John Cahill's Big Year

A Big Year is an informal competition among birders to see who can see or hear the largest number of species of birds within a single calendar year and within a specific geographical area.

Locations visited within the last 30 days

Big Year Blog

1. Yellow-throated Warbler (southeastern)

   January 3, 2013 by johncahill
   
   

   
   Photographed while foraging in the scattered oak trees in the cattle pastures near Paso Caballos, Peten, Guatemala.
   December 10, 2012.

   via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/dH1dCf

2. Ladder-backed Woodpecker

   by johncahill
   
   

   
   Photographed in the scattered oak trees in the cattle pastures near Paso Caballos, Peten, Guatemala.
   December 10, 2012.

   via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/dH1dB1

3. Ladder-backed Woodpecker

   by johncahill
   
   

   
   Photographed in the scattered oak trees in the cattle pastures near Paso Caballos, Peten, Guatemala.
   December 10, 2012.

   via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/dH1dzG

4. King Vulture 2

   January 2, 2013 by johncahill
   
   

   

   via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/dGPUzz

5. King Vulture

   by johncahill
   
   

   

   via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/dGPUxD

6. Agami Heron

   by johncahill
   
   

   
   On a tributary of the Sacluc River near Paso Caballos, Peten, Guatemala.
   December 8, 2012.

   via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/dGUtEs

7. Vermilion Flycatcher

   by johncahill
   
   

   

   via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/dGNCZp

8. Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture

   by johncahill
   
   

   

   via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/dGNCYn

9. White-tailed Hawk

   by johncahill
   
   

   

   via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/dGNCXK

10. Pinnated Bittern

    by johncahill
    
    

    

    via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/dGNCX8

11. Great Black-Hawk

    by johncahill
    
    

    
    Photographed near La Lagunita (north of Melchor de Mencos), Peten, Guatemala. December 6, 2012.

    via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/dGNru2

12. Red-lored Parrot

    by johncahill
    
    

    
    Photographed at La Lagunita (north of Melchor de Mencos), Peten, Guatemala. December 6, 2012.

    via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/dGNrsv

13. White-tipped Dove

    by johncahill
    
    

    
    Photographed at La Lagunita (north of Melchor de Mencos), Peten, Guatemala. December 6, 2012.

    via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/dGNrrp

14. Northern Cardinal

    by johncahill
    
    

    
    Species #554 for my Big Year in Guatemala. Photographed with an iPhone at La Lagunita (north of Melchor de Mencos), Peten.
    December 5, 2012.

    via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/dGTGTb

15. Tropical Gnatcatcher

    by johncahill
    
    

    
    Photographed at La Lagunita (north of Melchor de Mencos), Peten, Guatemala.
    December 5, 2012.

    via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/dGTsYj

16. Northern Parula

    by johncahill
    
    

    
    Photographed at La Lagunita (north of Melchor de Mencos), Peten, Guatemala.
    December 5, 2012.

    via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/dGTsXb

17. Crimson-collared Tanager

    by johncahill
    
    

    
    Photographed at Finca Chipoc, Alta Verapaz, Guatemala.
    November 27, 2012.

    via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/dGTsVG

18. White-tailed Hawk

    by johncahill
    
    

    
    Photographed near the Chixoy River, Baja Verapaz.
    November 26, 2012.

    via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/dGTm9G

19. Western Tanager

    by johncahill
    
    

    
    Photographed near the Chixoy River, Baja Verapaz.
    November 26, 2012.

    via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/dGTm8N

20. Cassin’s Kingbird

    by johncahill
    
    

    
    Photographed near the Chixoy River, Baja Verapaz.
    November 26, 2012.

    via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/dGTm7Q

21. White-tailed Hawk & American Kestrel

    by johncahill
    
    

    
    This brave American Kestrel chased an intruding White-tailed hawk from his territory.
    Photographed near the Chixoy River, Baja Verapaz.
    November 20, 2012.

    via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/dGMMxP

22. Tree Swallows

    by johncahill
    
    

    
    Massive flock preparing to roost at Laguna Chichoj, Alta Verapaz, Guatemala. November 19, 2012.

    via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/dGMC7R

23. Tree Swallows

    by johncahill
    
    

    
    Laguna Chichoj, Alta Verapaz, Guatemala. November 19, 2012.

    via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/dGMC5R

24. Tree Swallows

    by johncahill
    
    

    
    Laguna Chichoj, Alta Verapaz, Guatemala. November 19, 2012.

    via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/dGMC4X

25. Discovering the Chixoy

    December 2, 2012 by johncahill
    
    

    Have you ever turned your vehicle down a road simply because you had never been down it before?

    Well that’s what we did on November 13. Neither John nor I had ever been down the road that goes to the Chixoy Reservoir though we had been past it hundreds of times.

    It was an interesting journey. Right away the forest type changed from the mixed board leaf forests typical around Coban to a dry pine forest typical around Santa Cruz Verapaz. As we drove we began to notice an even drier look to the landscape. Upon rounding a sharp curve in the road we can out into a wide vista to the south and west. The jagged mountains were bare or covered with a low chaparral.

    In a few minutes the Chixoy Reservoir came into view. We stopped at a promising over look. Vultures, both Black and Turkey cruised below us as we scanned the Reservoir for ducks. The surface of the water is so far below, one would have to wonder if a duck would be visible even with binoculars. Suddenly I see something different. It’s soaring, black like a vulture but I notice white on the tail. I yell over to John. Even though he is several yards away from me, he sees it right away. Immediately (and this amazes me about John) he calls it: White-tailed Hawk! Before the bird gets out of sight John fires off a string of photos. As it soars away from us, we see it go into a hover. It is a beautiful bird. A life bird for me. And the second time John got it in his Big Year.

    The steep slope we are on is actually what is left a land slide that happened years ago. Lots of exposed rock with a very slippery gravel surface. We are standing on the road when John hears something unusual. For some reason that I still cannot fathom, John gets the idea in his head to go down there. Once he is down about 35 meters from me standing on the road, he yells up, “Rock Wren.”

    Now this moment has a history too. We’ve been looking for Rock Wren in Guatemala for a long time. We’ve climbed several volcanoes looking for it and searched through several likely places in the Altiplano. We were not looking for this bird at this location at all!

    But Rock Wren it was!

    Eventually John climbed back up (his father secretly relieved). We used a little play back to draw the bird in and John got some nice photos (see blog photos). If you know the Rock Wren from the Western United States or Mexico. Please be aware that this is a different subspecies with a different voice and plumage. What a sad scientific name this subspecies has: Salpinctes obsoletus neglectus .

    When we turned down that road, we did not expect to see White-tailed Hawk nor Rock Wren but what we heard next was too good to have been in even our wildest dreams.

    From way down in the valley below we heard the unmistakable call of a Belted Flycatcher. Suddenly I noticed how similar the habit was to areas where we know this species to be around Lake Atitlan. It is a pretty tight fit.

26. Elegant Trogon In Motagua Valley

    by johncahill
    
    

    In October 2011, Tara, Ruth and Rob Cahill got a quick glimpse of an Elegant Trogon as it flew across the road north of the cross roads of Morazán. This was our first sighting of this species in Guatemala (we’d seen it in Honduras and I’d seen it in Arizona) so we were thrilled to have seen it. Unfortunately, John, who was also in the vehicle at the time did not see it.

    When John’s Big Year started, I had a deep desire to find this bird. We stopped several times at and near the place we had seen it. But no luck. I had almost given up on it.

    Finally, 13 months later. John got a tip from a friend of a friend, Denys Roldan, a conservationist from Chiquimula. This sounded like a solid tip so off we went to find the Trogon.

    Sometimes when you go off chasing a “hot tip” you soon find out that the trail is cold or that the person that gave you the tip did not really have the facts right.

    We arrived at the place and greeted the forest ranger. He was new on the job. I have to admit that our hearts sank a bit when we described to him what we were looking for he said, “Oh we call it the ‘Motmot.’ But no matter, we were at the right spot and the hunt began.

    We were only about 2 minutes from where we left the truck when we first saw it!

    What an amazing bird! Immediately I could see where it got its name. It is way more Elegant than the Mountain Trogon and the Collared Trogon. The long narrow tail and the sleek body give it a kind of “evening dress” look that other Trogons don’t have.

    For our friends in the north, we have to tell you that this bird is very different from the Elegant Trogon you might have seen in Arizona.

    The path we were on was a dry river bed. We stayed on it hoping to find more great birds. In less than two minutes, we saw two more individuals with a possible third that might have been the individual we first saw.

    After just ten minutes we came to the end of the river bed and turned around.

    On the way back we ran into another forest ranger, Gilberto Salazar. This guy was not new. He really knew his stuff. We walked with him back to the center. There he showed us another trail. And we started up that train. He had not walked very long when we had an amazing stroke of luck. Right before us in a small tree at about eye level was a Yellow Grossbeak male. We had looked for this bird near Xela on a tip from Jason Berry. This species was definitely not one we were looking for in this low dessert environment. On this same trail we saw five individuals of this species, including females and immature. We also saw Western Tanagers as well as Streak-backed and Altamira Orioles, White-lored Gnatcatcher, Nutting’s Flycatcher and a holy host of other cool birds.

    It was a great day. John added two new species to his Big Year.

27. Limpkin

    November 19, 2012 by johncahill
    
    

    
    Laguna Chichoj, Alta Verapaz, Guatemala. November 14, 2012.

    eBird checklist:
    ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S12070044

    via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/duwuXL

28. Lesser Scaup

    by johncahill
    
    

    
    Laguna Chichoj, Alta Verapaz, Guatemala. November 14, 2012.

    eBird checklist:
    ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S12070044

    via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/duqNxe

29. Lesser Scaup

    by johncahill
    
    

    
    Laguna Chichoj, Alta Verapaz, Guatemala. November 14, 2012.

    eBird checklist:
    ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S12070044

    via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/duwp77

30. Ruddy Ducks

    by johncahill
    
    

    
    Resident at Laguna Chichoj, Alta Verapaz, Guatemala. November 14, 2012.

    via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/dundNg

31. Ring-necked Duck

    by johncahill
    
    

    
    Rare in Guatemala.
    Laguna Chichoj, Alta Verapaz, Guatemala. November 14, 2012.

    via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/dusNV5

32. Eared Grebe

    by johncahill
    
    

    
    Rare in Guatemala.
    Laguna Chichoj, Alta Verapaz, Guatemala. November 14, 2012.
    My first ever for Guatemala.

    via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/dusBCN

33. Eared Grebe

    by johncahill
    
    

    
    Rare in Guatemala.
    Laguna Chichoj, Alta Verapaz, Guatemala. November 14, 2012.
    My first ever for Guatemala.

    via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/dusBmq

34. American Wigeon

    by johncahill
    
    

    
    Rare in Guatemala.
    Laguna Chichoj, Alta Verapaz, Guatemala. November 14, 2012.
    My first ever for Guatemala.

    via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/dusAVm

35. American Wigeon

    by johncahill
    
    

    
    Rare in Guatemala.
    Laguna Chichoj, Alta Verapaz, Guatemala. November 14, 2012.
    My first ever for Guatemala.

    via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/dumWax

36. American Wigeon

    by johncahill
    
    

    
    Rare in Guatemala.
    Laguna Chichoj, Alta Verapaz, Guatemala. November 14, 2012.
    My first ever for Guatemala.

    via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/dumVX6

37. Northern Pintail

    November 14, 2012 by johncahill
    
    

    
    Very harsh cropping here. This bird was a long way across the lake tough to identify at first.
    Laguna Chichoj, Alta Verapaz, Guatemala. November 13, 2012.

    via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/dthxBP

38. Rock Wren

    by johncahill
    
    

    
    Rock Wren is a very rare bird in Guatemala.
    November 13, 2012.

    via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/dthxy2

39. Rock Wren

    by johncahill
    
    

    
    Rock Wren is a very rare bird in Guatemala.
    November 13, 2012.

    via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/dthxQ2

40. Rock Wren

    by johncahill
    
    

    
    Rock Wren is a very rare bird in Guatemala.
    November 13, 2012.

    via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/dthxZT

41. Rock Wren

    by johncahill
    
    

    
    Rock Wren is a very rare bird in Guatemala.
    November 13, 2012.

    via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/dthK8h

42. White-tailed Hawk

    by johncahill
    
    

    
    White-tailed Hawk is rare in Guatemala. This bird past us below eye-level and flew in a strait line, when it hovered at one point I managed to take this photo showing the tail.
    November 13, 2012.

    via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/dthKeq

43. Swallow sp.

    November 11, 2012 by johncahill
    
    

    
    Photographed at Aldea Hawaii, Santa Rosa, Guatemala. November 10, 1012.

    via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/dsxVSb

44. Cave Swallow

    by johncahill
    
    

    
    Photographed at the river mouth near Aldea Hawaii, Santa Rosa, Guatemala. November 10, 1012.

    via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/dsviKm

45. Cave Swallow

    by johncahill
    
    

    
    Photographed at Aldea Hawaii, Santa Rosa, Guatemala. November 10, 1012.

    via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/dsv8pi

46. Cave Swallow

    by johncahill
    
    

    
    Photographed at Aldea Hawaii, Santa Rosa, Guatemala. November 10, 1012.

    via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/dsv8eV

47. Elegant & Royal Terns

    by johncahill
    
    

    
    Elegant Tern was species #560 for my Big Year in Guatemala. Photographed at the river mouth near Aldea Hawaii, Santa Rosa, Guatemala. November 9, 1012.

    via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/dssXrC

48. Elegant Tern

    by johncahill
    
    

    
    Species #560 for my Big Year in Guatemala. Photographed at the river mouth near Aldea Hawaii, Santa Rosa, Guatemala. November 9, 1012.

    via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/dssMGc

49. Laughing or Franklin’s Gull

    by johncahill
    
    

    
    Photographed at the river mouth near Aldea Hawaii, Santa Rosa, Guatemala. November 9, 1012.

    via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/dst5A1

50. Sandpipers

    by johncahill
    
    

    
    Sanderlings, Least, Semipalmated & Western Sandpipers. Photographed at the river mouth near Aldea Hawaii, Santa Rosa, Guatemala. November 9, 1012.

    via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/dst6m9

51. Black Skimmer

    by johncahill
    
    

    
    Photographed at the river mouth near Aldea Hawaii, Santa Rosa, Guatemala. November 9, 1012.

    via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/dst1WL

52. Reddish Egret

    by johncahill
    
    

    
    Photographed at the river mouth near Aldea Hawaii, Santa Rosa, Guatemala. November 9, 1012.

    via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/dssWQj

53. Scissor-tailed Flycatcher

    by johncahill
    
    

    
    Photographed at Aldea Hawaii, Santa Rosa, Guatemala. November 9, 1012.

    via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/dssM96

54. Lesser Nighthawk

    by johncahill
    
    

    
    Photographed at Aldea Hawaii, Santa Rosa, Guatemala. November 9, 1012.

    via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/dssWyL

55. Elegant Trogon (Trogon elegans lubricus)

    by johncahill
    
    

    
    One of four birds seen on November 7, 2012 at Reserva Natural Heloderma, Zacapa, Guatemala.

    eBird checklist:
    ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S11996321

    via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/dsr2sb

56. Nutting’s Flycatcher?

    by johncahill
    
    

    
    Not 100% sure on this id.
    Reserva Natural Heloderma, Zacapa, Guatemala. November 7, 2012.

    eBird checklist:
    ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S11996321

    via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/dsqQzx

57. Yellow Grosbeak (Pheucticus chrysopeplus aurantiacus)

    by johncahill
    
    

    
    ‘Guatemalan’.
    Subspecies endemic to Chiapas and Guatemala.
    Reserva Natural Heloderma, Zacapa, Guatemala. November 7, 2012.

    eBird checklist:
    ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S11996321

    via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/dsqTNw

58. Yellow Grosbeak (Pheucticus chrysopeplus aurantiacus)

    by johncahill
    
    

    
    ‘Guatemalan’.
    Subspecies endemic to Chiapas and Guatemala.
    Reserva Natural Heloderma, Zacapa, Guatemala. November 7, 2012.

    eBird checklist:
    ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S11996321

    via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/dsqP39

59. Yellow Grosbeak (Pheucticus chrysopeplus aurantiacus)

    by johncahill
    
    

    
    ‘Guatemalan’.
    Subspecies endemic to Chiapas and Guatemala.
    Reserva Natural Heloderma, Zacapa, Guatemala. November 7, 2012.

    via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/dsqPkE

60. Yellow Grosbeak (Pheucticus chrysopeplus aurantiacus)

    by johncahill
    
    

    
    ‘Guatemalan’.
    Subspecies endemic to Chiapas and Guatemala.
    Reserva Natural Heloderma, Zacapa, Guatemala. November 7, 2012.

    via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/dsqPAo

61. Yellow Grosbeak (Pheucticus chrysopeplus aurantiacus)

    by johncahill
    
    

    
    ‘Guatemalan’.
    Subspecies endemic to Chiapas and Guatemala.
    Reserva Natural Heloderma, Zacapa, Guatemala. November 7, 2012.

    via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/dsqPQh

62. Yellow Grosbeak (Pheucticus chrysopeplus aurantiacus)

    by johncahill
    
    

    
    ‘Guatemalan’.
    Subspecies endemic to Chiapas and Guatemala.
    Reserva Natural Heloderma, Zacapa, Guatemala. November 7, 2012.

    eBird checklist:
    ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S11996321

    via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/dsqNKy

63. Empidonax sp.

    by johncahill
    
    

    
    Willow? Alder?
    Reserva Natural Heloderma, Zacapa, Guatemala. November 7, 2012.

    via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/dsqvh6

64. Empidonax sp.

    by johncahill
    
    

    
    Willow? Alder?
    Reserva Natural Heloderma, Zacapa, Guatemala. November 7, 2012.

    via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/dsqps4

65. Banded Wren

    by johncahill
    
    

    
    Reserva Natural Heloderma, Zacapa, Guatemala. November 7, 2012.

    via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/dsqwAN

66. Ocellated Quail songs

    November 3, 2012 by johncahill
    
    

    
    Ocellated Quail singing at the edge of a pine plantation. This recording has vocalizations of two individuals, one other was heard in the distance at the time.

    This species of quail is endemic to the highlands of northern Meso-america, it is very local and very hard to see. Shortly after recording a male flew by me, great view!

    October 31, 2012. Finca Chichen, Alta Verapaz, Guatemala.

    Recorded with an iPhone 4s.

    via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/dq7A9y

67. Roseate Spoonbill

    October 22, 2012 by johncahill
    
    

    
    Photographed at the Motagua river mouth, Izabal, Guatemala. October 13, 2012.

    via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/dmUN1x

68. Roseate Spoonbill

    by johncahill
    
    

    
    Photographed at the Motagua river mouth, Izabal, Guatemala. October 13, 2012.

    via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/dmUNxX

69. Roseate Spoonbill

    by johncahill
    
    

    
    Photographed at the Motagua river mouth, Izabal, Guatemala. October 13, 2012.

    via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/dmUMDa

70. Motagua’s garbage

    by johncahill
    
    

    
    Several kilometers of beach are covered in trash from the Motagua River, covering more than 400kms this river carries garbage from a very large portion of Guatemala. October 13, 2012.

    via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/dmUq2m

71. Motagua’s garbage

    by johncahill
    
    

    
    Several kilometers of beach are covered in trash from the Motagua River, covering more than 400kms this river carries garbage from a very large portion of Guatemala. October 13, 2012.

    via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/dmUmU8

72. Collared Plover

    by johncahill
    
    

    
    Semipalmated Plover in foreground.

    Foraging on garbage streun beach at the Motagua river mouth, Izabal, Guatemala. October 13, 2012.

    via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/dmTX4m

73. Western Sandpiper?

    by johncahill
    
    

    
    Photographed at the Motagua river mouth, Izabal, Guatemala. October 13, 2012.

    via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/dmTXpy

74. Western Sandpiper?

    by johncahill
    
    

    
    Photographed at the Motagua river mouth, Izabal, Guatemala. October 13, 2012.

    via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/dmTWLC

75. Ruddy Turnstone & Semipalmated Plover

    by johncahill
    
    

    
    Foraging on garbage streun beach at the Motagua river mouth, Izabal, Guatemala. October 13, 2012.

    via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/dmTXM7

76. Least Sandpiper

    by johncahill
    
    

    
    Foraging on garbage streun beach at the Motagua river mouth, Izabal, Guatemala. October 13, 2012.

    via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/dmTSCg

77. Groove-billed Ani

    by johncahill
    
    

    
    Photographed at Quetzalito, Izabal, Guatemala. October 13, 2012.

    via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/dmTV8J

78. Great Egret

    October 12, 2012 by johncahill
    
    

    
    Great Egret flying into the sunset at Monterrico, Santa Rosa, Guatemala. September 22, 2012.

    via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/dj1AMm

79. Big Year Map 2012

    by johncahill
    
    

    
    I have seen/heard 552 species of birds this year in Guatemala. This map shows some of the most exiting birds and where I saw them!

    via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/diULMt

80. Big Year Map 2012

    October 11, 2012 by johncahill
    
    

    
    I have seen/heard 552 species of birds this year in Guatemala. This map shows some of the most exiting birds and where I saw them!

    via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/diQH5t

81. Reddish Egret

    October 9, 2012 by johncahill
    
    

    
    A rare bird along the Guatemalan Pacific coast. September 25, 2012. Sipacate, Escuintla, Guatemala.

    via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/dif2bs

82. White Ibis

    by johncahill
    
    

    
    One of ten birds feeding with Great and Snowy Egrets in a mudflat near Sipacate, Escuintla, Guatemala. September 25, 2012.

    via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/dif2KK

83. White Ibis

    by johncahill
    
    

    
    White Ibises feeding with Great and Snowy Egrets on a mudflat near Sipacate, Escuintla, Guatemala. September 25, 2012.

    via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/dif6Ti

84. Wilson’s Phalarope

    by johncahill
    
    

    
    Wilson’s Phalarope is a rare bird in Guatemala.
    Photographed in a roadside aguada near Sipacate, Escuintla, Guatemala. September 24, 2012.

    via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/di3wvz

85. Wilson’s Phalarope & Least Sandpiper

    by johncahill
    
    

    
    Wilson’s Phalarope is a rare bird in Guatemala.
    Photographed in a roadside aguada near Sipacate, Escuintla, Guatemala. September 24, 2012.

    via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/di3vXA

86. Lesser Yellowlegs

    by johncahill
    
    

    
    Photographed in a roadside aguada near Sipacate, Escuintla, Guatemala. September 24, 2012.

    via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/di3xN4

87. Alder Flycatcher

    by johncahill
    
    

    
    Photographed near Sipacate, Escuintla, Guatemala. September 24, 2012.

    via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/di3uv9

88. Wilson’s Plover

    October 8, 2012 by johncahill
    
    

    
    Photographed at Sipacate, Escuintla, Guatemala. September 23, 2012.

    via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/dhZZs9

89. Short-billed Dowitcher (presumed)

    by johncahill
    
    

    
    Both species of Dowitcher are considered rare in Guatemala. Photographed at Sipacate, Escuintla, Guatemala. September 23, 2012.

    via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/dhZZGo

90. Short-billed Dowitcher (presumed)

    by johncahill
    
    

    
    Both species of Dowitcher are considered rare in Guatemala. Photographed at Sipacate, Escuintla, Guatemala. September 23, 2012.

    via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/di11Mi

91. Magnificent Frigatebird & American White Pelican

    by johncahill
    
    

    
    Both species are uncommon on the Pacific coast of Guatemala. Photographed at Sipacate, Escuintla. September 23, 2012.

    via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/di116u

92. Magnificent Frigatebird & American White Pelican

    by johncahill
    
    

    
    Both species are uncommon on the Pacific coast of Guatemala. Photographed at Sipacate, Escuintla. September 23, 2012.

    via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/di11gf

93. Black Skimmer

    by johncahill
    
    

    
    Rare in Guatemala!
    Photographed at Sipacate, Escuintla, Guatemala. September 23, 2012.

    via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/dhZZdh

94. Green-breasted Mango recently fledged

    by johncahill
    
    

    
    Photographed at Monterrico, Santa Rosa, Guatemala. September 22, 2012.

    via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/dhSZae

95. Black-crowned Night-Heron

    by johncahill
    
    

    
    Photographed at Monterrico, Santa Rosa, Guatemala. September 22, 2012.

    via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/dhSuRe

96. Yellow-winged Cacique

    by johncahill
    
    

    
    Photographed at Monterrico, Santa Rosa, Guatemala. Very local, most reliably found at the boat launch and canal to La Avelllana.

    via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/dhSurm

97. Yellow-winged Cacique

    by johncahill
    
    

    
    Photographed at Monterrico, Santa Rosa, Guatemala. Very local, most reliably found at the boat launch and canal to La Avelllana.

    via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/dhSvj4

98. Stripe-headed Sparrow

    by johncahill
    
    

    
    Photographed at Monterrico, Santa Rosa, Guatemala, where this species is fairly common in agricultural fields along the beach. This species is also common in similar habitats at Sipacate, further to the west. September 22, 2012.

    via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/dhStJ5

99. Big Day — Guatemala

    September 26, 2012 by Rob Cahill
    
    

    In the midst of John’s Big Year in Guatemala, we’ve launched out toward the ambitious goal of setting a new record for a Big Day in Guatemala. The previous record was set by Peter Kaestner and Jason Berry in 2002 having seen or heard 225 species. Our goal is to set a new record for Guatemala.

    Our Team:
    Josué León Lux has been birding since his youth. Josué lives at Tarrales and works as a guide for visiting birders. When he is not guiding, Josué does bird monitoring for Proeval Raxmu’s monitoring program. Josué knows where the birds are from the top of the volcano Atitlan to the lower parts of the Tarrales reserve.

    John Paul Cahill is 16 years old. He’s got mad skills when it comes to birding. Currently John is doing a Big Year in Guatemala. At the time of the posting of this paragraph, John’s Big Year count is at 549, having added Wilson’s Phalarope yesterday.

    Rob Cahill (that would be me). I have been birding since I was a tot. I love Guatemala am living here to help alleviate poverty and protect cloud forests in Guatemala’s central highlands. I’m thrilled that my 16 year old son (who has been birding since he was five) is now a much better birder than I am and I feel sure that we will have a shot at a new record for Big Day Guatemala.

    Our Strategy:
    On Friday, September 28th, way before sunrise, we will be at the upper parts of the Tarrales Private Reserve on the south slope of the volcano Atitlan. The fact is, that this private reserve is such a great birding hot spot that we are doing to dedicate more than half of our time to this location. Of course, this location has a rich variety of bird habitats and elevations: cloud forest, montane forest, shade grown coffee, riparian forest, pasture and open spaces. It is a magnet for migrating birds and a treasure trove of species native to the region.

100. Scarlet Macaw

     September 12, 2012 by johncahill
     
     

     September 10: I call the Wildlife Conservation Society office for Guatemala and ask for Roan McNab, he gets on the line: “They will be leaving tomorrow around 10:30!” he always goes right to the point, no small talk. “Do you want to look for the Antshrike?” We had been talking earlier about Great Antshrikes, he had seen one on his land near San Miguel which is covered in rain forest.

     “Sure!” I’m thinking that this is a great opportunity, not only to see a life bird, but also to go birding with Roan. As director of WCS Guatemala, Roan has done great things for the Scarlet Macaws nesting in the Laguna del Tigre National Park.

     A population of only 200 to 300 birds, that nest in the rapidly shrinking rain forest of northwestern Petén. In the 1800s this species covered both the Atlantic as well as the Pacific lowlands of Guatemala, with a population probably extending to tens of thousands. Today this conservation project hangs by a thread.

     September 11: 7:00 AM. I’m ready to go. I head over to Roan’s house, we jump into the car and leave. Twenty minutes later we’re looking for the Great Antshrike. We hear plenty of other birds. Carolina Wren, Blue Ground-Dove, Long-billed Gnatwren, Gartered Trogon, Olivaceus Woodcreeper. Rufous-tailed Jacamar. But no Antshrike.

     Roan tells me about the progress the macaw project has made. “I think we’ve really done something, the nesting success rate of the macaw has gone up since the project started in 2001, that year there were 15 nests and only one bird fledged. Compared to this year with some 45 nests and 42 birds fledged so far. Success!”

     Finally as we are just giving up we hear something that sounds like a Barred Antshrike but slower. Yes, that’s it. We follow it and actually get quite close, but there seams to be no way we can see it! Well anyway it’s a new species for the Big Year! Species # 540!

     We head back to Flores to meet the guys that will be going to El Peru to check the macaw nests. They are responsible for the monitoring (weighing the chicks, making sure they are healthy, etc.).

     

     It takes some time to leave Santa Elena, but when we do the adventure begins. With nine people in a single-cab pickup, plus all the food and equipment, the ride is not very comfortable. At some point I just decide to hang on to the back standing on the bumper, one of the guys does the same.

     Now we are going through cattle pastures, the fincas are a great birding destination, here we have seen many rare birds in the past including Ladder-backed Woodpeckers, Lesser Yellow-headed Vultures and Fork-tailed Flycatchers. No stopping this time! But as we speed through these pastures I see a Fork-tailed Flycatcher flying ahead of us, no not one, six of them!

     Past the village of Paso Caballos the road is getting a little sketchy, a couple of times we have to jump off of the back to get the car out of a deep rut. The further we go the more often everyone has to get of and push. But soon the cornfields and guamiles turn to rain forest. It’s dark when we make it to the camp. Tired. Covered in mud.

     September 12: Part of our team, Kender and Ramon, are heading to the next camp north, Bural. Pedro and Eliesar will be staying at this camp, Laguna El Perú. I will stay here to, because the only macaw nest that remains inhabited this season is about one kilometer from here.

     On the way to the nest Eliesar explains why there is still a fledgling in this nest, “Cuando la pareja puso en Febrero, llegó un halcón Micrastur semitorquata y se comió los pichones, entonces pusieron otra vez, llego el halcón y se los comió. La tercera vez solo se comió dos pichones y queda esta!”

     –“When the pair began nesting in February, a Collared Forest-Falcon came and ate all three chicks, they hatched more chicks and the Forest-Falcon came and ate them too. The third time he ate only two chicks and this one remains”–

     “¿Siempre ponen tres huevos?” I ask. “Si, pero una vez una pareja puso cuatro en un nido de La Corona, por suerte nos llevamos tres al laboratorio, porque unos dias despues entraron los muchachos y se
     llevaron el ultimo para venderlo en México!”

     –“Do they always lay three eggs?”– –“Yes, but once a couple laid four in a nest in La Corona, luckily we got three to the lab, a few days later the local boys came and took the last one to sell in
     Mexico!”—

     Nest poaching is one of the Scarlet Macaws main threats, if WCS had not stepped in, this population would soon not exist.

     One of two King Vultures devouring a dead monkey on our path.
     

     At the nest I help to set up the climbing rope and to get Pedro up into the tree, the nest is about 25-30 meters up a large Cantemó tree. Perdo says the chick is quite big already. I send my phone up on the rope, for Pedro to take photos of it. The nest is dark so the photos come out a little blurry. But this is really challenging there is a Macaw only twenty-five meters away and I cant see it or hear it! I need to see it for my Big Year!

     Pedro at the nest.
     

     Eliesar says that at this stage the parents will only come once in the evening between four and six.

     After eating lunch and resting, I told Pedro I’d be back by six, and walked fast to the nest. I make it there at 4:00. I wait. It is quite a trial, standing in one place quietly, for a long time. But the birds are coming out, first a Crane Hawk flies into a nearby tree, as I move the camera in his direction he flies off again. I catch a movement out of the corner of my eye, a Sulphur-rumped Flycatcher, I watch him for a while, try for some photos but he is keeping to the shadows. A White-necked Jacobin hovers over the muddy water on the road. A female Great Curassow walks across the road. Three Ocellated Turkeys come to the water to drink, but they sense me and run away.

     Sulphur-rumped Flycatcher.
     

     Now it is 6:00 and the sun has already gone down. I’m just starting to give up when I hear it. Flying this way. And there! Red, blue and yellow flash into the nest cavity. All I get is a photo of some tail plumes sticking out of the tree.
     

     It disappears. In a few minutes it has turned around and climbs out, then it flies.

     

     

      

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