An Island To Call Home

Far away from home up on a balcony above the world, we sat and watched the world pass by.  It was a place where we could sleep in and not stress out about the equipment.  I drank my coffee and watched the beautiful waterways around the island of Flores, Guatemala.  Some of the easiest birding ever.

Green Heron

I watched for birds and my friend Lynda watched for.....well other forms of wildlife.  There happened to be a marathon brewing around Guatemala and everyone was getting in shape for the big day.

It's interesting that from our rooftop views, we could see many wonderful things.  The flycatchers were incredible!

Great Kiskadee

And of course the sunrises and sunsets were pretty spectacular.

Many tourists stop in Flores and then head to Tikal for a day or two.  Personally, for me, Flores was a much needed break from the chaos of Guatemala.  It's a safe little island for the traveler to let down their hair. There are nice accommodations, great restaurants, and travel agencies around this half mile island.

Ringed Kingfisher

One night we walked the perimeter of the island and found this massive Ringed Kingfisher perched on a phone line.  Mother of Pearls!  I've seen this bird twice in my life and each time I've forgotten how big it is!

Mangrove Swallow

But do you know what's not big?  These adorable Mangrove Swallows.  I love swallows, but these little guys stole my heart.   They were everywhere along the island. Along the way, we stopped for coffee, drinks and food.  I really had some wonderful sleep during this leg of the trip. Maybe because there was air conditioning?:)  Also note that there are ATM machines here.

Bananaquit

There were Grackles everywhere.  Keep your eyes open for the Bananaquit. In the center of the island, there is a lovely little park.  It's a wonderful little place to restore your energy after many rocky and bumpy trails out in the wild.

Have you ever heard of a Bananaquit?  As you can imagine, it's a bird that loves plantains....and bananas!  Pretty cool tropical bird.  More to come.....
Today I'm linking up with Wild Bird Wednesdays