BirdingHondurasAWeekattheSpectacularPicoBonitoLodge

November11–18,2017Leaders:RobGibbs&LocalGuides

ThelargePicoBonitoNationalPark,overaquartermillionacresinsize,liesaboutmidwayalongthenortherncoastofHonduras,protectingpristineforestsinatransectfromlowfoothillsnearthecoasttohighmountainpeaks.RefugesalongtheCaribbeancoastarejustafewmilesaway.Atthepark’sedgeliesTheLodgeatPicoBonito,awonderfullycomfortablelodgethathasbecomeoneofthelatesthotdestinationsfornatureenthusiasts.NationalGeographicTravelermagazinelistedthislodgeamongitstop50eco-lodgesoftheworld.TheAudubonNaturalistSocietyispleasedtoofferour2ndtriptothislodgegivingourmemberschancestoseeagreatvarietyofbirdsandothertropicalwildlifewhileenjoyingthecomfortsandexcellentfoodofthishighlyregardeddestination.

Somecommentsfromour2015PicoBonitotravelers:

"Thelocalguidesexceededallexpectations.Thelodge,foodandservicewereoutstanding."

"Itwaslovelystayinginoneplaceandnotmovingeveryfewdays.Anotherwonderfulaspectwasthevarietyofoutings,boattrips,traintrips,snorkelling."

You’llarriveatthespaciousreceptionareaandthenfollowgravelpathstoyourcabin,eachtuckedintotheluxurianttropicalforest.Everycabinismadeofbeautifultropicalhardwoodandfeaturescomfortablefurnishings,largelouveredandscreenedwindows,withcoolingoptionsofairconditioningorefficientceilingfans.

Thelodgehasanexcellentrestaurantadjacenttothereceptionarea,andallbreakfastsanddinnerswillbeservedhere,withlunchessomedayshereandonotherdaysatlocationsnearertothefieldtripdestinations.AllmealsfromdinneronNov.11throughbreakfastonNov.18areincluded.Choosefromanextensivesetofchoicesonthemenu,withextraspecialdishes(suchasalobsterdinner)availableforasmallsurcharge.Beautifulgardensandapleasantswimmingpoolsurroundthemainlodgebuildings,withwell-maintainedtrailsleadingoutintotheforestsoftheNationalPark.You’llhavetimetoexplorethegroundsandtrailsofTheLodgewithyourleader,onyourown,orsomeofeach.Therearehummingbirdfeedersandfruitingtreesrightnexttotherestaurantandreceptionareawheremanybirdscanbeseeneveryday.There’salotofotherwildlifehere,andyou’resuretoenjoythelizards,mammals,frogs,andbutterfliesyou’llbeseeingeachday.WefeelthatTheLodgeatPicoBonitoprovidesoneofthenicest,mostcomfortablebaseswe’veseenforexploringandlearningaboutbirdsandotherelementsofLatinAmericannaturalhistory.Thefollowingday-to-dayitineraryrepresentsanoutlineofourplans.Detailsmaybechangedattheleaders’discretionforanyreasonthat,intheleaders’judgment,willincreasethesafetyandenjoymentofthemajorityoftheparticipants.Saturday,Nov.11AfteranmiddayarrivalintoSanPedroSulaInternationalAirport,you’llmeetyourlocalguideandheadeastalongHonduras’NorthCoasttowardsTheLodgeatPicoBonito,thehighlyacclaimedbirding/rainforestresortwithin270,000acrePicoBonitoNationalPark.Thedrivetakesabout2½hoursandleadsthroughafascinatingmixofforests,farms,andsmalltowns.Wewillstopforrestroomsandasnackalongtheway,andalateafternoonarrivalatTheLodgewillaffordeveryonetimetounpack,refresh,andenjoysomelightbirdingofthegroundsbeforedinner.(You’llchooseyourmealsthroughouttheweekfromasurprisinglyextensiveandvariedmenu.)Sunday,Nov.12OurfirstmorningatTheLodgeatPicoBonitowillbeginat6:00AM,withanearlybreakfastandthenanorientationonthespacious,frontdeckoftheLodge’sItzamaRestaurant.ForthenextseveralhoursourguidewillleadusthroughTheLodgegrounds,spottingnumerousbirdspeciesthatarecommonintheearlyhours.Aclimbtothetopofthe“ToucanTower”observationplatformoffersabird’seyeviewoftheforestcanopythatoftenincludesheart-stoppingviewsofthecovetedLovelyCotinga.ThroughoutthemorningwewillenjoyaleisurelystrollthroughtropicalforestsandplantationareasalongtheRioColoradito.Thisareaishometoagreatdiversityofbirds,andspecieswemightfindincludeLovelyCotinga,MaskedTityra,Blue-crownedMotmot,Keel-billedToucan,CollaredAracari,FerruginousPygmy-Owl,Black-cowledOriole,Black-headedTrogon,Red-LeggedHoneycreeper,anduptoadozenspeciesofHummingbirds,includingCrowned

Woodnymph,Blue-throatedSapphire,VioletSabrewing,Purple-crownedFairy,Stripe-tailedHummingbird,BrownViolet-ear,GreenViolet-earandWhite-neckedJacobin.

Afterlunchandalightsiesta,we’llheadfurtheralongonTheLodge’slooptrailsysteminsearchofforestinteriorbirds.InadditiontotheToucanToweratthetrail’sbeginning,thisrouteoffersanelevatedridgeplatform,whichoverlookstheRioColoraditoandsurroundingforestedslopes.WellalsovisitobservationTower#3alongtheway,setamidstanareaofbird-richsecondaryforestandovergrownplantation.White-collaredandRed-cappedManakinoccuratvariouslocationshere,andtheGray-headedPipritesmay(rarely)beseenaswell.BothKeel-billedandTodyMotmotarefrequentlyencounteredalongthisroute.OtherspecieswehavethechancetofindhereincludetheGreatCurassow,CrestedGuan,Slaty-breastedTinamou,Scaly-throatedLeaftosser,Yellow-earedToucanet,ahostofflycatchers,includingtheimpressiveRoyalFlycatcher,andmanyof

thetrogon,woodpecker,woodcreeper,tanagerandoriolespeciesonTheLodge’sbirdlist,whichhasover420species.InadditiontosuperbviewingfromTheLodge’stowers,thisroutepassesseveraloverlooksalongtheRioColoradito.Sightingsofmanyraptorscanoftenbemadehere.GreatandNorthernPotooarealsopossibilities;we’llsearchforthesesupremelycamouflagedbirdsupinthetreesthatlinethetrails.Monday,Nov.13CueroySaladoWildlifeRefugeisnamedfortheCueroandSaladoRivers,whichmeettheoceanhere.TheRefugecomprisesover35,000acresofrivers,lagoons,mangroves,andforeststhatarehometodiversewildlifeandavarietyofbirdsexceeding350species.We’llmeetourguideearlyforbreakfast,anddepartfortherefugeby6:30am.Accessintothiswildernessisviaasmallmotorizedtrain,whichtakesusalongacenturyoldtrackthroughbird-richranchlands,marshlands,andsmallplantations,ultimatelyarrivingatthemouthoftheSaladoRiverandtheRefugeitself.Birdingfromthetrainisalwaysfunandexciting,astheconductoriseagertostopandpointoutspeciesofinterestalongtheway.Dependingonseason,avarietyofraptors,wadingbirdsandedge-habitatspeciesaboundalongtherailway.OnceattheRefuge,wewillexplorethevariousaquaticandforesthabitatsfromasmall,motorizedskiff.Ourguidesandboathandlersaresuperblytrainedspottersandwhenneeded,prefertosilenceourboat’smotorandquietlypaddleinforabetterlook.AgamiHeron,Boat-billedHeron,Bare-throatedTigerHeron,Yellow-crownedNight-Heron,TricoloredHeron,AmericanPygmy-Kingfisher,Boat-billedHeron,LaughingFalcon,BatFalcon,LesserYellow-headedVulture,Gray-neckedWoodRail,andSungrebearebutafewpotentialhighlightsofavisittoCueroySalado.OthertropicalwildlifespeciescommonlyseenhereincludeBlackHowlerMonkeys,White-facedMonkeys,LesserAnteater,CentralAmericanCoati,Raccoon,GreenIguana,AmericanCrocodile,andSpectacledCaiman.

We’llreturnforunchatTheLodge,andanafternoontorelax,visittheLodge’sbutterflyfarm,orbirdfromtheLodge’sdecks,gardens,ortrails.Afterdinner,we’llbeguidedaroundtheLodge’sgardensandplantationareaswhereMottledOwl,VermiculatedScreechOwl,BlackandWhiteOwl,andbothGreatandNorthernPootoomaybefound.AstopbyTheLodge’sfrogpondsnearlyalwaysdelightswiththesoundsandsightsofabreedingRed-eyedTreefrogs.Alightedwhiteboardattheedgeoftheforestattractsanamazingvarietyofmoths,beetles,andotherinsectseachnight.Tuesday,Nov.14RioSantiagoNatureResortisa150acre,privatepreservelocated30

kilometerswestofTheLodgeatPicoBonito.Itssecluded,rainforestlocationandimpressivenumbersofhummingbirdfeedershasearneditthenameof,“HummingbirdcapitalofHonduras”.Throughoutmostoftheyear,Santiago’strailsandmaingardenareasaboundwithbewilderingnumbersofsomeofHonduras’mostwell-knownhummingbirdspecies.Rufous-tailedHummingbird,CinnamonHummingbird,BrownViolet-ear,Band-tailedBarbthroat,VioletSabrewing,CrownedWoodnymph,Stripe-throatedHermit,Long-billedHermit,Stripe-tailedHummingbird,White-belliedEmerald,andScaly-breastedHummingbirdarebutafewofthespeciesthatfrequentSantiago’sfeeders.Black-crestedCoquetteisalsooftenseenonSantiago’smaintrail.We’llhavelunchatRioSantiagoNatureResortandspendpartoftheafternoonhere.Keel-billedMotmotandRufous-tailedJacamararefrequentlyseenalongSantiago’strailsystem.Manyotherbirdsmaybefoundhere,withpossibilitiesincludingRed-cappedManakin,White-collaredManakin,AmazonKingfisher,Boat-billedFlycatcher,Golden-hoodedTanager,andanassortmentofmigrantsfromNorthAmerica.WereturntoPicoBonitointimeforanearlydinnerandanearlybedtime,inordertobereadyforaveryearlystartonWednesday.Wednesday,Nov.15We’llbeginthisfulldayofbirdingHonduras’uniquedryforesthabitatwithanearlybreakfastatTheLodge,anddepartureby4:30am.Thetargetofoursearch,thebeautifulbutcriticallyendangeredHonduranEmerald,isahummingbirdthatsurvivesonlyinremainingpocketsoftropicaldryforesttothesouthofPicoBonitoNationalPark.Descendingthe“rainshadow”,orsouthernsideofthePark,cloudforestedpeaksandpinestuddedslopesgivewaytoanarid,almostdesert-likeplain,oncedominatedbytropicalthornordryforest.Althoughendangered,theHonduranEmeraldisconsideredcommonwithinitshabitat.Assuch,regardlessofseason,ourchancesofseeingtheHonduranEmeraldareverygood.

Ourrideinto“Emeraldcountry”canbeequallyexciting,asasurprisingnumberofbirdspeciesinhabitdryforest.Alongtheway,we’llalsovisitlocalizedwetareaswithinthisaridregion.Thesesitescanbemagnetsforwadingbirdsandotherspecies.We’llhopetofindmanybirdsthataren’texpectedaroundPicoBonito,withpossibilitiesincludingDouble-stripedThick-knee,LesserRoadrunner,LesserGroundCuckoo,NorthernBeardless-Tyrannulet,White-loredGnatcatcher,White-throatedMagpie-jay,BandedWren,White-bellied

Wren,andStripe-headedSparrow,andSalvin’sEmerald,amongothers.We’llenjoylunchinthenearbyranchingtownofOlanchito,andreturntoTheLodgebylateafternoon.Thursday,Nov.16We’llmeetourguideforanotherearlybreakfast,andtravelwesttotheLancetillaBotanicalGardens.Setamidstacoastalvalleyflankedbylow,rain-forestedhills,TheUnitedFruitCompanyfoundedLancetillaasastationwheretropicalfruitandwoodtreeswerestudiedforcommercialvalue.TheGardenswerefoundedin1925,andsomeofthatworkcontinues.Howeverthisdiversetropicaltreasure,composedofamosaicofforestandedgehabitats,istodaybestknownforitssuperbbirding.Honduras’annualChristmasBirdCountisheldatLancetilla,andeveryDecember,birdwatchersflocktoconfirm,andaddto,theGarden’sgrowinglistofcolorful,tropicalspecies.ThecurrentbirdlistreadslikeaWho’sWhooftropicalbirds,andincludesmotmots,manakins,woodcreepers,warblers,woodpeckers,toucans,tanagers,andscoresofothers.Migrantwarblers,vireos,flycatchers,andgrosbeaksfromthenortharealsofrequentatLancetilla.Thankstothisdiversity,atypicaldayofbirdingherecouldyieldmanyofthesespecies:LittleTinamou,CommonBlackHawk,White-tailedKite,RuddyCrake,White-frontedParrot,Olive-throatedParakeet,SquirrelCuckoo,GarteredTrogon,Turquoise-browedMotmot,Rufous-tailedJacamar,GreatAntshrike,BarredAntshrike,Tawny-wingedWoodcreeper,Long-billedGnatwren,andothers.AfterourmorningatLancetillaweheadtothebeach-sidetownofTelaforlunch,andherewehaveagoodchancetoseeRoyalTern,SandwichTern,NeotropicCormorant,andshorebirdsonastrollalongtheedgeoftheCaribbeanSea.WereturntoTheLodgebylateafternoon.Friday,Nov.17Wedepartrightafterbreakfastforthetruetropicalislandparadiseknownas“TheCayosCochinos”.Thissmall,Caribbeanarchipelagoisagroupof15remoteislandslocatedabout9milesnorthoftheHonduranmainlandandduesouthoftheislandofRoatan.Theentiresystemofpristineislandsandsurroundingcoralreefisdesignatedasabiologicalreserve.FromTheLodge,wetraveltotheGarifunavillageofSamboCreektoboardourboatandenjoythe1hourridetotheislands.Often,theboatrideitselfisanadventureasyoumayseedolphins,seaturtlesorevenwhalesalongtheway,alongwithgulls,terns,andotherwaterbirds.

We’llexploreandsnorkeloverastunningvarietyofbeautifulreefstructures,wheremarinelifeisabundantandallsortsofreeffish,invertebrates,andoftenseaturtlescanbeseen.In-betweensnorkelingstops,we’llalsopauseforashorthikeononeofthelargerkeys,inhopesofgettingaglimpseoftheislands’remarkablepinkboaconstrictorandavarietyofbirds.Ourislandadventurewillfinishoffwithadelicious,traditionalGarifunalunchonthewhitesandbeachofoneoftheinhabitedkeysnamed“CayoChachahuate”,beforeheadingbacktothemainland,andtheLodge.Thosewhodon’twishtoswimorsnorkelwillstillfindthistobeanenjoyableday,asyou’llseewonderfulwildlifeabovethewaterandbeautifulscenery.Saturday,Nov.18OurjourneyconcludeswithtransferbacktotheairportatSanPedroSulaintimeforafternoonflightsbacktotheUS.Leadership

Rob Gibbs

RobGibbshasworkedasWildlifeEcologistfortheMontgomeryCountyDepartmentofParksandPlanningforthepast13years.Priortohiscurrentposition,heworkedasanaturalistfor15yearsforMontgomeryCountyParksandotherorganizations.Robhasbeenleadingnaturalhistoryclassesandfieldtripsforover25yearsforMontgomeryParks,theAudubonNaturalistSociety,theSmithsonianInstitution,theNationalParkService,theNationalWildlifeFederationandotherorganizations.Hislifelongpassionislearningandteachingothersaboutthenaturalworld.RecentANStripsledbyRobincludeYellowstone,Alaska,andPanama.