A mega has fallen! Newfoundland birders (including me) have been enjoying a very rare BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER this weekend. Second provincial record of this vagrant from waaaaay over on the other side of the continent. #BirdTheRock #BirdsNL #KowaOptics #ABArare

Sparrows get a pretty raw deal, on the whole. Universally labeled as small, brown, and unremarkable, they are often ignored and always underappreciated. If you're a birdwatcher with taste, though, you know that sparrows are some of the handsomest birds out there. 🧵

Lovely Cotinga! Maybe not the best photo, but very possibly the best bird of the tour! Our @EagleEyeTours group was VERY lucky to spot this sought-after (but rarely seen) species in Belize last week. The sighting alone kept us high all day :) #OffTheRock #NatureRocks #KowaOptics

Another beautiful sunrise at Crooked Tree, Belize for our @EagleEyeTours group. Our tour of Belize & Tikal is winding down yet again, but still a few highlights to come this evenjng as we enjoy some mangrove birding and a sunset boat tour :) #OffTheRock #NatureRocks #KowaOptics

White-necked & White-whiskered Puffbirds. These quiet and often overlooked birds typically perch silently, waiting to ambush insects and small animals. Our @EagleEyeTours group enjoyed seeing these two species as we explored Belize & Tikal recently. #OffTheRock #KowaOptics

Master of disguise. Northern Potoos (like all potoos) spend the day sleeping and hiding in trees, using their incredible camouflage to look like just another part of the woodwork. This fella was doing just that high in a tree at Tikal National Park recently - with @EagleEyeTours

Our @EagleEyeTours Belize & Tikal tours have had some great owl encounters these past two weeks! While the Central American Pygmy Owl (see my last post) was one such highlight, the Spectacled, Ferruginous Pygmy and Mottled Owls have also put on a spectacular show. Fantastic!

Volume up :) This Central American Pygmy Owl was a huge hit with our @EagleEyeTours group last week. With a very restricted range and secretive habits, this is definitely one of the harder owls to spot in Belize - but spot it we did at Jade Jungle Lodge. What a great encounter!

Our @EagleEyeTours group has enjoyed more than "just" birds during our Belize & Tikal adventure. From spider monkeys to crocodiles and coatis to butterflies, the abundance of life in Northern Central America is awe-inspiring. #OffTheRock #EagleEyeTours #NatureRocks #KowaOptics

Stunning sunrise over the Crooked Tree lagoon, Belize this morning. Our @EagleEyeTours group was greeted by a beautiful morning for some birding as our Belize & Tikal tour begins to wind down. #OffTheRock #EagleEyeTours #Belize #NatureRocks #KowaOptics

Slaty-tailed Trogon :) Some birds look better from a certain angle, but trogons are pretty spectacular however you get to see them. This male was incredibly obliging for our @EagleEyeTours group during a walk at Tikal National Park (Guatemala) recently. #OffTheRock #KowaOptics

Orange-breasted Falcon!! As if seeing an awesome & endangered falcon isn't enough, the fact that it was sitting atop an ancient Mayan temple in Tikal put this experience over the top for our @EagleEyeTours group. Video shot using my phone and trusty Kowa TSN-883 spotting scope.

Just a few photos from our @EagleEyeTours group's first full day in Tikal National Park. So many iconic birds to see and experience in this amazing place. #OffTheRock #EagleEyeTours #Tikal #Guatemala #KowaOptics #NatureRocks

A few photos from the day of our @EagleEyeTours trip to Belize & Tikal. We did a little birding around Belize City before crossing the birder to Guatemala and the amazingness that is Tikal National Park. Stay tuned for more highlights from there ;) #OffTheRock #KowaOptics

#OffTheRock Switching gears yet again! I'm back in Belize & Tikal (Guatemala) for the next few weeks, leading two tours for @EagleEyeTours. Stay tuned for lots of fun highlights! #EagleEyeTours #Belize #Tikal #NatureRocks #GuidingLife #KowaOptics

Another highlight from a recent "Newfoundland in Winter" with WINGS Birding Tours were the Tufted Ducks. Definitely one of the smartest looking ducks around, we are lucky to have dozens wintering in St. John's - a rarity anywhere else in the ABA :) #BirdTheRock #BirdsNL

Boreal Chickadees are tough, making the best winter in Canada's boreal forests. Our WINGS Birding Tours group enjoyed spending time with a few of these endearing birds - right in a St. John's city park - during a recent "Newfoundland in Winter" tour. #BirdTheRock #BirdsNL

Willow Ptarmigan are a treat anytime, but they are extra nice in their winter dress. Our WINGS Birding Tours group had a memorable encounter with two ptarmigan last week - a little easier to spot than usual with a lack of snow on the wide open barrens ;) #BirdTheRock #BirdsNL

I've turned my attention to "winter" tours, but the weather so far this month has been anything but wintery. Our annual WINGS tour enjoyed a beautiful day exploring St. John's, including this stunning scene at Quidi Vidi village as the sun started to set. #BirdTheRock #ExploreNL

The breakwater in Petty Harbour was overcome by the waves and storm surge but did its job of protecting the community. (1/5/25) 🎥 Bonnie Lake #NLwx

Beard envy 😎 Technically a "wattle", male Bearded Bellbirds combine these sexy beards with one of the loudest (and least musical!) songs in the bird world. Our @EagleEyeTours enjoyed this encounter with several vocal males during our recent trip to Trinidad & Tobago.