stills of stilts

Dainty black-winged stilts (Himantopus himantopus) wade in the serene shallow waters of the Wetlands Reserve. Note the impressionist style of these photos.

 Birdwatching is a relaxing activity one can enjoy at Paya Bay Resort.

photo of the day

A crab catcher hunts in the Wetlands Reserve. Paya Bay Resort, Roatan, Honduras.

photo of the day

The dense black mangrove (Avicennia germinans) forest that makes up a large part of the Wetlands Reserve at Paya Bay Resort, Roatan, Honduras.

birds of paya

Photos of beautiful wetlands birds I photographed here at Paya this past week.

This crabcatcher pretty much resides here on the property. It has become accustomed to me and my camera and allows me to get pretty close to take photos. I love its expressive eyes! Note the heavy, sturdy beak for breaking crab shells.

photo of the day

"redshanks"

A name usually associated with a bird, Roatanians call these red-legged crabs "redshanks" as well.  The Wetlands Reserve at Paya Bay provides habitat for hundreds (thousands?) of these colorful crabs.

A zoomed-in closeup of one of the crabs.

wetlands reserve

A new sign marks the beginning of the Wetlands Reserve. These approximately five acres of wetlands will be a relatively small but welcome refuge for Roatan's aquatic birds as the island continues to develop and their habitats are encroached upon elsewhere.

wetland birdlife

Spotted this beautiful specimen in the Wetlands Reserve today. Anyone know the species?

wetlands reserve birds

Dainty. Elegant. Beautiful.

wetlands reserve birds

Could someone help me identify these birds? Your reward: a 10% discount on a future stay at Paya Bay. (Genus, species, common name, range.) Use the comments feature to submit your information.

our wetlands

There is quite a variety of landscapes to be found at Paya Bay. One of my favorites is our wetland area that is behind and parallel to the Big Beach. In the mornings when I go for my run on our new jogging path I see many species of aquatic birds feeding in the shallow water. In this photo, for example, two white cranes can be seen in the background. It's a very peaceful and beautiful area.