Day 12 - Santa Ana & Lake Peten Itzá

For our first day in Petén, we headed out very early with a boxed breakfast in hand. It was absolutely essential to be on site early, since we were planning to bird the savanna in Santa Ana. The targets being Green-backed, Olive and Botteri’s Sparrow. Also Black Catbird used to be a target here, but we were to try a more reliable spot for the latter. The savanna was very much alive and we gathered up lots of species quickly. Wonderful views of Blue Grosbeak, several stunning Indigo Buntings and a Vermilion Flycatcher so bright that it could have hurt our eyes. The Sparrows were fair game and little by little we gathered them up in the hot morning sun. Then it was time for the leader of the rarity list. The Black Catbird. We drove a short distance and then it was time to track him down. We’re aware of one pair on a one mile stretch of road and it takes some serious walking and listening to the tiniest whistles in order to see that monotypic species. After twenty minutes of walking on the scorching hot road a faint whistle gave him away when we were just about to give up. Quickly everyone gathered around just in time to see the Black Catbird hop up into a tree for everyone to see. Woohoo! Another very special bird in the bag we headed to Ixpanpajul for the rest of the morning where we quickly added two new Trogon species, Black-headed and Slaty-tailed, plus a soaring Double-toothed Kite to our list.

In the afternoon we had a boat trip on the menu, and as we departed dark clouds started to roll in on the horizon. We were out to track down the rare Yellow-breasted Crake. Once at the right location, Jose tried to call them in and after a few minutes we got the first response. We were surrounded by three crakes, but just as they closed in on us a heavy rain shower rolled in over the lake. Initially it seemed like we could wait it out, but more and more squalls appeared on the horizon and once the thunder started we decided to get out of there the sooner the better. After all we got caught in a lot of rain out on the lake, and everyone got soaked down to the bones. Our driver picked us up at the closest dock and we all went for hot showers as soon as we arrived at the hotel.もっと詳しく