White-necked Puffbird, El Cajon Region, Honduras

When we went in search of the Honduran Emerald in the El Cajon Region, above the hydro-electric dam, our guide for the day, Alex, who owns El Rancho Restaurant and Hotel just inside the El Cajon gate, took us first to sit under the White-necked Puffbird nest and wait for the appearance of the bird. White-necked Puffbirds (or at least this White-necked Puffbird) nest in a termite ball high in a tree. They drill a hole in the side like their Kingfisher and Jacamar cousins do in a dirt bank. A living termite ball…I asked. All mod cons, including easy access to food for the young! The Puffbird came back to the nest after a short watch, but remained semi-hidden in the foliage right above us. It often, according to Alex, sits fully exposed on vines in front of the nest…but not on the day we visited. Puffbirds are patient sit-and-wait predators, and this one seemed quite happy to sit and wait right where it landed. The photography was not impossible and after about 30 minutes we moved on…we did have Honduran Emeralds to see after all. But what a great bird…and my best looks ever! Sony RX10iv at 600mm. Program mode. 1/500th @ f4 @ ISO 500. Processed in Polarr.

Yellow-tailed Oriole, Santa Cruz, Honduras

The Yellow-tailed Oriole is something of a mystery in Honduras. It is supper abundant in Belize, and Guatemala, and its range extends into Honduras…the range map shows it as occurring all through the eastern rain-forest, and in isolated areas in the rain-forest of the north coast, but in fact it is rarely seen. There is, however, a healthy population in the pine forest and mountain slopes of Parque Nacional Cerro Azul Meambar near the hydro-electric project above Santa Cruz de Yojoa. You can stop beside the road and play their calls and they will come to investigate. It is the only place in Honduras where they are regularly and easily seen. Like I say, mysterious. The Yellow-tailed Oriole is certainly a striking bird, as seen here, feeding on small berries. Sony RX10iv at 600mm. Program mode. 1/500th @ f4 @ ISO 100. Processed in Polarr.

Collared Trogon, Panacam Lodge, Honduras

This is just about the last bird pic I took on my Honduran trip. I am back at home now. I woke on the morning of my last day thinking that I would really like a trogon shot to end the trip. I had some excellent shots of the Mountain Trogon, and some okay shots of the Gartered, but Trogons are generally easier than that in Honduras. I did not tell Alex about my wish, but this Collared Trogon responded to Alex’s calls and gave us good views on either side of the lawn at Panacam Lodge. In separating the red trogons, it is all about the tail pattern…and none is more striking than the Collared. Sony RX10iv at 600mm. Program mode. 1/500th @ f4 @ ISO 500. Processed in Polarr.

Honduran Emerald, Santa Cruz, Honduras

The Honduran Emerald is the only endemic species of bird in Honduras. There is a Honduran Emerald Reserve in the Augan Valley where almost everyone who sees a Honduran Emerald sees the bird. It is long why from everywhere a birder might be staying and generally involves spending much of the day on a bus coming and going. Plus it is dry thorn forest, and the temperatures can reach over 100 degrees most days. A few people, however, know about a second population, quite near Panacam Lodge, in the mountains above Santa Cruz near the hydroelectric project. It is much easier to get to, and being higher, mixed pine and oak forest, is much more pleasant to bird. My guide Alex, first found the birds there, and his friend, another Alex, who owns a local restaurant, has located several populations in different areas of forest. We went yesterday and found the Honduran Emerald almost immediately (after a visit to the resident Yellow-tailed Orioles and a nesting White-necked Puffbird). The Emerald is easy to see in the area, and lines of sight are better for photography, but the light in the semi-open forest can be a challenge. I caught this Honduran Emerald yawning (I think). Sony RX10iv at 600mm. Program mode, +1 EV. 1/500th @ f4 @ ISO 500. Processed in Polarr.

Ruddy Crake, La Tigra National Park, Honduras

On our way up to La Tigra National Park the other day, we stopped just before the gate to look for, among other things, a Ruddy Crake. There was a little overgrown stream there, just what Crakes like…and typically difficult to see a Crake in. Hence Pieces of Crake. But then you can’t have your Crake and photograph it too…or something like that. Only the last of these shots is critically sharp, and that not by much, but still, you get the idea of Ruddy Crake. 🙂 Sony RX10iv at 600mm. Program mode. Processed in Polarr and assembled in FrameMagic. (I am again posting this early, as we are off in search of the Honduran Emerald tomorrow early.)

Snail Kite, Lake Yojoa, Honduras

We are off to the mountains of Santa Barbara above Panacam Lodge in Honduras early tomorrow in search of the Ornate Hawk Eagle (and maybe Resplendent Quetzals 🙂 so I am making tomorrow’s Pic for today post early. This is a Snail Kite along the edge of Lake Yojoa, below Panacam Lodge. Lake Yojoa is the largest natural lake in Honduras and major attraction for both birds and vacationing Hondurans. They farm a lot of tilapia in the lake as well. And, evidently, there are a lot of snails, as both Snail Kites and Limpkins are plentiful. I always say wildlife photography (any photography for that matter) is mostly about being in the right place at the right time and ready. I was experimenting with a new focus mode and having some success when this Snail Kite came banking in and snatched the snail from the water. I was ready. The camera was ready. And the rest is told by the image. Sony RX10iv at 600mm. Program mode with modifications for birds and wildlife. The focus mode I was using was “lock on Auto Focus (which is what Sony calls “follow focus”) using the small flexible spot”. It works really well. I have the complete sequence of the kite striking the water and flying off with the snail (which I will post when I get home). 1/640th @ f4 @ ISO 100. Processed in Polarr.

Wine-throated Hummingbird, La Tigra National Park, Honduras

This Wine-throated Hummingbird at La Tigra National Park in Honduras made us work for our shots, but it was certainly worth it. It is tiny and gorgeous. The large (by hummingbird standards) wine-colored gorget is often flared and catches the light brilliantly. This male was working a patch of flowering trees down off the trail and we had to bushwhack through raspberry briars, over downed pine trees and all their branches, and through man-high ferns to find a vantage where we could observe and photograph it. Alex, my guide, encouraged me by saying it would be the shot of the trip, and it comes close. Certainly one my favorite birds so far. Sony RX10iv at 600mm. Program mode. 1/500th @ f4 @ ISO 640. Processed in Polarr.

Singing Quail, La Tigra National Park, Honduras

A Singing Quail responded to their calls and came right up to the edge of the trail in La Tigra National Park on my visit with Alex Alvarado and Honduran Birds yesterday. And sang. And sang loudly and with great vigor! It is dark in the cloud-forest at the best of times and a real challenge for photography, but I am pleased with the results. Sony RX10iv at 600mm. Program mode. 1/50th @ f4 @ ISO 6400. Processed, including some noise control, in Polarr.

Emerald Toucanet, Los Gloriales Inn, near La Tigra National Park, Honduras

We got to Los Gloriales Inn near across the valley from La Tigra National Park in time for some afternoon birding in intermittent rain. My best views ever of Emerald Toucanet! Not ideal lighting, but what a bird. Sony RX10iv at 600mm. Program mode. 1/500th @ f4 @ ISO 1250.

Mountain Trogon, Opatoro Highlands, Honduras

We spent the day yesterday in the Opatoro Highlands, down near the El Salvadoran border in Honduras…searching for mountain specialties…this Mountain Trogon, among them. Certainly a beautiful bird. It took a while for the male to show himself in the open, but patience paid off. Sony RX10iv at 600mm. Program mode. 1/500th @ f4 @ ISO 1250. Processed in Polarr.