Guatemala, Las Guacamayas...

The journey from Flores to Las Guacamayas Biological Station seemed a long one. It's around 3-4 hours with a stop, which isn't too bad, but a long part of the road is un-tarmacked, extremely bumpy, road. I can't describe one of these journeys, you have to experience it. For over two hours you are constantly jostled around and having to brace yourself to avoid rocking into someone else or, worse still, into the equipment. By the time you get out of the 4 x 4, you are physically tired and aching not to mention just a little queasy! The main bird of note was this stunning Vermilion Flycatcher, which provided a much welcome break to the journey.

Vermilion Flycatcher

Vermilion Flycatcher

The second part of the journey is a half-hour river boat trip to the Station. We complete this in darkness and arrive just ahead of a torrential thunder storm that had been brewing on the horizon for the last hour. Once again we were warmly welcomed, shown to our rooms and then provided with a lovely dinner where we met Renee's parents, Francois and Nini. They are lovely people who will do anything to make our stay as comfortable and successful as possible. We also meet up with a talented young herpetologist called Andres Novalis who is joining us for most of the trip.

The next morning after breakfast we get to see the Lodge and its surroundings properly for the first time in the daylight and it's a great location. Dense forests rise steeply behind the main buildings whilst the other side is bordered by the river that we arrived on last night.

The view from the tower lookout at Las Guacamayas

The accommodation at the Station

The place is alive with birds. Scaly-breasted Hummingbirds and Wedge-tailed Saberwings buzz around the feeding stations. Collard Aracaris and Bat Falcons draw my attention overhead. Down near the landing jetty I get my first views of the locally common Morelet's Crocodile, Crocodylus moreletii. These fantastic reptiles can reach lengths of around 10 ft and the one in front of me must be close to that. They are only found in the Atlantic region of Mexico, Belize and Guatemala.

Morelet's Crocodile, Crocodylus moreletii

Look at those eyes...looking at me

Mike Hutchinson filming the croc

There were some neat birds too.

Black-headed Trogon, male

Collared Aracari

Scaly-breasted Humminbird

Variegated Squirrel

White-breasted Emerald

Wedge-tailed Saberwing

That evening Rowland, Andres, Renee and myself do a spot of herping to see what's on offer.

Small-headed Tree Frog, Dendropsophus microcephalus

Interestingly the Red-eyed Treefrogs, Agalychnis callidryas have a much toned-down colouration on their sides than those further south in Costa Rica. They're still attractive little frogs though.

Red-eyed Treefrogs in amplexus

Centruroides margaritatus - very common around the station

Centruroides margaritatus...with a Katydid

Another Centruroides margaritatus
They really are everywhere.

Mexican red-rumped Tarantula

My find of the night was this beautiful Imantodes cenchoa. I love these little snakes, they are so graceful and elegant and no thicker than a bootlace in places.

Blunt-headed Treesnake, Imantodes cenchoa

Blunt-headed Treesnake, Imantodes cenchoa

Blunt-headed Treesnake, Imantodes cenchoa

In Renee's hand to show how delicate they are.

Another day over it was time to prepare for the following day and our trip to El Mirador.