6th March
This was our last day, with a flight to catch in the evening. We rose at 4:15 for a 5 a.m. start. We drove a short distance to the Ranchitos del Quetzal which is a private reserve more or less adjacent to Biotopo del Quetzal. It was still dark when we got to the entrance gate which had not yet been opened. A bird was seen just inside and by torch light it was ID'd as a Gould's Nightingale-thrush, but I wasn't able to get on it. Shortly, someone appeared out of the building and came and opened the gate for us. As soon as we stepped into the entrance area a call was heard - Barred Forest Falcon. A short burst of playback and the bird appeared and sat in full view. Fab views but my pix were nothing to write home about due to the v low light. Also seen in the bushes in this area, we found a Black-headed Nightingale-thrush which I managed to get a passable pic of - smallish bird in low light. At some point in the proceedings we were treated to breakfast on the verandah of the reserve building. We only had to walk a short distance along one trail to get some pretty good birds. Highlights were Violet Sabrewing, 2 Spot-crowned Woodcreepers, a Paltry Tyrannulet [new bird], Brown-capped Vireo [new bird], 3 Black & White Warblers, Hermit Warbler [new bird], Black-throated Green Warbler, Slate-throated Whitestart, 2 Common Bush Tanagers, and 4 Unicoloured Jays. The final highlight was a Collared Trogon sitting on a telephone wire just above our heads, devouring a large moth which it had just caught. Finally it was necessary for us to drag ourselves away to start to long journey back to Guatemala city. We stopped a couple of times en route and at one, we got our final new bird of the trip - a very smart Stripe-headed Sparrow.
We reached Guatemala City and eventually pulled in to the car park of the fabulous restaurant where we had had lunch a few days ago. A relaxed and delicious lunch was had by all and then, suitably replete, it was time to head off to the airport, which was not all that far away. We got there in good time and then bade our sad farewells to Maynor & co, thanking them for a wonderful trip to their amazing country and its equally amazing birds. The flight out left more or less on time and in due course we landed at Madrid where it was time to say goodbye and a a huge vote of thanks to Fernando for his pleasant company and diligence & skill in helping find the birds and getting folk on to them.
All in all a great trip with a great bunch of people.
We reached Guatemala City and eventually pulled in to the car park of the fabulous restaurant where we had had lunch a few days ago. A relaxed and delicious lunch was had by all and then, suitably replete, it was time to head off to the airport, which was not all that far away. We got there in good time and then bade our sad farewells to Maynor & co, thanking them for a wonderful trip to their amazing country and its equally amazing birds. The flight out left more or less on time and in due course we landed at Madrid where it was time to say goodbye and a a huge vote of thanks to Fernando for his pleasant company and diligence & skill in helping find the birds and getting folk on to them.
All in all a great trip with a great bunch of people.
