Introduction

Sites visited

1. Mexico city       15th September, 2004

   We stayed with a friend in the south of Mexico City in a place called Santa Catalina. The private road had many trees and several birds could be seen, especially in the early morning. I saw my first hummingbird of the trip. The tell-tale curved, red bill and the rufous wings and tail helped me to identify the endemic Berylline Hummingbird. It give an incessent chipping from branches and even overhead wires. The similar-looking Broad-billed hummingbird also with a red, curved bill was distinguished by its black wings and tail and its white underparts and spot behind its eye. Apart from House Sparrows, the most common birds in this area were the petite Inca Doves. Usually found in pairs, their coo-coo calls could be often heard. They have a smart barred pattern makes them difficult to see when they´re feeding on the ground. Other birds seen were the colourful and very active Wilson´s Warblers, the very plain-coloured Canyon Towhee, Barn Swallows and a scraggy-looking Great-tailed Grackle which seems to sit permenantly on the roof of a nearby family restaurant.
13 species including 13 lifers.

Rock Dove	Columba livia	Introduced species
Inca Dove	Columbina inca	Photographed
Broad-billed Hummingbird	Cynanthus latirostris	Photographed
Berylline Hummingbird	Saucerottia beryllina	Photographed
Blue-throated Hummingbird ?	Lampornis clemenciae
Barn Swallow	Hirundo rustica
Bell's Vireo ?	Vireo bellii
Townsend's Warbler	Dendroica townsendi
Wilson's Warbler	Wilsonia pusilla
Canyon Towhee	Pipilo fuscus
Phainopepla	Phainopepla nitens
Great-tailed Grackle	Quiscalus mexicanus
House Sparrow	Passer domesticus	Introduced species

2. La Cima, D.F       17th September, 2004    Site 8.4 (In Howell's site guide)

   La Cima is practically the only spot where you can find the endangered endemic Sierra Madre Sparrow and it can easily be visited in a day trip from Mexico City. Take a bus from Terminal del Sur to Tres Marias where you get off and walk to the ‘Carretera Federal’ where a bus goes back towards Mexico City. There should be a direct bus here along this road but I didn't find out where it left from. La Cima is only 7-8 kilometres back along this road and is a highland grassy plain with outcrops of volcanic rocks and scattered pines woodland on the steeper slopes. Finding the Sierra Madre Sparrow is supposedly not too difficult but took me about an hour and a half. They are responsive to playback. Further down the highway was another track leading into the forest with some good birds like Red Warbler Broad-billed Hummingbird. Be careful not to exert yourself at this altitude and bring plenty of food and water.
34 species including 28 lifers.

Red-tailed Hawk	Buteo jamaicensis	Possibly seen
American Kestrel	Falco sparverius
Rock Dove	Columba livia	Introduced species
Broad-tailed Hummingbird	Selasphorus platycercus
Strickland's Woodpecker	Picoides stricklandi	Endemic
Greater Pewee	Contopus pertinax	Photographed
Dusky Flycatcher	Empidonax oberholseri
Barn Swallow	Hirundo rustica
Gray Silky-flycatcher	Ptilogonys cinereus
Sedge Wren	Cistothorus platensis	Possibly seen
Western Bluebird	Sialia mexicana	Photographed
American Robin	Turdus migratorius
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher	Polioptila caerulea	Photographed
Bushtit	Psaltriparus minimus
Mexican Chickadee	Poecile sclateri
Pygmy Nuthatch	Sitta pygmaea
Steller's Jay	Cyanocitta stelleri
Western Scrub-Jay	Aphelocoma californica
Olive Warbler	Peucedramus taeniatus
Townsend's Warbler	Dendroica townsendi	Possibly seen
Wilson's Warbler	Wilsonia pusilla
Red Warbler	Ergaticus ruber	Endemic
Slate-throated Redstart	Myioborus miniatus
Rufous-capped Brush-Finch	Atlapetes pileatus	Endemic
Spotted Towhee	Pipilo maculatus	Photographed
Canyon Towhee	Pipilo fuscus
Striped Sparrow	Oriturus superciliosus	Endemic Photographed Recorded
Chipping Sparrow	Spizella passerina
Sierra Madre Sparrow	Xenospiza baileyi	Endemic Endangered Photographed
Yellow-eyed Junco	Junco phaeonotus
Eastern Meadowlark	Sturnella magna	Possibly seen
Black-backed Oriole	Icterus abeillei	Endemic
Pine Siskin	Carduelis pinus
House Sparrow	Passer domesticus	Introduced species

3. Coatepec, Veracruz       19-20th September, 2004    Site 10.2

   Coatepec is a site for the endangered endemic Bearded Wood-Partridge and can be visited in a day trip from the nearby town of Jalapa although there are a few more expensive places to stay in Coatepec aswell. We stayed at Hotel Limon in Jalapa for N$145 (pesos). Buses leave regularly from Jalapa and you can walk from where the bus drops you to the site following the directions in the site guide. I failed to see the bird and it would be better to contact Pronatura-Veracruz who may be able to help you find a guide who knows where to find the birds Contact information is found in the site guide. It would also be good to get to the site as early as possible which is more difficult on public transport. General birding is excellent.
46 species including 42 lifers.

Cattle Egret	Bubulcus ibis
Black Vulture	Coragyps atratus
Turkey Vulture	Cathartes aura
Cooper's Hawk	Accipiter cooperii	Possibly seen
Rock Dove	Columba livia	Introduced species
Red-billed Pigeon	Patagioenas flavirostris
Inca Dove	Columbina inca
White-tipped Dove	Leptotila verreauxi	Recorded
Squirrel Cuckoo	Piaya cayana	Photographed
Mottled Owl	Ciccaba virgata	Possibly heard
White-collared Swift	Streptoprocne zonaris
Vaux's Swift	Chaetura vauxi
Magnificent Hummingbird	Eugenes fulgens	Possibly seen
Azure-crowned Hummingbird	Agyrtria cyanocephala
Bumblebee Hummingbird	Atthis heloisa	Endemic Possibly seen
Acorn Woodpecker	Melanerpes formicivorus	Photographed
Golden-fronted Woodpecker	Melanerpes aurifrons	Photographed
Golden-olive Woodpecker	Piculus rubiginosus
Ruddy Foliage-gleaner	Automolus rubiginosus	Possibly heard Recorded
Spot-crowned Woodcreeper	Lepidocolaptes affinis	Possibly seen
Olivaceous Woodcreeper	Sittasomus griseicapillus
Western Wood-Pewee	Contopus sordidulus	Possibly seen
Eastern Wood-Pewee	Contopus virens	Possibly seen
Cordilleran Flycatcher	Empidonax occidentalis	Possibly seen Photographed
Black Phoebe	Sayornis nigricans
Dusky-capped Flycatcher	Myiarchus tuberculifer	Photographed
Boat-billed Flycatcher	Megarynchus pitangua
Northern Rough-winged Swallow	Stelgidopteryx serripennis
Band-backed Wren	Campylorhynchus zonatus
Spot-breasted Wren	Thryothorus maculipectus
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher	Polioptila caerulea
Brown Jay	Cyanocorax morio
Blue-winged Warbler	Vermivora pinus
Black-and-white Warbler	Mniotilta varia	Photographed
Wilson's Warbler	Wilsonia pusilla	Recorded
Slate-throated Redstart	Myioborus miniatus
Rufous-capped Warbler	Basileuterus rufifrons
Common Bush-Tanager	Chlorospingus ophthalmicus
White-winged Tanager	Piranga leucoptera	Photographed Recorded
Elegant (Blue-hooded) Euphonia	Euphonia elegantissima
Rusty Sparrow	Aimophila rufescens	Recorded
Yellow Grosbeak	Pheucticus chrysopeplus
Blue Bunting	Cyanocompsa parellina	Possibly seen
Great-tailed Grackle	Quiscalus mexicanus
Baltimore Oriole	Icterus galbula	Photographed
Lesser Goldfinch	Carduelis psaltria	Photographed

4. Parque Paseos de los Lagos, Jalapa, Veracruz      20th September, 2004

   This nice little park is near the centre of town. From the plaza, go down the step and it is about 5 minutes walk. It has a couple of lakes with a few waterbirds plus lots of flowering trees with hummingbirds.
17 species including 12 lifers.

Least Grebe	Tachybaptus dominicus	Photographed
Pied-billed Grebe	Podilymbus podiceps	Photographed
Neotropic Cormorant	Phalacrocorax brasilianus	Photographed
Great Egret	Ardea alba
Snowy Egret	Egretta thula	Photographed
Green Heron	Butorides virescens	Photographed
Black-crowned Night-Heron	Nycticorax nycticorax
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck	Dendrocygna autumnalis
Rock Dove	Columba livia	Introduced species
Azure-crowned Hummingbird	Agyrtria cyanocephala	Photographed
Belted Kingfisher	Ceryle alcyon
Golden-fronted Woodpecker	Melanerpes aurifrons	Possibly seen
Eastern Wood-Pewee	Contopus virens	Possibly seen
Great Kiskadee	Pitangus sulphuratus
Barn Swallow	Hirundo rustica
Great-tailed Grackle	Quiscalus mexicanus
House Sparrow	Passer domesticus	Introduced species

5. Parque Ecologico Macuiltepetl, Jalapa, Veracruz      21st September, 2004

This Park, also within Jalapa city is a little further from the centre. You can walk although it would be better to take a bus or taxi. There are a couple of different entrances all worth exploring. This is a great place to bird in the morning.
21 species including 8 lifers.

Rock Dove	Columba livia	Introduced species
Azure-crowned Hummingbird	Agyrtria cyanocephala
Berylline Hummingbird	Saucerottia beryllina
Golden-fronted Woodpecker	Melanerpes aurifrons	Photographed
Olive-sided Flycatcher	Contopus cooperi
Great Kiskadee	Pitangus sulphuratus	Photographed
Band-backed Wren	Campylorhynchus zonatus
Blue Mockingbird	Melanotis caerulescens	Endemic
Clay-colored Robin	Turdus grayi
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher	Polioptila caerulea
Blue-headed Vireo	Vireo solitarius
Townsend's Warbler	Dendroica townsendi	Photographed
Wilson's Warbler	Wilsonia pusilla	Photographed
Summer Tanager	Piranga rubra	Photographed
Yellow-throated Euphonia	Euphonia hirundinacea	Photographed
White-naped Brush-Finch	Atlapetes albinucha	Photographed
Rusty Sparrow	Aimophila rufescens	Photographed
Black-headed Saltator	Saltator atriceps
Great-tailed Grackle	Quiscalus mexicanus
Baltimore Oriole	Icterus galbula	Photographed
House Sparrow	Passer domesticus	Introduced species

6. Amatlan, Veracruz      22-23rd September, 2004    Site 10.3

   This site is one of the best places to see the near-threatened endemic Sumichrast's Wren. Amatlan is very small but only 8km from Cordoba, a major city. Cordoba has a range of hotels and restaurants. We stayed at the Hotel Iberia which was quite comfortable. Buses leave Cordoba for Amatlan regularly and from the plaza follow the intructions in the site guide to reach the forest. The 2km walk there can be quite birdy and birding at the actual site is excellent, with many tropical species. I failed to see wren on the first day as I got there too late but saw it the next day with the use of playback. Once you've located a singing bird. It's best to climb into the forest, try playback and wait.
53 species including 31 lifers.

Great Egret	Ardea alba
Black Vulture	Coragyps atratus	Photographed
Rock Dove	Columba livia	Introduced species
Red-billed Pigeon	Patagioenas flavirostris
Ruddy Ground-Dove	Columbina talpacoti
Inca Dove	Columbina inca
White-tipped Dove	Leptotila verreauxi	Heard only
Ruddy Quail-Dove	Geotrygon montana	Possibly heard
White-crowned Parrot	Pionus senilis	Possibly seen
Red-lored Parrot	Amazona autumnalis
Squirrel Cuckoo	Piaya cayana
Groove-billed Ani	Crotophaga sulcirostris
Vaux's Swift	Chaetura vauxi	Possibly seen
Wedge-tailed Sabrewing	Campylopterus curvipennis
Stripe-tailed Hummingbird	Eupherusa eximia	Possibly seen
Collared Aracari	Pteroglossus torquatus	Recorded
Emerald Toucanet	Aulacorhynchus prasinus	Possibly heard Recorded
Golden-fronted Woodpecker	Melanerpes aurifrons	Photographed Recorded
Lineated Woodpecker	Dryocopus lineatus
Ivory-billed Woodcreeper	Xiphorhynchus flavigaster
Western Wood-Pewee	Contopus sordidulus	Possibly seen
Least Flycatcher	Empidonax minimus	Possibly seen
Dusky-capped Flycatcher	Myiarchus tuberculifer
Brown-crested Flycatcher	Myiarchus tyrannulus	Possibly seen
Great Kiskadee	Pitangus sulphuratus
Social Flycatcher	Myiozetetes similis	Photographed
Northern Rough-winged Swallow	Stelgidopteryx serripennis	Photographed
Band-backed Wren	Campylorhynchus zonatus	Recorded
Sumichrast's Wren	Hylorchilus sumichrasti	Endemic Near-threatened Recorded
Spot-breasted Wren	Thryothorus maculipectus
White-breasted Wood-Wren	Henicorhina leucosticta
Clay-colored Robin	Turdus grayi
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher	Polioptila caerulea
Brown Jay	Cyanocorax morio
Blue-winged Warbler	Vermivora pinus
Black-and-white Warbler	Mniotilta varia
Wilson's Warbler	Wilsonia pusilla
Fan-tailed Warbler	Euthlypis lachrymosa
Golden-crowned Warbler	Basileuterus culicivorus	Recorded
Rufous-capped Warbler	Basileuterus rufifrons
Blue-gray Tanager	Thraupis episcopus
Yellow-winged Tanager	Thraupis abbas
Yellow-throated Euphonia	Euphonia hirundinacea
Red-legged Honeycreeper	Cyanerpes cyaneus	Recorded
White-collared Seedeater	Sporophila torqueola
Rusty Sparrow	Aimophila rufescens	Recorded
Black-headed Saltator	Saltator atriceps
Melodious Blackbird	Dives dives
Great-tailed Grackle	Quiscalus mexicanus
Baltimore Oriole	Icterus galbula
Chestnut-headed Oropendola	Psarocolius wagleri
Montezuma Oropendola	Gymnostinops montezuma	Recorded
Lesser Goldfinch	Carduelis psaltria

7. Boca del Rio, Veracruz      24th September, 2004

8. El Naranjo, San Luis Potosi      25-28th September, 2004    Site 4.5

   To get here we took a bus from Tampico on the coast to Ciudad Mante and from there another to El Naranjo. It is a small town with one main street that can be very dusty or very muddy depending on the weather. There are a couple of places to stay and eat. Birding is quite spread out but there are a few minibuses or you can hitch if you don't have your own transport. It's worth spending a few days in the area as there are some fantastic birds. The first spot worth visiting is the small marsh at the junction. Here, Altamira Yellowthroat is easy. It seems to be private property but the landowner didn't seem to be too angry when he caught me. If you see anyone, ask permission. From the junction, it's 6km to El Meco which is the best place to see Parrots. Minibuses leave El Naranjo for El Meco regularly. I saw a pair of Yellow-headed Parrots flying over the town in the morning and Red-crowned Parrots a bit further along. You can also see Tamaulipas Crow around here. The walk from El Meco to El Salto has good birding. Back at El Naranjo, cross the bridge and follow the road up the hill and past the small village of Sabinito. Further on at about 10am I saw many Military Macaws just before the 155km marker and a small catholic shrine.
90 species including 35 lifers.

Neotropic Cormorant	Phalacrocorax brasilianus
Great Blue Heron	Ardea herodias
Great Egret	Ardea alba	Photographed
Snowy Egret	Egretta thula
Cattle Egret	Bubulcus ibis
Green Heron	Butorides virescens
Black-crowned Night-Heron	Nycticorax nycticorax
White-faced Ibis	Plegadis chihi	Possibly seen
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck	Dendrocygna autumnalis
Black Vulture	Coragyps atratus
Turkey Vulture	Cathartes aura
Common Black-Hawk	Buteogallus anthracinus	Photographed
Roadside Hawk	Buteo magnirostris	Photographed Recorded
(Northern) Crested Caracara	Caracara cheriway	Photographed
Collared Forest-Falcon	Micrastur semitorquatus
American Kestrel	Falco sparverius
Aplomado Falcon	Falco femoralis
Plain Chachalaca	Ortalis vetula	Photographed
Northern Bobwhite	Colinus virginianus
Singing Quail	Dactylortyx thoracicus	Possibly heard
Wilson's Snipe	Gallinago delicata
Spotted Sandpiper	Actitis macularia
Rock Dove	Columba livia	Introduced species
Red-billed Pigeon	Patagioenas flavirostris
Mourning Dove	Zenaida macroura
White-winged Dove	Zenaida asiatica
Common Ground-Dove	Columbina passerina
Inca Dove	Columbina inca
White-tipped Dove	Leptotila verreauxi
Military Macaw	Ara militaris	Vulnerable Recorded
White-crowned Parrot	Pionus senilis
Red-crowned Parrot	Amazona viridigenalis	Endemic Endangered Recorded?
Yellow-headed Parrot	Amazona oratrix	Endangered
Squirrel Cuckoo	Piaya cayana	Photographed
Mottled Owl	Ciccaba virgata	Possibly heard Recorded
Vaux's Swift	Chaetura vauxi
Wedge-tailed Sabrewing	Campylopterus curvipennis	Possibly seen
Buff-bellied Hummingbird	Amazilia yucatanensis
Ruby-throated Hummingbird	Archilochus colubris	Photographed
Green Kingfisher	Chloroceryle americana
Blue-crowned Motmot	Momotus momota
Golden-fronted Woodpecker	Melanerpes aurifrons
Golden-olive Woodpecker	Piculus rubiginosus
Lineated Woodpecker	Dryocopus lineatus	Possibly seen
Spot-crowned Woodcreeper	Lepidocolaptes affinis
Olive-sided Flycatcher	Contopus cooperi	Photographed
Black Phoebe	Sayornis nigricans
Say's Phoebe	Sayornis saya
Brown-crested Flycatcher	Myiarchus tyrannulus	Possibly seen
Great Kiskadee	Pitangus sulphuratus	Photographed
Boat-billed Flycatcher	Megarynchus pitangua
Social Flycatcher	Myiozetetes similis	Recorded
Couch's Kingbird	Tyrannus couchii
Cassin's Kingbird	Tyrannus vociferans	Possibly seen
Barn Swallow	Hirundo rustica
Ruby-crowned Kinglet	Regulus calendula	Possibly seen
Spot-breasted Wren	Thryothorus maculipectus	Recorded
Clay-colored Robin	Turdus grayi
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher	Polioptila caerulea	Photographed
Black-crested Titmouse	Baeolophus atricristatus
Green Jay	Cyanocorax yncas
Brown Jay	Cyanocorax morio	Recorded
Tamaulipas Crow	Corvus imparatus	Endemic Photographed Recorded
Warbling Vireo	Vireo gilvus
Tropical Parula	Parula pitiayumi
Townsend's Warbler	Dendroica townsendi
Louisiana Waterthrush	Seiurus motacilla	Recorded
Altamira Yellowthroat	Geothlypis flavovelata	Endemic Vulnerable Photographed
Wilson's Warbler	Wilsonia pusilla	Recorded
Golden-crowned Warbler	Basileuterus culicivorus	Recorded
Red-throated Ant-Tanager	Habia fuscicauda	Possibly seen
Summer Tanager	Piranga rubra	Recorded
Blue-gray Tanager	Thraupis episcopus
Yellow-winged Tanager	Thraupis abbas
Yellow-throated Euphonia	Euphonia hirundinacea
White-collared Seedeater	Sporophila torqueola	Possibly seen
Rusty Sparrow	Aimophila rufescens	Possibly seen
Lark Sparrow	Chondestes grammacus
Black-headed Saltator	Saltator atriceps	Photographed Recorded
Blue Grosbeak	Passerina caerulea	Possibly seen
Red-winged Blackbird	Agelaius phoeniceus
Eastern Meadowlark	Sturnella magna
Melodious Blackbird	Dives dives	Photographed Recorded
Great-tailed Grackle	Quiscalus mexicanus
Bronzed Cowbird	Molothrus aeneus	Photographed
Altamira Oriole	Icterus gularis
Hooded Oriole	Icterus cucullatus
Baltimore Oriole	Icterus galbula
Audubon's Oriole	Icterus graduacauda
House Sparrow	Passer domesticus	Introduced species

9. La Pesca, Tamaulipas      29th September, 2004    Site 4.2

   La Pesca can be visited in a day trip from Ciudad Victoria, a large city with all amenities, although it is 3 hours each way on buses. There should be places to stay in Soto La Marina just 1 hour from La Pesca but it didn't look such a nice place. A bus left the terminal in Ciudad Victoria for Soto La Marina at 7:30. There we had to wait a while for another bus to La Pesca. On the second bus ride you pass some lakes, one of which was full of egrets, ibis and Roseate Spoonbills. At La Pesca the bus drops you in the town but it is another 2-3km to the beach. On this walk, I saw Nashville Warbler and Plain Chachalaca. At the coast, there is a small river mouth where I saw Long-billed Curlew and the main beach with lots of terns and waders, including Piping Plover. The beach looked like it caters for many tourists with lots of umbrella, seats and restaurants. It was deserted when I was there but if you picked the wrong day, it could be full. Avoid weekends and holidays.
50 species including 21 lifers.

American White Pelican	Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
Brown Pelican	Pelecanus occidentalis	Photographed
Great Blue Heron	Ardea herodias
Great Egret	Ardea alba
Snowy Egret	Egretta thula
Cattle Egret	Bubulcus ibis
White Ibis	Eudocimus albus
Roseate Spoonbill	Platalea ajaja
Black Vulture	Coragyps atratus
Turkey Vulture	Cathartes aura	Photographed
Osprey	Pandion haliaetus
Short-tailed Hawk	Buteo brachyurus
(Northern) Crested Caracara	Caracara cheriway	Photographed
American Kestrel	Falco sparverius
Plain Chachalaca	Ortalis vetula
American Oystercatcher	Haematopus palliatus
American Golden-Plover	Pluvialis dominica	Photographed
Black-bellied Plover	Pluvialis squatarola
Semipalmated Plover	Charadrius semipalmatus	Photographed
Piping Plover	Charadrius melodus	Vulnerable
Long-billed Curlew	Numenius americanus	Near-threatened Photographed
Spotted Sandpiper	Actitis macularia	Photographed
Willet	Catoptrophorus semipalmatus	Photographed
Ruddy Turnstone	Arenaria interpres	Photographed
Sanderling	Calidris alba	Photographed
Least Sandpiper	Calidris minutilla	Photographed
Bonaparte's Gull	Larus philadelphia
Laughing Gull	Larus atricilla	Photographed
Franklin's Gull	Larus pipixcan
Sandwich Tern	Sterna sandvicensis
Royal Tern	Sterna maxima
Forster's Tern	Sterna forsteri	Photographed
Black Skimmer	Rynchops niger
Rock Dove	Columba livia	Introduced species
Red-billed Pigeon	Patagioenas flavirostris
Common Ground-Dove	Columbina passerina
Inca Dove	Columbina inca
Ringed Kingfisher	Ceryle torquata	Photographed
Great Kiskadee	Pitangus sulphuratus
Tropical Kingbird	Tyrannus melancholicus
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher	Tyrannus forficatus	Photographed
Barn Swallow	Hirundo rustica
Curve-billed Thrasher	Toxostoma curvirostre
Tamaulipas Crow	Corvus imparatus	Endemic Photographed
Common Yellowthroat	Geothlypis trichas
Nashville Warbler	Vermivora ruficapilla	Photographed
Yellow-breasted Chat	Icteria virens
Great-tailed Grackle	Quiscalus mexicanus	Photographed
Altamira Oriole	Icterus gularis
House Sparrow	Passer domesticus	Introduced species

10. Cola de Caballo, Highrise & Presa Rodrigo Gomez, Nuevo Leon      1-2nd October, 2004    Site 3.1

   These sites are close to the huge city of Monterrey and can be visited in a day trip from there. It's best to have your own transport but you can get there on public transport. Getting to the Highrise is difficult though. Take any bus to El Cercado and get off there. Then take a local bus from near the plaza to Cola de Caballo. From there you can carry on walking up (good birding) and try to hitch. Traffic is light but it is possible. The site guide has excellent maps and instructions. The Maroon-fronted Parrots are not too difficult to see but they are very far away. A scope would be very useful. Presa Rodrigo Gomez is a reservoir back at the highway with some waterbirds.
61 Species including 23 lifers.

Pied-billed Grebe	Podilymbus podiceps
Brown Pelican	Pelecanus occidentalis
Neotropic Cormorant	Phalacrocorax brasilianus
Great Blue Heron	Ardea herodias
Great Egret	Ardea alba
Snowy Egret	Egretta thula
Green Heron	Butorides virescens
Mallard	Anas platyrhynchos	Possibly seen
Blue-winged Teal	Anas discors
Black Vulture	Coragyps atratus
Turkey Vulture	Cathartes aura	Photographed
Osprey	Pandion haliaetus
American Coot	Fulica americana
Killdeer	Charadrius vociferus	Photographed
Spotted Sandpiper	Actitis macularia
Rock Dove	Columba livia	Introduced species
Inca Dove	Columbina inca
White-tipped Dove	Leptotila verreauxi
Maroon-fronted Parrot	Rhynchopsitta terrisi	Endemic Vulnerable Recorded
Red-crowned Parrot	Amazona viridigenalis	Endemic Endangered Recorded?
Black-chinned Hummingbird	Archilochus alexandri
Ringed Kingfisher	Ceryle torquata
Acorn Woodpecker	Melanerpes formicivorus	Photographed
Golden-fronted Woodpecker	Melanerpes aurifrons
Greater Pewee	Contopus pertinax
Pine Flycatcher	Empidonax affinis
Black Phoebe	Sayornis nigricans
Say's Phoebe	Sayornis saya
Vermilion Flycatcher	Pyrocephalus rubinus	Photographed
Great Kiskadee	Pitangus sulphuratus
Rose-throated Becard	Pachyramphus aglaiae
Northern Rough-winged Swallow	Stelgidopteryx serripennis
Barn Swallow	Hirundo rustica
Canyon Wren	Catherpes mexicanus	Photographed
Spot-breasted Wren	Thryothorus maculipectus	Photographed Recorded
Carolina Wren	Thryothorus ludovicianus	Recorded
House Wren	Troglodytes aedon	Photographed
Clay-colored Robin	Turdus grayi	Photographed Recorded
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher	Polioptila caerulea
Bridled Titmouse	Baeolophus wollweberi	Photographed
Black-crested Titmouse	Baeolophus atricristatus
White-breasted Nuthatch	Sitta carolinensis	Photographed
Brown Creeper	Certhia americana	Photographed
Green Jay	Cyanocorax yncas	Photographed Recorded
Mexican Jay	Aphelocoma ultramarina	Photographed Recorded
Common Raven	Corvus corax
White-eyed Vireo	Vireo griseus	Possibly seen
Hutton's Vireo	Vireo huttoni	Photographed
Warbling Vireo	Vireo gilvus
Crescent-chested Warbler	Parula superciliosa
Townsend's Warbler	Dendroica townsendi
Wilson's Warbler	Wilsonia pusilla	Recorded
Painted Redstart	Myioborus pictus
Golden-crowned Warbler	Basileuterus culicivorus
Rufous-capped Warbler	Basileuterus rufifrons	Photographed Recorded
Hepatic Tanager	Piranga flava
Rufous-crowned Sparrow	Aimophila ruficeps
Rose-breasted Grosbeak	Pheucticus ludovicianus
Great-tailed Grackle	Quiscalus mexicanus
Bronzed Cowbird	Molothrus aeneus
Audubon's Oriole	Icterus graduacauda

11. Tanque de Emergencia & Hedionda Grande, Coahuila       3rd & 5th October, 2004    Site 3.3

   Saltillo is a nice city with all amenities and makes a good base to visit these 2 sites. To get to Tanque de Emergencia, take a bus from the terminal (one left at 6:45) towards Concepcion del Oro and get off 43km south of Saltillo at the turn of for Tanque which is just a gravel road on the left. Birding is good along this road with many desert birds. Traffic is very light and you need to be lucky to get a lift. After 8km there is an old water tank and the endangered endemic Worthen's Sparrow has been seen around here in Winter. Further on there was a small lake where I saw Sprague's Pipit. There are huge prairie dog colonies and I saw Golden Eagles and Northern Harrier. If you have your own transport, you turn left at El Cercado after 18.8 km and drive towards Hedionda Grande. Walking, you probably have to go another day. The turn-off for Hedionda Grande is 32km south of Saltillo but from there it is about 28km to the place where you can see Worthen's Sparrows. You can take the same bus from the terminal towards Concepcion del Oro and try to hitch along this road. Traffic is still light but better than the Tanque road. I failed to find Worthen's Sparrow at either site. Other months might be better.
45 species including 19 lifers.

Turkey Vulture	Cathartes aura
Northern Harrier	Circus cyaneus
Red-tailed Hawk	Buteo jamaicensis
Golden Eagle	Aquila chrysaetos	Photographed
American Kestrel	Falco sparverius
Prairie Falcon	Falco mexicanus
Scaled Quail	Callipepla squamata	Photographed
Killdeer	Charadrius vociferus	Recorded
Baird's Sandpiper	Calidris bairdii	Photographed
Rock Dove	Columba livia	Introduced species
Mourning Dove	Zenaida macroura
White-winged Dove	Zenaida asiatica	Photographed
Inca Dove	Columbina inca	Possibly seen
Greater Roadrunner	Geococcyx californianus
Burrowing Owl	Athene cunicularia
Golden-fronted Woodpecker	Melanerpes aurifrons
Northern Flicker	Colaptes auratus	Photographed
Eastern Phoebe	Sayornis phoebe	Possibly seen
Say's Phoebe	Sayornis saya	Photographed
Vermilion Flycatcher	Pyrocephalus rubinus	Photographed
Cassin's Kingbird	Tyrannus vociferans
Horned Lark	Eremophila alpestris	Photographed
Barn Swallow	Hirundo rustica
Sprague's Pipit	Anthus spragueii	Vulnerable
Cactus Wren	Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus
Bewick's Wren	Thryomanes bewickii
Northern Mockingbird	Mimus polyglottos
Curve-billed Thrasher	Toxostoma curvirostre	Possibly seen
Crissal Thrasher	Toxostoma crissale	Photographed Recorded
Western Bluebird	Sialia mexicana
Black-tailed Gnatcatcher	Polioptila melanura
Bushtit	Psaltriparus minimus
Loggerhead Shrike	Lanius ludovicianus	Photographed
Common Raven	Corvus corax	Photographed
Yellow-rumped Warbler	Dendroica coronata
Canyon Towhee	Pipilo fuscus
Cassin's Sparrow	Aimophila cassinii
Chipping Sparrow	Spizella passerina
Lark Sparrow	Chondestes grammacus
Black-throated Sparrow	Amphispiza bilineata	Photographed
Savannah Sparrow	Passerculus sandwichensis	Possibly seen Photographed
Lincoln's Sparrow	Melospiza lincolnii	Possibly seen
Western Meadowlark	Sturnella neglecta
Great-tailed Grackle	Quiscalus mexicanus
House Finch	Carpodacus mexicanus

12. Socorro Rivera, Chihuahua      7th October, 2004

   This is a breeding site for the endangered Thick-billed Parrot. It is close to the town of Madera which is 5 hours by bus from Chihuahua city. Madera only has a few hotels. The cheapest on seemed to be closed and the cheapest place we could find was N$270. A bus leaves Madera for Huaracan at 6am and passes Ejido Socorro Rivera. From the turn off it is another couple of kms up into the village which is just a group of poor housing. You get dropped off in the dark so bring a torch and warm clothes. I followed the track through the village and carried on towards the hills. This is an old logging trail. I failed to see the parrots and they may have already flown south.
30 species including 9 lifers.

Turkey Vulture	Cathartes aura
Rock Dove	Columba livia	Introduced species
Band-tailed Pigeon	Patagioenas fasciata
Great Horned Owl	Bubo virginianus	Heard only
Spotted Owl	Strix occidentalis	Near-threatened Possibly seen
Mountain Pygmy-Owl	Glaucidium gnoma	Possibly heard
Red-naped Sapsucker	Sphyrapicus nuchalis
Hairy Woodpecker	Picoides villosus	Photographed Recorded?
Hammond's Flycatcher	Empidonax hammondii
Ruby-crowned Kinglet	Regulus calendula	Photographed Recorded
Western Bluebird	Sialia mexicana
Townsend's Solitaire	Myadestes townsendi	Photographed Recorded
American Robin	Turdus migratorius
Bushtit	Psaltriparus minimus	Photographed
Mexican Chickadee	Poecile sclateri	Photographed
Bridled Titmouse	Baeolophus wollweberi
Pygmy Nuthatch	Sitta pygmaea	Photographed
White-breasted Nuthatch	Sitta carolinensis	Recorded
Brown Creeper	Certhia americana
Steller's Jay	Cyanocitta stelleri	Photographed
Common Raven	Corvus corax
Olive Warbler	Peucedramus taeniatus
Yellow-rumped Warbler	Dendroica coronata
Townsend's Warbler	Dendroica townsendi
Spotted Towhee	Pipilo maculatus	Photographed
Canyon Towhee	Pipilo fuscus
Yellow-eyed Junco	Junco phaeonotus	Photographed
Northern Cardinal	Cardinalis cardinalis	Possibly seen
House Finch	Carpodacus mexicanus
House Sparrow	Passer domesticus	Introduced species

13. Mazatlan, Sinaloa      9th October, 2004

   We took the ferry from Mazatlan to Baja California. We saw some interesting birds in town and around the harbour area.
21 species including 7 lifers.

Brown Pelican	Pelecanus occidentalis
Blue-footed Booby	Sula nebouxii
Brown Booby	Sula leucogaster
Magnificent Frigatebird	Fregata magnificens	Photographed
Black Vulture	Coragyps atratus
Turkey Vulture	Cathartes aura
Osprey	Pandion haliaetus
Heermann's Gull	Larus heermanni	Near-threatened
Laughing Gull	Larus atricilla
Franklin's Gull	Larus pipixcan	Possibly seen
Rock Dove	Columba livia	Introduced species
White-winged Dove	Zenaida asiatica
Common Ground-Dove	Columbina passerina
Belted Kingfisher	Ceryle alcyon
Gila Woodpecker	Melanerpes uropygialis
Social Flycatcher	Myiozetetes similis
Tropical Kingbird	Tyrannus melancholicus
Violet-green Swallow	Tachycineta thalassina
Sinaloa Crow	Corvus sinaloae	Endemic
Great-tailed Grackle	Quiscalus mexicanus
House Sparrow	Passer domesticus	Introduced species

14. San Jose del Cabo, Baja California del Sur      11-13th October, 2004    Site 1.10

   San Jose is reached by bus from La Paz. It is a lovely, peaceful town and has good birding areas nearby. It is one of the few remaining sites for the critically endangered endemic Belding's Yellowthroat. There no longer seems to be any habitat behind the Hotel Presidente. I saw a single female and heard several others on the other side of the bay. Follow the map in the site guide although it is a little bit difficult to find where to cross the river and find a path along the other side. The river, beach and estuary area are all good for waterbirds.
77 species including 27 lifers.

Pied-billed Grebe	Podilymbus podiceps	Photographed Recorded
Brown Pelican	Pelecanus occidentalis
Double-crested Cormorant	Phalacrocorax auritus
Neotropic Cormorant	Phalacrocorax brasilianus	Photographed recorded
Great Blue Heron	Ardea herodias
Great Egret	Ardea alba	Photographed
Reddish Egret	Egretta rufescens
Tricolored Heron	Egretta tricolor	Photographed
Snowy Egret	Egretta thula
Cattle Egret	Bubulcus ibis
Green Heron	Butorides virescens
Black-crowned Night-Heron	Nycticorax nycticorax
White-faced Ibis	Plegadis chihi	Photographed
Blue-winged Teal	Anas discors	Photographed Recorded
Turkey Vulture	Cathartes aura
Osprey	Pandion haliaetus	Photographed
American Kestrel	Falco sparverius
Peregrine Falcon	Falco peregrinus
Sora	Porzana carolina	Photographed
Common Moorhen	Gallinula chloropus
American Coot	Fulica americana	Photographed
Semipalmated Plover	Charadrius semipalmatus	Photographed
Killdeer	Charadrius vociferus	Photographed
Snowy Plover	Charadrius alexandrinus	Photographed
Wilson's Snipe	Gallinago delicata
Long-billed Dowitcher	Limnodromus scolopaceus	Photographed
Marbled Godwit	Limosa fedoa	Photographed
Whimbrel	Numenius phaeopus	Photographed
Long-billed Curlew	Numenius americanus	Near-threatened Photographed Recorded
Greater Yellowlegs	Tringa melanoleuca	Photographed
Lesser Yellowlegs	Tringa flavipes
Solitary Sandpiper	Tringa solitaria
Spotted Sandpiper	Actitis macularia	Photographed
Ruddy Turnstone	Arenaria interpres
Sanderling	Calidris alba	Photographed
Western Sandpiper	Calidris mauri	Photographed
Least Sandpiper	Calidris minutilla	Photographed
Dunlin	Calidris alpina	Photographed
Heermann's Gull	Larus heermanni	Near-threatened Photographed
Ring-billed Gull	Larus delawarensis	Photographed
Western Gull	Larus occidentalis
Franklin's Gull	Larus pipixcan	Photographed
Caspian Tern	Sterna caspia	Photographed
Elegant Tern	Sterna elegans	Near-threatened Photographed
Forster's Tern	Sterna forsteri	Photographed
Mourning Dove	Zenaida macroura
White-winged Dove	Zenaida asiatica
Common Ground-Dove	Columbina passerina
Lesser Nighthawk	Chordeiles acutipennis
Costa's Hummingbird	Calypte costae
Belted Kingfisher	Ceryle alcyon	Photographed
Gila Woodpecker	Melanerpes uropygialis
Gilded Flicker	Colaptes chrysoides	Photographed
Black Phoebe	Sayornis nigricans	Photographed
Tropical Kingbird	Tyrannus melancholicus
Cassin's Kingbird	Tyrannus vociferans
Northern Rough-winged Swallow	Stelgidopteryx serripennis
Barn Swallow	Hirundo rustica
Cactus Wren	Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus
House Wren	Troglodytes aedon
Marsh Wren	Cistothorus palustris
Northern Mockingbird	Mimus polyglottos
Gray Thrasher	Toxostoma cinereum	Endemic
Western Scrub-Jay	Aphelocoma californica
Common Raven	Corvus corax	Photographed?
European Starling	Sturnus vulgaris	Introduced species
Common Yellowthroat	Geothlypis trichas	Photographed Recorded
Belding's Yellowthroat	Geothlypis beldingi	Endemic Critically endangered Photographed? Recorded?
Wilson's Warbler	Wilsonia pusilla
California Towhee	Pipilo crissalis
Savannah Sparrow	Passerculus sandwichensis
Blue Grosbeak	Passerina caerulea
Brewer's Blackbird	Euphagus cyanocephalus
Brown-headed Cowbird	Molothrus ater
Hooded Oriole	Icterus cucullatus	Photographed
House Finch	Carpodacus mexicanus
House Sparrow	Passer domesticus	Introduced species

15. La Paz, Baja California del Sur      10th & 14th October, 2004

16. Ferry from La Paz to Mazatlan      15th October, 2004

   A few sea birds can be seen when crossing the Gulf of California by ferry. I even found a least Storm-Petrel on deck.
13 species including 4 lifers.

Pink-footed Shearwater	Puffinus creatopus	Vulnerable
Black-vented Shearwater	Puffinus opisthomelas	Breeding endemic Vulnerable
Least Storm-Petrel	Oceanodroma microsoma
Brown Pelican	Pelecanus occidentalis
Blue-footed Booby	Sula nebouxii
Brown Booby	Sula leucogaster
Double-crested Cormorant	Phalacrocorax auritus
Magnificent Frigatebird	Fregata magnificens
Pomarine Jaeger	Stercorarius pomarinus
Heermann's Gull	Larus heermanni	Near-threatened
Elegant Tern	Sterna elegans	Near-threatened
Mourning Dove	Zenaida macroura
Northern Rough-winged Swallow	Stelgidopteryx serripennis

17. Barranca Rancho Liebre, Sinaloa      16th October, 2004    Site 5.6

   It is possible to visit this site in a day trip from Mazatlan but it takes 3 and a half hours to arrive by bus. A bus leaves the terminal in Mazatlan for Durango at 6am. Ask to get off at El Palmito (at km 200) and follow the instructions in the site guide. It would probably be better to stay closer to arrive earlier. You could even camp up there as there is nobody around. Tufted Jays were quite easy to see on several parts of the trail and I also had a pair of Military Macaws at the Barranca itself.
37 species including 14 lifers.

Black Vulture	Coragyps atratus
Turkey Vulture	Cathartes aura
Red-tailed Hawk	Buteo jamaicensis
Crested Guan	Penelope purpurascens
Inca Dove	Columbina inca
Military Macaw	Ara militaris	Vulnerable
White-eared Hummingbird	Hylocharis leucotis
Blue-throated Hummingbird	Lampornis clemenciae
Arizona Woodpecker	Picoides arizonae
White-striped Woodcreeper	Lepidocolaptes leucogaster	Endemic
Tufted Flycatcher	Mitrephanes phaeocercus
Hammond's Flycatcher	Empidonax hammondii
Dusky Flycatcher	Empidonax oberholseri
Ruby-crowned Kinglet	Regulus calendula
House Wren	Troglodytes aedon
Brown-backed Solitaire	Myadestes occidentalis
Russet Nightingale-Thrush	Catharus occidentalis	Endemic
American Robin	Turdus migratorius	Recorded
Mexican Chickadee	Poecile sclateri
Brown Creeper	Certhia americana
Tufted Jay	Cyanocorax dickeyi	Endemic Near-threatened Recorded
Common Raven	Corvus corax
Olive Warbler	Peucedramus taeniatus
Crescent-chested Warbler	Parula superciliosa
Yellow-rumped Warbler	Dendroica coronata
Black-throated Gray Warbler	Dendroica nigrescens
Townsend's Warbler	Dendroica townsendi
Hermit Warbler	Dendroica occidentalis
Black-and-white Warbler	Mniotilta varia
Wilson's Warbler	Wilsonia pusilla	Recorded
Red-faced Warbler	Cardellina rubrifrons
Red Warbler	Ergaticus ruber	Endemic
Painted Redstart	Myioborus pictus	Recorded
Slate-throated Redstart	Myioborus miniatus
Hepatic Tanager	Piranga flava
Red-headed Tanager	Piranga erythrocephala	Endemic Recorded
Yellow-eyed Junco	Junco phaeonotus

18. San Blas, Nayarit      17-19th October, 2004    Site 6.2

   San Blas can be reached by a 2 hour bus from Tepic. We stayed at the Hotel Ranchero which was basic and cost 150 pesos for a double. There are several different areas good for birding. On the Sewage-pond trail (lots of mosquitos) I saw many waterbirds aswell as Black-throated Magpie-Jays. At the castle on the hill we saw Mexican Parrotlets and on the outskirts of town I saw Black-vented Oriole and Paraque on the way to La Bajada there were mangroves and shrimp ponds with Yellow-winged Caciques and many waterbirds.
64 species including 14 lifers.

Brown Pelican	Pelecanus occidentalis
Neotropic Cormorant	Phalacrocorax brasilianus
Anhinga	Anhinga anhinga	Photograped
Magnificent Frigatebird	Fregata magnificens
Great Blue Heron	Ardea herodias
Great Egret	Ardea alba
Snowy Egret	Egretta thula
Cattle Egret	Bubulcus ibis
Black-crowned Night-Heron	Nycticorax nycticorax
White-faced Ibis	Plegadis chihi
Roseate Spoonbill	Platalea ajaja
Fulvous Whistling-Duck	Dendrocygna bicolor
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck	Dendrocygna autumnalis
Black Vulture	Coragyps atratus
Turkey Vulture	Cathartes aura
Osprey	Pandion haliaetus
Gray Hawk	Asturina nitida
Short-tailed Hawk	Buteo brachyurus
American Kestrel	Falco sparverius
American Oystercatcher	Haematopus palliatus	Photograped
Black-necked Stilt	Himantopus mexicanus	Photograped
Killdeer	Charadrius vociferus
Wilson's Snipe	Gallinago delicata	Possibly seen
Short-billed Dowitcher	Limnodromus griseus	Photograped
Whimbrel	Numenius phaeopus
Greater Yellowlegs	Tringa melanoleuca	Photograped
Lesser Yellowlegs	Tringa flavipes	Photograped
Solitary Sandpiper	Tringa solitaria	Possibly seen
Spotted Sandpiper	Actitis macularia
Willet	Catoptrophorus semipalmatus	Photograped
Western Sandpiper	Calidris mauri	Possibly seen
Franklin's Gull	Larus pipixcan	Possibly seen
Caspian Tern	Sterna caspia
White-winged Dove	Zenaida asiatica	Photograped
Common Ground-Dove	Columbina passerina
Mexican Parrotlet	Forpus cyanopygius	Endemic
Pauraque	Nyctidromus albicollis
Violet-crowned Hummingbird	Agyrtria violiceps	Possibly seen
Belted Kingfisher	Ceryle alcyon
Golden-cheeked Woodpecker	Melanerpes chrysogenys	Endemic
Vermilion Flycatcher	Pyrocephalus rubinus	Photograped
Brown-crested Flycatcher	Myiarchus tyrannulus
Great Kiskadee	Pitangus sulphuratus
Social Flycatcher	Myiozetetes similis
Tropical Kingbird	Tyrannus melancholicus	Photograped
Thick-billed Kingbird	Tyrannus crassirostris
Barn Swallow	Hirundo rustica
Northern Mockingbird	Mimus polyglottos	Photograped
Rufous-backed Robin	Turdus rufopalliatus	Endemic
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher	Polioptila caerulea	Photograped
Black-throated Magpie-Jay	Calocitta colliei	Endemic Photograped
Sinaloa Crow	Corvus sinaloae	Endemic
Yellow Warbler	Dendroica petechia
Wilson's Warbler	Wilsonia pusilla
Yellow-breasted Chat	Icteria virens
Stripe-headed Sparrow	Aimophila ruficauda	Photograped
Lark Sparrow	Chondestes grammacus	Possibly seen
Painted Bunting	Passerina ciris	Photograped
Great-tailed Grackle	Quiscalus mexicanus	Photograped
Bronzed Cowbird	Molothrus aeneus
Hooded Oriole	Icterus cucullatus
Black-vented Oriole	Icterus wagleri
Yellow-winged Cacique	Cacicus melanicterus	Photograped
House Sparrow	Passer domesticus	Introduced species

19. La Bajada, Nayarit      18-19th October, 2004    Site 6.2

   La Bajada is easily reached from San Blas, a medioum sized town with hotels and restaurants. A bus leaves the terminal between 6 and 7am for El Llano or La Palma seemingly depending on the day. If it goes to El Llano, get off at the junction for La Palma and walk uphill. Follow the map in the site guide. A bus leaves La Palma for San Blas at about mid-day which gives you enough time for a nice morning's birding at La Bajada. I failed to see Mexican Woodnymph and Black-capped Vireo in 2 days birding but saw many other interesting species along the path through the coffee plantation.
52 species including 20 lifers.

Thicket Tinamou	Crypturellus cinnamomeus	Possibly seen
Black Vulture	Coragyps atratus
Turkey Vulture	Cathartes aura
Zone-tailed Hawk	Buteo albonotatus
Laughing Falcon	Herpetotheres cachinnans	Photographed Recorded
American Kestrel	Falco sparverius
Rufous-bellied Chachalaca	Ortalis wagleri	Endemic Recorded
Crested Guan	Penelope purpurascens	Possibly heard Recorded?
Rock Dove	Columba livia	Introduced species
Red-billed Pigeon	Patagioenas flavirostris
Inca Dove	Columbina inca
White-tipped Dove	Leptotila verreauxi
Orange-fronted Parakeet	Aratinga canicularis
Mexican Parrotlet	Forpus cyanopygius	Endemic
Squirrel Cuckoo	Piaya cayana
Colima Pygmy-Owl	Glaucidium palmarum	Endemic Possibly heard Recorded?
Cinnamon Hummingbird	Amazilia rutila
Citreoline Trogon	Trogon citreolus	Endemic Photographed
Elegant Trogon	Trogon elegans	Photographed
Russet-crowned Motmot	Momotus mexicanus
Golden-cheeked Woodpecker	Melanerpes chrysogenys	Endemic Photographed Recorded
Lineated Woodpecker	Dryocopus lineatus
Pale-billed Woodpecker	Campephilus guatemalensis	Photographed
Greater Pewee	Contopus pertinax
Least Flycatcher	Empidonax minimus
Hammond's Flycatcher	Empidonax hammondii	Photographed
Dusky-capped Flycatcher	Myiarchus tuberculifer	Photographed?
Boat-billed Flycatcher	Megarynchus pitangua	Possibly heard
Thick-billed Kingbird	Tyrannus crassirostris
Rose-throated Becard	Pachyramphus aglaiae
Masked Tityra	Tityra semifasciata	Photographed Recorded
Happy Wren	Thryothorus felix	Endemic Recorded
Sinaloa Wren	Thryothorus sinaloa	Endemic Possibly heard Recorded?
Blue Mockingbird	Melanotis caerulescens	Endemic
Swainson's Thrush	Catharus ustulatus	Possibly seen
Rufous-backed Robin	Turdus rufopalliatus	Endemic
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher	Polioptila caerulea
Black-throated Magpie-Jay	Calocitta colliei	Endemic Photographed Recorded
Sinaloa Crow	Corvus sinaloae	Endemic Photographed
Warbling Vireo	Vireo gilvus
Golden Vireo	Vireo hypochryseus	Endemic
Black-throated Gray Warbler	Dendroica nigrescens
Wilson's Warbler	Wilsonia pusilla
Summer Tanager	Piranga rubra
Scrub Euphonia	Euphonia affinis	Possibly seen Recorded?
Grayish Saltator	Saltator coerulescens	Recorded?
Yellow Grosbeak	Pheucticus chrysopeplus
Great-tailed Grackle	Quiscalus mexicanus
Streak-backed Oriole	Icterus pustulatus
Hooded Oriole	Icterus cucullatus	Photographed?
Yellow-winged Cacique	Cacicus melanicterus	Recorded
House Sparrow	Passer domesticus	Introduced species

20. Volcan de Fuego, Jalisco      21st & 23rd October, 2004    Site 7.8

   Volcan de Fuego can be reached easily from Colima where there are many palces to stay and eat. We stayed at the Hotel Colonial for just N$130 for a double. A bus leaves at 6:30am from the Central Camionera in Colima and passes the small town of Atenquique. Before entering the town there is a left turn at km 53 (not clearly marked) which continues up the mountain. The first day we tried to get there, we got off the bus too soon and took a left turning into a small village. The road continued and eventually joined up with the correct one. It's about 18km to the higher parts with more interesting species although there is some nice woodland lower down after about 10km. The road up is very bad and you would need 4WD. A few vehicles use the lower part of the road, but higher up it is very unlikely you will be able to hitch. It is too far for a day trip although we did it. I recommending going up for a night or 2 to be there nice and early. I possible saw an Eared Quetzal which flew past when I tried playback. General birding is excellent.
102 species including 24 lifers.

Black Vulture	Coragyps atratus
Turkey Vulture	Cathartes aura
Sharp-shinned Hawk	Accipiter striatus	Photographed
Cooper's Hawk	Accipiter cooperii	Possibly seen
Gray Hawk	Asturina nitida
Broad-winged Hawk	Buteo platypterus	Possibly seen
Red-tailed Hawk	Buteo jamaicensis
American Kestrel	Falco sparverius
Merlin	Falco columbarius	Possibly seen
Bat Falcon	Falco rufigularis
Banded Quail	Philortyx fasciatus	Endemic Recorded
Mourning Dove	Zenaida macroura
Common Ground-Dove	Columbina passerina
Inca Dove	Columbina inca
White-tipped Dove	Leptotila verreauxi	Heard only Recorded
Orange-fronted Parakeet	Aratinga canicularis
Groove-billed Ani	Crotophaga sulcirostris	Photographed
Lesser Roadrunner	Geococcyx velox
Vaux's Swift	Chaetura vauxi	Possibly seen
White-eared Hummingbird	Hylocharis leucotis
Violet-crowned Hummingbird	Agyrtria violiceps
Berylline Hummingbird	Saucerottia beryllina
Blue-throated Hummingbird	Lampornis clemenciae
Amethyst-throated Hummingbird	Lampornis amethystinus	Possibly seen
Lucifer Hummingbird	Calothorax lucifer
Bumblebee Hummingbird	Atthis heloisa	Endemic Photographed
Calliope Hummingbird	Stellula calliope
Rufous Hummingbird	Selasphorus rufus	Photographed
Eared Quetzal	Euptilotis neoxenus	Endemic Near-threatened Possibly seen
Acorn Woodpecker	Melanerpes formicivorus	Recorded
Golden-cheeked Woodpecker	Melanerpes chrysogenys	Endemic Photographed
Ladder-backed Woodpecker	Picoides scalaris
Arizona Woodpecker	Picoides arizonae
Smoky-brown Woodpecker	Veniliornis fumigatus	Photographed
White-striped Woodcreeper	Lepidocolaptes leucogaster	Endemic
Tufted Flycatcher	Mitrephanes phaeocercus
Greater Pewee	Contopus pertinax	Photographed
Hammond's Flycatcher	Empidonax hammondii	Possibly seen
Dusky Flycatcher	Empidonax oberholseri	Possibly seen Photographed?
Pine Flycatcher	Empidonax affinis
Vermilion Flycatcher	Pyrocephalus rubinus	Photographed
Dusky-capped Flycatcher	Myiarchus tuberculifer
Ash-throated Flycatcher	Myiarchus cinerascens
Nutting's Flycatcher	Myiarchus nuttingi	Possibly seen Photographed?
Great Kiskadee	Pitangus sulphuratus
Social Flycatcher	Myiozetetes similis
Tropical Kingbird	Tyrannus melancholicus
Cassin's Kingbird	Tyrannus vociferans	Photographed Recorded
Western Kingbird	Tyrannus verticalis	Photographed
Rose-throated Becard	Pachyramphus aglaiae
Barn Swallow	Hirundo rustica
Ruby-crowned Kinglet	Regulus calendula
Gray Silky-flycatcher	Ptilogonys cinereus
Spotted Wren	Campylorhynchus gularis	Endemic Photographed Recorded
House Wren	Troglodytes aedon
Curve-billed Thrasher	Toxostoma curvirostre
Blue Mockingbird	Melanotis caerulescens	Endemic
Eastern Bluebird	Sialia sialis
Brown-backed Solitaire	Myadestes occidentalis
American Robin	Turdus migratorius
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher	Polioptila caerulea
Bushtit	Psaltriparus minimus
Bridled Titmouse	Baeolophus wollweberi
White-breasted Nuthatch	Sitta carolinensis
Loggerhead Shrike	Lanius ludovicianus
Mexican Jay	Aphelocoma ultramarina
Common Raven	Corvus corax
Cassin's Vireo	Vireo cassinii	Possibly seen
Hutton's Vireo	Vireo huttoni
Warbling Vireo	Vireo gilvus
Golden Vireo	Vireo hypochryseus	Endemic
Chestnut-sided Shrike-Vireo	Vireolanius melitophrys
Lucy's Warbler	Vermivora luciae	Possibly seen
Crescent-chested Warbler	Parula superciliosa
Yellow-rumped Warbler	Dendroica coronata	Photographed
Black-throated Gray Warbler	Dendroica nigrescens
Townsend's Warbler	Dendroica townsendi
Hermit Warbler	Dendroica occidentalis
Black-and-white Warbler	Mniotilta varia
MacGillivray's Warbler	Oporornis tolmiei
Wilson's Warbler	Wilsonia pusilla
Red-faced Warbler	Cardellina rubrifrons
Red Warbler	Ergaticus ruber	Endemic
Painted Redstart	Myioborus pictus	Photographed
Slate-throated Redstart	Myioborus miniatus
Rufous-capped Warbler	Basileuterus rufifrons
Hepatic Tanager	Piranga flava
Summer Tanager	Piranga rubra
Blue-black Grassquit	Volatinia jacarina	Recorded
Rufous-capped Brush-Finch	Atlapetes pileatus	Endemic
Stripe-headed Sparrow	Aimophila ruficauda	Recorded
Rusty Sparrow	Aimophila rufescens	Possibly seen
Lark Sparrow	Chondestes grammacus
Lincoln's Sparrow	Melospiza lincolnii
Black-headed Grosbeak	Pheucticus melanocephalus
Blue Grosbeak	Passerina caerulea	Photographed Recorded
Indigo Bunting	Passerina cyanea
Hooded Oriole	Icterus cucullatus
Bullock's Oriole	Icterus bullockii
House Finch	Carpodacus mexicanus
Black-headed Siskin	Carduelis notata	Recorded
House Sparrow	Passer domesticus	Introduced species

21. Microondas la Cumbre, Colima      22nd October, 2004    site 7.10

   La Cumbre is close to Colima city and is a reliable site for the near-threatened endemic Balsas Screech-Owl. It would be straight forward if you have had your own vehicle. We tried to get there on public transport and hitching which was more difficult. There seemed to be no bus leaving the terminal that passed here but there maybe one from somewhere else. Follow the directions in the site guide if you are driving. We ended up having to take a taxi to the start of the Jiquilpan road from where we hitched. It wouldn't be too expensive to take a taxi all the way though. Getting back was even more problematic as it is difficult to hitch in the dark after owling. It may be an idea to get a taxi there and get them to wait or come back. We followed the advice in the book of climbing up to the top and waiting until dusk before walking down. We only heard the Balsas Screech-Owl though.
22 species including 6 lifers.

Black Vulture	Coragyps atratus	Photographed
Turkey Vulture	Cathartes aura
Sharp-shinned Hawk	Accipiter striatus	Possibly seen
Gray Hawk	Asturina nitida	Photographed
West Mexican Chachalaca	Ortalis poliocephala	Endemic
Mourning Dove	Zenaida macroura
Common Ground-Dove	Columbina passerina
Inca Dove	Columbina inca
Orange-fronted Parakeet	Aratinga canicularis
Lesser Ground-Cuckoo	Morococcyx erythropygus	Possibly seen
Balsas Screech-Owl	Megascops seductus	Endemic Near-threatened Heard only Recorded
Pauraque	Nyctidromus albicollis	Heard only Recorded
Buff-collared Nightjar	Caprimulgus ridgwayi
Golden-cheeked Woodpecker	Melanerpes chrysogenys	Endemic
Dusky-capped Flycatcher	Myiarchus tuberculifer
Ash-throated Flycatcher	Myiarchus cinerascens
Spotted Wren	Campylorhynchus gularis	Endemic
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher	Polioptila caerulea
Black-chested Sparrow	Aimophila humeralis	Endemic Photographed
Stripe-headed Sparrow	Aimophila ruficauda
Great-tailed Grackle	Quiscalus mexicanus
Black-vented Oriole	Icterus wagleri

22. El Paraiso, Guerrero      25-27th October, 2004    Site 9.2

   A good base to explore the sierra is Atoyac where there are plenty of hotels and places to eat. Buses going along the coastal highway can drop you off at San Jeronimo where you can take a combi or colective taxi to Atoyac which take 10 minutes and cost N$5. We stayed at the Hotel Alameda which was N$140 for a double with TV. There may also be a place to stay in the small town of Paraiso but it isn't really necessary as minibuses go along the paved road every half an hour from 6am and take just an hour. I got off before entering the town of Paraiso and started walking back along towards Atoyac. I found the critically endangered endemic Short-crested Coquette feeding on a tree with many pruple flowers. A Golden-crowned Emerald was also feeding on the tree and kept chasing the coquette away. Before the road goes down into the town a dirt track goes off to the left skirting the town. This is not the road mentioned in the site guide which leaves from in the town. The flowering bushes here had excellent birding in the early morning. After about 3km, the road forks with the main route carrying on to the right. A couple of kms along here I saw the endangered endemic White-tailed Hummingbird feeding on small yellow flowers about 2m off the ground by the roadside. On our last day of birding we took the right fork and carried on up into the sierra, walking and hitching. Look out for large flocks of Lilac-crowned Parrots, Especially at dusk. It is 18km to the tiny village of Nueva Dehli where there are even a couple of houses that serve as restaurants or shops. Nueva Delhi is at 1600m altitude and is between 18 and 21 kilometres from El Paraiso. The cloud forest starts at about km 25. A pick-up is supposed to pass at 5pm which you can get a ride back down on although it passed us at 3:30. Another vehicle passed later on. The whole area has a bad reputation for safety. It didn't feel too bad and there was a lot of wilitary about. Ask locally about this.
87 species including 18 lifers.

Snowy Egret	Egretta thula
Cattle Egret	Bubulcus ibis
Green Heron	Butorides virescens	Possibly seen
Black Vulture	Coragyps atratus
Turkey Vulture	Cathartes aura
Gray Hawk	Asturina nitida	Recorded
Red-tailed Hawk	Buteo jamaicensis	Photographed?
Common Black-Hawk	Buteogallus anthracinus	Possibly seen
Laughing Falcon	Herpetotheres cachinnans
Collared Forest-Falcon	Micrastur semitorquatus	Heard only
West Mexican Chachalaca	Ortalis poliocephala	Endemic Photographed
Rock Dove	Columba livia	Introduced species
Red-billed Pigeon	Patagioenas flavirostris
Inca Dove	Columbina inca
White-tipped Dove	Leptotila verreauxi
Ruddy Quail-Dove	Geotrygon montana
Orange-fronted Parakeet	Aratinga canicularis
Lilac-crowned Parrot	Amazona finschi	Endemic
Squirrel Cuckoo	Piaya cayana
Groove-billed Ani	Crotophaga sulcirostris	Photographed Recorded
Vaux's Swift	Chaetura vauxi
Short-crested Coquette	Lophornis brachylophus	Endemic Critically endangered
Golden-crowned Emerald	Chlorostilbon auriceps	Endemic Photographed
White-tailed Hummingbird	Eupherusa poliocerca	Endemic Vulnerable
Berylline Hummingbird	Saucerottia beryllina
Magnificent Hummingbird	Eugenes fulgens
Plain-capped Starthroat	Heliomaster constantii	Photographed
Calliope Hummingbird	Stellula calliope	Possibly seen
Mountain Trogon	Trogon mexicanus
Collared Trogon	Trogon collaris	Photographed
Russet-crowned Motmot	Momotus mexicanus	Photographed
Wagler’s Toucanet	Aulacorhynchus wagleri	Endemic
Acorn Woodpecker	Melanerpes formicivorus
Spot-crowned Woodcreeper	Lepidocolaptes affinis
Greenish Elaenia	Myiopagis viridicata
Eye-ringed Flatbill	Rhynchocyclus brevirostris
Greater Pewee	Contopus pertinax
Pacific-slope Flycatcher	Empidonax difficilis
Least Flycatcher	Empidonax minimus	Possibly seen
Buff-breasted Flycatcher	Empidonax fulvifrons	Photographed
Dusky-capped Flycatcher	Myiarchus tuberculifer	Photographed
Great Kiskadee	Pitangus sulphuratus
Boat-billed Flycatcher	Megarynchus pitangua	Photographed
Social Flycatcher	Myiozetetes similis
Tropical Kingbird	Tyrannus melancholicus	Photographed
Rose-throated Becard	Pachyramphus aglaiae
Masked Tityra	Tityra semifasciata
Gray Silky-flycatcher	Ptilogonys cinereus
Gray-breasted Martin	Progne chalybea	Seen nearby
Happy Wren	Thryothorus felix	Endemic
Gray-breasted Wood-Wren	Henicorhina leucophrys
Eastern Bluebird	Sialia sialis
Brown-backed Solitaire	Myadestes occidentalis
Rufous-backed Robin	Turdus rufopalliatus	Endemic
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher	Polioptila caerulea
White-throated Magpie-Jay	Calocitta formosa	Photographed
Golden Vireo	Vireo hypochryseus	Endemic
Nashville Warbler	Vermivora ruficapilla
Crescent-chested Warbler	Parula superciliosa
Townsend's Warbler	Dendroica townsendi
Hermit Warbler	Dendroica occidentalis	Photographed?
Grace's Warbler	Dendroica graciae
Black-and-white Warbler	Mniotilta varia
MacGillivray's Warbler	Oporornis tolmiei
Wilson's Warbler	Wilsonia pusilla
Slate-throated Redstart	Myioborus miniatus
Fan-tailed Warbler	Euthlypis lachrymosa
Golden-crowned Warbler	Basileuterus culicivorus
Rufous-capped Warbler	Basileuterus rufifrons	Photographed Recorded
Yellow-breasted Chat	Icteria virens
Common Bush-Tanager	Chlorospingus ophthalmicus
Red-crowned Ant-Tanager	Habia rubica	Recorded
Summer Tanager	Piranga rubra
Red-headed Tanager	Piranga erythrocephala	Endemic
Flame-colored Tanager	Piranga bidentata	Possibly seen
Red-legged Honeycreeper	Cyanerpes cyaneus
White-collared Seedeater	Sporophila torqueola	Photographed
Chestnut-capped Brush-Finch	Buarremon brunneinucha
Rose-breasted Grosbeak	Pheucticus ludovicianus
Varied Bunting	Passerina versicolor	Possibly seen
Great-tailed Grackle	Quiscalus mexicanus
Hooded Oriole	Icterus cucullatus
Baltimore Oriole	Icterus galbula
Bullock's Oriole	Icterus bullockii
Audubon's Oriole	Icterus graduacauda
Yellow-winged Cacique	Cacicus melanicterus
House Sparrow	Passer domesticus	Introduced species

23. Almoloya del Rio, Mexico       3rd November, 2004    Site 8.8

   The once extensive Lerma Marshes, west of Mexico City have mostly been 'reclaimed' as farmland. One remaining patch is near the small town of Almoloya del Rio, 20km from the city of Toluca. They can be visited in a day trip from Mexico City. Buses to Toluca leave from the western bus terminal called Poniente which is next to the Metro station of Observatorio. Buses leave every 5 minutes for Toluca and it takes a little over an hour. At the Toluca Central Camionera, ask around for buses to Almoloya del Rio. Some buses don't go all the way. Check with the driver whether they go to Atizapan or Atenco and follow the directions after that in the site guide. The altitude is 2600m, 300m higher than Mexico City. Take it easy, bring plenty of food and water. The sun can also be very strong so bring sun block and a wide-brimmed hat as there is no shade. Follow the instructions in the site guide. The endangered endemic Black-polled Yellowthroats were relatively easy to find and responded well to playback.
40 species including 6 lifers.

Pied-billed Grebe	Podilymbus podiceps
Eared Grebe	Podiceps nigricollis
Great Blue Heron	Ardea herodias
Great Egret	Ardea alba	Photographed
Snowy Egret	Egretta thula
Cattle Egret	Bubulcus ibis
Black-crowned Night-Heron	Nycticorax nycticorax	Possibly seen
White-faced Ibis	Plegadis chihi	Photographed
American Wigeon	Anas americana
Mallard	Anas platyrhynchos	Possibly seen
Ruddy Duck	Oxyura jamaicensis	Photographed
Turkey Vulture	Cathartes aura
Sharp-shinned Hawk	Accipiter striatus	Possibly seen
Red-tailed Hawk	Buteo jamaicensis	Possibly seen
American Kestrel	Falco sparverius
Sora	Porzana carolina	Photographed
Common Moorhen	Gallinula chloropus	Recorded
American Coot	Fulica americana
Killdeer	Charadrius vociferus
Laughing Gull	Larus atricilla
Rock Dove	Columba livia	Introduced species
Black Phoebe	Sayornis nigricans	Photographed
Vermilion Flycatcher	Pyrocephalus rubinus
Cassin's Kingbird	Tyrannus vociferans
Barn Swallow	Hirundo rustica
Marsh Wren	Cistothorus palustris	Photographed Recorded
European Starling	Sturnus vulgaris	Introduced species Photographed
Common Yellowthroat	Geothlypis trichas
Black-polled Yellowthroat	Geothlypis speciosa	Endemic Endangered
Striped Sparrow	Oriturus superciliosus	Endemic
Song Sparrow	Melospiza melodia	Photographed Recorded
Red-winged Blackbird	Agelaius phoeniceus	Photographed
Yellow-headed Blackbird	Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus	Photographed
Brewer's Blackbird	Euphagus cyanocephalus	Photographed
Great-tailed Grackle	Quiscalus mexicanus	Photographed Recorded
Bronzed Cowbird	Molothrus aeneus	Photographed
Brown-headed Cowbird	Molothrus ater	Recorded
House Finch	Carpodacus mexicanus
Lesser Goldfinch	Carduelis psaltria	Photographed
House Sparrow	Passer domesticus	Introduced species

24. Cerro San Felipe, Oaxaca       5th November, 2004    Site 11.5

   Cerro San Felipe was reached in just over an hour from Oaxaca´s second-class bus station by the 7am (Benito Juarez) public bus. A small collection of buildings comprises the windswept settlement of La Cumbre (2,750m) at km 192. From here an unpaved road headed North-West uphill. I walked 4-5km along this road aswell as going down a track (for 1-2kms) leading left before the 3km marker. The main track headed gradually uphill upto 3000m altitude, where I turned back. The weather was very inhospitable. Constant mist, aswell as occasional drizzle and strong winds made birding hard. An hour wait for a bus on the way back almost finished me off. The habitat was pine plus mixed forest and some cleared areas where the many flowers attracted many hummingbirds. I saw my target bird, the Dwarf Jay at the 1km mark just as I was heading back having given up.
I saw 37 species including 7 lifers.

Band-tailed Pigeon	Patagioenas fasciata	Possibly seen
Green Violet-ear	Colibri thalassinus	Photographed Recorded
White-eared Hummingbird	Hylocharis leucotis	Photographed Recorded
Amethyst-throated Hummingbird	Lampornis amethystinus	Recorded
Magnificent Hummingbird	Eugenes fulgens
Bumblebee Hummingbird	Atthis heloisa	Endemic Photographed
Mountain Trogon	Trogon mexicanus
Spot-crowned Woodcreeper	Lepidocolaptes affinis	Photographed
Tufted Flycatcher	Mitrephanes phaeocercus
Dusky Flycatcher	Empidonax oberholseri	Photographed
Pine Flycatcher	Empidonax affinis	Recorded
Rose-throated Becard	Pachyramphus aglaiae
Ruby-crowned Kinglet	Regulus calendula
Gray Silky-flycatcher	Ptilogonys cinereus
Gray-barred Wren	Campylorhynchus megalopterus	Endemic
House Wren	Troglodytes aedon	Recorded
Gray-breasted Wood-Wren	Henicorhina leucophrys
Brown-backed Solitaire	Myadestes occidentalis	Heard only
Russet Nightingale-Thrush	Catharus occidentalis	Endemic Photographed?
Mexican Chickadee	Poecile sclateri
Brown Creeper	Certhia americana
Steller's Jay	Cyanocitta stelleri	Recorded
Dwarf Jay	Cyanolyca nana	Endemic Vulnerable Photographed
Hutton's Vireo	Vireo huttoni
Orange-crowned Warbler	Vermivora celata
Crescent-chested Warbler	Parula superciliosa	Photographed Recorded
Townsend's Warbler	Dendroica townsendi
Hermit Warbler	Dendroica occidentalis	Photographed
Black-and-white Warbler	Mniotilta varia
Wilson's Warbler	Wilsonia pusilla
Red-faced Warbler	Cardellina rubrifrons
Red Warbler	Ergaticus ruber	Endemic Photographed Recorded
Slate-throated Redstart	Myioborus miniatus
Golden-browed Warbler	Basileuterus belli	Photographed Recorded
Yellow-eyed Junco	Junco phaeonotus	Photographed
Bullock's Oriole	Icterus bullockii
Scott's Oriole	Icterus parisorum

25. Route 175 North, Oaxaca       6-7th November, 2004    Site 11.4

   This site was reached by taking the same bus as for the previous site but getting off 10km before at Km 202. From here 5km down to Km 207 has scrubby habitat by the road side aswell as further back where Oaxaca Sparrow and Pileated Flycatcher can be seen. Further down at Km 210 a side road heads up to a reservoir that I checked briefly on 6th November. I didn't see either of my 2 target species (despite searching extensively for 2 days) which are apparently easy to find when calling in the breeding season but difficult in winter.
I saw 59 species including 6 lifers.

Cattle Egret	Bubulcus ibis
Lesser Scaup	Aythya affinis
Turkey Vulture	Cathartes aura
American Kestrel	Falco sparverius
Mourning Dove	Zenaida macroura	Possibly seen
White-winged Dove	Zenaida asiatica
Inca Dove	Columbina inca
White-tipped Dove	Leptotila verreauxi	Heard only Recorded
Dusky Hummingbird	Cynanthus sordidus	Endemic
Berylline Hummingbird	Saucerottia beryllina
Magnificent Hummingbird	Eugenes fulgens
Ruby-throated Hummingbird	Archilochus colubris	Photographed Recorded
Ladder-backed Woodpecker	Picoides scalaris
Greenish Elaenia	Myiopagis viridicata
Greater Pewee	Contopus pertinax
Western Wood-Pewee	Contopus sordidulus	Possibly seen
Hammond's Flycatcher	Empidonax hammondii
Dusky Flycatcher	Empidonax oberholseri
Pacific-slope Flycatcher	Empidonax difficilis
Vermilion Flycatcher	Pyrocephalus rubinus
Dusky-capped Flycatcher	Myiarchus tuberculifer	Possibly seen
Cassin's Kingbird	Tyrannus vociferans	Photographed
Western Kingbird	Tyrannus verticalis	Photographed
Barn Swallow	Hirundo rustica
Gray Silky-flycatcher	Ptilogonys cinereus
Blue Mockingbird	Melanotis caerulescens	Endemic Recorded
Brown-backed Solitaire	Myadestes occidentalis	Heard only
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher	Polioptila caerulea
Common Raven	Corvus corax
Plumbeous Vireo	Vireo plumbeus
Cassin's Vireo	Vireo cassinii
Warbling Vireo	Vireo gilvus	Recorded
Golden Vireo	Vireo hypochryseus	Endemic
Orange-crowned Warbler	Vermivora celata
Nashville Warbler	Vermivora ruficapilla
Yellow-rumped Warbler	Dendroica coronata	Photographed
Black-throated Gray Warbler	Dendroica nigrescens	Photographed
Townsend's Warbler	Dendroica townsendi
MacGillivray's Warbler	Oporornis tolmiei	Photographed Recorded
Wilson's Warbler	Wilsonia pusilla
Painted Redstart	Myioborus pictus
Rufous-capped Warbler	Basileuterus rufifrons	Recorded
Hepatic Tanager	Piranga flava	Photographed? Recorded
Summer Tanager	Piranga rubra	Recorded
Western Tanager	Piranga ludoviciana	Recorded
Rufous-capped Brush-Finch	Atlapetes pileatus	Endemic
Spotted Towhee	Pipilo maculatus	Recorded
White-throated Towhee	Pipilo albicollis	Endemic
Bridled Sparrow	Aimophila mystacalis	Endemic Recorded
Chipping Sparrow	Spizella passerina
Black-headed Grosbeak	Pheucticus melanocephalus
Indigo Bunting	Passerina cyanea
Varied Bunting	Passerina versicolor
Great-tailed Grackle	Quiscalus mexicanus
Hooded Oriole	Icterus cucullatus
Baltimore Oriole	Icterus galbula	Possibly seen
Black-vented Oriole	Icterus wagleri	Recorded?
Lesser Goldfinch	Carduelis psaltria	Photographed Recorded
House Sparrow	Passer domesticus	Introduced species

26. Near El Porvenir, Route 175 South, Oaxaca       9-10th November, 2004    Site 11.9

   This site was reached by taking the 5am bus from Pochutla towards Oaxaca and getting off at Km 160. This took about 2 and a half hours. From Km 160 I birded along the main road heading North and turned left onto a logging road after a kilometre or so. The gate was shut but it was easy to walk around the edge. The first day I went along the road for about 2 kms and the second for about 5. The habitat was pine forest or mixed pine and oak and the altitude was between 2100-2500m. White-throated Jay has been seen along this road but I did not see it.
I saw 56 species including 6 lifers.

Black Vulture	Coragyps atratus
Turkey Vulture	Cathartes aura
Short-tailed Hawk	Buteo brachyurus	Possibly seen
Vaux's Swift	Chaetura vauxi
Green Violet-ear	Colibri thalassinus	Recorded
White-eared Hummingbird	Hylocharis leucotis	Photographed
Blue-throated Hummingbird	Lampornis clemenciae	Photographed Recorded
Garnet-throated Hummingbird	Lamprolaima rhami	Photographed
Bumblebee Hummingbird	Atthis heloisa	Endemic Photographed Recorded
Mountain Trogon	Trogon mexicanus
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker	Sphyrapicus varius
Hairy Woodpecker	Picoides villosus	Photographed Recorded
Spot-crowned Woodcreeper	Lepidocolaptes affinis
Greenish Elaenia	Myiopagis viridicata
Tufted Flycatcher	Mitrephanes phaeocercus
Greater Pewee	Contopus pertinax
Western Wood-Pewee	Contopus sordidulus
Hammond's Flycatcher	Empidonax hammondii
Dusky Flycatcher	Empidonax oberholseri	Recorded
Pacific-slope Flycatcher	Empidonax difficilis
Ruby-crowned Kinglet	Regulus calendula
Gray-breasted Wood-Wren	Henicorhina leucophrys	Recorded
Brown-backed Solitaire	Myadestes occidentalis	Heard only Recorded
Ruddy-capped Nightingale-Thrush	Catharus frantzii
Swainson's Thrush	Catharus ustulatus
Bushtit	Psaltriparus minimus
Brown Creeper	Certhia americana
Steller's Jay	Cyanocitta stelleri	Recorded
Slaty Vireo	Vireo brevipennis	Endemic
Cassin's Vireo	Vireo cassinii	Photographed
Hutton's Vireo	Vireo huttoni	Photographed
Warbling Vireo	Vireo gilvus
Chestnut-sided Shrike-Vireo	Vireolanius melitophrys
Olive Warbler	Peucedramus taeniatus	Photographed
Orange-crowned Warbler	Vermivora celata
Nashville Warbler	Vermivora ruficapilla	Photographed
Crescent-chested Warbler	Parula superciliosa
Yellow-rumped Warbler	Dendroica coronata
Townsend's Warbler	Dendroica townsendi
Hermit Warbler	Dendroica occidentalis
Black-and-white Warbler	Mniotilta varia
Northern Waterthrush	Seiurus noveboracensis	Photographed Recorded
MacGillivray's Warbler	Oporornis tolmiei
Wilson's Warbler	Wilsonia pusilla
Red-faced Warbler	Cardellina rubrifrons	Photographed
Red Warbler	Ergaticus ruber	Photographed
Painted Redstart	Myioborus pictus	Photographed
Slate-throated Redstart	Myioborus miniatus
Golden-browed Warbler	Basileuterus belli
Common Bush-Tanager	Chlorospingus ophthalmicus	Photographed
Hepatic Tanager	Piranga flava
Rufous-capped Brush-Finch	Atlapetes pileatus	Endemic
Collared Towhee	Pipilo ocai	Endemic
Lincoln's Sparrow	Melospiza lincolnii
Yellow-eyed Junco	Junco phaeonotus
Red Crossbill	Loxia curvirostra

27. La Soledad to El Mirador, Route 175 South, Oaxaca       9 & 11th November, 2004    Site 11.9

   This site was reached by taking the same bus as the previous site but getting off at Km 183 in the town of La Soledad. This took about 2 hours. On 9th, I visited the site only in the afternoon on the way back from the previous site. On 9th I checked a path heading right off the main road 250m North of La Soledad. The path went down to a stream which I crossed to access some forest on the other side. The habitat was humid forest and the altitude was between 1268-1509m. I got great views of my target species, the Blue-capped Humminbird.
I saw 51 species including 7 lifers.

Turkey Vulture	Cathartes aura
White-tipped Dove	Leptotila verreauxi
Golden-crowned Emerald	Chlorostilbon auriceps	Endemic
Blue-capped Hummingbird	Eupherusa cyanophrys	Endemic Endangered Photographed Recorded?
Green-fronted Hummingbird	Agyrtria viridifrons
Berylline Hummingbird	Saucerottia beryllina
Ruby-throated Hummingbird	Archilochus colubris
Wagler’s Toucanet	Aulacorhynchus wagleri	Endemic Recorded
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker	Sphyrapicus varius
Gray-crowned Woodpecker	Piculus auricularis	Endemic Photographed
Spot-crowned Woodcreeper	Lepidocolaptes affinis	Photographed
Greenish Elaenia	Myiopagis viridicata
Tufted Flycatcher	Mitrephanes phaeocercus	Photographed
Greater Pewee	Contopus pertinax
Dusky-capped Flycatcher	Myiarchus tuberculifer
Brown-crested Flycatcher	Myiarchus tyrannulus	Possibly seen
Boat-billed Flycatcher	Megarynchus pitangua	Possibly seen
Rose-throated Becard	Pachyramphus aglaiae
Happy Wren	Thryothorus felix	Endemic Heard only Recorded?
Gray-breasted Wood-Wren	Henicorhina leucophrys
Blue Mockingbird	Melanotis caerulescens	Endemic Recorded
Brown-backed Solitaire	Myadestes occidentalis	Heard only
Hermit Thrush	Catharus guttatus
White-throated Thrush	Turdus assimilis
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher	Polioptila caerulea
White-throated Magpie-Jay	Calocitta formosa
Green Jay	Cyanocorax yncas
Cassin's Vireo	Vireo cassinii
Warbling Vireo	Vireo gilvus
Golden Vireo	Vireo hypochryseus	Endemic
Tennessee Warbler	Vermivora peregrina
Nashville Warbler	Vermivora ruficapilla
Black-throated Green Warbler	Dendroica virens	Photographed
Townsend's Warbler	Dendroica townsendi
Black-and-white Warbler	Mniotilta varia
MacGillivray's Warbler	Oporornis tolmiei	Recorded
Wilson's Warbler	Wilsonia pusilla
Slate-throated Redstart	Myioborus miniatus
Golden-crowned Warbler	Basileuterus culicivorus
Common Bush-Tanager	Chlorospingus ophthalmicus	Photographed
Red-crowned Ant-Tanager	Habia rubica	Recorded
Hepatic Tanager	Piranga flava
Flame-colored Tanager	Piranga bidentata	Photographed
Rusty Sparrow	Aimophila rufescens
Grayish Saltator	Saltator coerulescens
Black-headed Saltator	Saltator atriceps	Recorded
Rose-breasted Grosbeak	Pheucticus ludovicianus	Photographed
Black-headed Grosbeak	Pheucticus melanocephalus
Indigo Bunting	Passerina cyanea
Hooded Oriole	Icterus cucullatus
Audubon's Oriole	Icterus graduacauda	Photographed Recorded

28. Tehuantepec, Oaxaca       12th & 13th November, 2004    Site 11.13

   Tehuantepec is a small town but has a couple of hotels and plenty of places to eat. I stayed at the Hotel Donaji, 2 blocks south of the plaza. Turn towards Oaxaca on Route 190. There are minibuses that go along here. The site for the near-threatened endemic Cinammon-tailed (Sumichrast's) Sparrow is about 7km along this road. It is difficult to see the road markers but there is a bridge over a river with a military checkpoint after. Get off here. You maybe questioned by the military even if you get off before the bridge so don't forget your passport. They warned me that there were 'bad' people around. The whole area has a lot of military. I birded a track to the left walking away from the bridge which had good birding but no sparrows. I saw these further along by the side of the road on the right. They were quite vocal in the morning and responsive to playback.
I saw 35 species including 3 lifers.

Great Egret	Ardea alba
Tricolored Heron	Egretta tricolor
Snowy Egret	Egretta thula
Cattle Egret	Bubulcus ibis
Black Vulture	Coragyps atratus
Turkey Vulture	Cathartes aura
Osprey	Pandion haliaetus
Gray Hawk	Asturina nitida	Photographed
(Northern) Crested Caracara	Caracara cheriway
West Mexican Chachalaca	Ortalis poliocephala	Endemic
Northern Jacana	Jacana spinosa
Black-necked Stilt	Himantopus mexicanus
Lesser Yellowlegs	Tringa flavipes	Possibly seen
Rock Dove	Columba livia	Introduced species
White-winged Dove	Zenaida asiatica
Common Ground-Dove	Columbina passerina
Inca Dove	Columbina inca
Lesser Ground-Cuckoo	Morococcyx erythropygus
Golden-fronted Woodpecker	Melanerpes aurifrons
Ash-throated Flycatcher	Myiarchus cinerascens	Photographed
Western Kingbird	Tyrannus verticalis	Photographed
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher	Tyrannus forficatus
Gray-breasted Martin	Progne chalybea
Barn Swallow	Hirundo rustica	Possibly seen
Rufous-naped Wren	Campylorhynchus rufinucha	Photographed
White-lored Gnatcatcher	Polioptila albiloris	Photographed Recorded
White-throated Magpie-Jay	Calocitta formosa
Common Raven	Corvus corax	Photographed Recorded
Yellow Warbler	Dendroica petechia
Townsend's Warbler	Dendroica townsendi	Possibly seen
Cinnamon-tailed Sparrow	Aimophila sumichrasti	Endemic Near-threatened Photographed Recorded
Blue Grosbeak	Passerina caerulea
Orange-breasted Bunting	Passerina leclancherii	Endemic Near-threatened
Great-tailed Grackle	Quiscalus mexicanus
Altamira Oriole	Icterus gularis	Recorded

29. Sierra de los Tuxtlas, Veracruz      14-19th November, 2004    Site 10.6

   The best base to explore this area is the town of Catemaco on the shores of a big lake with the same name. It's popular with Mexican tourists so their are plenty of places to stay but probably very busy during the holidays. Lots of guys hang around the lake shore offering boat rides. It's worth walking along the lakeside as there are plenty of birds. The first site I checked was some remnant forest north of Catemaco. Take the road towards Sontecomapan, past a turning at 4.3km and then turn right on a track at 6.3km. This track has good birding and I saw Yellow-billed Cacique. Another place I birded was remnant forest patches north of Tebanca. Take one of the regular transports towards Sontecomapan and get off at the junction at km4.3 and change to a bus going round the north edge of the lake to Tebanca. Alternatively you could take the bus all the way from Catemaco if you can find out when and where it leaves. In Tebanca, ask for the track to Bastonal. I took the wrong one but it joined up. It's best to check with locals you pass that you're still going the right way. Along here I saw Keel-billed Toucans and Red-lored Parrots. It's about a 10km walk to Bastonal and another few kms from there to any decent forest. Habitat destruction seems to have been severe around here. I walked over 30km in the day and didn't see the Tuxtla Quail-Dove although I did flush some kind of ground-dwelling dove in the forest. It would be a good idea to bring a tent and camp up here for the night to be out early in the morning. There is a small patch of forest below Bastonal where I also flushed a pigeon from the floor, again not being able to identify it. To bird the UNAM biological station I moved to Montepio, 40km away on the coast. The road to Sontecompapan is paved and takes just half an hour. The remainder took about an hour and a half. There are a couple of small guest houses here where you can stay. An old woman found me and took me to her friend's place which was basic and cost 150 pesos. At the end of the road is a nice restaurant that serves great fish. A combi leaves early in the morning which you can take to UNAM for 10 pesos. I saw the near-threatened endemic Long-tailed Sabrewing along the road (listen for it's strange bubbly song) and lots of good species in the forest. There is a trail that goes right up the hill although it gets very narrow higher up. Another good site nearby is Playa Escondido, marked on the map in the site guide. There is an abandoned hotel here where you can bird the grounds. I saw Violacious Trogon and Blue Ground-Dove here. The final place I visited was La Barra. A combi will drop you at the turning and there are even a few that go along this road. Before you get to the small village, you pass a small marsh where Black Rail has apparently been seen. Check the beach and estuary at La Barra where you can see some coastal birds like Pelicans, gulls and terns.
158 species including 30 lifers.

Least Grebe	Tachybaptus dominicus
Brown Pelican	Pelecanus occidentalis
Neotropic Cormorant	Phalacrocorax brasilianus	Possibly seen
Magnificent Frigatebird	Fregata magnificens
Great Egret	Ardea alba
Reddish Egret	Egretta rufescens
Tricolored Heron	Egretta tricolor	Photographed
Little Blue Heron	Egretta caerulea
Snowy Egret	Egretta thula	Photographed
Cattle Egret	Bubulcus ibis	Photographed
Green Heron	Butorides virescens
Black-crowned Night-Heron	Nycticorax nycticorax	Heard only
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck	Dendrocygna autumnalis
Lesser Scaup	Aythya affinis
Black Vulture	Coragyps atratus
Turkey Vulture	Cathartes aura
Osprey	Pandion haliaetus
Sharp-shinned Hawk	Accipiter striatus	Possibly seen
Common Black-Hawk	Buteogallus anthracinus
Gray Hawk	Asturina nitida
Roadside Hawk	Buteo magnirostris	Recorded
Red-tailed Hawk	Buteo jamaicensis
Ornate Hawk-Eagle	Spizaetus ornatus
(Northern) Crested Caracara	Caracara cheriway
Laughing Falcon	Herpetotheres cachinnans
Collared Forest-Falcon	Micrastur semitorquatus
American Kestrel	Falco sparverius
Bat Falcon	Falco rufigularis
Plain Chachalaca	Ortalis vetula	Photographed
Common Moorhen	Gallinula chloropus
American Coot	Fulica americana
Northern Jacana	Jacana spinosa
Black-necked Stilt	Himantopus mexicanus
Semipalmated Plover	Charadrius semipalmatus
Greater Yellowlegs	Tringa melanoleuca
Spotted Sandpiper	Actitis macularia
Willet	Catoptrophorus semipalmatus
Sanderling	Calidris alba
Laughing Gull	Larus atricilla
Franklin's Gull	Larus pipixcan
Gull-billed Tern	Sterna nilotica
Sandwich Tern	Sterna sandvicensis
Royal Tern	Sterna maxima
Rock Dove	Columba livia	Introduced species Photographed
Red-billed Pigeon	Patagioenas flavirostris	Photographed
Short-billed Pigeon	Patagioenas nigrirostris	Heard only
Common Ground-Dove	Columbina passerina
Ruddy Ground-Dove	Columbina talpacoti
Inca Dove	Columbina inca
Blue Ground-Dove	Claravis pretiosa	Photographed
White-tipped Dove	Leptotila verreauxi	Photographed
Gray-headed Dove	Leptotila plumbeiceps	Possibly seen
Red-lored Parrot	Amazona autumnalis	Photographed
Groove-billed Ani	Crotophaga sulcirostris	Photographed
Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl	Glaucidium	Possibly heard
Long-tailed Sabrewing	Campylopterus excellens	Endemic Near-threatened
White-bellied Emerald	Agyrtria candida
Azure-crowned Hummingbird	Agyrtria cyanocephala
Ruby-throated Hummingbird	Archilochus colubris
Violaceous Trogon	Trogon violaceus	Photographed
Belted Kingfisher	Ceryle alcyon
Ringed Kingfisher	Ceryle torquata
Green Kingfisher	Chloroceryle americana	Possibly seen
Blue-crowned Motmot	Momotus momota
Collared Aracari	Pteroglossus torquatus
Keel-billed Toucan	Ramphastos sulfuratus	Photographed Recorded
Golden-fronted Woodpecker	Melanerpes aurifrons	Photographed Recorded
Lineated Woodpecker	Dryocopus lineatus	Photographed
Plain Xenops	Xenops minutus
Olivaceous Woodcreeper	Sittasomus griseicapillus
Ivory-billed Woodcreeper	Xiphorhynchus flavigaster
Streak-headed Woodcreeper	Lepidocolaptes souleyetii	Recorded?
Ochre-bellied Flycatcher	Mionectes oleagineus
Eye-ringed Flatbill	Rhynchocyclus brevirostris
Yellow-olive Flycatcher	Tolmomyias sulphurescens	Recorded
Stub-tailed Spadebill	Platyrinchus cancrominus
Eastern Wood-Pewee	Contopus virens
Alder Flycatcher	Empidonax alnorum	Possibly seen
Willow Flycatcher	Empidonax traillii	Possibly seen
Least Flycatcher	Empidonax minimus
Vermilion Flycatcher	Pyrocephalus rubinus
Dusky-capped Flycatcher	Myiarchus tuberculifer
Great Kiskadee	Pitangus sulphuratus	Recorded
Boat-billed Flycatcher	Megarynchus pitangua	Recorded
Social Flycatcher	Myiozetetes similis
Tropical Kingbird	Tyrannus melancholicus	Possibly seen
Couch's Kingbird	Tyrannus couchii
Masked Tityra	Tityra semifasciata	Recorded
Northern Rough-winged Swallow	Stelgidopteryx serripennis
Barn Swallow	Hirundo rustica
Band-backed Wren	Campylorhynchus zonatus
Spot-breasted Wren	Thryothorus maculipectus
House Wren	Troglodytes aedon	Photographed
White-breasted Wood-Wren	Henicorhina leucosticta	Recorded
Gray Catbird	Dumetella carolinensis	Photographed
Wood Thrush	Hylocichla mustelina
Clay-colored Robin	Turdus grayi
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher	Polioptila caerulea
Brown Jay	Cyanocorax morio	Photographed
White-eyed Vireo	Vireo griseus
Yellow-throated Vireo	Vireo flavifrons
Blue-headed Vireo	Vireo solitarius
Nashville Warbler	Vermivora ruficapilla
Northern Parula	Parula americana
Yellow Warbler	Dendroica petechia	Photographed
Magnolia Warbler	Dendroica magnolia
Yellow-rumped Warbler	Dendroica coronata
Golden-cheeked Warbler	Dendroica chrysoparia	Endangered
Black-throated Green Warbler	Dendroica virens
Blackburnian Warbler	Dendroica fusca
Black-and-white Warbler	Mniotilta varia
American Redstart	Setophaga ruticilla
Northern Waterthrush	Seiurus noveboracensis
Kentucky Warbler	Oporornis formosus
Common Yellowthroat	Geothlypis trichas
Gray-crowned Yellowthroat	Geothlypis poliocephala
Hooded Warbler	Wilsonia citrina	Recorded
Wilson's Warbler	Wilsonia pusilla	Photographed
Canada Warbler	Wilsonia canadensis	Possibly seen
Golden-crowned Warbler	Basileuterus culicivorus
Rufous-capped Warbler	Basileuterus rufifrons
Yellow-breasted Chat	Icteria virens
Common Bush-Tanager	Chlorospingus ophthalmicus
Red-crowned Ant-Tanager	Habia rubica	Recorded
Red-throated Ant-Tanager	Habia fuscicauda	Recorded
Summer Tanager	Piranga rubra
White-winged Tanager	Piranga leucoptera
Blue-gray Tanager	Thraupis episcopus
Yellow-winged Tanager	Thraupis abbas
Scrub Euphonia	Euphonia affinis	Photographed Recorded
Yellow-throated Euphonia	Euphonia hirundinacea
Olive-backed Euphonia	Euphonia gouldi
Blue-crowned Chlorophonia	Chlorophonia occipitalis
Red-legged Honeycreeper	Cyanerpes cyaneus
Blue-black Grassquit	Volatinia jacarina
White-collared Seedeater	Sporophila torqueola	Photographed
Yellow-faced Grassquit	Tiaris olivacea	Photographed
Chestnut-capped Brush-Finch	Buarremon brunneinucha
Rusty Sparrow	Aimophila rufescens
Lincoln's Sparrow	Melospiza lincolnii
Black-headed Saltator	Saltator atriceps
Black-faced Grosbeak	Caryothraustes poliogaster
Rose-breasted Grosbeak	Pheucticus ludovicianus	Photographed
Indigo Bunting	Passerina cyanea	Photographed
Varied Bunting	Passerina versicolor
Painted Bunting	Passerina ciris
Eastern Meadowlark	Sturnella magna
Melodious Blackbird	Dives dives
Great-tailed Grackle	Quiscalus mexicanus
Altamira Oriole	Icterus gularis
Hooded Oriole	Icterus cucullatus	Possibly seen
Baltimore Oriole	Icterus galbula
Orchard Oriole	Icterus spurius
Black-vented Oriole	Icterus wagleri
Yellow-billed Cacique	Amblycercus holosericeus	Recorded
Chestnut-headed Oropendola	Psarocolius wagleri	Recorded
Montezuma Oropendola	Gymnostinops montezuma	Photographed
Lesser Goldfinch	Carduelis psaltria

30. Uxpanapa Road, Oaxaca Veracruz      21st-22nd November, 2004    Site 10.7

   This site can be visited in a day trip fro Matias Romero, a decent size town with a couple of hotels. I stayed in the big blue one for N$118 for a single. A bus leaves around 6am from the terminal which can drop you at Boca del Monte at the start of the Uxpanapa road. Some combis pass along this unpaved road but they only leave when they are full. It took about an hour to get along the 41km to the bridge mentioned in the site guide. There are a few patches worth checking as you walk back towards Boca del Monte. Some of the remaining patches have only been preserved as they are full of huge limestone rocks. You need to explore these for the vulnerable endemic Nava's Wren which I failed to see. The second day I tried a closer patch at about 26km along but with no success. General birding is excellent in the area though and I even saw a few mammals like coati and agouti.
71 species including 10 lifers.

Snowy Egret	Egretta thula
Green Heron	Butorides virescens
Black Vulture	Coragyps atratus
Turkey Vulture	Cathartes aura
White Hawk	Leucopternis albicollis
Roadside Hawk	Buteo magnirostris	Recorded
(Northern) Crested Caracara	Caracara cheriway
Plain Chachalaca	Ortalis vetula	Heard only Recorded
Northern Jacana	Jacana spinosa
Lesser Yellowlegs	Tringa flavipes
Short-billed Pigeon	Patagioenas nigrirostris	Heard only
Mourning Dove	Zenaida macroura
Ruddy Ground-Dove	Columbina talpacoti
Inca Dove	Columbina inca
White-tipped Dove	Leptotila verreauxi	Heard only
White-crowned Parrot	Pionus senilis
Red-lored Parrot	Amazona autumnalis
Squirrel Cuckoo	Piaya cayana	Photographed
Scaly-breasted Hummingbird (Little Hermit?)	Phaeochroa cuvierii
Long-tailed Sabrewing	Campylopterus excellens	Endemic Near-threatened Heard only
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird	Amazilia tzacatl
Violaceous Trogon	Trogon violaceus
Keel-billed Toucan	Ramphastos sulfuratus
Golden-fronted Woodpecker	Melanerpes aurifrons
Lineated Woodpecker	Dryocopus lineatus
Plain Xenops	Xenops minutus
Northern Bentbill	Oncostoma cinereigulare	Possibly seen
Yellow-olive Flycatcher	Tolmomyias sulphurescens	Photographed
Sulphur-rumped Flycatcher	Myiobius sulphureipygius
Least Flycatcher	Empidonax minimus
Great Kiskadee	Pitangus sulphuratus
Tropical Kingbird	Tyrannus melancholicus
Couch's Kingbird	Tyrannus couchii	Possibly seen
Mangrove Swallow	Tachycineta albilinea
Rough-winged Swallow sp.	Stelgidopteryx sp.
Spot-breasted Wren	Thryothorus maculipectus	Recorded
House Wren	Troglodytes aedon
White-bellied Wren	Uropsila leucogastra
White-breasted Wood-Wren	Henicorhina leucosticta	Recorded
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher	Polioptila caerulea
Brown Jay	Cyanocorax morio
White-eyed Vireo	Vireo griseus
Yellow-throated Vireo	Vireo flavifrons
Nashville Warbler	Vermivora ruficapilla
Yellow Warbler	Dendroica petechia
Magnolia Warbler	Dendroica magnolia
Black-throated Green Warbler	Dendroica virens
Blackburnian Warbler	Dendroica fusca	Possibly seen
Black-and-white Warbler	Mniotilta varia
American Redstart	Setophaga ruticilla
Ovenbird	Seiurus aurocapilla
Kentucky Warbler	Oporornis formosus
Common Yellowthroat	Geothlypis trichas
Hooded Warbler	Wilsonia citrina
Wilson's Warbler	Wilsonia pusilla
Golden-crowned Warbler	Basileuterus culicivorus
Rufous-capped Warbler	Basileuterus rufifrons
Yellow-breasted Chat	Icteria virens
Bananaquit	Coereba flaveola
Red-throated Ant-Tanager	Habia fuscicauda	Recorded
Blue-gray Tanager	Thraupis episcopus
Yellow-throated Euphonia	Euphonia hirundinacea	Recorded?
Olive-backed Euphonia	Euphonia gouldi
Blue-black Grassquit	Volatinia jacarina	Possibly seen
Variable Seedeater	Sporophila corvina
White-collared Seedeater	Sporophila torqueola
Orange-billed Sparrow	Arremon aurantiirostris	Recorded
Indigo Bunting	Passerina cyanea
Melodious Blackbird	Dives dives
Great-tailed Grackle	Quiscalus mexicanus
Montezuma Oropendola	Gymnostinops montezuma

31. Tapanatepec, Oaxaca      23rd November, 2004    Site 11.15

   Tapanatepec, or Tapana as everyone seems to call it, is a small town on the highway. It has a tiny bus station that you will get dropped at and there is a cheap place to stay called 'La Flor' which also sells cheap food. A very basic single room was just N$120 pesos. The near-threatened localized endemic Rose-bellied (or Rosita's) Bunting is found just 10km along Route 190 heading inland. I didn't see any local buses which would stop but managed to hitch a ride. I went in the afternoon and didn't manage to get a ride back before dark. I started to walk and finally got picked up by the police who kindly took me back to the hotel. If you are hitching, give yourself time to get back before dark or even better, visit the site in the morning.I found the Rose-bellied Buntings easily at 10 and 11km along. They responded well to Ferruginous Owl immitations. I went down to look for Long-tailed Manakin in the place mentioned in the site guide but didn't find it. The birding is good in general and it's probably worth spending a morning here.
28 species including 3 lifers.

Black Vulture	Coragyps atratus
Turkey Vulture	Cathartes aura
West Mexican Chachalaca	Ortalis poliocephala	Endemic
White-winged Dove	Zenaida asiatica
Common Ground-Dove	Columbina passerina
Inca Dove	Columbina inca
Green Parakeet	Aratinga holochlora
Orange-fronted Parakeet	Aratinga canicularis	Photographed Recorded
Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl	Glaucidium	Recorded
Cinnamon Hummingbird	Amazilia rutila
Russet-crowned Motmot	Momotus mexicanus
Golden-fronted Woodpecker	Melanerpes aurifrons
Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet	Camptostoma imberbe
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher	Empidonax flaviventris
Least Flycatcher	Empidonax minimus	Possibly seen
Brown-crested Flycatcher	Myiarchus tyrannulus	Photographed Recorded
Western Kingbird	Tyrannus verticalis
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher	Tyrannus forficatus
Banded Wren	Thryothorus pleurostictus	Recorded
Clay-colored Robin	Turdus grayi
White-lored Gnatcatcher	Polioptila albiloris
White-throated Magpie-Jay	Calocitta formosa	Photographed Recorded
Yellow Warbler	Dendroica petechia
Black-and-white Warbler	Mniotilta varia
Western Tanager	Piranga ludoviciana
Cinnamon-tailed Sparrow	Aimophila sumichrasti	Endemic Near-threatened Photographed
Rose-bellied Bunting	Passerina rositae	Endemic Near-threatened Photographed
Orange-breasted Bunting	Passerina leclancherii	Endemic Photographed Recorded

32. ZOOMAT, Tuxtla Guttierez, Chiapas      24th November, 2004

   There is plenty of cheap accomodation in Tuxtla. I stayed at the Hotel Casa Blanca which has small basic rooms. There are plenty of places to eat and do internet aswell. The Tuxtla Guttierez Zoo or ZOOMAT as it is also called is 20 minutes by colectivo which leave about 10 blocks south of the hotel. Details are in the normal guide books. It is set on a forested slope and aswell as the interesting captive birds has many wild birds too, like Collared Aracari, Russet-crowned Motmot and Green Jay. Great Curassows and Crested Guans roam free but maybe feral.
22 species including 2 lifers.

Snowy Egret	Egretta thula
Black Vulture	Coragyps atratus
Plain Chachalaca	Ortalis vetula	Photographed
Crested Guan	Penelope purpurascens	Photographed
Great Curassow	Crax rubra	Possibly feral Near-threatened Photographed
Inca Dove	Columbina inca
White-tipped Dove	Leptotila verreauxi
Orange-fronted Parakeet	Aratinga canicularis
Squirrel Cuckoo	Piaya cayana
Russet-crowned Motmot	Momotus mexicanus	Photographed
Collared Aracari	Pteroglossus torquatus	Photographed
Golden-fronted Woodpecker	Melanerpes aurifrons
Boat-billed Flycatcher	Megarynchus pitangua
Banded Wren	Thryothorus pleurostictus
Plain Wren	Thryothorus modestus
Clay-colored Robin	Turdus grayi	Photographed
Green Jay	Cyanocorax yncas	Photographed
Black-throated Green Warbler	Dendroica virens
American Redstart	Setophaga ruticilla	Possibly seen
Wilson's Warbler	Wilsonia pusilla
Melodious Blackbird	Dives dives
Great-tailed Grackle	Quiscalus mexicanus