During our first 2024 expedition we got to learn about and visit Poza del Nance, a coastal pool in Sipacate that is among the only places in the world where sea turtles can be sighted all year long. It was inevitably one of the most inspiring and beautiful experiences the FLAAR team got to experience, but it was definitely not the only remarkable experience of this trip.
A boat-billed heron (Cochlearius cochlearius) perching on a tree. We were able to see many groups of approximately 25 individuals each, perching and resting in mangrove trees. Lagunita San Marcos, Jan. 28, 2024. Photo by: Brandon Hidalgo.
The goal was to document waterbirds and migratory birds among the coastal and mangrove ecosystems of the South Coast of Guatemala. More particularly, in the municipality of Sipacate, and the nearby village of Monterrico. In that sense, we got to visit seven main locations:
- Bocabarra de Sipacate (Río Acomé’s rivermouth in Sipacate)
- Poza del Nance
- Salinera Delicias del Mar (salt farm)
- Canal de Chiquimulilla (the Sipacate side)
- Canal de Chiquimulilla (the Monterrico side)
- Lagunita San Marcos
- Laguna Puente Grande
Laguna Puente Grande constitutes a wetland area which is crucial for many migratory birds. Further in the distance you can see a group of wood storks (Mycteria americana) which can migrate from Florida perching on a caducifolius tree. On the horizon the volcanoes Agua, De Fuego and Acatenango can be spotted (at the left). Laguna Puente Grande, Jan. 29, 2024. Photo by: Brandon Hidalgo.
In total, we were able to count the sighting of more than 30 species, from which we were most excited to see wood storks, blue-winged teals, roseate spoonbills, white ibises, white pelicans and many shorebirds species which come to Guatemala on their migration.
A group of stilt sandpipers (Calidris himantopus) is resting in the Río Acomé rivermouth. Stilt sandpipers can migrate from the New World Arctic to South America. Jan. 28, 2024. Photo by: Alejandra Gutiérrez.
In addition, one of FLAAR’s focus topics for several years now has been documenting birds and animals portrayed in Maya art. In that sense, we also wanted to document and photograph some of the birds that may be the ones that inspired many drawings and designs in Maya vases, murals, etc. If you wish to learn more information regarding this topic feel free to check this previous article regarding the species we have looked for and photographed:
During our trip we were also able to document how the Central American Census of Aquatic Birds was being held by competent scientists and the support of FUNDAECO, whose enthusiastic administrators were kind enough to invite us to witness this activity. Watching hundreds or even thousands of shorebirds take flight on these coastal ecosystems is certainly a unique show to wonder at and a beautiful experience to sight if you live in Guatemala or wish to come visit the country.
A group of white ibises (Eudocimus albus) is flying to another feeding area early in the morning. White ibises migrate in winter from the southern United States. Laguna Puente Grande, Jan. 29, 2024. Photo by: Alejandra Gutiérrez.
In relation to that, not only did we get to watch sea turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea) reach the surface to breath in Poza del Nance, but another of the most exciting and sublime experiences was to navigate the Canal de Chiquimulilla early in the morning to reach Laguna Puente Grande. In previous years our team had already navigated this man made channel and been able to document the mangrove and tule (Typha spp.) ecosystems and the migratory species that feed in it. However, reaching the lagoon while it is still dark and watching the sunrise in a motor canoe while navigating beneath hundreds of flying migratory aquatic birds has to be one of the most beautiful things you can experience. The scenery, the blooming aquatic vegetation and in general the colors in the landscape make up to one of the most beautiful experiences as most of the members of the team agreed later on.
Sea turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) head breathing in the Poza del Nance, Sipacate, Naranjo, Jan 26. 2024. Photography by Edwin Solares.
Regarding the work of FUNDAECO in Sipacate, we learned about their project among salt farms to protect and create new habitats among the farms where shorebirds can feed throughout their migration. One of their main projects aims to help salt harvesters to have better incomes, to protect the salt farming activity (which has been held traditionally for many generations), and to create awareness among local villagers regarding local conservation and the vital importance of the surrounding ecosystems for migratory birds.
You can find white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) flying in groups of hundreds and forming long zigzaging lines among the coastal areas of Guatemala. Laguna Puente Grande, Jan. 29, 2024. Photo by: Brandon Hidalgo.
We share our fieldnotes of this trip, so you can learn what birds and waterbirds we found:
List of sighted species on Río Acomé and Bocabarra (Sipacate river mouth):
- Whimbrel 3 aprox. – Numenius phaeopus
- American avocet 20 approx. – Recurvirostra americana
- Black-necked stilt 20 approx. – Himanoptus mexicanus
- Caspian tern 40 aprox. – Hydroprogne caspian
- Great egret 3 aprox. – Ardea alba
List of sighted species on Poza del Nance and Salinera Delicias del Mar (salt farm):
- Black-necked stilt 10 approx. – Himantopus mexicanus
- Blue-winged teal 15 approx. – Spatula discors
- Whimbrel 1 aprox. – Numenius phaeopus
- White ibis 2 aprox. – Eudocimus albus
- Reddish egret 1 – Egretta rufescens
- Wood stork 2 – Mycteria americana
List of sighted species on Salinera Delicias del Mar (salt farm):
- Black-necked stilt 15 approx. – Himantopus mexicanus
- American avocet 15 approx. – Recurvirostra americana
- Blue-winged teal 6 approx. – Spatula discors
- Whimbrel 1 aprox. – Numenius phaeopus
- Neotropical cormorant 20 approx. – Nannopterum brasilianum
- White ibis 2 approx. – Eudocimus albus
- Reddish egret 1 – Egretta rufescens
- Wood stork 6 – Mycteria americana
LIst of sighted species on Canal de Chiquimulilla and Lagunita San Marcos
- Ringed kingfisher – Megaceryle torquata
- Green kingfisher – Chloroceryle americana
- Osprey – Pandion haliaetus
- Wood stork – Mycteria americana
- White ibis – Eudocimus albus
- Great egret – Ardea alba
- Little blue heron – Egretta caerulea
- Green heron – Butorides virescens
- Tricolored heron – Egretta tricolor
- Northern jacana – Jacana spinosa
- Boat-billed heron – Cochlearius cochlearius
- Turkey vulture – Cathartes aura
- Great kiskadee – Pitangus sulphuratus
- Snowy egret – Egretta thula
- Black-crowned night heron – Nycticorax nycticorax
- Neotropical cormorant – Phalacrocorax brasilianus
- Great-tailed grackle – Quiscalus mexicanus
LIst of sighted species on Canal de Chiquimulilla and Laguna Puente Grande
- Wood stork – Mycteria americana
- Black-crowned night heron 15 approx. – Nycticorax nycticorax
- Neotropical cormorant – Phalacrocorax brasilianus
- Snowy egret – Ardea thula
- Little blue heron – Egretta caerulea
- Northern jacana – Jacana spinosa
- White pelican – Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
- Great egret – Ardea alba
- Black vulture – Coragyps atratus
- Osprey – Pandion haliaetus
- White ibis – Eudocimus albus
- Black-necked stilt – Himanoptus mexicanus
- Great kiskadee – Pitangus sulphuratus
- Great-tailed grackle – Quiscalus mexicanus
- Roseate spoonbill – Platalea ajaja
- Snail kite – Rostrhamus sociabilis
- Roadside hawk – Rupornis magnirostris
Written by Sergio D’angelo Jerez.
Species identification: Sergio D’angelo Jerez, Víctor Mendoza and Pamela Jerez.
February 2024.