From Copan to Panacam

A New Zealander Birding in Honduras Feb 2024

We spent another day at the Mayan ruins, but this time outside the main park which was free, not only in monetary terms, but also in tourists! This part had not yet been fully excavated and was covered in grass so much of it looked liked mounds, but still fascinating. We walked around and had a look at some of them but we also looked for birds but only saw a few as they were not as abundant as the day before – but that is nature for you.

We were lucky enough to see a pair of painted buntings which is quite rare.

The Turquoise browed Motmot again - the motmot became one of my treasured birds (along with hummingbirds on this trip).

A Streaked Backed Oriole.

Some of the not fully excavated part of the Mayan City Ruins.

After lunch some lovely locals who saw I was trying to get a photo of them as they whizzed past on their motorbike with their dog - they came around the block and then stopped by us and posed so we could get a decent image. How kind. I love these random acts of kindness that people around the world do for you. I thought the dog very cute.

That night I made the biggest mistake of the whole trip. I cleaned my teeth with the tap water in the bathroom instead of bottled water. I fell ill. The next morning we were travelling up to Panacam on the bus, so I stopped myself up with medication and hoped for the best. It was a 5 hour drive of which I slept most of the way - but I did take a couple of photos out the window of the bus a we travelled…

It’s a reminder that Honduras is still a developing country, especially in rural regions and there is still a lot of poverty around.

By the time we arrived at Panacam Lodge, I could barely walk but made it to the cabin and into bed and just slept.

I woke the next morning much better, but still not 100%, but it was a real lesson – do not use the tap water, not even for teeth cleaning! I think I was pretty lucky to get away with just 24 hours sick too, although my appetite was off for the rest of the trip and I was weak for a few days.

I met up with the others for a walk around the hotel looking for birds early the next morning then we headed into breakfast at the lodge. There were hummingbird feeders around the breakfast verandah, so that was it for me – out came my monopod with a gimbal head, my camera, a comfy chair, some tea, and I was there for hours!

I have a fascination for hummingbirds, the acrobats of the bird species. The only birds that can fly backwards, they have the fastest wing movements. They constantly feed on nectar to keep their energy up. I so wish I could live in a place where I could photograph them all the time, or that they would miraculously fly to New Zealand and set up their home there! Their colours are fabulous with their feathers that flash so bright iridescence blues, purples, reds, pinks and greens. Maybe I should just buy some lotto tickets so I could travel to photograph them in every country instead. One of the disadvantages of living in New Zealand is that you have to travel so far to get anywhere and that is expensive.

Each regional area I have visited in Central America, have different hummingbirds. Here at Panacam, was the Rufous Tail, White Bellied, Long Billed Hermit, Violet Sabrewing.

I use a Canon R62 with a 100-500mm Lens. Where necessary a 1.4 Extender. I shoot in Manual. For birds in flight, I range from 1/1000 to 1/2000 depending on light and conditions, F8 to F10, and always Auto ISO.

I always use a monopod with a gimbal head as it gives me more freedom thana tripod.

Rufous Tail Hummingbird in Flight.

White Bellied Hummingbird. Hummingbirds expend so much energy flying, with their wings beating up to 5400 times per minute, that they spend a lot of time resting on branches and twigs.

Male Sabrewing - with the lovely purple colouring

And the female which looks quite different.

And the beautiful Long Billed Hermit. I have so many images of these in so many different positions, it’s hard to choose which ones to show!

Every now and then I think I should take up stamp collecting instead of Photography as it would be a cheaper option for me. By the time you add up the camera gear, and then the computer gear you have to have to edit the images, then all the air tickets and accommodation you need, with added guides, I would probably be a lot better off. But then I realise, it’s a passion and if you hold back your passions in life, you would be miserable. I’ve also met so many people both at home and abroad that share the same passion which has meant lifelong friendships. And that is something special.