April 2003 Field Journal 4.2 - 4.8 Colima and Jaliso, Mexico
Six of us set up for six days in Colima and Jalisco. Below is a picture taken of the five of us by Hugh Cotter
For the three of you that don't know who we are, from left to right, we are Kevin McKereghan, Stephen Davies, Yours Truly (Mark Eaton), Eric Preson and Paul Saraceni. Photo courtesy of Hugh Cotter. Several folks have commented that none of us are smiling. Actually, we'd just rather be birding that posing for photographs. More photographs after the comprehensive species listings. Also, additional photographs from Eric can be found here.
Yes, we did camp on a volcano. In fact, we camped on two of them, Volcan de Fuego and Volcan de Nieve. Fuego is quite active, as you can see from the photo below:
The steam arising from the slope at the right-hand edge of the photo is from boulders ejected from the "burp" we just happened to observe near the top of the road from La Maria. Eric also has a great photo from this mini-eruption. And we camped only a few kilometers downslope on that very side of the volcano!
Oh yes, the birds. Personal highlights included:
- Crested Guan crapping on the truck on Volcan de Fuego
- All too brief glimpses for two of us on two separate occasions of Long-tailed Wood-Partridge
- Stephen's heard-only Thick-billed Parrot
- Walk-away looks at an Eared Poorwill and a pair of courting Buff-collared Nightjars
- Lesser Roadrunner posing literally 3 feet from the car\
- In the same binocular field, an adult male Green Violet-Ear and a male Cinnamon-bellied Flowerpiercer, in early morning sunlight in a bed of brilliant flowers. Why are we leaving again?
- Finally, a cooperative Amethyst-throated Hummingbird
- Great looks at three different Trogon species
- Finally, a cooperative Smoky-brown Woodpecker
- Definitive looks at both Pine and White-throated Flycatchers
- A Spotted Wren sitting inside the truck
- The impossible shape (a tennis ball with a stubby tail) of a Gray-breasted Wood-Wren
- Nice looks at a male Black-capped Gnatcatcher
- All three Nightingale-Thrushes
- Aztec Thrush. Need I say more? :-)
- Stephen's Prairie Warbler, a first Colima record?
- Chestnut-sided Shrike-Vireo!
- Both Brush-Finches and Rusty-crowned Ground-Sparrow
- Blue Bunting, my vote for the most poorly illustrated species in North American field guides
- And, Beaded Lizard!Below is the bird list for the trip. Codes for locations are as follows:
Code Date Location LS 4.3 Laguna Sayula LZ 4.3 Laguna Zapotlan VF 4.3 Volcan de Fuego VF2 4.4 Volcan de Fuego (II) VF3 4.5 Volcan de Fuego (III) GD 4.5 Guadalajara LC 4.5 La Cumbre PS 4.5 Puente El Salada LM 4.6 La Maria AM 4.6 Manzanillo Airport Marshes PO 4.7 Playa del Oro M 4.7 Manzanillo Area C 4.7 Cuota VN 4.7 Volcan de Nieve VN 4.8 Volcan de Nieve (II) Additional notes as follows:
1 - Single observer
x - MWE not seen nor heard
h - Heard only by all parties
mh - Heard only by MWE
Species Location Notes Least Grebe LZ Pied-billed Grebe LZ Aechmophorous Grebe LZ Blue-footed Booby PO Brown Booby PO American White Pelican LZ, AM Brown Pelican AM Neotropic Cormorant LZ Anhinga AM Magnificent Frigatebird AM Great Blue Heron LZ Great Egret LZ Snowy Egret LS Little Blue Heron AM Tricolored Heron AM Cattle Egret LS Green Heron AM Black-crowned Night-Heron LZ, AM Yellow-crowned Night-Heron AM White Ibis AM White-faced Ibis LS, AM Roseate Spoonbill M Wood Stork M Black Vulture X Turkey Vulture X Black-bellied Whistling-Duck LZ, AM Fulvous Whistling-Duck AM Muscovy Duck AM 1,x Mallard LS Blue-winged Teal LS, AM Northern Shoveler LS Ruddy Duck LZ Osprey AM, PO Hook-billed Kite VF2 White-tailed Kite LZ Snail Kite AM Double-toothed Kite LM Northern Harrier VF Sharp-shinned Hawk VF2 Cooper's Hawk VF, VN Gray Hawk VF, AM, PO Short-tailed Hawk X Zone-tailed Hawk LC Red-tailed Hawk VF, M, VN Crested Caracara LS, VF, LC American Kestrel LS, PO West Mexican Chachalaca VF2, VF3, LM Crested Guan VF, VF3 Long-tailed Wood-Partridge VF, VN King Rail AM h Virginia Rail LZ h Sora LZ h Common Moorhen LZ American Coot AM, LZ Limpkin M Black-bellied Plover LS Black-necked Stilt LS, AM American Avocet LS Northern Jacana LZ, AM Spotted Sandpiper LZ, LM Whimbrel LS Sanderling LS Western Sandpiper LS Least Sandpiper LS Dowitcher sp. LS Wilson's Snipe LZ Wilson's Phalarope LS Laughing Gull AM Franklin's Gull LS Ring-billed Gull LS Caspian Tern LS, PO Royal Tern PO Elegant Tern PO Rock Dove X Red-billed Pigeon AM, PO Band-tailed Pigeon VF, LM White-winged Dove VF2, AM Mourning Dove VF Inca Dove VF Common Ground-Dove VF, AM Ruddy Ground-Dove PS, AM White-tipped Dove VF, PO Orange-fronted Parakeet LC Thick-billed Parrot VN2 1, h, x Lilac-crowned Parrot LM, PO Squirrel Cuckoo VF, PO, LM Lesser Ground-Cuckoo PS h Lesser Roadrunner VF, VF3 Groove-billed Ani LZ, LM Balsas Screech-Owl LC h Whiskered Screech-Owl VF2 h Northern (Mountain) Pygmy-Owl VN h Northern (Colima) Pygmy-Owl LC h Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl PO Mottled Owl VF2, VN Stygian Owl VN h Lesser Nighthawk AM, PO Common Pauraque PO Eared Poorwill VF Buff-collared Nightjar VF, LC (Mexican) Whip-poor-will VF, VN Vaux's Swift VF, LM White-throated Swift VF, VN Green Violet-ear VF2, VN Golden-crowned Emerald LM Broad-billed Hummingbird VF, LM White-eared Hummingbird X Berylline Hummingbird VF, LM Cinnamon Hummingbird PO Violet-crowned Hummingbird VF, LM, VN Amethyst-throated Hummingbird VF2, VF3 Magnificent Hummingbird VF3, VN Plain-capped Starthroat LM Sparkling-tailed Hummingbird (Woodstar) LM Lucifer Hummingbird LM x Calliope Hummingbird X Broad-tailed Hummingbird X Citreoline Trogon AM, PO Mountain Trogon VF, VF2, VF3, VN Elegant Trogon VF, LM Ringed Kingfisher AM, PO Belted Kingfisher AM Green Kingfisher VF3, AM Acorn Woodpecker VF Golden-cheeked Woodpecker VF, PO, AM Ladder-backed Woodpecker VF, LM Hairy Woodpecker VF2 Arizona Woodpecker VF, VN Smoky-brown Woodpecker VF, VF2, LM Gray-crowned Woodpecker VF2, LM Northern Flicker VF2 Lineated Woodpecker PO x Ivory-billed Woodcreeper LM White-striped Woodcreeper X mh Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet VF, PO Greenish Elaenia VF, LM Tufted Flycatcher X Olive-sided Flycatcher VF2 Greater Pewee VF, LM, VN White-throated Flycatcher AM Least Flycatcher VF Hammond's Flycatcher VF Gray Flycatcher VN x Dusky Flycatcher VF, PO Pine Flycatcher VF3, VN Pacific-slope Flycatcher X Cordilleran Flycatcher X Buff-breasted Flycatcher VN x Vermilion Flycatcher VF, LM Bright-rumped Attila VF2, LM h Dusky-capped Flycatcher VF, PO, VN Ash-throated Flycatcher VF, LM Nutting's Flycatcher LC, LM Brown-crested Flycatcher VF, PO Flammulated Flycatcher PO mh Great Kiskadee X Boat-billed Flycatcher LM Social Flycatcher VF, LC, AM Tropical Kingbird VF, PO Cassin's Kingbird VF Thick-billed Kingbird VF, PO Rose-throated Becard VF, AM, LM, PO Masked Tityra LM Loggerhead Shrike VF Slaty Vireo VF2, LM x Bell's Vireo PO Dwarf Vireo VF3, LM Cassin's Vireo VF2 Hutton's Vireo VF, VN Golden Vireo VF, PO, LM Warbling Vireo X Chestnut-sided Shrike-Vireo VF, VN2 White-throated Magpie-Jay LC, PO, AM Green Jay LM San Blas Jay AM, PO Mexican Jay VF Common Raven X Purple Martin LZ x Gray-breasted Martin AM Mangrove Swallow VF Violet-green Swallow VG2 Northern Rough-winged Swallow LZ Bank Swallow LZ, LM Cliff Swallow X Barn Swallow X Mexican Chickadee VN Bridled Titmouse VF Bushtit VF, VN White-breasted Nuthatch VF Pygmy Nuthatch VF3 Brown Creeper VN Gray-barred Wren VF, VN Rufous-naped Wren LC Spotted Wren VF, LM Canyon Wren VF2 Sinaloa Wren VF Happy Wren X mh (Brown-throated ) House Wren LM, VN Marsh Wren LZ White-bellied Wren PO Gray-breasted Wood-Wren VF2, VN2 Golden-crowned Kinglet VF2, VN Ruby-crowned Kinglet VF Blue-gray Gnatcatcher VF, PO Black-capped Gnatcatcher PO Eastern Bluebird VF, LM Brown-backed Solitaire X Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush X Russet Nightingale-Thrush VF, VF2, VN Ruddy-capped Nightingale-Thrush VF2, VN Swainson's Thrush LM, VN Hermit Thrush VN White-throated Robin (Thrush) VF, LM, VN Rufous-backed Robin (Thrush) PO, AM, LM American Robin VN Aztec Thrush VF3, VN2 Northern Mockingbird VF, PO Curve-billed Thrasher VF Blue Mockingbird VF, LM American Pipit LS Cedar Waxwing LM Gray Silky-flycatcher VF, VN Olive Warbler VF, VN Orange-crowned Warbler VF, VN Nashville Warbler X Virginia's Warbler VF Colima Warbler VF2, VN2 Crescent-chested Warbler X Tropical Parula VF 1, x Yellow Warbler LZ, AM Yellow-rumped Warbler X Black-throated Gray Warbler VF, VN Townsend's Warbler VF, VN Hermit Warbler VF, VN Grace's Warbler VF3 Prairie Warbler AM Black-and-white Warbler VF American Redstart AM MacGillivray's Warbler VF, PO Common Yellowthroat LZ Wilson's Warbler X Red-faced Warbler VF2 x Red Warbler VF, VN Slate-throated Redstart X Golden-crowned Warbler VF2 Rufous-capped Warbler VF2 Golden-browed Warbler VF2, VN Yellow-breasted Chat VF, AM x Red-breasted Chat PO Hepatic Tanager VF, VN Summer Tanager VF, PO, LM Western Tanager VF, LM, VN Flame-colored Tanager VF, LM, VN Red-headed Tanager LM x Scrub Euphonia PO Elegant (Blue-hooded) Euphonia VF, LM Blue-black Grassquit LC White-collared Seedeater LC, LM, AM Ruddy-breasted Seedeater AM Cinnamon-bellied Flowerpiercer VN, VN2 Rufous-capped Brush-Finch VF2, VN Green-striped Brush-Finch VF, VN Olive Sparrow LC, PO Rusty-crowned Ground-Sparrow VF, LM Collared Towhee VF, LM Canyon Towhee VF Stripe-headed Sparrow X Black-chested Sparrow PS Chipping Sparrow VF Lark Sparrow VF Savannah Sparrow LZ Grasshopper Sparrow VF Lincoln's Sparrow LZ, AM, VN Yellow-eyed Junco VN Grayish Saltator AM, PO Rose-breasted Grosbeak VF Black-headed Grosbeak VF, LM, VN Blue Bunting PO Blue Grosbeak VF, PO Lazuli Bunting VF Indigo Bunting VF Orange-breasted Bunting PS, PO Varied Bunting VF, PO, VN Painted Bunting LM Red-winged Blackbird LZ, AM Eastern Meadowlark LS Yellow-headed Blackbird LZ Brewer's Blackbird LZ Great-tailed Grackle X Bronzed Cowbird LZ, LM, PO Brown-headed Cowbird LZ Black-vented Oriole PO, AM Orchard Oriole AM Hooded Oriole VF2, PO, AM Bullock's Oriole VF, VN Streak-backed Oriole VF, AM, PO Spot-breasted Oriole AM x Audubon's Oriole VF, VN2 Scott's Oriole VN2 Yellow-winged Cacique X House Finch VF Pine Siskin VN Black-headed Siskin VF2, VN Lesser Goldfinch VF, LM House Sparrow X Below are some additional photo highlights:
- Bed of flowers at the camp site on the Volcan de Fuego
- Four different photos of bromeliads
- A little humor at Eric's expense...
- Kevin "I'll give you the keys over my dead body" McKereghan on the cuota.
- There were flowers everywhere; seven different photos.
- An unusual broad-leafed bush
- Stephen waiting for Godot
- A thistle
4.20 Sunol Regional Park
Turkey Vulture
Red-shouldered Hawk
Golden Eagle
Wild Turkey
Acorn Woodpecker
Nuttall's Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Black Phoebe
Ash-throated Flycatcher
Hutton's Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Steller's Jay
Western Scrub-Jay
Yellow-billed Magpie
American Crow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Oak Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
House Wren
European Starling
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Spotted Towhee
California Towhee
Bullock's Oriole
Lesser Goldfinch4.27 Muir Woods
Turkey Vulture
Olive-sided Flycatcher
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
Warbling Vireo
Steller's Jay
Common Raven
Pygmy Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Winter Wren
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing
Orange-crowned Warbler
Wilson's Warbler
Purple Finch
Home
You can contact me via email.
.jpg){kind=link}
