Conservation Biology Field Course, Mexico, Days 14-15

A Green Iguana (Iguana iguana) at the edge of the Río Hondo.
(Photo: Wai Yi)

This is the last blog entry for the 2013 Mexico field course. Our last full day in Mexico was free to do whatever we wanted. Some went on a boat trip along the Río Hondo, which forms the border between Mexico and Belize. Others went to relax next to Laguna Bacalar and Cenote Azul. "Read on" for photos.



The trip along the river was a nice relaxing end to the trip. We saw plenty of birds and iguanas, but no crocodiles this time. Anne was particularly sad not to see a croc--maybe next time...

Black Vultures on "Vulture Island". (Photo: Wai Yi)

Double-crested Cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus).
(Photo: Wai Yi)

A Plain Chachalaca (Ortalis vetula vetula) flies
through the treetops. (Photo: Wai Yi)

A Great Bule Heron (Ardea herodias) crosses the Río Hondo.
(Photo: Wai Yi)

A female Anhinga (Anhinga anhinga). (Photo: Wai Yi)

A Green Iguana (Iguana iguana). (Photo: Wai Yi)

Another Green Iguana (Iguana iguana). (Photo: Wai Yi)

The alternative, "conservation-free" day to Laguna Bacalar and Cenote Azul...

Cenote Azul. 90 m deep, straight down! (Photo: Jasmine Owen)

Laguna Bacalar. (Photo: Jasmine Owen)

Clear blue water of Laguna Bacalar.
(Photo: Jasmine Owen)

A typical meal from the bar.
(Photo: Jasmine Owen)

Finishing off the premature aging and topping up
the melanomas. (Photo: Jasmine Owen)

The next day we said goodbye to Chetumal, with its quirky shops and exotic wildlife. 

A breakfast companion: a Golden-fronted Woodpecker
(Centurus aurifrons dubius). (Photo: Wai Yi)

An Aztec Parakeet (Aratinga aztec). (Photo: Wai Yi)

Hurricanes are a fact of life (and death) in Chetumal. This
monument remembers the tragic story of Hurricane
Wilma, here shown taking a baby. (Photo: Reanne Kelf)

Chetumal has a long history of fishing. (Photo: Wai Yi)

Relaxing in a room at Hotel Ucum (Photo: Wai Yi)

The "lechón" made up a crucial part of our annual
taco-eating competition. Sadly, the apparent winners were
disqualified later, leaving four people in joint first place
with 12. (Photo: Wai Yi)

Attacks by the Black-bellied Whistling Ducks (Dendrocygna
autumnalis) at Carla's place became a spectator sport.
(Photo: Wai Yi)

Anne's friend? (Photo: Wai Yi)

A long wait for some of us at the airport. (Photo: Wai Yi)