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A Report from birdtours.co.uk |
Oaxaca and Guerrero, Mexico, March 6th to 27th 2009,
Participants:
John Duranti - Sydney, Australia
John Lovatt – Dublin, Republic of Ireland
Brian Porter – Dublin, Republic of Ireland
Allan Richards – Sydney, Australia
John Ward – Oxford, England
Introduction:
Planning for this trip started in April 2008. There were obviously a lot of good birds to be found in Mexico so where would a good place be to choose? After several evenings and weekends reading Steve Howell’s guide, I decided on the state of Oaxaca. I had travelled previously through Mexico in 1965, but that was a leisurely journey a long time ago - this time I wanted an intensive two week trip to see as many of the endemics and regional specials as possible plus the numerous migrants passing through during springtime. Later on in the planning stages, the tour would be extended a further week to include Guerrero.
A ground agent and guide were going to be essential and after sending off a number of enquiries, I decided I would try to get Manuel Grosselet of Tierra de Aves, http://www.tierradeaves.com. Manuel is a French ornithologist based in Mexico carrying out research and conservation work and guiding. We agreed a price and worked on an itinerary that would maximize our time.
And so, after a few emails to friends and friends of friends, a group of five was formed and the trip was up and running.
Red-breasted Chat |
Russet-crowned Motmot |
General Notes:
Oaxaca is well served with frequent flights from Mexico City, flight time about one hour. Allan and John D flew in from two weeks in Cuba and encountered an annoying bureaucratic glitch at Mexico City airport but luckily were able to get onto their Oaxaca flight OK. The rest of us had trouble-free journeys from Dublin and London.
Wader watching near Juichitan |
The birding was very comfortable, mainly from the roadside or from good trails. The boat for the pelagic was ideal, and fortunately (for me at least) the sea was calm.
Regarding field guides, other than Ber Van Perlo’s, none of those listed below include illustrations of all the birds of Mexico which resulted in some long-winded checking at times. There seems to be an opening for someone to produce a good quality all inclusive guide…..any volunteers out there?
Our group number of five was perfect for the eight-seater Dodge Ram mini-bus, with plenty of spare room for bags, scopes, water and food etc – and rapid exiting was easy at the numerous stops. We were an ideal size too for the narrow trails and confined spots but big enough for plenty of good banter between everyone, including Manuel whose sense of humour was great.
A word or two about our guide – Manuel’s identification skills were excellent, and he made absolutely every effort possible to get everyone onto every bird. He constantly searched for new birds and worked hard to keep us well fed and watered and looked after all our general welfare needs – his services were of the highest order and I can heartily recommend him for anyone thinking of a birding trip to Mexico.
The accommodation was fine, varying from cabins to very comfortable hotels and family houses.
We ate well and the food was mostly very tasty – although the black beans soon lost any popularity they may have had at the start of the trip! The local beer was incredibly cheap and tasty, and we pretty well OD’d at times on jug after jug of freshly made fruit-juice - it was so refreshing, the best I’ve ever tasted. But certainly some care needed to be taken with food. Because of the remoteness and being well off the tourist routes for a good bit of the time, often the only eating places available were those used just by the local people - the odd tummy up-set was going to be inevitable.
Mosquitoes weren’t too much of a problem, in fact some of the group dispensed with their malaria pills halfway through. Other biting/burrowing insects were present though. I got a lot of chiggers.
High in the mountains the temperature fell close to zero at night (or at least it felt like it). In the eastern lowlands it was hot and humid and in the Central Valley and the west it was mostly very hot and dry. The two Aussies took the heat in their stride of course but the rest of us were feeling it at times. We had no rain at all.
On occasions we were pulled over at security road blocks – correction, we were always pulled over – a couple of the group did look suspicious. The vehicle and one or two of our bags would be searched but soon we were on our way with minimal delay.
Very little English was spoken by the Mexican people once off the beaten track but everyone was extremely friendly and very welcoming towards us. We had good fun trying to converse with the few words we knew. Manuel spoke fluent Spanish so we had no problems and JD also helped out especially when ordering at mealtimes, although it would often be a ‘hope for the best’ sort of choice which usually turned out just fine.
References:
Oaxaca Sparrow |
Citreoline Trogon |
Itinerary:
Day No. |
Date |
Location |
Key Birds |
1 |
06/03/2009 |
Birding in Las Guacamayas. Hotel in Oaxaca. |
Dwarf Jay, Grey-barred Wren, Oaxaca Sparrow, Ocellated Thrasher |
2 |
07/03/2009 |
Birded dry scrub habitat in the Central Valley at Yagul and Teotitlan, then along the 175 road towards La Cumbre National Park. Night in cabins at La Cumbre. |
Dwarf Vireo, Bridled Sparrow, Beautiful Hummingbird, Pileated Flycatcher |
3 |
08/03/2009 |
Montane pine and oak forest birding at La Cumbre. Second night in cabins at Ixtlan |
Collared Towhee, Rufous-capped Brushfinch, Dwarf Jay, Pine Flycatcher |
4 |
09/03/2009 |
Drive to Valle National, with numerous stops in pine and oak forest, and cloud and tropical rainforest en route. Night in lodge on banks of Rio San Juan Bautista in village of San Mateo, Yelta. |
Unicoloured Jay, Bumblebee Hummingbird, Slate coloured Solitaire, Cinnamon-bellied Flowerpiercer, Mountain trogon, Black Thrush, Blue-crowned Chlorophonia |
5 |
10/03/2009 |
Tropical rainforest birding around Valle National, then drive to Tuxtepec. Hotel in Tuxtepec. |
White-collared Manakin, Red-legged Honeycreeper, Violaceous and Black-headed Trogons, Band-backed Wren, Yellow-headed Parrot |
6 |
11/03/2009 |
Birded tropical humid forest at Presa Miguel Aleman, then long drive to Juchitan with several stops en route including part of the Uxpanapan Road. Hotel in Juichitan. |
Sumichrast’s Wren, White Hawk, and lowlands species. |
7 |
12/03/2009 |
Dry scrub birding in the Sierra de Tolistoque and coastal lagoon. Second night in Juchitan. |
Rosita’s and Orange-breasted Buntings, Cinnamon-tailed Sparrow, Golden-crowned Emerald, Green-fronted Hummingbird, Russet-crowned Motmot |
8 |
13/03/2009 |
Drive from Juchitan towards Huatulco, birding thorn forest and shoreline before turning inland into tropical deciduous forest clad mountain slopes of the shade coffee plantations. Night at Finca Monte Carlo. |
Red-breasted Chat, Blue Bunting, Banded Wren. |
9 |
14/03/2009 |
Birded coffee plantation forest. Second night at Finca Monte Carlo. A truly magical experience. |
Cinnamon-sided Hummingbird, Vermiculated Schreech Owl, Fan-tailed Warbler |
10 |
15/03/2009 |
Drive from the mountain forest zone to coastal humid forest near Huatulco. Night in cabins in Huatulco National Park. |
Flammulated Flycatcher, Colima Pygmy-Owl, Olive Sparrow, Happy Wren |
11 |
16/03/2009 |
Morning pelagic from Huatulco, then thorn forest birding in Huatulco National Park. Hotel in Huatulco. |
Galapagos and Wedge-tailed Shearwaters, Masked and Blue-footed Boobies |
12 |
17/03/2009 |
Birding from the beach at Puerto Angel and Zipolete, then on the 175 road up into the mountains towards Oaxaca. Night in cabins at San Jose Pacifico |
Red-billed Tropicbird, Blue capped Hummingbird, Grey-crowned Woodpecker, Garnet-throated Hummingbird |
13 |
18/03/2009 |
Montane pine/oak forest birding and then drive down into The Central Valley and Oaxaca City. Hotel in Oaxaca. |
Aztec Thrush, Chestnut-sided Shrike-Vireo, Red Warbler |
14 |
19/03/2009 |
Birding around the ancient site of Monte Alban. Hotel in Oaxaca. |
Slatey Vireo, Pileated Flycatcher, Occelated Thrasher |
15 |
20/03/2009 |
Visit to San Felipe Park in the morning. BP and JW return home pm. JD, JL and AR continue on to Guerrero. |
Hooded Yellowthroat, Elegant Euphonia, Painted Redstart |
16 |
21/03/2009 |
Birding to Tecomavaca, in the National Park of Tehuacan Cuicatlan. Night in Yautepec. |
Military Macaw, Bridled Sparrow, Nutting’s flycatcher |
17 |
22/03/2009 |
Birding in Cañon de los Lobos, then drive to Sierra de Atoyac, Night in El Carrizal |
Black-chested Sparrow, Rusty-crowned Ground-Sparrow, Yellow Grosbeak. |
18 |
23/03/2009 |
Birding around El Carrizal, crossing the Sierra. Night in Nuevo Dehli in private family home. |
White-throated Jay, Common Bush-Tanager (endemic form of Sierra Sur).Garnet-throated Hummingbird, |
19 |
24/03/2009 |
Birding around Nuevo Delhi, then down to El Paraiso. Night in the new Hotel de El Paraiso. |
Short-crested Coquette, Sparking-tailed Hummingbird, Ruddy Foliage Gleaner, White-faced Quail Dove |
20 |
25/03/2009 |
Birding above the El Paraiso, afternoon ringing session. Night in el Paraiso |
Collared Forest-Falcon, White-tailed Hummingbird, Singing Quail, Lilac-crowned Parrot, Berylline Hummingbird, Sinaloa Wren, Bright-rumped Attila |
21 |
26/03/2009 |
Birding on the Pacific Coast, lagoon boat trip and marsh area., then drive to Mexico City,. |
Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture, marshes and wetlands species. |
22 |
27/03/2009 |
Final birding around Mexico city. End of the tour. |
Sierra Madre Sparrow, Green-striped Brushfinch, Striped Sparrow |
Enjoying hospitality from a Guerrero family |
Species List:
English Name |
Scientific Name |
Least Grebe |
Tachybaptus dominicus |
Pied-billed Grebe |
Podilymbus podiceps |
Wedge-tailed Shearwater |
Puffinus pacificus |
Black-vented Shearwater |
Puffinus opistomelas |
Galapagos Shearwater |
Puffinus subalaris |
Least Storm-Petrel |
Oceanodroma microsoma |
Black Storm-Petrel |
Oceanodroma melania |
Red-billed Tropicbird |
Phaethon aethereus |
American White Pelican |
Pelecanus erythrorhynchos |
Brown Pelican |
Pelecanus occidentalis |
Masked Booby |
Sula dactylatra |
Blue-footed Booby |
Sula nebouxi |
Brown Booby |
Sula leucogaster |
Neotropic Cormorant |
Phalacrocorax brasilianus |
Magnificent Frigatebird |
Fregata magnificens |
Great Blue Heron |
Ardea herodias |
Great Egret |
Ardea alba |
Reddish Egret |
Egretta rufescens |
Tricolored Heron |
Egretta tricolor |
Little Blue Heron |
Egretta caerulea |
Snowy Egret |
Egretta thula |
Cattle Egret |
Bubulcus ibis |
Green Heron |
Butorides virescens |
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron |
Nyctanassa violacea |
Boat-billed Heron |
Cochlearius cochlearius |
Bare-throated Tiger-Heron |
Tigrisoma mexicanum |
Least Bittern |
Ixobrychus exilis |
American Bittern |
Botaurus lentiginosus |
Wood Stork |
Mycteria americana |
White Ibis |
Eudocimus albus |
White-faced Ibis |
Plegadis chihi |
Roseate Spoonbill |
Platalea ajaja |
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck |
Dendrocygna autumnalis |
American Wigeon |
Anas americana |
Blue-winged Teal |
Anas discors |
Northern Shoveler |
Anas clypeata |
Ring-necked Duck |
Aythya collaris |
Lesser Scaup |
Aythya affinis |
Ruddy Duck |
Oxyura jamaicensis |
Black Vulture |
Coragyps atratus |
Turkey Vulture |
Cathartes aura |
Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture |
Cathartes burrovianus |
Osprey |
Pandion haliaetus |
Hook-billed Kite |
Chondrohierax uncinatus |
Snail Kite |
Rostrhamus sociabilis |
Northern Harrier |
Circus cyaneus |
Sharp-shinned Hawk |
Accipiter striatus |
Cooper's Hawk |
Accipiter cooperii |
White Hawk |
Leucopternis albicollis |
Common Black-Hawk |
Buteogallus anthracinus |
Great Black-Hawk |
Buteogallus urubitinga |
Roadside Hawk |
Buteo magnirostris |
Broad-winged Hawk |
Buteo platypterus |
Gray Hawk |
Buteo nitidus |
Short-tailed Hawk |
Buteo brachyurus |
Swainson's Hawk |
Buteo swainsoni |
White-tailed Hawk |
Buteo albicaudatus |
Zone-tailed Hawk |
Buteo albonotatus |
Red-tailed Hawk |
Buteo jamaicensis |
Black Hawk-Eagle |
Spizaetus tyrannus |
Crested Caracara |
Caracara cheriway |
Laughing Falcon |
Herpetotheres cachinnans |
Barred Forest-Falcon |
Micrastur ruficollis |
Collared Forest-Falcon |
Micrastur semitorquatus |
American Kestrel |
Falco sparverius |
Merlin |
Falco columbarius |
Bat Falcon |
Falco rufigularis |
Peregrine Falcon |
Falco peregrinus |
Plain Chachalaca |
Ortalis vetula |
West Mexican Chachalaca |
Ortalis poliocephala |
Long-tailed Wood-Partridge |
Dendrortyx macroura |
Singing Quail |
Dactylortyx thoracicus |
Montezuma Quail |
Cyrtonyx montezumae |
Sora |
Porzana carolina |
Common Moorhen |
Gallinula chloropus |
American Coot |
Fulica americana |
Northern Jacana |
Jacana spinosa |
Black-necked Stilt |
Himantopus mexicanus |
Double-striped Thick-knee |
Burhinus bistriatus |
Semipalmated Plover |
Charadrius semipalmatus |
Wilson's Plover |
Charadrius wilsonia |
Killdeer |
Charadrius vociferus |
Collared Plover |
Charadrius collaris |
Short-billed Dowitcher |
Limnodromus griseus |
Whimbrel |
Numenius phaeopus |
Spotted Sandpiper |
Actitis macularius |
Solitary Sandpiper |
Tringa solitaria |
Greater Yellowlegs |
Tringa melanoleuca |
Willet |
Tringa semipalmata |
Lesser Yellowlegs |
Tringa flavipes |
Ruddy Turnstone |
Arenaria interpres |
Sanderling |
Calidris alba |
Semipalmated Sandpiper |
Calidris pusilla |
Western Sandpiper |
Calidris mauri |
Least Sandpiper |
Calidris minutilla |
American Herring Gull |
Larus smithsonianus |
Laughing Gull |
Larus atricilla |
Gull-billed Tern |
Gelochelidon nilotica |
Caspian Tern |
Hydroprogne caspia |
Black Tern |
Chlidonias niger |
Common Tern |
Sterna hirundo |
Royal Tern |
Thalasseus maximus |
Sandwich Tern |
Thalasseus sandvicensis |
Black Skimmer |
Rynchops niger |
Rock Pigeon |
Columba livia |
Band-tailed Pigeon |
Patagioenas fasciata |
Red-billed Pigeon |
Patagioenas flavirostris |
Short-billed Pigeon |
Patagioenas nigrirostris |
Mourning Dove |
Zenaida macroura |
White-winged Dove |
Zenaida asiatica |
Common Ground-Dove |
Columbina passerina |
Ruddy Ground-Dove |
Columbina talpacoti |
Inca Dove |
Columbina inca |
White-tipped Dove |
Leptotila verreauxi |
White-faced Quail-Dove |
Geotrygon albifacies |
Ruddy Quail-Dove |
Geotrygon montana |
Military Macaw |
Ara militaris |
Olive-throated Parakeet |
Aratinga nana |
Orange-fronted Parakeet |
Aratinga canicularis |
Barred Parakeet |
Bolborhynchus lineola |
White-crowned Parrot |
Pionus senilis |
White-fronted Parrot |
Amazona albifrons |
Lilac-crowned Parrot |
Amazona finschi |
Red-lored Parrot |
Amazona autumnalis |
Yellow-headed Parrot |
Amazona oratrix |
Mealy Parrot |
Amazona farinosa |
Squirrel Cuckoo |
Piaya cayana |
Groove-billed Ani |
Crotophaga sulcirostris |
Striped Cuckoo |
Tapera naevia |
Pheasant Cuckoo |
Dromococcyx phasianellus |
Lesser Ground-Cuckoo |
Morococcyx erythropygus |
Flammulated Owl |
Otus flammeolus |
Vermiculated Screech-Owl |
Megascops guatemalae |
Great Horned Owl |
Bubo virginianus |
Mottled Owl |
Ciccaba virgata |
Colima Pygmy-Owl |
Glaucidium palmarum |
Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl |
Glaucidium brasilianum |
Lesser Nighthawk |
Chordeiles acutipennis |
Pauraque |
Nyctidromus albicollis |
Buff-collared Nightjar |
Caprimulgus ridgwayi |
Whip-poor-will |
Caprimulgus vociferus |
Black Swift |
Cypseloides niger |
Chestnut-collared Swift |
Streptoprocne rutila |
White-naped Swift |
Streptoprocne semicollaris |
White-collared Swift |
Streptoprocne zonaris |
Vaux's Swift |
Chaetura vauxi |
White-throated Swift |
Aeronautes saxatalis |
Western Long-tailed Hermit |
Phaethornis longirostris |
Eastern Long-tailed Hermit |
Phaethornis superciliosus |
Green-breasted Mango |
Anthracothorax prevostii |
Emerald-chinned Hummingbird |
Abeillia abeillei |
Short-crested Coquette |
Lophornis brachylopha |
Golden-crowned Emerald |
Chlorostilbon auriceps |
Canivet's Emerald |
Chlorostilbon canivetii |
Blue-capped Hummingbird |
Eupherusa cyanophrys |
White-tailed Hummingbird |
Eupherusa poliocerca |
Dusky Hummingbird |
Cynanthus sordidus |
Broad-billed Hummingbird |
Cynanthus latirostris |
White-eared Hummingbird |
Hylocharis leucotis |
Buff-bellied Hummingbird |
Amazilia yucatanensis |
Cinnamon Hummingbird |
Amazilia rutila |
White-bellied Emerald |
Agyrtria candida |
Azure-crowned Hummingbird |
Agyrtria cyanocephala |
Violet-crowned Hummingbird |
Agyrtria violiceps |
Green-fronted Hummingbird |
Agyrtria viridifrons |
Berylline Hummingbird |
Saucerottia beryllina |
Blue-throated Hummingbird |
Lampornis clemenciae |
Amethyst-throated Hummingbird |
Lampornis amethystinus |
Garnet-throated Hummingbird |
Lamprolaima rhami |
Magnificent Hummingbird |
Eugenes fulgens |
Plain-capped Starthroat |
Heliomaster constantii |
Long-billed Starthroat |
Heliomaster longirostris |
Sparkling-tailed Hummingbird |
Tilmatura dupontii |
Beautiful Hummingbird |
Calothorax pulcher |
Ruby-throated Hummingbird |
Archilochus colubris |
Bumblebee Hummingbird |
Atthis heloisa |
Broad-tailed Hummingbird |
Selasphorus platycercus |
Rufous Hummingbird |
Selasphorus rufus |
Black-headed Trogon |
Trogon melanocephalus |
Citreoline Trogon |
Trogon citreolus |
Violaceous Trogon |
Trogon violaceus |
Mountain Trogon |
Trogon mexicanus |
Collared Trogon |
Trogon collaris |
Belted Kingfisher |
Megaceryle alcyon |
Ringed Kingfisher |
Megaceryle torquata |
Amazon Kingfisher |
Chloroceryle amazona |
Green Kingfisher |
Chloroceryle americana |
Russet-crowned Motmot |
Momotus mexicanus |
Blue-crowned Motmot |
Momotus momota |
Wagler's Toucanet |
Aulacorhynchus wagleri |
Keel-billed Toucan |
Ramphastos sulfuratus |
Acorn Woodpecker |
Melanerpes formicivorus |
Golden-cheeked Woodpecker |
Melanerpes chrysogenys |
Gray-breasted Woodpecker |
Melanerpes hypopolius |
Golden-fronted Woodpecker |
Melanerpes aurifrons |
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker |
Sphyrapicus varius |
Ladder-backed Woodpecker |
Picoides scalaris |
Hairy Woodpecker |
Picoides villosus |
Gray-crowned Woodpecker |
Piculus auricularis |
Northern Flicker |
Colaptes auratus |
Lineated Woodpecker |
Dryocopus lineatus |
Pale-billed Woodpecker |
Campephilus guatemalensis |
Rufous-breasted Spinetail |
Synallaxis erythrothorax |
Ruddy Foliage-gleaner |
Automolus rubiginosus |
Olivaceous Woodcreeper |
Sittasomus griseicapillus |
Ivory-billed Woodcreeper |
Xiphorhynchus flavigaster |
Spot-crowned Woodcreeper |
Lepidocolaptes affinis |
Streak-headed Woodcreeper |
Lepidocolaptes souleyetii |
Barred Antshrike |
Thamnophilus doliatus |
Scaled Antpitta |
Grallaria guatimalensis |
White-collared Manakin |
Manacus candei |
Greenish Elaenia |
Myiopagis viridicata |
Yellow-bellied Tyrannulet |
Ornithion semiflavum |
Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet |
Camptostoma imberbe |
Northern Bentbill |
Oncostoma cinereigulare |
Yellow-olive Flycatcher |
Tolmomyias sulphurescens |
Pileated Flycatcher |
Xenotriccus mexicanus |
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher |
Empidonax flaviventris |
Willow Flycatcher |
Empidonax traillii |
Least Flycatcher |
Empidonax minimus |
Hammond's Flycatcher |
Empidonax hammondii |
Dusky Flycatcher |
Empidonax oberholseri |
Pine Flycatcher |
Empidonax affinis |
Pacific-slope Flycatcher |
Empidonax difficilis |
Cordilleran Flycatcher |
Empidonax occidentalis |
Greater Pewee |
Contopus pertinax |
Western Wood-Pewee |
Contopus sordidulus |
Tropical Pewee |
Contopus cinereus |
Tufted Flycatcher |
Mitrephanes phaeocercus |
Black Phoebe |
Sayornis nigricans |
Say's Phoebe |
Sayornis saya |
Vermilion Flycatcher |
Pyrocephalus rubinus |
Piratic Flycatcher |
Legatus leucophaius |
Social Flycatcher |
Myiozetetes similis |
Great Kiskadee |
Pitangus sulphuratus |
Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher |
Myiodynastes luteiventris |
Boat-billed Flycatcher |
Megarynchus pitangua |
Tropical Kingbird |
Tyrannus melancholicus |
Couch's Kingbird |
Tyrannus couchii |
Cassin's Kingbird |
Tyrannus vociferans |
Thick-billed Kingbird |
Tyrannus crassirostris |
Western Kingbird |
Tyrannus verticalis |
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher |
Tyrannus forficatus |
Rufous Mourner |
Rhytipterna holerythra |
Dusky-capped Flycatcher |
Myiarchus tuberculifer |
Ash-throated Flycatcher |
Myiarchus cinerascens |
Nutting's Flycatcher |
Myiarchus nuttingi |
Brown-crested Flycatcher |
Myiarchus tyrannulus |
Bright-rumped Attila |
Attila spadiceus |
Masked Tityra |
Tityra semifasciata |
Rose-throated Becard |
Pachyramphus aglaiae |
Horned Lark |
Eremophila alpestris |
Bank Swallow |
Riparia riparia |
Tree Swallow |
Tachycineta bicolor |
Violet-green Swallow |
Tachycineta thalassina |
Mangrove Swallow |
Tachycineta albilinea |
Purple Martin |
Progne subis |
Gray-breasted Martin |
Progne chalybea |
Northern Rough-winged Swallow |
Stelgidopteryx serripennis |
Barn Swallow |
Hirundo rustica |
Cliff Swallow |
Petrochelidon pyrrhonota |
American Pipit |
Anthus rubescens |
Golden-crowned Kinglet |
Regulus satrapa |
Ruby-crowned Kinglet |
Regulus calendula |
Gray Silky-flycatcher |
Ptilogonys cinereus |
Cedar Waxwing |
Bombycilla cedrorum |
Band-backed Wren |
Campylorhynchus zonatus |
Gray-barred Wren |
Campylorhynchus megalopterus |
Rufous-naped Wren |
Campylorhynchus rufinucha |
Boucard's Wren |
Campylorhynchus jocosus |
Rock Wren |
Salpinctes obsoletus |
Canyon Wren |
Catherpes mexicanus |
Sumichrast's Wren |
Hylorchilus sumichrasti |
Happy Wren |
Thryothorus felix |
Spot-breasted Wren |
Thryothorus maculipectus |
Banded Wren |
Thryothorus pleurostictus |
Sinaloa Wren |
Thryothorus sinaloa |
Bewick's Wren |
Thryomanes bewickii |
House Wren |
Troglodytes aedon |
Brown-throated Wren |
Troglodytes aedon brunneicapillus |
Southern House Wren |
Troglodytes aedon musculus |
Gray-breasted Wood-Wren |
Henicorhina leucophrys |
Northern Mockingbird |
Mimus polyglottos |
Tropical Mockingbird |
Mimus gilvus |
Ocellated Thrasher |
Toxostoma ocellatum |
Curve-billed Thrasher |
Toxostoma curvirostre |
Blue Mockingbird |
Melanotis caerulescens |
Western Bluebird |
Sialia mexicana |
Brown-backed Solitaire |
Myadestes occidentalis |
Slate-colored Solitaire |
Myadestes unicolor |
Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush |
Catharus aurantiirostris |
Russet Nightingale-Thrush |
Catharus occidentalis |
Ruddy-capped Nightingale-Thrush |
Catharus frantzii |
Black-headed Nightingale-Thrush |
Catharus mexicanus |
Swainson's Thrush |
Catharus ustulatus |
Hermit Thrush |
Catharus guttatus |
Black Robin |
Turdus infuscatus |
Clay-colored Robin |
Turdus grayi |
White-throated Thrush |
Turdus assimilis |
Rufous-backed Robin |
Turdus rufopalliatus |
American Robin |
Turdus migratorius |
Aztec Thrush |
Ridgwayia pinicola |
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher |
Polioptila caerulea |
White-lored Gnatcatcher |
Polioptila albiloris |
Bushtit |
Psaltriparus minimus |
Mexican Chickadee |
Poecile sclateri |
Bridled Titmouse |
Baeolophus wollweberi |
White-breasted Nuthatch |
Sitta carolinensis |
Brown Creeper |
Certhia americana |
Loggerhead Shrike |
Lanius ludovicianus |
Steller's Jay |
Cyanocitta stelleri |
White-throated Magpie-Jay |
Calocitta formosa |
Green Jay |
Cyanocorax yncas |
Brown Jay |
Cyanocorax morio |
Dwarf Jay |
Cyanolyca nana |
White-throated Jay |
Cyanolyca mirabilis |
Western Scrub-Jay |
Aphelocoma californica |
Unicolored Jay |
Aphelocoma unicolor |
Common Raven |
Corvus corax |
House Sparrow |
Passer domesticus |
Slaty Vireo |
Vireo brevipennis |
White-eyed Vireo |
Vireo griseus |
Bell's Vireo |
Vireo bellii |
Dwarf Vireo |
Vireo nelsoni |
Plumbeous Vireo |
Vireo plumbeus |
Cassin's Vireo |
Vireo cassinii |
Blue-headed Vireo |
Vireo solitarius |
Hutton's Vireo |
Vireo huttoni |
Warbling Vireo |
Vireo gilvus |
Golden Vireo |
Vireo hypochryseus |
Chestnut-sided Shrike-Vireo |
Vireolanius melitophrys |
Scrub Euphonia |
Euphonia affinis |
Yellow-throated Euphonia |
Euphonia hirundinacea |
Elegant Euphonia |
Euphonia elegantissima |
Olive-backed Euphonia |
Euphonia gouldi |
Blue-crowned Chlorophonia |
Chlorophonia occipitalis |
House Finch |
Carpodacus mexicanus |
Red Crossbill |
Loxia curvirostra |
Pine Siskin |
Carduelis pinus |
Lesser Goldfinch |
Carduelis psaltria |
Olive Warbler |
Peucedramus taeniatus |
Tennessee Warbler |
Vermivora peregrina |
Orange-crowned Warbler |
Vermivora celata |
Nashville Warbler |
Vermivora ruficapilla |
Virginia's Warbler |
Vermivora virginiae |
Crescent-chested Warbler |
Parula superciliosa |
Northern Parula |
Parula americana |
Tropical Parula |
Parula pitiayumi |
Yellow Warbler |
Dendroica petechia |
Chestnut-sided Warbler |
Dendroica pensylvanica |
Magnolia Warbler |
Dendroica magnolia |
Myrtle Warbler |
Dendroica coronata coronata |
Audubon´s Warbler |
Dendroica coronata auduboni |
Black-throated Gray Warbler |
Dendroica nigrescens |
Black-throated Green Warbler |
Dendroica virens |
Townsend's Warbler |
Dendroica townsendi |
Hermit Warbler |
Dendroica occidentalis |
Yellow-throated Warbler |
Dendroica dominica |
Grace's Warbler |
Dendroica graciae |
Prairie Warbler |
Dendroica discolor |
Palm Warbler |
Dendroica palmarum |
Black-and-white Warbler |
Mniotilta varia |
American Redstart |
Setophaga ruticilla |
Northern Waterthrush |
Seiurus noveboracensis |
Louisiana Waterthrush |
Seiurus motacilla |
Kentucky Warbler |
Oporornis formosus |
MacGillivray's Warbler |
Oporornis tolmiei |
Common Yellowthroat |
Geothlypis trichas |
Hooded Yellowthroat |
Geothlypis nelsoni |
Hooded Warbler |
Wilsonia citrina |
Wilson's Warbler |
Wilsonia pusilla |
Red-faced Warbler |
Cardellina rubrifrons |
Red Warbler |
Ergaticus ruber |
Painted Redstart |
Myioborus pictus |
Slate-throated Redstart |
Myioborus miniatus |
Fan-tailed Warbler |
Euthlypis lachrymosa |
Golden-crowned Warbler |
Basileuterus culicivorus |
Rufous-capped Warbler |
Basileuterus rufifrons |
Golden-browed Warbler |
Basileuterus belli |
Yellow-breasted Chat |
Icteria virens |
Red-breasted Chat |
Granatellus venustus |
Bananaquit |
Coereba flaveola |
Common Bush-Tanager |
Chlorospingus ophthalmicus |
White-fronted Bush Tanager |
Chlorospingus ophtalmicus |
Red-crowned Ant-Tanager |
Habia rubica |
Hepatic Tanager |
Piranga flava |
Summer Tanager |
Piranga rubra |
Western Tanager |
Piranga ludoviciana |
Flame-colored Tanager |
Piranga bidentata |
Red-headed Tanager |
Piranga erythrocephala |
Crimson-collared Tanager |
Ramphocelus sanguinolentus |
Blue-gray Tanager |
Thraupis episcopus |
Yellow-winged Tanager |
Thraupis abbas |
Red-legged Honeycreeper |
Cyanerpes cyaneus |
Blue-black Grassquit |
Volatinia jacarina |
Variable Seedeater |
Sporophila corvina |
White-collared Seedeater |
Sporophila torqueola |
Yellow-faced Grassquit |
Tiaris olivaceus |
Cinnamon-bellied Flowerpiercer |
Diglossa baritula |
Rufous-capped Brush-Finch |
Atlapetes pileatus |
Chestnut-capped Brush-Finch |
Buarremon brunneinucha |
Green-striped Brush-Finch |
Arremon virenticeps |
Olive Sparrow |
Arremonops rufivirgatus |
Rusty-crowned Ground-Sparrow |
Melozone kieneri |
Collared Towhee |
Pipilo ocai |
Spotted Towhee |
Pipilo maculatus |
White-throated Towhee |
Pipilo albicollis |
Bridled Sparrow |
Aimophila mystacalis |
Black-chested Sparrow |
Aimophila humeralis |
Stripe-headed Sparrow |
Aimophila ruficauda |
Cinnamon-tailed Sparrow |
Aimophila sumichrasti |
Rufous-crowned Sparrow |
Aimophila ruficeps |
Oaxaca Sparrow |
Aimophila notosticta |
Rusty Sparrow |
Aimophila rufescens |
Striped Sparrow |
Oriturus superciliosus |
Chipping Sparrow |
Spizella passerina |
Vesper Sparrow |
Pooecetes gramineus |
Lark Sparrow |
Chondestes grammacus |
Savannah Sparrow |
Passerculus sandwichensis |
Sierra Madre Sparrow |
Xenospiza baileyi |
Grasshopper Sparrow |
Ammodramus savannarum |
Lincoln's Sparrow |
Melospiza lincolnii |
Yellow-eyed Junco |
Junco phaeonotus |
Grayish Saltator |
Saltator coerulescens |
Buff-throated Saltator |
Saltator maximus |
Black-headed Saltator |
Saltator atriceps |
Northern Cardinal |
Cardinalis cardinalis |
Yellow Grosbeak |
Pheucticus chrysopeplus |
Rose-breasted Grosbeak |
Pheucticus ludovicianus |
Black-headed Grosbeak |
Pheucticus melanocephalus |
Blue Bunting |
Cyanocompsa parellina |
Blue Grosbeak |
Passerina caerulea |
Lazuli Bunting |
Passerina amoena |
Indigo Bunting |
Passerina cyanea |
Rose-bellied Bunting |
Passerina rositae |
Orange-breasted Bunting |
Passerina leclancherii |
Varied Bunting |
Passerina versicolor |
Painted Bunting |
Passerina ciris |
Red-winged Blackbird |
Agelaius phoeniceus |
Eastern Meadowlark |
Sturnella magna |
Melodious Blackbird |
Dives dives |
Great-tailed Grackle |
Quiscalus mexicanus |
Bronzed Cowbird |
Molothrus aeneus |
Brown-headed Cowbird |
Molothrus ater |
Black-vented Oriole |
Icterus wagleri |
Black-cowled Oriole |
Icterus prosthemelas |
Orchard Oriole |
Icterus spurius |
Yellow-tailed Oriole |
Icterus mesomelas |
Streak-backed Oriole |
Icterus pustulatus |
Bullock’s Oriole |
Icterus bullockii |
Black-backed Oriole |
Icterus abeillei |
Altamira Oriole |
Icterus gularis |
Dickey’s Oriole |
Icterus graduacuada |
Baltimore Oriole |
Icterus galbula |
Scott’s Oriole |
Icterus parisorum |
Yellow-billed Cacique |
Amblycercus holosericeus |
Yellow-winged Cacique |
Cacicus melanicterus |
Montezuma Oropendula |
Psarocolius montezuma |
Relaxing at Finca Monte Carlo |
Conclusion:
I was anxious about how the trip would turn out but I needn’t have been - we had no serious hitches and everyone agreed it went off extremely well.
The total trip list was a very respectable 440 species seen plus 18 heard. These included 31 hummingbirds, 40 flycatchers, 16 wrens, 8 jays, 40 warblers, 21 sparrows and 11 orioles. We all added hugely to our life lists and had refreshingly new sightings of previously seen species.
Apart from the amazing birding experience, it was a huge privilege just to be in this part of Mexico – it’s pine and oak forests of the high Sierra Madre, the cloud and tropical forests of the lower eastern slopes, the more arid terrain of the interior and Pacific slope, and to be among the rural people for a glimpse into their very hard way of life.
Finally, I would like to give my thanks to Allan, Brian, both Johns, and Manuel for making this trip so enjoyable, successful and memorable
John Ward
Email: johnward737@btinternet.com.
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