanks to Alan Dahl for sharing yet another exceptional image!

Howling Monkey

2011-08-09T15:52:00.000-06:00

Generally speaking, my photos of howler monkeys stink. They always look like dark lumps away up high in the shady branches of a tree. Alan's image, on the other hand, is really superb. He's got this male howler monkey, taken at Chan Chich Lodge, in full-blown howl, in lovely light. It's so vivid, you can almost hear the call.

I have searched in vain to find an audio of the Black Howler Monkey, Aloutta pigra, on line and have yet to find it -- sorry! If any Belize Field Notes readers find one, could you please post the link in Comments? It's such an amazing call, it would be great to share it here.

Lodge Monkey

2011-08-02T15:41:00.000-06:00

We have Alan Dahl, a Belize Field Notes reader, traveler and Chan Chich Lodge repeat guest, to thank for this stunning image of a spider monkey (Ateles geoffroyi) taken near the Lodge some months ago. I love how the monkey is totally engaged with the photographer. And don't you love the white fluff on his cheeks? Thanks Alan!

Golden Oldie: Diamond Jane

2011-07-26T14:18:00.000-06:00

The tag line under "Belize Field Notes" says "Camera traps, natural history and news featuring Chan Chich Lodge." It probably hasn't escaped your notice that I haven't posted camera trap photos for a long time. There were 3 on loan when I started this blog but they have since gone south, that is, are defunct. They need repair and honestly, it is not worth it to send them up to the USA, get repairs, have them shipped back and pay duty on the whole shebang. And anyway, technology being what it is these days, we'd be better off buying the latest and greatest instead of trying to fix several-year-old units.

Oh well. I thought you might enjoy my favorite jaguar photo of all time which is also my very first jaguar camera-trapped. This was using a small all-weather film camera and the TrailMaster set up. August 8, 1993 a bit after 11AM, this gorgeous female jaguar was photographed at the intersection of the River Trail and Sylvester Village Road at Chan Chich Lodge. Could she have been more beautifully illuminated?

Remember Norm? Some of Belize Field Notes readers will remember Norm, the well-loved, irreverent heart-of-gold bartender at the Looter's Trench back in the day. As we carefully studied this fabulous photo, it was Norm that dubbed her "Diamond Jane" for the horizontal diamond shape smack in the middle of her side. Can you find it?

Knock-knock, who's there?

2011-07-19T15:53:00.000-06:00

Thanks to Alan once again, for sharing more of Chan Chich's birds. These are Pale-billed Woodpeckers (Campephilus guatemalensis), possibly a pair although the female normally has more black on her head than is shown here. North American visitors often comment that this resembles a Pileated Woodpecker, which indeed it does, although it is somewhat smaller. This species is readily seen around Chan Chich Lodge -- it likes good quality forest -- and is well known for the distinctive knock-knock on wood, making it fairly easy to spot.

A Belizean Classic

2011-07-12T16:07:00.000-06:00

Here's a real Belizean classic -- the Keel-billed Toucan (Ramphastos sulphuratus). It's probably the most sought after bird by visitors, birders and non-birders alike. Not only is it gloriously colorful, just like a tropical bird should be, it is also Belize's national bird. It's readily seen around Chan Chich Lodge, often in the treetops, and where there is one, there are usually several. The toucan is not known for its melodious voice, quite the contrary -- it croaks.

As you might expect, this species is a frugivore, or fruit-eater. Perhaps more surprisingly, it also eats eggs and nestlings, one reason why you often can see small birds dive-bombing, scolding and attempting to drive it off.

White-collared Manakin

2011-06-28T15:50:00.001-06:00

So appealing with its bright tropical colors! This is a male White-collared Manakin (Manacus candei), snapped by talented photographer Alan Dalhl near Chan Chich Lodge. The females are more olive in coloration but still sport the bright orange legs.

Perhaps one of the most interesting things about manakins -- and there are many species throughout the new World tropics -- are the wing-snapping sounds that the males use to attract females. Not only that, the male manakins congregate in "leks" darting from branch to branch after clearing a patch of the forest floor. All of this in order to display their wing pops and fluff out their white "beards" to best advantage so that the female can choose the most ardent suitor.

This species is definitely "veranda viewable" from the Lodge dining area, or venture out to thickety forest edges. It won't be hard to find.

(Thanks to Sheila for mentioning that the photo was not attached the first time out!)

Pond Visitor

2011-06-21T09:58:00.000-06:00

Ok, so the Black Vulture is not a very charismatic bird. I've never heard anyone visiting Chan Chich confess that this species was on their "most wanted" list. Of the four vulture species found in Belize, the Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus) is arguably the most abundant. It thrives around human habitation where it scavenges on garbage and refuse. This one came down to our pond to drink -- interesting how it is resting on its "haunches." I think it must be nesting on our hillside since I've seen two of them hanging around.

Garden Innovation

2011-06-14T14:25:00.000-06:00

Here's a bird's eye view of a an exciting new feature in Gallon Jug Estate: an organic garden! This impressive spread, complete with footpaths, is all thanks to the efforts of Jackie Bowen (above) who has put heart and soul into the design and plantings. And lucky for us, it is finally paying off with fresh, luscious organic produce for Chan Chich Lodge and the rest of our community. A variety of lettuce (or is that "lettuces?"), herbs too numerous to remember, squashes, melons, radish, peppers and cucumber to name a few are all beginning to produce.

Those gardeners among my readers appreciate how difficult it can be to "go organic" battling pests using old fashioned non-chemical ways. I think it is even more difficult here since we have so many more insects to prey on tender leaves -- and that's 12 months out of the year too! Jackie's got that figured out too as she has started tobacco in case she needs to make a natural pest repellent.

Other garden plans include a stream bed which has been cut where the natural stream drainage used to be. It's dry now, but should fill up when the rains come in a couple of weeks. If that's successful, then fish will be added which could possibly provide another organic protein source (in addition to the Gallon Jug beef) for the Lodge.

The garden is a very exciting innovation that both Lodge guests and Gallon Jug residents will likewise appreciate.

More Babies

2011-06-07T13:51:00.001-06:00

Who can resist these little fawns? This pair was at the bottom of our hill recently. Not worried enough to dash under the fence, but checking me out for sure. They could be the same pair recently pictured with mama at our pond a cuple weeks ago. Or perhaps not. One thing Gallon Jug Estate is not lacking is white-tailed deer!

Forest Headlights

2011-05-31T08:05:00.000-06:00

This is how we know it is late dry season: click beetles with headlights! We were recently doing bat surveys near Laguna Seca in Gallon Jug Estate, and the night was lit with these interesting large beetles. It is amazing how much light is put out by them!

In the family Elateridae, click beetles have the ability to make a snapping sound thought to help them avoid predation. If the beetle finds itself upside down, the ability to click pops it up and over, right side up.

Laguna Seca morning

2011-05-24T10:51:00.000-06:00

How many Belize Field Notes readers (that are former Lodge visitors) have visited Laguna Seca? It's a wetlands system that extends northward across the Gallon Jug Estate property. If you are visiting Chan Chich Lodge, be sure to take the excursion from the Lodge for a leisurely Laguna Seca walk. There is a nice path wending its way through fairly extensive Maya ruins. Both spider and howler monkeys can almost always be seen there. For birders, specialties include the Agami heron, Northern Jacana, Least Bittern, and Black-collared Hawk. Of course the surrounding forest is filled with the "usual" cast of tropical birds.

There's more. Not long ago I posted about a "procession of peccaries." That video was taken at Laguna Seca. Last night when we returned to do a survey, there were the peccaries again, in the same spot. I could see they were attracted by the low water levels and nice cool mud wallows. Next project: get a photo of them wallowing...

Waiting in line

2011-05-12T07:51:00.004-06:00

Thought you might enjoy seeing the drink queue at our pond. Of course, not everyone is interested in the water!

Apologies for delayed posting ... It seems Google Blogger had some problems 11-12 May and deleted quite a few posts and comments. This blog was affected. They claim they will restore everything and I've filled out the appropriate maintenance request forms but here it is a week later, and my posts are still among the missing. I'll try to get things back on track for next week. Have a great weekend!

Veranda Bird Viewing

2011-05-09T09:29:00.001-06:00

Is this a cool bird or what? Thanks to Jim Wright for sharing his Masked Tityra (Tityra semifasciata) image. This bird was, Jim says, "viewable from the veranda" at Chan Chich Lodge. Apparently it was a long sought bird, and then suddenly, there it was. This snowy white bird is a male while the females are more gray/buffy on the back and head.

If you don't readily see it, you certainly can hear it, even if you think you are not good at recognizing calls. This one is very distinctive although you could be forgiven for mistaking it for a frog or an insect... Take a listen here.

A Procession of Peccaries

2011-05-01T16:20:00.000-06:00

Gorgeous morning today in Gallon Jug, sunny, breezy, about 80F. We like to walk on Sundays, so we headed out to Laguna Seca, a vast wetlands system extending northwards across the Gallon Jug Estate property. The great thing about Gallon Jug is the sense that, even after our 25 years in Belize, anything can happen, that the jaguar is just around the next corner.

In this case, it wasn't a jaguar but rather, a procession of peccaries. White-lips, or warrie, to be exact (Pecari tajacu) . This is the "big" peccary and a species that requires large forested areas to forage for their preferred food items. I was able to get out of the car and approach them slowly on foot in order to get this video. You can see that they were fairly unconcerned. I didn't push it by going too close or attempting to make them scatter. They tolerated our presence for a long time before easing off into the bush when we finally slowly moved the car forward.

By our estimates, there were about 6o of them that crossed the road, a good sized herd. And I'll repeat my mantra: because of good protection here on the Gallon Jug Estate, this large herd of a heavily hunted species, appears to be thriving. Believe me when I say they are wiped out in many areas of Belize, Central and South America.

Traveling Monkey

2011-04-29T16:04:00.002-06:00

This must be the week for monkeys. My good friend Norma, who pretty much runs Gallon Jug (don't tell Zander), snapped this photo the other night of a young howler monkey (Alouatta pigra) near her office, hanging out in a flamboyant tree. Right in the heart of Gallon Jug not far from the airstrip. Those of you that are familiar with the tiny Gallon Jug community and airstrip will recall that this area is very much in the open, about 500 m from the forest edge.

Not so very far really, for a howler monkey to come, and nice of this guy to prove my point. Unlike the spider monkey discussed in the previous post, howler monkeys are perfectly capable of traveling through open areas as this little guy convincingly proves. Of course we don't know what happened, or how he came to visit the heart of Gallon Jug, but a guess anyway, is that he's reached the age where he needs to strike out on his own and perhaps establish or join a new troop. The howlers just inside the forest margin had been vocal all day, perhaps encouraging him to leave. He could have crossed the Ring Road, traveled through the mango orchard and dashed through the citrus orchard coming to rest for the night in that friendly flamboyant.

He spent the night, was there the following morning before striking out again, on his own.

Monkeys at Breakfast

2011-04-26T10:53:00.002-06:00

I don't suppose it is too often that you can dine with monkeys ... but that was apparently almost the case when good friend Jim Wright snapped this photo from the Chan Chich Lodge veranda over breakfast recently. He and Patty were here with birding friends that we've come to enjoy seeing on an annual basis.

Spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi) thrive in closed-canopy tropical forests which provide arboreal pathways for their foraging activities. Unlike the howler monkeys that are known to come to the ground, cross roads, swim rivers and otherwise move about in a "disturbed" landscape, the spiders require contiguous tropical forest for their wide-ranging lifestyles. With just a little thought, you realize that this is exactly the sort of habitat under pressure elsewhere as forests are cleared for agriculture or other human activities. Not so in Gallon Jug.

By the way, if the name "Jim Wright" sounds familiar, it is because he is the author of "Jungle of the Maya" which I posted about in January 2010. It's a great book, I'd encourage everyone with an interest in tropical forests here, to check it out. Chan Chich Lodge, Gallon Jug Estate, and the Selva Maya -- Maya Forest -- are the focus.

So Great, Again

2011-04-19T11:32:00.000-06:00

You've seen Great Currasow (Crax rubra) on this blog before but here's more nice images from Frank Buck. The point again being, how easy it is to see this "game bird" at Chan Chich Lodge since 1) it has not been extirpated from the area by over-hunting and 2) since it has never been shot at, it is therefore confident enough to allow itself to be photographed.

One of the great features of this bird is the yellow knob on the male, shown peeking through the foliage on the inset photo. If you'd like to hear the distinctive booming call and other vocalizations, check them out here.

Crested "Quam"

2011-04-12T10:44:00.000-06:00

Crested Guan (Penelope purpurascens) by Frank Buck, copyright 2011

The guan, or quam as it is called in Belize, is another of the un-shy game birds Frank Buck photographed during his December stay at Chan Chich Lodge. And it is true that this big chicken-like bird is scarce to exterminated in many areas of its range. Not so at Chan Chich Lodge, thanks to the good protection of the Gallon Jug Estate.

If you'd like to see a Crested Guan, look up ... and listen. The quam is a noisy bird that likes tree tops in forested areas. It often creates quite a disturbance, which, at Chan Chich anyway, makes it fairly easy to find.

A Great Tinamou

2011-04-05T09:29:00.001-06:00

Frank Buck visited Chan Chich Lodge last December with his family. He recently emailed the following:

"I thought that you might want to comment on the abundance and absence of shyness of the game birds at Chan Chich. Compared to my experience in other parts of Belize and Costa Rica, I was stunned to see so many Tinamou, Crested Guans, Curassows, and Turkeys so indifferent to my presence. I don't remember if I sent you this Tinamou photo. In my previous experience, they disappeared like ghosts. This one posed for me."

It certainly did ... and in my experience, the Great Tinamou (Tinamus major) is a very infrequently photographed bird. I love the red eye glowing like a little jewel on this otherwise plain bird. Also noteworthy for this species are the distinctive piping notes of its call, often given at dusk or dawn. The tinamou, a ground nester, has gorgeous "Easter eggs," normally a glossy porcelain blue.

And Frank is absolutely right about the lack of shyness here. I've commented several times on this blog about how the animals here are not afraid and very confident. Makes for great birding and wildlife viewing. That confidence comes because the Gallon Jug Estate (which includes Chan Chich Lodge) has been strictly protected for nearly 30 years with "no hunting allowed" strictly enforced. The Estate is buffered on all sides by large blocks of property. There are security gates one must pass through at the two road entrances. Would that the National Parks were so rigorously protected!

A Forest Spectacle(d)

2011-03-29T10:41:00.002-06:00

We're on a run of great bird images, thanks to contributions from Chan Chich Lodge guests. The most recent comes from Fred and Nancy, ornithologists who are long time "repeaters" at the Lodge. We've come to really look forward to their annual visit, both for their friendship and their bird and wildlife reports.

This large and gorgeous bird is a Spectacled Owl (Pulsatrix perspicillata) they encountered just a couple weeks ago on Chan Chich's Sac Be trail. It's a large owl that needs mature tropical forest to survive and is often found near streams. This owl is about 18" tall and weighs just under 2 lbs. Its distinctive markings -- the white "spectacles" -- make it unmistakable. The young are simply adorable: fuzzy white as if they are wearing snowsuits with big yellow eyes.

One of my favorite things about this owl is the call, which reminds me of the boing boing boing of a bouncing ball. It's something you really must hear because the written word simply doesn't do it justice.

And once you've heard it, you'll never forget it.

Tody Motmot

2011-03-22T16:10:00.001-06:00

Frank Buck also came up with a very nice shot of this sought-after species, the Tody Motmot (Hylomanes momotula). As tropical birds go, I think just about everyone likes motmots.

First of all there is the great name which sort of mimics most motmot species' hoot hoot call. And they just look like a tropical bird ought to look with beautiful turquoise, green and rusty colored plumage. The tody is the smallest of the three motmots species found in Belize. It is quite readily encountered near Chan Chich Lodge, much to the delight of many birders.

Follow Those Ants!

2011-03-17T15:49:00.000-06:00

Here's a really nice photo of a seldom photographed bird: the Gray-headed Tanager (Eucometis penicillata). Frank Buck was lucky enough to snap this bird in the forests around Chan Chich Lodge where this species frequents the understory. Although it is not often photographed, it isn't really all that hard to find. It is most often found in the company of woodcreepers and other army ant specialists.

Such birds don't actually eat the army ants. Instead they follow the ants as they wend their way through the forest, grabbing insects fleeing the approaching column. If you are lucky enough to find this situation in the forest, it can be an entertaining way to pass the time as the birds dive, swoop and glean the abundance of insects.

Regeneration

2011-03-10T10:50:00.001-06:00

This ceiba tree was something of a landmark. We could readily spot it in historical photos of Gallon Jug's logging days where it served to orient us to the Gallon Jug of today. I think all of us in the Gallon Jug community were sad to find it toppled during October's Hurricane Richard.

The ceiba tree (Ceiba pentrandra) had mythological and sacred significance for the ancient Maya people. Also known as kapok, the cottony fibers from its seed pods were formerly used in flotation devices, before synthetics took over. I had been collecting the kapok fibers to stuff a pillow and was sorry that this tree wouldn't be supplying any this year. A colony of bats that lived there must have had to relocate (which they may have done in our roof, actually ...). I am sure there are dozens of birds that miss this tree as well.

Although we thought this landmark tree was history, as it turns out, some roots are still embedded in the soil. New leaves are sprouting from its branches as the inset photo shows. The Maya considered the ceiba the Tree of Life. And as these photos show, life does indeed go on.

A Secretive Heron

2011-03-04T15:40:00.002-06:00

The only way this Agami heron (Agamia agami) could be any more beautiful is during that time of year when it has filmy powder-blue "nuptial plumes" trailing down its neck. That's a once-a-year occurrence when the agami enters into courtship. Recent Lodge guest Frank Buck took this photo in December and although somewhat early for courtship plumage, it still shows what an attractive bird it is.

Even for a heron, the Agami has an especially long thin bill, and likes swampy forested areas as opposed to open water. Around Chan Chich Lodge, that would mean along Chan Chich creek and Laguna Seca are good places to look for it.

While Laguna Verde is a lovely spot, those of you that know it would agree that it is probably a bit too open for this forest-loving species. Even though the Agami can be rather secretive, it is a sought-after species by birders, and as this image proves, it is very possible to get a good look at it.

One Year Anniversary

2011-02-28T14:13:00.004-06:00

This past weekend, the Gallon Jug community remembered those lost in the plane crash that took the lives of Sir Barry Bowen, teachers Mike & Jill Casey, and their two children, Makayla and Bryce, on February 26, 2010.

The Gallon Jug school has been formally renamed the Casey Community School. On Friday, the flag was raised to half staff. There was nary a dry eye as the students remembered their beloved teachers with original poetry, the Rainforest Song (see post on 9 March 2010), posters and Mike's favorite "chicken dance."

In San Pedro, Sir Barry was fondly remembered:

http://www.ambergristoday.com/content/stories/2011/february/25/remembering-sir-barry-bowen

Although a year has gone by, Sir Barry and the Caseys are sadly missed, gone but never forgotten.

A Suddenly "Common" Puffbird

2011-02-24T15:33:00.001-06:00

As I mentioned in an earlier post, here is a recently "conspicuous" species: the White-whiskered Puffbird (Malacoptila panamensis). I say that because prior to Hurricane Richard last October, this was a species that, with a little effort, could be seen along the forest trails near Chan Chich Lodge on most days. When we conducted the Christmas Bird Count in late December, it was suddenly "everywhere." We counted more than 30 puffbirds that day ... and our previous record had been 9.

This species is a "sit and wait" insect and small vertebrate predator. Interestingly, it excavates a burrow in order to build its nest. I have seen motmots excavate their nest burrows, but not the puffbird.

Since the hurricane, there is evidently something this bird "likes" about the modified forest that makes it seem much more common than previously. Frank Buck grabbed this nice photo of the puffbird in December -- my thanks for sharing it.

Canopy Cat (even more)

2011-02-18T09:52:00.003-06:00

Is this not an absolutely fantastic spotted cat photo? I told Stewart that their experience with this margay is even more unique than the experience everyone seems to want ... and that is seeing a jaguar.

Margays are sometimes confused with ocelots. One field mark is the significantly longer tail of the margay, no doubt helping it balance in the canopy tree tops. That longer tail is evident in this image. Ocelots have a shorter tail (appearing to hit somewhere knee length) and are larger in size than margays (but nowhere near as large as a jaguar).

This lovely image was taken just moments before it scampered down the tree and into the forest. Thanks to Stewart Greisman for sharing these with us.

Canopy Cat continued

2011-02-15T09:37:00.003-06:00

Here's the margay a minute or so later on a tree on the Chan Chich road. It appears to be thinking about coming down, not too sure with people near the base of the tree. Since margays are nocturnal, it is also interesting to have caught this one with the morning well under way (8:15AM). This species is one of only two cats to have the ankle flexibility to climb head-first down trees (the other is the clouded leopard, not found in the New World). Another great image coming up ...

Canopy Cat

2011-02-11T09:06:00.000-06:00

Recent Chan Chich Lodge guests, Stewart Greisman and his wife, came across this gorgeous margay cat (Leopardus wiedii) in the tree canopy while walking with premier Chan Chich guide Gilberto (aka "Jack"), a little after 8AM on 28 January. Some Belize Field Notes readers will know the exact spot: on the main road, between Chan Chich Lodge and the Bridge, directly across from the Frog Crossing sign.

Since the margay is a mainly arboreal cat, it is no surprise to see it in the treetops. But a day time picture of this secretive animal is a surprise. Margays do come down occasionally as I have recorded them on the camera traps from time to time. But that is infrequent, so this series of photos is extra-special ... Stay tuned, more margay to come.

Young Ornate Hawk-Eagle

2011-02-07T11:53:00.006-06:00

After a few wonderful days of a "cat blog-fest," with the Chan Chich pumas, it's time to get back to the Ornate Hawk-Eagles again. This excellent photo, contributed by Lodge guest Frank Buck, shows a young ornate still in juvenile plumage. As you can see, its signature crest is already fully developed. The young will attain full adult plumage by its third year: its head will become rufus and it will develop complete barring along the belly and legs.

Love the intense golden stare of this very impressive bird!

More Cats! Continued (4)

2011-02-04T16:01:00.001-06:00

Gorgeous portrait of a fully engaged cat, aware of the photographer, not hostile, only curious.

More Cats! Continued (3)

2011-02-03T15:02:00.002-06:00

I think this image shows how really slim wild cats are ... if you've seen a lot of zoo images, captive cats, no matter what the species, all seem to be overweight with massive bellies.

More Cats! Continued (2)

2011-02-02T14:51:00.000-06:00

Something about the Chan Chich signs was interesting. Now this young puma notices the photographer.

More Cats! Continued ...

2011-02-01T14:38:00.001-06:00

What is so interesting about those Chan Chich signs?

More Cats!

2011-01-31T14:16:00.005-06:00

Last week, the morning of January 26 to be exact, two members of the Chan Chich staff had an amazing experience. Guide Emil was out on the trails and encountered a family of pumas -- 2 youngsters with mom. He called Lodge manager Jason who rushed out with his camera ... and captured some amazing shots.

Here the 2 youngsters are investigating the Bajo and Lodge trail signs close to Chan Chich. Note the dappled spot pattern showing they haven't quite grown out of their juvenile pelage. They were in no hurry to leave as subsequent images will show ...

Ornate Hawk-eagle

2011-01-28T17:00:00.002-06:00

Here's a great shot sent by recent Chan Chich Lodge guest, Frank Buck. The Ornate Hawk-Eagles (Spizaetus ornatus) are nesting! Here's one coming in for a landing ... look at the outstretched talons! The Ornate is a medium-sized bird of prey, a gorgeous bird that is really quite colorful with dark upper parts and chestnut head with crest.

They seem to thrive in the forests surrounding Chan Chich Lodge and have nested every other year in tall trees near the Lodge. A forester we knew, that worked in the Gallon Jug area in the 60s-70s, said that they were quite numerous then. Since Ornates prefer good quality forest, their continued presence here provides a "stamp of approval" for the Gallon Jug Estate.

The Cats are Back (II)

2011-01-21T17:00:00.002-06:00

Dark moon, short days in late December...perfect cat conditions. I promised more cats ... and here they are. December 29 and 30 were big cat nights near the Lodge. The previous post showed an ocelot and jaguar moving through the area ... and here they are again.

Lots of cat activity at this location on the Sylvester Village road near the intersection with the River Trail. Lots of bird activity too. I understand from the Lodge managers that the bench has been relocated back to its previous position. While the bench doesn't necessarily add much to the camera trap images, the real reason was to minimize disturbance to the nesting Ornate Hawk-Eagles. These are magnificent birds and I have a magnificent image of one, coming right up!

The Cats are Back (I)

2011-01-14T17:00:00.003-06:00

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It's a nice way to start the New Year with the cat-loaded camera trap results from late December at Chan Chich Lodge. I haven't posted camera trap photos in a long time. Of the three cameras we had earlier in 2010, only one now is operational -- and it has had its share of problems.

But look at the interesting results for the nights of 28 and 29th December! First a male ocelot strolls by and the next night, a male jaguar. Going to my jaguar database, I can't find a match for this fellow, so perhaps he is fairly new on the scene.

The bench, for those that may be wondering, as been moved to offer optimal viewing of an Ornate Hawk-Eagle nest in progress. You can get an idea of size, comparing the bench to the cats.

Stayed tuned ... more cats coming right up.

20th Annual Gallon Jug Christmas Bird Count

2011-01-07T17:00:00.000-06:00

Our 20th Annual Gallon Jug Christmas Bird Count, in conjunction with National Audubon Society, was one for the record books. We had perfect weather -- sunny and 80F or so -- and 34 enthusiastic participants.

Our stalwarts from Corozal Town, 3 hours north of us, came down. This includes a retired teacher from Corozal Community College and 4 of his former students, all of whom have become very competent birders over the many years of their participation. Victor Emanual Nature Tours, booked in at Chan Chich, participated as they have done for all 20 counts and contributed some great birds to our efforts. Several other guests at the Lodge also contributed as well as all of us "locals" from Gallon Jug community and Chan Chich Lodge.

We ended up with 214 species -- best count since 2001! -- and just over 3000 individuals. We had been concerned that Hurricane Richard that plowed a path through our area (24 October), would adversely affect the count. And some aspects certainly were "different." The frugivores (fruit eaters) like the toucans and parrots were present only in small numbers, perhaps since leaves and fruits were stripped from many trees during the storm. Presumably they've moved elsewhere to look for food resources while the forest regenerates. Hopefully, we'll be seeing them soon.

Neotropical migrants were conspicuous and represented in good numbers, especially the Gray Catbird which seemed to be everywhere! Warblers and thrushes were also in good evidence.

As far as resident species go, one of the real oddities this year was the White-whiskered Puffbird (Malacoptila panamensis). By no means rare, it is always recorded a few times. This year every team, except at the farm, had several, enough to total 32. It was a record year for them! My personal favorite bird for the count was the White-necked Puffbird (Notharchus hyperrhynchus; above) perched on a sign. Normally this is a bird found high in the canopy. It had been some years since I'd had a good close look at one, and here it was at eye level, posing for pictures.

Season's Greetings 2010

2010-12-24T12:00:00.000-06:00

Tis the Season

2010-12-20T11:34:00.002-06:00

Tis the season for ... carolers! Here are members of the Casey Family Community School, and their teachers, after a rousing round of Christmas carols on our hill, here in Gallon Jug. We may not have snow, but there is no lack of holiday spirit!

Foggy Morning in Gallon Jug

2010-12-17T17:00:00.002-06:00

Photo copyright 2010, Alan Jeal

It's not quite like snow, but we've had some chilly weather here in Gallon Jug. We've had night time temperatures in the mid-50's. While that might not seem too bad, keep in mind, our houses here are not well sealed or insulated. It's that weather system that's kept the US at low temperatures so unseasonably early this year pushing down the cold weather into tropical latitudes. This shot is a typical foggy morning in Gallon Jug, from our neighbor and friend Alan.

What do Toucans and Bats Have in Common?

2010-12-10T17:00:00.000-06:00

Our friend and neighbor, Alan, here in Gallon Jug, sent over these great images of a Keel-billed Toucan in flight, and then perching in a "hurricane downed tree" tree. It's fun to see the classic "in flight" image of this bird. While this is a fairly common and readily seen species, it is a bit out of character for this toucan to be in the open farm areas of Gallon Jug Farm. It's mainly a frugivore (fruit eater) so I have to wonder whether it is still a bit disoriented from Hurricane Richard and seeking new food resources. Many trees, while still standing, were stripped of leaves and fruits, thanks to the high winds.

We're seeing something similar with certain bat species. What do toucans and bats have in common? Fruits comprise an important part of the diet of toucans and many bats. We've had two reports of fruit bats flying in daylight including a video of bats swarming around a fruiting tree. Could it be that food resources are so limited that they are risking daytime flight -- and exposure to predators -- in order to find fruit?

On my afternoon walk yesterday, there were two fruit bats in flight before the sun had even set. Since it'll be a while before the trees recover, I hope all the frugivorous species can hang on.

Changes in Latitudes

2010-12-07T17:00:00.002-06:00

Not only did we thoroughly enjoy the Turtleman's House, we spent a couple more days in San Pedro town on the southern part of Ambergris Caye. It had been some years since we'd been there, and yes, it has changed. A lot more traffic on the narrow streets, for one thing. But coming from quiet and remote Gallon Jug, we enjoyed the lively change of pace.

Our friends Cindy and Renita, at the B&B, Changes in Latitudes (http://ambergriscaye.com/latitudes/), put us up for a couple nights (note the cute toucan gate handle, above). What a great spot ... a block from the beach and close to town. Convenient to everything. Great breakfasts. We spent an enjoyable morning riding bikes all over San Pedro, from north to south. And then we enjoyed a little pool time at the Belize Yacht Club next door and an evening with friends.

All in all, Ambergris Caye provided a really great "working vacation" for us.

The Turtleman's House

2010-12-03T14:48:00.003-06:00

I normally post exclusively about Chan Chich Lodge and Gallon Jug Estate ... but I couldn't help myself. We've just returned from Belize's Ambergris Caye where we did a short bat survey and then took a couple days to relax.

The Turtleman's House (above) is named for biologist Greg Smith, "the Turtleman," who has lived on northern Ambergris Caye for well over 20 years. The house over the water, pictured above, is where we stayed. It was like something out of Swiss Family Robinson, put together with driftwood and other found objects. Most would call it "rustic" but we were completely comfortable and extremely well fed thanks to the excellent fresh-caught fish prepared by both Greg and his wife Rosemary.

I'm not a fan of long boat trips to crowded snorkeling spots so the fact that we could wade out from the house over the water and enjoy snorkeling in 5-6 ft. water at our leisure, was a real pleasure. Greg was on hand, along with the 3 knowledgeable Smith children, to answer any marine questions and identify the myriad fish species for us.

The Smiths enjoy having guests, but do keep in mind that you need to be a hearty adventurous sort. Most tourist accommodations are designed to offer an "experience." Turtleman's House and the Smith family are authentic, the real deal. Check them out here: http://turtlemanshouse.com/

And as for us, the trip was a big success combining a little slice of paradise with a short research project.

Black Friday

2010-11-26T17:00:00.002-06:00

Not that we have Black Friday here, in the sense that shoppers in the USA know it, but here are two big black vultures, side by side. More specifically, the one on the left is the black vulture (Coragyps atratus), and the red-headed one is a turkey vulture (Cathartes aura). Not unfamiliar to North Americans either since both species are widespread, especially the turkey vulture.

Here in Gallon Jug around the farm, it seems these vultures have been displaced since Hurricane Richard blew through a couple weeks ago. They were easily photographed at nearly eye level since their favorite tall roosting trees are gone.

White-collared Manakin

2010-11-23T05:00:00.002-06:00

This has to be one of the cutest and most colorful of tropical birds: the White-collared Manakin, Manacus candei. Pictured here is a male which our friend Jeff photographed from Chan Chich's dining room veranda while we were having lunch. This little bird is a frugivore and likely enjoying the same Polly Redhead berries as the tanager in the previous post. The male manakins have specially modified wings that make a distinctive snap and pop during the courtship display in an effort to attract females. And yes, females are seen from time to time in the Polly Redhead bush.

A Bird in the Polly Redhead Bush

2010-11-19T17:00:00.000-06:00

The Yellow-winged Tanager, Thraupis abbas, is commonly seen near Chan Chich Lodge and on the Gallon Jug Estate. Jeff captured a really nice shot of this bird with a berry from the Hamelia patens shrub. This shrub grows readily in the open and provides a year round source of berries and small red blossoms, a favorite of many species of hummingbirds. Other names for this shrub are firebush and hummingbird bush and my favorite, the Belizean name Polly Redhead.

Slaty-tailed Trogon

2010-11-16T05:00:00.000-06:00

Here's another photo from Jeff that I love: a Slaty-tailed Trogon (Trogon massena) lit up by a shaft of sunlight in the tropical forest. It's a male as determined by the green on the back and the orange mandible -- the females are a deep gray. If anything is missing from this photograph, it is a full on view of the brilliant red breast which occurs in both sexes. There are four species of trogons in Belize, of which the Slaty-tailed is the largest. All four can be readily seen at Chan Chich Lodge and Gallon Jug Estate.

Top Notch Chick

2010-11-12T17:00:00.001-06:00

Another of Jeff's photos, the Gray-necked Wood-rail (Aramides cajanea) foraging in a forest puddle near Chan Chich Lodge. The Belizean name is one of my favorites: Top Notch Chick. And I haven't a clue as to how it got this name. The Top Notch Chick is a member of the rail family and not nearly so secretive as most rails seem to be. It's readily seen in swampy areas -- and even along roadsides -- throughout Belize.

Chan Chich Aracari

2010-11-09T05:00:00.000-06:00

I don't post about birds as often as I'd like. To be honest, with my little pocket camera, it is difficult to get a good shot in order to have something to write about. I'm ok with that right now since I hauled around long lenses, tripods and SLR cameras for a number of years here in Belize. Right now it feels pretty good to have a "take everywhere" camera that fits in my pocket.

That said, I was amazed and envious of the gorgeous bird photos our friend Jeff got a couple days ago at Chan Chich Lodge. This is one of the toucans, a bird that most visitors want to see. Specifically, it is a Collared Aracari (Pteroglossus torquatus), a common resident near the Lodge, eating palm fruits.

Chan Chich Forest Aerial View

2010-11-05T17:00:00.001-06:00

Our friend Jeff was here last week, just days after Hurricane Richard hit our area. He had the opportunity to assess the damage to the forest from the air. Surprisingly, while there are some areas of damage (visible on the lower left), it appears mostly limited to the tops of trees broken off. Not complete blow downs. Chan Chich Lodge itself weathered the storm very well -- there were some downed trees near the pool but that was about the extent of it. All in all, we were very lucky.

Hurricane Richard clean up

2010-11-01T05:00:00.000-06:00

After getting our driveway cleared enough so that we could take a drive, we set out around Gallon Jug to assess the damages. Clean up is well under way now, as you can see from the photo above of our driveway.

Although we didn't enter the surrounding tropical forest, it really looked as though it had held together fairly well. The dense growth of trees apparently offered enough integrity so that only a few (relatively speaking) were toppled or topped. And it is good to remember that these forests and animals evolved with hurricanes and are thus adapted to such events. Mahogany, as a matter of fact, is considered "hurricane-dependent" since it sprouts in areas opened up after such a storm.

Our house is high on a hill, as high as the top of the forest canopy which is about 400 yards away. This left us in a very exposed position which is why we felt the wind so badly during the storm Sunday night. Some of the other Gallon Jug buildings were hardly impacted.

Although the road to Chan Chich Lodge had a lot of downed trees, the Lodge and cabanas emerged virtually unscathed. Some of the thatch needs replacing on the roofs but that is about it. Nestled in the plaza of a Maya ruin and buffered by the surrounding tropical forest, the Lodge was really well protected and looks virtually untouched.

The Morning After

2010-10-26T13:28:00.003-06:00

After a violent night of hurricane force winds and lashing rain thanks to Hurricane Richard, Monday morning dawned clear and cool. We climbed over and crawled under the obstacle course of downed trees in our driveway and set out to see whether Gallon Jug was still in one piece. We were greeted by this rainbow that formed a perfect and complete arc across Gallon Jug. Unfortunately, I couldn't photograph the whole arch, but it was beautiful nonetheless.

Hurricane Richard

2010-10-25T09:43:00.003-06:00

We survived! The map above shows Gallon Jug in relation to a fast-moving late season hurricane that barreled across Belize (time above is minus 6 hours).

Hurricane Richard's storm force winds hit Gallon Jug about 9PM, escalated and we huddled in the bathroom -- in the center of the house, with no windows. Now I completely understand the term: "howling" wind. The house bucked and rocked, vibrated and trembled badly as the hurricane force winds struck and lasted until after midnight. Wind and water was driven through windows and under doors. It seemed that our wooden house would blow apart, but it held. We felt safe enough to leave the bathroom sometime after 1AM when the winds began to slow.

We got hammered exposed way up there on a hill, but all things considered, we were incredibly lucky. And not really much rain, despite dire predictions. A beautiful morning dawned, complete with a rainbow. Our driveway is totally blocked but we were able to climb over the downed vegetation and take a walk. No loss of life or injuries -- even the horses, cattle, deer and Ocellated Turkeys appear to have survived.

Our hill looks like it had a hair-cut and we lost a lot of trees but it could have been far far worse, we consider ourselves very lucky! We talked to other Gallon Juggernauts and fortunately, everyone is ok. We understand Chan Chich and Sylvester Village are ok too. Now it's clean up time.

Casey Community School

2010-10-22T17:00:00.001-06:00

I thought you might enjoy a photo of a class at the Casey Community School, here in Gallon Jug. Bruce and I were asked to give a presentation on how we use data in our work as biologists. The students are studying the use of graphs and data in everyday lives. Here you see the students hard at work taking notes while Bruce explains the slide projected on the wall (no screen!).

Scarlet Milkweed

2010-10-19T17:00:00.002-06:00

Many of you in climates farther north have already witnessed this phenomenon: a milkweed going to seed. Yesterday we came across this beautiful Asclepias curassavica just before a breeze caught the seeds in their tiny parchutes. Like the North American milkweed, the tropical species particularly appeals to Monarch butterflies. It's a common sight in the open areas around the Gallon Jug farm. I understand it is often cultivated for butterfly gardens, and it is easy to see why as it is vivid and attractive.

Army ants!

2010-10-15T17:00:00.004-06:00

In the event you haven't seen army ants (Genus most likely Eciton) in action, prepare to be amazed! They are quite readily found in the forests around Chan Chich Lodge and Gallon Jug Estate. We came across this massive swarm on the move and completely covering the trail. So much so that we decided to turn back rather than risk painful bites. Army ants don't maintain a permanent nest -- they are constantly on the move and there are more than 200 species of them, throughout both the New and Old World tropics. The swarming behavior is one form of foraging for the small invertebrates that comprise their diet.

I've uploaded this 9-second video twice so you can get an idea of how impressive this massive swarm was. However, I'm having trouble playing it back ... but that could just be me because of our slow connect time. Maybe it's fine?? I'm posting a still photo below, in the event that others have problems with the video as well -- although I must say, the video is a lot more impressive!

A New Meaning to Creepy Crawly

2010-10-12T17:00:00.002-06:00

Just below Bruce's little finger is one of the largest wasps to be found: a tarantula hawk (Genus: Pepsis). This is an amazing creature that stings, captures and drags tarantula spiders off to its "lair," aka specially prepared nest.

What happens next, you won't believe. The wasp lays its egg on the spider. The hatched larva feeds on the living spider -- saving the spider's vital organs for last in order to keep it alive longer -- before emerging from the nest as an adult. Tarantulas are not small spiders -- they are about the size of the palm of your hand. Check out the wasp above -- it's fully a couple inches long!

There are many species of tarantula hawk throughout the USA and into South America. We've encountered them frequently in and around Chan Chich Lodge/Gallon Jug Estate. It's only recently that I learned that its sting is rated as one of the most painful of any insect, apparently excruciating.

Not to worry. Fortunately, the tarantula hawk shows little interest in humans and we've never heard of any one being stung by one of these amazing, if somewhat creepy, creatures.

Goodby Ben & Amanda

2010-10-08T17:00:00.001-06:00

Sadly, we've recently learned that managers Ben & Amanda, will be leaving Chan Chich Lodge and returning to the USA to pursue other endeavors. They will be missed in our community and by the many guests that have come to know them over the past 4 years. This beautiful Gallon Jug sunset seems an appropriate way to say goodby to dear friends, and we wish them the very best.

Foggy Peccary

2010-10-05T17:00:00.000-06:00

So it must have been a rainy and humid day, given the fogginess of this image, taken in July near Chan Chich Lodge. But, I hope you'll make allowances since I'm sharing a new species with you ... a collared peccary(Pecari tajacu) . Belize has 2 peccary species, the other being the "warrie" or white-lipped peccary that I've written about before.

Even though the collared peccary is the more common of the two and quite frequently seen, for some reason, it hasn't been photographed recently. Since it can inhabit all sorts of habitats, that is a little surprising. This species is found in the southwest USA continuing south to Argentina. Its pig-like snout is adapted for rooting around on the ground for roots, tubers and even invertebrates and small vertebrates that make up its diet. Found singly, or in groups of up to 20, this is another important member of the biodiversity near Chan Chich Lodge.

Chan Chich Agouti

2010-10-01T17:00:00.001-06:00

Here's a fairly nice photo of an agouti (Dasyprocta punctata), a large and common rodent that I've written about before (see 16 February 2010). In terms of its ecology, the agouti is territorial and terrestrial, although it does like being near water. Chan Chich creek meanders only 100 or so meters from this camera location, so this agouti should feel right at home. Agoutis seem to run on tiptoes and are capable of fairly high jumps straight up when startled.

This is a July photo at Chan Chich Lodge, early in the morning, so the infra-red flash gave us a black-and-white image. There were quite a few images in this series, of which this was clearly the best. I've found that the image quality really goes down during the hot summer months -- when the temperatures and humidity are really high. It'll be interesting to see whether, come January, the image quality improves.

Out of Commission

2010-09-28T17:00:00.000-06:00

One of the fun things about the remote cameras is how immediate they are. That is, you check the CF card and "just last week," or even a few hours ago, an animal has been recorded going about its daily, or nightly, business.

Well, I'm sorry to report that the camera I've been using is out of commission. It hadn't been functioning very well over the last couple of months -- shooting through a lot of pictures with "nothing" in them. I think I mentioned that the recent tapir series was just plain lucky -- out of 8000 "nothing" images, fortunately this magnificent animal was in a few of them.

We had some correspondence with the camera company, tried some troubleshooting, and bottom line, we have to send it back for repair. This might be a trivial task if you are based in, say, North America. Here though with the slower postal system (and not to malign anyone, it is a very reliable postal system), and the inevitable customs, duty, and importation bureaucracy, this is going to take some time.

Fortunately, the Chan Chich cameras are still operating, so we'll just concentrate on them in the meantime. And, for your viewing pleasure, above is a female ocelot from July, near Chan Chich Lodge.

Pond Visitor

2010-09-24T17:00:00.004-06:00

Here's a surprise: a coatimundi drinking from our pond yesterday! Now understand, our house is about 400 m from the forest. In order to get here, an animal would have to traverse open pasture and roads. Not the best scenario for secretive forest animals.

But then, the coati is not especially secretive nor that dependent on high quality forest. In fact, this species does fairly well in secondary growth and disturbed areas, so perhaps our visitor wasn't all that big a surprise. Related to the raccoon, this is a White-nosed Coati (Nasua narica) also known as "pizote" or "quash."

We've let the hill we live on come back in second growth vegetation and put in a small pond for the birds. Over the years, a lot of other interesting creatures have stopped by, and the coati was somewhat unexpected. Or maybe not. Our small dog had been "telling us" for a week that some new and unusual animal was on our hill. Now I think we finally know what it is.

Tiny Toadlet

2010-09-21T17:00:00.003-06:00

This might look like an ad for Burt's Bees, but I swear I don't work for them, I really don't. But I did use their lip balm to show scale. When Bruce saw this image, he said: "You better circle the toad because no one will be able to find it!"

Well, I didn't circle it and in the event you haven't found it -- it really blends in well with the caliche road -- the tiny toadlet is in the middle-right of the image, less than an inch below the red cap of the lip balm that I used to show scale. This is a real little fella, less than the size of a pencil eraser.

I think it is more than likely the common Gulf Coast Toad (Incilius valliceps, formerly Bufo valliceps). There were dozens of them, probably hundreds of them, newly emerged from the roadside puddles where they'd been developing tadpoles.Gulf Coast toads are common throughout Gallon Jug Estate, Central America and the southern United States.

More July Jaguars

2010-09-17T16:29:00.004-06:00

Apparently, July 2010 was a good month for jaguar activity at Chan Chich Lodge. The above photos are of the same male first on 28 July and then on the 30th of July, photographed at the same location not far from the Lodge. Now ... the question is: is this the same male from 09 July (see 13 September post)? It could well be. Jaguars tend to stay in an area for several days to a week or so before moving on. These images depict the left profile of the jaguar allowing them to be matched to each other, while the 09 July images (previous post) depict the right profile of the jaguar.

In a perfect world, I'd have cameras on either side of the trail so the jaguar photographs both sides of itself at the same time!

We have a match!

2010-09-13T10:00:00.000-06:00

You may think that I am reaching ... but I believe we have a database match of jaguar images! The top two black-and-white images are part of a blurry series taken near Chan Chich Lodge on 09 July 2010 just before midnight. The quality is so-so but there are some areas on the animal where the pattern is distinct. So it was without a great deal of hope that I went through the jaguar photo database comparing images to the new photos.

I was stunned to get a match with the color photo above! So how did I do it? In the far left image, the extended right rear leg matches nicely with the color photo, as does the inside left rear leg. In the top right image, both the forelegs match nicely with the forelegs in the color image. In the top images, the body pattern is quite blurred but you can still make out a general spot pattern, which to my eye, looks like a fairly good, though rough, match to the lower photo. It is the distinct leg patterns that made the match possible.

And now for the fun part ... what do we know about this jaguar? Well, it is an adult male, evident by the robust build (in the lower photo, you can just see the scrotum). The color photo was taken during my jaguar density study on 04 April 2005 at 3:49 PM. So this animal is probably more than 5 years old given that it appears to be an adult in the color photo. Even though the top half of the animal was not photographed, the photo has proven its data value since it has allowed a match. The color photo was taken about 12 km east of Chan Chich Lodge, along the southern property boundary by the lower escarpment.

The color photo was the ONLY photo I had of this individual and thanks to the recent images, it is nice to know that this male jaguar is apparently healthy and still roaming the Gallon Jug Estate.

Too many Turkeys ... and a Tapir!

2010-09-10T17:00:00.002-06:00

It's been a bit of a rocky start getting my one and only camera back up and running near Gallon Jug. I let it go for a week and retrieved the CF card, only to find there were close to 8000 images recorded!! The first 40 or so were Ocellated Turkeys (Meleagris ocellata) promenading back and forth, then a lot, a whole lot, of blank photos.

Then I got lucky. This nice sequence of a tapir (Tapirus bairdii) appeared just a couple nights ago, about 8:30 p.m. Tapirs aren't all that common in Gallon Jug so it was a real delight to see this one. She was near Peterson Creek, east of Gallon Jug community about 10 km. Seeing this animal made going through the 8000 images all worthwhile!

Casey Community School

2010-09-03T17:00:00.002-06:00

We're back in Gallon Jug after 2 months in the USA. It was our annual visit "to buy socks and underwear," visit family and friends and attend to medical matters. But it hasn't exactly been a smooth reentry since our computers have made it clear that they don't "like" being shut in a hot and humid room for 8 weeks. This isn't exactly a news flash for us as it is always touch and go whether they'll boot up or not after an absence. The climate simply isn't computer-friendly and aside from leaving them running, or operating the AC for 2 months, we just take our chances. Bruce will eventually get it sorted out (parts are in the mail) but it does mean we're off to a slow start.

So, back in Gallon Jug and ... back to school. Formerly known as the Gallon Jug Community School for the past 20 years, our local school has been renamed the Casey Community School. The new name honors former teachers Mike and Jill Casey who were killed in a plane crash in February, along with their 2 young children, Makayla and Bryce, and Gallon Jug property owner, Sir Barry Bowen.

All are sorely missed here as the new school year begins.

Prowling Puma

2010-08-27T05:00:00.000-06:00

Here's a nice sequence of the same puma (Puma concolor) along Gallon Jug Estate's Punta de Cacao road a few weeks ago. While some animals show awareness of the remote camera, this animals doesn't even give it a passing glance. This is a nice healthy puma, appears to be a male and likely one that has been photographed before. But it is just impossible to say for sure since it has no visible distinguishing characteristics to match against previous photos.

A Deer in the Pond

2010-08-20T17:00:00.000-06:00

The seasonal frog pond, as I've come to call it, just outside of the Gallon Jug Farm, in the forest, has proven to be an attraction for more than just frogs. Here a white-tailed buck is feeding early, very early one morning. This is probably the most interesting of 3 sequences I got of white-tailed deer using the pond.

Tiny Gecko

2010-08-06T17:00:00.001-06:00

If you live in the tropics, it's pretty much guaranteed that you have wildlife in your house. I was particularly happy to see this little lizard, not much more than an inch long appear in the kitchen (that's my shoe to the left to give some idea of size). This is not a baby, this is an adult gecko; Sphaerodactylus glaucus, to be precise. Bruce and I call them "house geckos" since they seem to do well around human habitation. They were more numerous around our house before we were taken over by an introduced Asian gecko. The Asian geckos are voracious and I think, besides eating insects, have eaten most of the house geckos -- this is the first one I'd seen in some time.

I don't mind having geckos of any size in the house. They eat the insects that inevitably find their way inside. I like it when the roaches especially, are kept down to a dull roar.

Seasonally Inundated

2010-07-30T17:00:00.000-06:00

This is what a seasonally inundated forest in Gallon Jug Estate looks like. Normally there is no standing water here but with the seasonal rains and hard packed clay soils, this depression fills up rapidly and stays for awhile. There is a lot of floating forest detritus ... and you may have noticed that the water looks like dark tea. In a sense, that is exactly what it is as the tannins leach out from the leaf litter staining the water. The red-flowered bromeliad is growing on the side of the tree above the water makes a nice touch of color

Now you know where mosquitoes breed!

Bachelor Party

2010-07-16T17:00:00.001-06:00

What a great sequence of a bachelor group of Great Curassows (Crax rubra) near the frog pond just a few kilometers from the Gallon Jug Farm. The males are really handsome in black and white. Note there is one "multi-colored" individual that appears to be an immature male to me (rather than a female) just beginning to get his adult plumage.

As I've mentioned before, this species is a favorite with hunters and in many places, it has grown scarce. Thanks to Gallon Jug Estate's good protection, this bird is readily seen on the property and near Chan Chich Lodge. It is a real pleasure to see it in such numbers.

Twice an Ocelot

2010-07-09T17:00:00.001-06:00

Thanks to Ben at Chan Chich Lodge, we have this nice sequence of a female ocelot. Actually, if you look carefully, you can see that this is actually two sequences about 40 minutes apart on the Bajo Trail. I'm guessing it is the same individual passing back through the same location. As you may have noticed in other images, the scrotum on a male cat is normally easily visible, especially in profile. No such thing here as well as the lighter, sleeker build make this a female.