Three dozen intrepid souls enjoyed our mid-March Reader Rendezvous journey to The Lodge and Spa at Pico Bonito in beautiful, tropical Honduras. Two groups of Rendezvousers enjoyed a week of birding, hiking, relaxing, swimming, and more, augmented by delectable dining and the attentive service of the Pico staff. Our birding guides Olbin and Older (week 1) and Older and Santos (week 2) went above and beyond in showing us the special birdlife of the Pico region. The birding highlights are too numerous to mention, but include great looks at great potoo, golden-hooded tanager, chestnut-colored woodpecker, black-and-white hawk-eagle, American pygmy kingfisher, ruddy crake, and of course, lovely cotinga.
While we are saddened by the news that Pico’s owners are closing the lodge, we are hopeful that a buyer can be found and this jewel of the tropics can resume its place atop the list of must-visit eco-lodges in the Americas.
You can hear an episode of the Out There with the Birds podcast recorded at Pico during the Rendezvous by Bill Thompson, III, and Ben Lizdas. To listen click here »
On his This Birding Life podcast, Bill Thompson, III, interviewed James Adams, marketing director at The Lodge at Pico Bonito, about the importance of the lodge to the region’s flora, fauna, and people, and the impending closure and the future of the lodge. You can listen to the episode here »
Check out our gallery below
Abeulo Bill with Santos (hijo) and Older (nieto). Photo by Bill Thompson, III.
Abeulo Bill with Santos (hijo) and Older (nieto). Photo by Bill Thompson, III.
Banana train ride. Photo by Bill Thompson, III.
Banana train ride. Photo by Bill Thompson, III.
BWD editor Bill Thompson, III, with James Adams.
BWD editor Bill Thompson, III, with James Adams.
Birding along Rio Santiago. Photo by Bill Thompson, III.
Birding along Rio Santiago. Photo by Bill Thompson, III.
Birding from tower 1 at Pico Bonito. Photo by Bill Thompson, III.
Birding from tower 1 at Pico Bonito. Photo by Bill Thompson, III.
Black-and-white owl. Photo by Bill Thompson, III.
Black-and-white owl. Photo by Bill Thompson, III.
Blue ground dove. Photo by Bill Thompson, III.
Blue ground dove. Photo by Bill Thompson, III.
Broad-billed motmot. Photo by Bill Thompson, III.
Broad-billed motmot. Photo by Bill Thompson, III.
Chestnut-colored Woodpecker. Photo by Bill Thompson, III.
Chestnut-colored Woodpecker. Photo by Bill Thompson, III.
Collared Aracari. Photo by Bill Thompson, III.
Collared Aracari. Photo by Bill Thompson, III.
Meal at Pico Bonito. Photo by Bill Thompson, III.
Meal at Pico Bonito. Photo by Bill Thompson, III.
Cuero y Salado. Photo by Bill Thompson, III.
Cuero y Salado. Photo by Bill Thompson, III.
David never not birding! Photo by Bill Thompson, III.
David never not birding! Photo by Bill Thompson, III.
Ferruginous Pygmy-owl. Photo by Bill Thompson, III.
Ferruginous Pygmy-owl. Photo by Bill Thompson, III.
Frigatebirds over Garifuna Village. Photo by Bill Thompson, III.
Frigatebirds over Garifuna Village. Photo by Bill Thompson, III.
Gray hawk. Photo by Bill Thompson, III.
Gray hawk. Photo by Bill Thompson, III.
Great potoo. Photo by Bill Thompson, III.
Great potoo. Photo by Bill Thompson, III.
Green honeycreeper. Photo by Bill Thompson, III.
Green honeycreeper. Photo by Bill Thompson, III.
Groove-billed Ani. Photo by Bill Thompson, III.
Groove-billed Ani. Photo by Bill Thompson, III.
Honduran rattlesnake. Photo by Bill Thompson, III.
Honduran rattlesnake. Photo by Bill Thompson, III.
Photo by Bill Thompson, III.
Photo by Bill Thompson, III.
Photo by Bill Thompson, III.
Photo by Bill Thompson, III.
Reader Rendezvous attendees at Pico Bonito. Photo by Bill Thompson, III.
Reader Rendezvous attendees at Pico Bonito. Photo by Bill Thompson, III.
Lesson's Motmot. Photo by Bill Thompson, III.
Lesson's Motmot. Photo by Bill Thompson, III.
Listening for the Central American Pygmy-Owl. Photo by Bill Thompson, III.
Listening for the Central American Pygmy-Owl. Photo by Bill Thompson, III.
Olbin at the Guias y Artesanos School. Photo by Bill Thompson, III.
Olbin at the Guias y Artesanos School. Photo by Bill Thompson, III.
Older with his mural. Photo by Bill Thompson, III.
Older with his mural. Photo by Bill Thompson, III.
Red-eyed tree frog. Photo by Bill Thompson, III.
Red-eyed tree frog. Photo by Bill Thompson, III.
Royal flycatcher. Photo by Bill Thompson, III.
Royal flycatcher. Photo by Bill Thompson, III.
Slaty-headed Tody-Flycatcher. Photo by Bill Thompson, III.
Slaty-headed Tody-Flycatcher. Photo by Bill Thompson, III.
Slaty-tailed trogon (female). Photo by Bill Thompson, III.
Slaty-tailed trogon (female). Photo by Bill Thompson, III.
Soaring white hawk, taken from a distance. Photo by Bill Thompson, III.
Soaring white hawk, taken from a distance. Photo by Bill Thompson, III.
Spectacled owl (adult). Photo by Bill Thompson, III.
Spectacled owl (adult). Photo by Bill Thompson, III.
Spectacled owl (owlet). Photo by Bill Thompson, III.
Spectacled owl (owlet). Photo by Bill Thompson, III.
Stripe-tailed hummingbird. Photo by Bill Thompson, III.
Stripe-tailed hummingbird. Photo by Bill Thompson, III.
Thick-billed seedfinch. Photo by Bill Thompson, III.
Thick-billed seedfinch. Photo by Bill Thompson, III.
Rendezvous attendees at the Big Sit, week 1. Photo by Bill Thompson, III.
Rendezvous attendees at the Big Sit, week 1. Photo by Bill Thompson, III.
Turquoise-browed motmot. Photo by Bill Thompson, III.
Turquoise-browed motmot. Photo by Bill Thompson, III.
Vermiculated screech-owl. Photo by Bill Thompson, III.
Vermiculated screech-owl. Photo by Bill Thompson, III.
Birders at Pico Bonito, week 1. Photo by Bill Thompson, III.
Birders at Pico Bonito, week 1. Photo by Bill Thompson, III.
Birders at Pico Bonito, week two. Photo by Bill Thompson, III.
Birders at Pico Bonito, week two. Photo by Bill Thompson, III.
Rendezvous attendees on the bus, week two. Photo by Bill Thompson, III.
Rendezvous attendees on the bus, week two. Photo by Bill Thompson, III.
White-crowned parrot. Photo by Bill Thompson, III.
White-crowned parrot. Photo by Bill Thompson, III.
Afternoon jam session. Photo by Ann Hoffert.
Afternoon jam session. Photo by Ann Hoffert.
Boat ride by Older Rodriguez
Boat ride by Older Rodriguez
Handing out the life savers photo by Ben Lizdas.
Handing out the life savers photo by Ben Lizdas.
Acuti photo by Jerry Zamirowski
Acuti photo by Jerry Zamirowski
Bus photo by Older Rodriguez
Bus photo by Older Rodriguez
Birding Pico Bonito, Week 1
March 6-13, 2018
Pico Bonito, Honduras
Check out the official checklist, available in PDF format.
