For our second episode of A Day in a Birder's Life series, we got to go birding with Black Rock Lodge. Black Rock Lodge is an eco-lodge located about six miles away from
San Ignacio Town. According to
eBird,
Black Rock Lodge is listed as the #1
birding hotspot in Belize with over 318 bird species.
Nestled within a lush tropical forest, accompanied by the majestic Macal River, Black Rock Lodge also offers great amenities for both local and international travelers. Not only do visitors get to go
birding, but you can also take advantage of the lodge’s other on-site activities such as
hiking and
river tubing. So if you need a break from the busy life of modern civilization, then this place is perfect for you.
On our way to the lodge, we got the opportunity to witness beautiful sceneries one after the other. We were so impressed by Mother Nature’s work that we even stopped half-way through our journey to admire the waterfalls in the distant cliffs off the traffic barriers at the edge of the road. Our driver, Isaias Morataya, who was also our guide, was ecstatic to take us on an unforgettable experience. As amateur birders, we didn’t know what to expect; and, so Isaias made it his mission to show us a spectacular time as Belizean travelers at Black Rock Lodge.
Arriving at the lodge, immediately, we heard the sounds of nature, from the chirping of the birds to the wind rustling through the tree branches. The sweet sounds chimed through our ears, we took a second to appreciate it.
After settling in our river view cabins, Isaias suggested a hiking adventure. Before we could have started on our hike, we had to cross the Macal River on a canoe. After paddling our way across, all of us prepared for this magnificent hike.
Elijio Panti National Park Hike
Our trail led us to the top of Elijio Panti National Park. This is also the closest national park to the San Ignacio town. On our way up, we encountered a Mexican Red Rump Tarantula crawling through the decaying leaves on the forest floor. Its fuzzy legs and scary demeanor brought goosebumps to everyone. We were eager to touch it and place it on our arms. Would you hold a tarantula?
Our jungle trail included the sights and sounds of many birds. The Belizing Team was tested on their "pishing” skills by Isaias. This is a sound technique that is done to attract birds nearby and if done well, the birds would respond.
After getting to the tallest heights of the Elijio Panti National Park trail, we were greeted with a spectacular view of the lodge and surrounding natural wonders in the area. We were able to get a bird’s view of where we would be spending the night. The mountains were endless and definitely worth all the terrain hike. We admired the view a little longer before heading back down.
When we got back to the lodge, we took a long shower before heading to the restaurant to enjoy an amazing four-course meal for dinner – compliments to the chef and his sous chefs!
Dinner was so delicious that we didn’t want it to be over. For the night’s option of soup, we were served a savory beef soup. It definitely calmed our growling stomachs after the hike. After our soup, we were served some gourmet barbecue wings that had our mouths watering for more, but we had to keep in mind that it was indeed a four-course meal. As entrée, the chef prepared us a tender chicken piccata layered on top of a dome of warm vegetable rice.
We were stuffed after our third course; but, we couldn’t deny dessert! It was a sweet, frozen pineapple, dipped in semi-sweet chocolate, and topped with a rich, homemade vanilla ice cream. That night, we ate like kings and queens!
After recovering from such a marvelous dinner, we headed back to our cabins for a good night’s rest. We were determined to catch the worm at 6:00 a.m. the next morning.
Early Morning Birding
The sun had barely crept out as we prepared for our bird adventure. The sounds of the birds were already echoing through the air and we were excited to see which species of birds we would be checking off today. But, before we headed out, we were offered a selection of coffee and teas at the restaurant. A chosen favorite among the group was freshly brewed coffee with natural goat’s milk. Some of us also selected a flavored tea with a dash of cane sugar. The team was awake and ready to go birding!
Our birding essentials for the tour were binoculars, the eBird app and, of course, our guide, Isaias. It was recommended that we kept track of our bird count with the eBird app.
In just ten minutes we had spotted birds such as the Red-legged Honeycreeper, Yellow Warbler, and the Yellow-winged Tanager. We wandered around the lodge’s gardens, hiked up the trails away from Black Rock Lodge’s facilities and explored the riverside trails. Our list totaled to forty-six bird species in our morning tour. Think you could spot more? We challenge you to go birding in Belize and let us know of your bird count!
Our list included birds from all different sizes and colors. As like a true birder, Isaias was just as excited as us when we spotted a new species. We had some funny sightings too! Such as a Rufous-tailed Hummingbird teasing a Gray Hawk. Although the hummingbird was significantly smaller than the hawk, it was indeed feisty. Wanting to poke at the Gray Hawk, the little hummingbird flew around the hawk, attacking it with its beak a few times, chasing away the Gray Hawk before flying off.
Throughout the tour, Isaias was accompanied by his scope, binoculars and camera that came in handy when he wanted to spot a bird that was singing in the distant tree tops. Being amateur birders, it was a bit difficult for us to spot these flying creatures as fast as Isaias. As soon as the sounds of a new bird species met Isaias’ ears, he would dash off with his scope and binocular to look for the bird.
It was exciting to see someone so enthusiastic and passionate about birding. Isaias was the perfect guide to go birding with. He was extremely knowledgeable about the species that were unique to Black Rock Lodge and the other species of avifauna that recently migrated to Belize. It was a refreshing experience for us to be birding with such a humble and experienced birder.
After two and a half hours of birding, we decided to head back to the restaurant where we had breakfast, À la carte style. Most of the team had the Belizean breakfast, which included beans eggs, bacon, and the infamous fried jack. We also had the options of pancakes and French toast. Once again, the food was so appetizing, especially after our amazing early morning bird watch!
Since the dining area was an open space with a high, thatched roofing, we were able to spot four more Gray Hawks preying over the tree lines during breakfast. Indeed, the birding never stops!
#BirdLikeTheresNoTomorrow
After breakfast we spent some time getting to know the staff. We had the opportunity to meet Jovani, who is the director of Black Rock Lodge’s green living practices. We also met with several of the farmers who were dedicated to planting and producing their own organic vegetables and fruits. They also raise their own goats and chickens in the lodge’s facility. We were able to milk the momma goat and pet the cute baby goats in the compound – quite interesting!
The fun didn't end there! We were offered a complimentary river tubing tour down the Macal River. Flowing downstream and riding down each rapid was exhilarating! This experience really allowed us to enjoy the nature around us. Truly, Belize is a jewel! It was a great way to end A Day In A Birder’s Life with Isaias from Black Rock Lodge.
Belize Birdathon
Black Rock Lodge won Belize’s 2018 Birdathon with a total of 238 species spotted in one day. We were indeed in the right place! We’d like to express our sincere gratitude to Black Rock Lodge and all their staff and employees for having us over and for giving us such a great experience. Everyone was so friendly and helpful that we felt as if we were a part of their family. Thank you, also, to Isaias for giving us one of the best birding experiences – it was spectacular.
#letsgobelizing at Black Rock Lodge!