A Bit of Belize

I have such a backlog of things to blog about. This calls for frequent but short segments to make headway. Today I have just a handful of photos from Belize. These are of birds that are really too far away to make a good picture, but are exciting never-the-less.

The first day we were there, we walked to the back of our lot to Black Creek. I looked up and saw a large bird flying high overhead. I quickly snapped 4 or 5 shots, not even checking to see what bird it was. As I focused on focusing and panning, somewhere in the back of my mind a little voice was shouting “Wood stork! Wood stork!” And indeed it was. They are listed as “irregular” in Central America, and although I have seen them before, this was the first time I had managed a photo.

Here are 2 soaring birds in one frame. The one in the lead is an osprey with a black vulture in lazy pursuit. I didn’t see until I downloaded the images to my computer that the osprey was carrying a fish in its talons. No wonder the vulture was tailing it! Check out the second photo for a closer view of the osprey and fish. 

Both of these birds are local residents of our very own beach.  The last photo shows one of the 5 or so resident black vultures on a favorite perch.  Kind of cute in his own way with that sparkle in his eye, don't you think?