Masked Shrike - Kilnsea, East Yorkshire

So 2014 has produced some pretty special birds, and come the end of the year it'll be tough to decide which was the biggest. One thing is for sure that Britain's 3rd ever Masked Shrike will be up there with the best.

For once I had planned to keep Sunday free for birding and boom, my luck was in, a mega turns up and it's not on an off island and within driving distance for a day trip. Hawky was keen so I set the alarm for silly o clock, packed a few sarnies, and I was on the road by 4.30am.

Two ish hours later Twitter informed us that the bird was still present and it was hard not to begin high fiving, even though we were still around 2 hours away.

On arrival there were birders everywhere. Parking was well organised and we were soon viewing the bird distantly across a field. It seemed pretty settled so we decided to head off and see what else we could find.

A Red Breasted Flycatcher showed well at the side of the road, and one tree in a garden at one point contained all three flycatchers, and a couple of Winchats. Cracking.  
   

Just 100 yards up the road a Barred Warbler skulked in a road side bush providing the kind of views you usually expect of the species.   

We gave the Olive Backed Pipit in the Canal a go but it was ridiculously elusive only providing views when flushed so we gave that a miss and headed back for more views of the shrike, on route again passing the R B Fly.

This time we were lucky with the shrike. As we arrived in the designated viewing area,the  the bird began making its way down the hedge line in our direction. Closer and closer it came, eventually getting to around 100 feet away. Birders piled in to get a view of a bird they had probably only seen at 3 times that distance earlier. Luckily I had my scope on the bird and a queue of around 20 birders thanked me for letting them get a decent glimpse. 

  Hawky in the thick of it

All in all it was a very enjoyable, if tiring day, with plenty off good birds, with the rare little shrike on the top of the pile.   

Ambergris Caye, Belize

After Black Rock Lodge we moved onto Ambergris Caye, an island off the eastern coast of Belize. W arrived via a short 20 minute flight in a small 14 seater plane, which provided stunning views of the aqua marine and turquoise seas and barrier reef, which incidentally is the 2nd biggest in the world.

Here there wasn't much birding to do, however, the snorkeling was amazing. We swam up close and personal with huge Spotted Eagle Rays, Sting Rays, Nurse Sharks, Green Turtles, Moray Eel and a Manatee. Add to that collection huge numbers and varieties of beautifully colourful fish, and all in all it really was a breathe taking experience.

I did see a few birds, mostly when I borrowed one of the hotel's bikes and headed away from town on the bumpy unmade roads.    

Great Tailed Grackle

Magnificent Frigatebird

Tropical Kingbird 

 

Hooded Oriole

Tri-coloured Heron

Wilson's Plover. There are a few more pictures below.   

More from Black Rock Lodge - Belize

A few more birds from Black Rock Lodge. Less birding was done on my own here, compared to Lamanai, as we enjoyed plenty of family time swimming and tubing in the river.

Yellow Winged Tanager (m)

Yellow Throated Euphonia (f)

Blue Gray Tanager 

Yellow Throated Euphonia (m)

Black Cheeked Woodpecker 

Red Legged Honeycreeper - poss my favorite bird of the trip - hence a few pics  

Rufous Tailed Hummingbird

Crap pic of a Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher 

Black Rock Lodge, Belize - Days 1 and 2

We left Lamanai Outpost  Lodge the same way we arrived, via an exhilarating speedboat ride, lasting about an hour. We then had an hour's drive (bus minibus) to Belize International airport. Here we were met by a representative from Black Rock Lodge (Carlos), swapped vehicles and began the 2.5 hour transfer.

After a quick chat with Carlos, I soon found out that he was one of the lodge's bird guides! Result. I asked him to point out anything he spotted along the way and we chatted birds for the best part of the next 2.5 hours. On route I managed 5 new birds including Yucatan Jay, Fork Tailed Flycatcher (2), Gray Hawk, Bronzed Cowbird, Lesser Swallow Tailed Swift, Least Flycatcher and an impressive Jabiru Stork.                

Jabiru Stork

 

Gray Hawk 

Least Flycatcher

Black Rock lodge is a high quality rain forest location, with stunning views, great accommodation and good food. The mountain ridge opposite was excellent for raptors, and the gardens and surrounding forest great for a wide variety of birds.    

Banded Backed Wren - a less than impressive picture of an impressive bird - seen only a few times briefly

Green Backed Sparrow

 The view from our cabana  

  

 An early morning (6am) find. I was waiting in the early morning light for a guide to take me out birding for a couple of hours, when this large raptor unexpectedly drifted over. I grabbed my camera, and rattled off a few shots, but all I could get was a silhouette.  There was some debate among the guides, but eventually they settled on Ornate Hawk-Eagle.    

After  a successful morning walk (bird list post to follow)all four of us, with guide our guide, climbed the mountain opposite the lodge. In humid conditions, it was shard work, but enjoyable seeing quite a few birds, including this Tody Motmot, that we initially only heard, then our guide expertly called back which brought it closer and closer, until there it was sat 40 feet in front of us. A good bird we were advised, not often seen.    

 Tody Motmot

 A big fat hairy turantula

  

 There at last - a well deserved rest at the top

 Sophie and Jamie - enjoying the view

 White Hawk - one of a pair seen from the summit

Lamanai Mayan ruins

During our time at Lamanai, we visited the Mayan ruins/temples and museum (an included activity). After a short boat journey we trekked through the rain forest until we got a glimpse of the the first ruin. Our expert guides provided great detail of the Mayan civilisation and history of the site.
 

It was wet and the ruins were very steep

Very steep! 

That's us at the top - honest!