Belize: Relaxed & Easy 2025

Dates: March 13–20, 2025

Leaders: Michael O’Brien & Louise Zemaitis

E-bird

Total species: 221 birds

Overall Summary

This year’s Relaxed & Easy Belize tour delivered exceptional birding and wildlife experiences in two of the country’s richest regions: Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary and Lamanai. Despite unusually high water levels, Crooked Tree was as lively as ever, centered around a fruiting fig that attracted waves of woodpeckers, orioles, tanagers, honeycreepers, and warblers. Boat trips revealed standout species such as Agami Heron, Bare-throated Tiger-Heron, Pinnated Bittern, Black-collared Hawk, and Snail Kite. Morning and evening walks around Bird’s Eye View Lodge added Least Grebe, Russet-naped Wood-Rail, Ringed Kingfisher, and memorable night wildlife including bats, frogs, and a lunar eclipse.

At Lamanai, the mix of rich lowland forest, Maya ruins, and waterways created nonstop excitement. Daily pre-breakfast walks, temple visits, and boat excursions produced a long list of specialties: Slaty-tailed and Gartered Trogons, Red-capped Manakin, Yucatan Nightjar, Northern Potoo, kingfishers, Yellow-lored Amazon, Grasshopper Sparrow, and Black Catbird. A sunset cocktail cruise and productive spotlight safari rounded out an unforgettable week in Belize.

Day-by-Day Summary

March 13 – Arrival
Guests arrived in Belize City and transferred to Bird’s Eye View Lodge at Crooked Tree. A lunar eclipse delighted late-night watchers.

March 14 – Crooked Tree & Spanish Creek
Early birding around the lodge brought orioles, euphonias, tanagers, and an impressive mix of warblers. A boat trip to Spanish Creek produced Agami Heron, Limpkin, Pinnated Bittern, Bare-throated Tiger-Heron, Black-collared Hawk, and three kingfisher species. An afternoon outing to the pine savanna added Acorn Woodpecker, Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl, and Yucatan Jay.

March 15 – Altun Ha
The group toured the ancient Maya temples of Altun Ha, where swifts, Wood Storks, Jabirus, and Bat Falcon added excitement. Afternoon birding at Crooked Tree concluded with a productive night walk featuring Common Pauraque, Boat-billed Heron, and multiple bat species.

March 16 – Transfer to Lamanai
After morning birding at Crooked Tree and a stop in the pine savanna, the group boarded a boat down the New River. Along the way, sightings included Green Kingfisher, Rufous-browed Peppershrike, and Yellow-tailed Oriole.

March 17 – Lamanai Ruins (Part 1)
A full morning exploring the Jaguar Temple and surrounding forest brought Slaty-tailed and Gartered Trogons, Pale-billed Woodpecker, Ivory-billed Woodcreeper, Red-capped Manakin, and numerous migrants. Afternoon birding along the entrance road added flycatchers, trogons, and parrots.

March 18 – Lamanai Ruins (Part 2) & Indian Creek
Visiting the Mask Temple, High Temple, and Ball Court produced more forest specialties. An afternoon trip to Indian Creek yielded Sora, Purple Gallinule, American Golden-Plover, Pectoral Sandpiper, Eastern Meadowlark, and large bunting and grosbeak flocks. A nighttime spotlight safari delivered Yucatan Nightjar, Northern Potoo, and Russet-naped Wood-Rail.

March 19 – Dawson’s Creek & Sunset Cruise
A serene early boat trip revealed Crane Hawk, American Pygmy Kingfisher, Yellow-headed Amazon, Botteri’s Sparrow, and Gray-crowned Yellowthroat. A sunset cocktail cruise on New River Lagoon closed the day with herons, Limpkins, migrating swallows, Ruddy Crake, and a spectacular sunset.