Cockscomb Basin Jaguar Preserve, Belize
After relaxing on a bench overlooking a small river, watching a crimson-collared tanager, violet saberwing hummingbirds and other tropical delights, we headed up the trail towards the visitors center at this unique sanctuary. We didn’t get far. It was less than fifty yards before we came upon a crested guan. Eventually, we were treated to the luxury of watching three of these turkey relatives in the middle of the trail, just ahead of us. We continued, passing a group of male red-capped manakins displaying to attract a female. These stunningly beautiful but slightly odd birds do not sing to attract a partner, they snap their wings to make a loud sound almost identical to us snapping our fingers. To further impress females, they dance laterally along branches, eventually turning upside down to impress prospective mates as they prominently display the bright yellow feathers that cover their thighs!
Our full morning included both the Cockscomb (the silhouette of the mountain range brings to mind the comb on a rooster) Basin Jaguar Preserve and a stop at the Mayan Women’s Center where a fine collection of local crafts was available. Throughout the late afternoon remarkably varied and interesting cloud formations and rainbows provided a striking backdrop for our kayak and Zodiac adventures through red mangrove and Caribbean pine dominated channels. Among the highlights were orchids in spectacular full bloom, tropical kingbird nests with eggs and young overhanging the water, and parrot families coming home to roost.
After relaxing on a bench overlooking a small river, watching a crimson-collared tanager, violet saberwing hummingbirds and other tropical delights, we headed up the trail towards the visitors center at this unique sanctuary. We didn’t get far. It was less than fifty yards before we came upon a crested guan. Eventually, we were treated to the luxury of watching three of these turkey relatives in the middle of the trail, just ahead of us. We continued, passing a group of male red-capped manakins displaying to attract a female. These stunningly beautiful but slightly odd birds do not sing to attract a partner, they snap their wings to make a loud sound almost identical to us snapping our fingers. To further impress females, they dance laterally along branches, eventually turning upside down to impress prospective mates as they prominently display the bright yellow feathers that cover their thighs!
Our full morning included both the Cockscomb (the silhouette of the mountain range brings to mind the comb on a rooster) Basin Jaguar Preserve and a stop at the Mayan Women’s Center where a fine collection of local crafts was available. Throughout the late afternoon remarkably varied and interesting cloud formations and rainbows provided a striking backdrop for our kayak and Zodiac adventures through red mangrove and Caribbean pine dominated channels. Among the highlights were orchids in spectacular full bloom, tropical kingbird nests with eggs and young overhanging the water, and parrot families coming home to roost.
