Belize Budget Suites
  • HOME
  • BOOK NOW
  • RATES
  • ACCOMMODATIONS
  • ABOUT US
    • Reviews & Testimonials
    • The Property
    • The Neighborhood
    • Blog - Belize Adventure
    • Blog - 2 Boys in Belize
    • FAQ
  • ABOUT BELIZE
    • Where is Belize?
    • Traveling to Belize >
      • International Flights & Airlines
      • Belize Visas & Immigration
      • Arriving in Belize
      • Belize Land Borders
      • Getting to the Island
      • Departing Belize
      • What to Bring
      • How To Save Money
    • Best Time to Visit
    • Know Before You Go
    • Is Belize Safe?
    • Belize by the Month
    • Belize Festivals >
      • Food Festivals
      • Chocolate Festival
      • Lobster Festival
      • Mango Festival
      • Taco Festival
    • Belize Maps
    • Belize History
    • Ambergris Caye
    • San Pedro
  • ADVENTURES
    • Where to Eat
    • Things to Do
    • Diving >
      • Diving in Belize
      • Diving Vacations
      • Diving Blue Hole
      • Diving Turneffe Atoll
      • Diving Barrier Reef
      • Diving Basil Jones
      • Night Diving
    • Snorkeling >
      • Snorkel in Belize
      • Snorkeling Vacations
      • Hol Chan Marine
      • Shark Ray Alley
      • Mexico Rocks & Tres Cocos
      • Coral Gardens
      • Blue Hole Snorkeling
      • Bachalar Chico Marine
    • Fishing >
      • Fishing in Belize
      • Fishing Vacations
      • Deep Sea Fishing
      • Reef Fishing
      • Flat Fishing
      • Night Fishing
      • Robles Fishing, Snorkel & Beach BBQ
      • Fishing Charters
    • Sailing >
      • Sailing in Belize
      • Sailing Vacations
      • Day Sail to Caye Caulker
      • Manatee Watch Snorkel Goff Caye
      • Sail Around the Island
      • Sunset Sail
      • Sunset Houseboat
      • Sunset Dinner Cruise
      • Sunset Houseboat-Tapas
      • Island Hopping
      • Private Catamaran Charters
    • Jungle >
      • Jungles in Belize
      • Jungle Vacations
      • Bird Watching
      • Birds of Belize
      • Belize Annual Bird Festival
      • Zip Lining
      • Jungle Trek
      • Antelope Falls Rappelling
      • ATV Jungle Bikes
      • Horseback Riding
      • Belize Zoo
      • Baboon Santuary
    • Caves >
      • Caving in Belize
      • Caving Vacations
      • ATM Cave
      • Black Hole Cave Rappelling
      • Cave Tubing
      • Cave Canoeing
      • Cave Waterfall Rappellilng
      • Cave Kayaking
      • Lost World Expedition
      • River Cave Expedition
      • 7 Miles of Caves
    • Mayan Temples >
      • Temples in Belize
      • Mayan Vacations
      • Altun Ha Ruins
      • Cahal Pech Ruins
      • Caracol Ruins
      • Cerros Maya Ruins
      • Lamanai Mayan Ruins
      • Lubaantun Site
      • Nim Li Punit Ruins
      • Santa Rita Mayan Ruins
      • Tikal (Guatamala)
      • Xunantunich
    • Gallery >
      • Jungle Zip Lining
      • ATM Cave
      • Lamanai Mayan Ruins
      • Belize Zoo
      • Hol Chan-Shark Ray
      • Cave Tubing
      • Xunantunich
  • CONTACT US
BOOK WITH US

BIRD WATCHING - Ambergris Caye South

2/20/2021

0 Comments

 
Picture
Today we took off to do some bird watching south of the island.  It was a little overcast, basically a dreary day (and honestly), we didn't expect to see many birds.  Wow!!!  I couldn't have been more wrong about that statement.  Let's share some of what we saw. 
Before heading out, we decided to stop at Ms. Susana's (La Divina Providencia), right around the corner from Belize Budget Suites.  Many of our guests (at the hotel), really enjoy eating here when they first arrive to the island.  La Divina Prvidencia is both a restaurant and a grocery store.  So when our guests first arrive (by stopping at Ms. Susana's), they can not only grab a bite to eat, but pick up a few groceries for the following morning as well.  The food is amazing, and the prices are definitely amazing too.  Ms Susana caters to locals, and many of our guests are here to back-pack Belize and experience it as a local as well. 
Picture
Picture
Picture
Ms. Susana came over to the table to greet us, it was exciting to get to see her after months of pandemic madness.  Everyone has a little local hangout (that's close to home), where they enjoy some of their favorites.  La Divina Providencia is that place for us.  It's close to the hotel (just around the corner), the food is great, the prices are great and it's a family owned business just like us.  We've gotten nothing but great reviews and comments (from our guests), thanking us for helping them to find this wonderful place.
Picture
Picture
The boys each tried their favorite drink, Romen had watermelon juice and Jaymin had a banana smoothie.  Drinks were delicious and the boys fist bumped to a amazing tasty moment.  
Picture
La Divinia Providiencia - Watermelon Juice & Banana Smoothie
La Divina Providencia - Restaurant & Grocery Store
Within walking distance of Belize Budget Suites

Picture
Stewed Chicken
Picture
Chicken Quesadilla
Picture
Chicken Salbutes
After a most delicious lunch, we headed south of the island.  Our first two birds that we saw were a "Hooded Oriole" and a "Tropical Mockingbird".  Both birds are very common on the island (we have them around the house), so no big surprise to see these first off. 
Picture
Hooded Oriole
Picture
Tropical Mockingbird
All of us had our eyes pointed up, scanning the tree tops and bushes.  Out of Marcy's peripheral vision she spotted movement, and quickly blurted out:  "What bird is that?"  As I looked up (I began to laugh), it was a Tropic Air plan flying by.  "Cessna", I told her, "That is what they call a Cessna".  We both enjoyed a good laugh, for this most unusual bird sighting.
Picture
We pulled the golf cart off the road and headed toward the beach.  Here we saw a number of "double-breasted cormorants", sitting on old dock posts, a boat-billed heron, a few brown pelicans, seagulls and ducks.  The boys always need help spotting the birds, as they usually don't know exactly where we're looking.  Marcy pointed them in the right direction, and they quickly saw all of them.
Picture
Nestled at the edge of the mangrove, we saw a boat-billed heron.
Picture
Red Mangroves
Picture
Boat-Billed Heron
Picture
Red Mangrove
What is interesting about this habitat, is the red mangroves that we saw growing at the beach shoreline.  Belize is home to 4 different species of mangoves.
  1. Red mangove (Rhizophora mangle)
  2. White mangrove (Laguncalaria racemosa)
  3. Black mangove (Avicennia germinans)
  4. Buttonwood (Conocarpus erectus).
The ones you see in this photo, are called "Red Mangroves".  Why are mangroves important?  There is a number of reasons (but for the purpose of this blog), they are important because of the habitat they provide for many birds. 
How do you tell the different mangroves apart?
Red mangrove - 
is the tallest of all local species, it can grow to a height of over 80 feet tall.  It has large broad leaves grow to 5 inches, with a blunt point. The leaves are waxy, dark green above and below. The key characteristics of the Red mangrove are the "prop roots" derived from the trunk and “drop roots” from the branches.
Black mangrove - is the second tallest species, reaching heights over 65 feet in height.  The leaves grow about 4 inches in length, with a blunt point.  The leaves are dark green above and a pale green below.  The leaf under surface is covered with dense hairs. The key characteristics of the Black mangroves are the aerial roots growing from underground upward. 
White mangrove - is the smallest species existing as a tree or shrub with maximum heights of 50 feet. The leaf shape is a broad, flat oval rounded at both ends.  White mangrove often develop peg roots which are similar to pneumatophores except they are shorter and more stout in appearance.
Buttonwood mangrove - is more frequently found in the upland transitional zone. Its pointed leaves possess salt glands as openings alternating along the midrib on the underside of the leaf. Rather than producing seedlings that germinate on the parent tree, buttonwoods flower with the formation of a button-like seed case.

Picture
Picture
Red Mangrove
Picture
Black Mangrove
Picture
White Mangrove
Picture

Birds We Saw Today

Picture
White Ibis
Picture
Great Egrets
Picture
Tri-Colored Heron
White Ibis - American White Ibis, in Belize. The white ibis is a medium-sized bird. It is about 60 cm (2 feet) tall and has a wingspan of about 90 cm (3 feet). The white ibis breeds in large colonies that may include other wading birds.

Great Egrets - It is the most widespread of all the herons in Belize. The great egret feeds in all the shallow waters of Belize. This large bird coils its sinewy neck, ready to spear prey. Prey includes fish, aquatic invertebrates and reptiles.

Tri-Color Herons - These herons are the only dark-colored ones with a white belly. Tricolored herons are one of the herons in Belize that are the most abundant. When stalking prey, the Tricolored heron will go deeper into the water than any other heron.
Picture
Great Blue Heron
Picture
Reddish Egret
Picture
Red Knot Sandpiper
Great Blue Herons - The Great Blue Heron is the largest and most widespread heron in Belize. It is a large bird, with a slate-gray body, chestnut and black accents, and very long legs and an "S"-shaped neck. Great Blue Herons are very tall and stand 38-54 inches.

Reddish Egrets - The Reddish Egret is a small heron. It is a resident breeder in Central America, The Bahamas, the Caribbean, the Gulf Coast of the United States, Mexico and Belize.  In the past, this bird was a victim of the plume trade.

Red Knot Sandpipers -  This medium-sized sandpiper has black, brown and gray scaled upperparts, a red-brown face, neck, breast and sides, and a white lower belly. It has a slightly curved black bill. The wings show white bars in flight. Diet includes insects, larvae, mollusks and crabs.
Picture
Purple Martin Swallows
Picture
Yucatan Woodpecker
Picture
Black Vulture
As we drove along the south end of the island, purple martin swallows flew overhead.  They were so fast, and often so many (in a flock), their movements were fast and jerky, as they suddenly flew upward and downward with the wind.  As we continued on, Jaymin spotted a black vulture on a tree post.  We backed the cart up to get a closer look, which didn't seem to disturb him one bit.  These were the same type of birds we saw on our bird tour (up north on Ambergris Caye) a few weeks ago.  Next Marcy spotted a Yucatan Woodpecker, drilling into one of the power poles along the sandy road (south of the island).  

Purple Martins - the Purple Martin, the biggest swallow in North America, by the way, is one of the earliest migratory visitors to Belize, showing up from between July to late August. We see them in large numbers because, when they are not breeding, they hang out in huge flocks and roost together in great numbers.

Yucatan Woodpecker - The Yucatán woodpecker is found in Belize, Honduras, and Mexico, and ranges over the entire Yucatán Peninsula. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests, subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, and heavily degraded former forest.

Black Vultures - Are most abundant at low elevations. They breed in dense woodlands but usually forage in open habitats. They roost in undisturbed stands of tall trees, including sycamores, pines, hickories, oaks, junipers, and bald cypress. The total population is extremely large with at least 10,000 mature individuals.

Marco Gonzales Maya Site

As we continued heading south on Ambergris Caye, we came to the site known as the Marco Gonzalez Maya Site.  It's located near the southern tip of Ambergris Caye, about 6 miles south of San Pedro and is surrounded by dense jungle. It covers an area of approximately 8 acres on a small area of elevated terrain.  Over 2,000 years ago, the area would have been much larger as evidenced by archaeological debris underlying mangrove stands.  Before sea levels rose, the area is thought to have been beaches and a direct access to the sea.  The rise in sea levels over the past 20 years has significantly altered the land mass.
Prior to Covid-19, there was a booth at the entrance, and trails that allowed you to walk to the site.  Now, however, the trails are overgrown and visits to the site are difficult, especially during the rainy season.
Ambergris Caye was home to an estimated 20,000 Maya traders at the height of their occupation of the island. There are 18 sites recognized on the 25 mile long island and none of these sites had been preserved.  By April 1, 2011, the paperwork was signed with the Belizean Government, making the Marco Gonzalez the first Maya Site National Park on Ambergris Caye.   The development of the site is a huge undertaking. NICH has estimated the cost at $1.5M USD for the Visitor/Educational Center, footbridge, parking lot, restrooms, security buildings, etc. In the desire to go "green", wind and solar power is being explored to compliment local electricity. Composting restrooms and recycled plastic "lumber" for the boardwalk are being discussed. Grants and donations are being sought to make this dream come true.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
The Marco Gonzales Maya Site was boarded up when we got there.  With this pandemic, there just hasn't been enough funding to support keeping it open.  Someday when the pandemic is over, we hope to go back to the site and take a walking tour.  This site (unlike many others in Belize), was built using conch shells and much of it is submerged under the water table, making it hard to excavate.  So we'll save this adventure for later.

Ending Our Bird Tour

This was a great afternoon spent bird watching on Ambergris Caye going South.  We certainly saw way more birds than expected.  This pandemic has been hard on many, and available cash is hard to come by.  We try to pick adventures that cost very little money, and yet provide quality time with both the boys.  Bird watching is an activity that does just that (it costs nothing, except the gas), and has become a highlight for Marcy, Romen, Jaymin & myself.  We promised the boys, before ending our bird-watching tour, that we'd stop and get them a special dessert.  So our last stop of the day, was to try out the Turtle Cheesecake at Black Orchid Restaurant.  We had seen a post on Facebook, of this cheesecake and thought this is just too good to be true (so the next time we're out), we need to check this out.  Black Orchid Restaurant is located about 2.5 miles south of the center of San Pedro, and about 1 mile south of Belize Budget Suites.
Picture
Picture
Picture
As we pulled up to BLACK ORCHID RESTAURANT, one of the waitresses came outside to greet us (wearing a mask), "Are you the lady bringing 2 boys in Belize, here for cheesecake?  "Yes", I told her, and "We're excited to check this out."  This chilly afternoon seemed like the perfect opportunity for a cup of hot green tea, along with a quick visit with Judyann Horton (general manager - who runs the show), just a wonderful person and so dedicated to her mission.  We absolutely loved our experience at the restaurant, the staff was warm and inviting and made us feel right at home.
Picture
Picture
Picture
The staff at Black Orchid Restaurant gave the boys pirate hats, crayons and a treasure map to color while waiting for their Red-Velvet Cake & Turtle Cheesecake.  Of course, we got creative with the whole pirate thing, and a whole slue of pictures transpired right at the table.  
Picture
Picture
Though we came in for the cheesecake, the boys really enjoyed the red velvet cake more, while Marcy and I devored the cheesecake.  Romen got a little cranky towards the end and made Marcy apologize for taking bites out of his cake (giggle).  Both were absolutely delicious and we can certainly recommend these two wonderful desserts to anyone looking to partake of something truly scrumptious. 
Picture
This ends another adventure for 2 Boys in Belize. 
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    Nani Turley

    This lovely lady I'm sitting next to (is Roman's mom), the mother to my grandson.  Together, we are going to take the boys (Jaymin  & Romen - Jaymin being my other grandson), on a series of adventures throughout the country of Belize.  This is our photo diary of those adventures, to share with you.  Many of these adventures can be enjoyed by families (just like us), while traveling on vacation in Belize.

    Archives

    July 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    July 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021

    Categories

    All
    About Belize Birds
    About Belize Zoo
    About Bird Watching
    About Cave Exploring
    About Coconuts In Belize
    About Coffee Roasting
    About Dock Fishing W/ Kids
    About Fishing Gear For Kids
    About Fun Things To Eat
    About Graduation
    About Horseback Riding
    About Ice Cream Tour
    About - Sports Day
    About - Stimulus Month
    About - Tree Planting
    About - What Is A Chef?

    RSS Feed


    Bucket-List For Kids

    Scratch Off As You Go

    Things to do w/ Kids

    Ambergris Caye
    Bird Watching - Ambergris Caye
    Chicken Drop
    Crab Races - Nauti Crab
    Culture House - San Pedro
    Feed the Birds - Off the Dock
    Fishing - From a Dock
    Fishing - Deep Sea 1/2 day
    Fishing - Reef 1/2 day
    Fishing - Fly Fishing 1/2 day
    Fishing - Flat Fishing 1/2 day
    Sailing - Day Sail Caye Caulker
    Sailing - Around the Island
    Sailing - Manatee Watch
    Snorkeling - Mexico Rocks
    Snorkeling - Hol Chan Reserve
    Snorkeling - Shark Ray Alley
    Shopping - Island Gift Shops
    Swimming - Secret Beach
    Swimming - Boca del Rio
    Tour - Belize Chocolate Factory
    Tour - Caye Coffee Factory
    Tour - Crocodile Encounter
    Tour - Marco Gonzales Mayan Site
    Tour - Paradice Ice Cream Factory
    Truck Stop - Kids Movie Night
    CAYE CAULKER
    Caye Caulker Split

    Things to do w/ Kids

    MAINLAND BELIZE
    ATM Cave Exploring
    ATV Jungle Dirt Bikes
    Baboon Sanctuary
    Barron Bliss Lighthouse
    Belize Zoo - All indigenous Animals
    Bird Watching - Crooked Tree
    Black Hole Cave Rappelling
    Blue Hole National Park
    Butterfly Farm
    Cockscomb Wildlife Sanctuary
    Culture House - Belize City
    Cave Tubing
    Cave Canoeing - Barton Creek
    Cave - St. Herman's Cave
    Green Iguana Conservation
    Hiking - Mt. Pine Ridge
    Horseback Riding in Rainforest
    Horse & Buggy Ride Belize City
    Old Belize - Belize City
    Old Belize Cultural Center
    Ruins - Altun Ha Mayan Ruins
    Ruins - Cahal Pech Mayan Ruins
    Ruins - Caracol Mayan Ruins
    Ruins - Lamanai Mayan Ruins
    Ruins - Xunantunich Mayan Ruins
    Ruins - Tikal (Guatemala)
    San Ignacio Food Market
    Swing Bridge - Belize City
    Tour - Banana Farms
    Tour - Chocolate Farms
    Tour - Museum of Belize
    Zip Lining in Rainforest


    Foods to Try

    Fun Things to Eat with Kids
    Soursap Ice-Cream
    Salbutes
    Papusas
    Panadas
    Stewed Chicken
    Rice & Beans
    Chicken Quesadillas
    Custard Apples
    Dragon Fruit
    Lime Juice
    Watermelon Juice
    Horchata


    Birds to Find

    Common Birds on Ambergris Caye
    White Pelican
    Brown Pelican
    Seagulls
    Royal Tern
    Tropical Mockingbird
    Magnificent Frigatebird
    White Winged Dove
    Double Crested Cormorant
    White Ibis
    Blue Heron
    Black Vultures
    Great Kiskadee

    Animals to See

    Common Animals Found on Ambergris Caye
    Green Iguanas
    Black Iguanas
    American Crocodiles
    Raccoons
    Anteaters

Belize Budget Suites
First Class Accommodations for the Budget Traveler
WhatsApp (501) 632-3589  |  Calling within Belize (501) 226-4402 or (501) 632-3589 
Picture
All rights reserved. Copyright (2019-2023 belizebudgetsuites.com)
  • HOME
  • BOOK NOW
  • RATES
  • ACCOMMODATIONS
  • ABOUT US
    • Reviews & Testimonials
    • The Property
    • The Neighborhood
    • Blog - Belize Adventure
    • Blog - 2 Boys in Belize
    • FAQ
  • ABOUT BELIZE
    • Where is Belize?
    • Traveling to Belize >
      • International Flights & Airlines
      • Belize Visas & Immigration
      • Arriving in Belize
      • Belize Land Borders
      • Getting to the Island
      • Departing Belize
      • What to Bring
      • How To Save Money
    • Best Time to Visit
    • Know Before You Go
    • Is Belize Safe?
    • Belize by the Month
    • Belize Festivals >
      • Food Festivals
      • Chocolate Festival
      • Lobster Festival
      • Mango Festival
      • Taco Festival
    • Belize Maps
    • Belize History
    • Ambergris Caye
    • San Pedro
  • ADVENTURES
    • Where to Eat
    • Things to Do
    • Diving >
      • Diving in Belize
      • Diving Vacations
      • Diving Blue Hole
      • Diving Turneffe Atoll
      • Diving Barrier Reef
      • Diving Basil Jones
      • Night Diving
    • Snorkeling >
      • Snorkel in Belize
      • Snorkeling Vacations
      • Hol Chan Marine
      • Shark Ray Alley
      • Mexico Rocks & Tres Cocos
      • Coral Gardens
      • Blue Hole Snorkeling
      • Bachalar Chico Marine
    • Fishing >
      • Fishing in Belize
      • Fishing Vacations
      • Deep Sea Fishing
      • Reef Fishing
      • Flat Fishing
      • Night Fishing
      • Robles Fishing, Snorkel & Beach BBQ
      • Fishing Charters
    • Sailing >
      • Sailing in Belize
      • Sailing Vacations
      • Day Sail to Caye Caulker
      • Manatee Watch Snorkel Goff Caye
      • Sail Around the Island
      • Sunset Sail
      • Sunset Houseboat
      • Sunset Dinner Cruise
      • Sunset Houseboat-Tapas
      • Island Hopping
      • Private Catamaran Charters
    • Jungle >
      • Jungles in Belize
      • Jungle Vacations
      • Bird Watching
      • Birds of Belize
      • Belize Annual Bird Festival
      • Zip Lining
      • Jungle Trek
      • Antelope Falls Rappelling
      • ATV Jungle Bikes
      • Horseback Riding
      • Belize Zoo
      • Baboon Santuary
    • Caves >
      • Caving in Belize
      • Caving Vacations
      • ATM Cave
      • Black Hole Cave Rappelling
      • Cave Tubing
      • Cave Canoeing
      • Cave Waterfall Rappellilng
      • Cave Kayaking
      • Lost World Expedition
      • River Cave Expedition
      • 7 Miles of Caves
    • Mayan Temples >
      • Temples in Belize
      • Mayan Vacations
      • Altun Ha Ruins
      • Cahal Pech Ruins
      • Caracol Ruins
      • Cerros Maya Ruins
      • Lamanai Mayan Ruins
      • Lubaantun Site
      • Nim Li Punit Ruins
      • Santa Rita Mayan Ruins
      • Tikal (Guatamala)
      • Xunantunich
    • Gallery >
      • Jungle Zip Lining
      • ATM Cave
      • Lamanai Mayan Ruins
      • Belize Zoo
      • Hol Chan-Shark Ray
      • Cave Tubing
      • Xunantunich
  • CONTACT US