3.7 Snow Bunting
Today, I drove out to Byron and found the SNOW BUNTING remarkably
cooperative. Below is one of many fine photos of the bird:
Snow Bunting ©2004 Mark W. Eaton
3.13 - 3.21
Veracruz and Central Mexico
Kevin McKereghan, Paul Saraceni and
I did 5 days in Veracruz, with Kevin and I continuing for another
two days to Central Mexico.
Kevin's detailed trip report for the latter portion of the trip follows:
La Cima: (N 19º 06.355’, W 99º
11.837’): Morning 3.20/21.04
The turn off (per Howell) is obvious, although unposted. We drove
in a 1/4 mile and parked. The area is a patchwork of plowed (and
burned) fields, volcanic jumbles covered in bunch grass and pine
groves. There are also some forested hill tops which we did not
visit.
Striped Sparrow and Yellow-eyed Junco are abundant. It took several minutes in the morning (which was quite chilly in mid-March) to locate the Sierra Madre Sparrow. Unlike the other sparrows it didn't seem to like to be out in the open and would only stay out for a minute at a time. However we were able to see at least 5 individuals and get very nice looks. Other birds in the area included American Robin, American Pipit, Western Bluebird, Western Meadowlark, Cooper’s Hawk, Northern (Red-shafted) Flicker, Stellar’s Jay, Chipping Sparrow and Pine Siskin. Greater Pewee and Brown-backed Solitaire were heard but not seen. The wind picked up quickly as the sun rose, and we headed off to the turn-off beyond La Cima.
Although Howell lists the next stop as 1.5km beyond the La Cima turn-off we were unable to find a dirt road at precisely that location. However there are a number of roads between La Cima and 2km to try. These areas were characterized by plowed fields. open pinelands with bunch grass and large thickets of flowering Gooseberry (?) and other shrubs. The thickets in particular supported a nice variety of bird species. Although many of the species were familiar from the Western US, several had races that were quite distinct. Both the Brown Creeper and the Spotted Towhee were notably different. The Spotted Towhee especially , in that its upperparts were greenish with yellow spots (ssp macronyx).
Others seen were; Black-headed Grosbeak, Violet-green Swallow, Hairy Woodpecker, Pygmy Nuthatch, White-breasted Nuthatch, Bush Tit (Black-eared), Ruby-crowned Kinglet, House Wren (Brown-throated), House Finch, Hutton’s Vireo, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, Lincoln’s Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, and Red-tailed Hawk. Birds of a more Southwestern, or Mexican flavor included Buff-breasted Flycatcher, Slate-throated Redstart, Red Warbler, Blue-hooded Euphonia, Scott’s Oriole and White-eared Hummingbird. The notable miss was Strickland’s Woodpecker.
We returned to this area the following morning to better study a number of unidentified hummer s and to try again for the Strickland’s. We dipped on the Woodpecker but added these species; Green Violet-ear, Mexican Chickadee, Merlin (ssp richardsonii),, Magnificent Hummingbird and Calliope Hummingbird.
The road beyond Huitzilac:
Midday 3.20.04
Following the driving instructions to the Lerma Marshes from
Tres Marias we stopped at several pullouts along the road (markers
4-7km) beyond the town of Huitzilac and found them to be quite
birding. naturally some more so than others. Birds seen here
included: Black-backed Oriole, Chestnut-sided Shrike-vireo,
Green-striped Brush-finch, Gray Silky, Warbling
Vireo, Slate-throated Redstart, Cordilleran Flycatcher,
Dusky-capped Flycatcher, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher,
Crescent-chested Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Black-throated
Green Warbler, Townsend Warbler, Orange-crowned
Warbler, Spotted Towhee, White-throated Robin,
Sharp-shinned Hawk, and White-eared Hummingbird.
We heard Flame-colored Tanager and Brown-backed Solitaire.
We also had glimpses of a female Lampornis
Hummingbird. Although the list is short, the views we had of the Brush-finch, Oriole and Shrike-Vireo were unsurpassed with the birds being close and in view for extended periods.
The Lerma Marshes( N
10º 09.076’, W 99º 29.302’ –turnoff
of main road): Afternoon 3.20.04
Again Howell’s directions get us there. The drive through
the mountains is quite nice, though the farming area below leave
something to be desired. We drove out the dike road until the
reed beds were closer to the road (roughly .25km) and pulled
off (there is ample room in most places to pull fully off the
road). There is a lot of human activity along the marsh
edges, but bird numbers were still pretty high. Initial species
seen include; American Coot, Common Moorhen, Cattle
Egret, Great Egret, White-faced Ibis, Song
Sparrow, Barn Swallow, Lesser Yellowlegs, Solitary
Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Baird’s Sandpiper,
Pectoral Sandpiper, Sora, Blue-winged Teal,
Killdeer, Wilson’s Snipe, Ruddy Duck and
Northern Harrier. We had no yellowthroats at our first stop,
though he did have some fun with a couple of local kids, and
moved further along the dike. At about .75km we found an
area we could walk down to the reeds at and stopped there. Initially
we found Northern Waterthrush, and a very uncooperative
‘yellowthroat sp’, but eventually we had a Black-polled
Yellowthroat. We drove several more km around the marsh ticking
off Virginia Rail, King Rail, 7 Soras at once,
Marsh Wren, Yellow-headed, Brewer’s,
Red-winged and ‘bi-colored’ Blackbirds,
Bronzed and Brown-headed Cowbirds, Savannah
Sparrow and Canyon Towhee. We 2 more Black-polled
Yellowthroats and several Common Yellowthroats as well.
Though the bird life was good, we couldn't help but wonder where the insects and frogs were. There are muskrats though, as we watched two dogs dig one out and eat it.
Curenavaca Morning 3.21.04
Due to the hotel parking lot being used as additional parking
for the garage next door, we were unable to extract our car until
after 7am. We birded the hotel grounds (minimal though they were
and found some good birds. Top of the list was Russet-crowned
Motmot, which perched on a chain link fence for 5 minutes.
Also seen were Rufous-backed Robin, Bullock’s
Oriole, Black-throated Green, Yellow-rumped and Nashville Warblers.
Coajomulco (N 19º
01.738’, W 99º 13.051’): Morning 3.21.04
We were not entirely clear which particular pull off or wooded
area Howell was referring to, but the general location looked
good. As soon as we had pulled off it was clear that there was
a lot of action on the east side of the road, in a well grazed
pasture area ringed by thickets. There was a number of bushes
fruiting at that location and a large flock of Gray-Silkys
was moving in and out of the bushes feeding. Also seen
were; Greater Pewee, American and White-throated
Robins, Flame-colored Tanager, Black-headed Siskin,
Lesser Goldfinch (black-backed race), Black-headed
Grosbeak, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Spotted and
Canyon Towhees, Hutton’s and Blue-headed
Vireos, Black-throated Green, Black-and-white,
Red, Yellow-rumped, Orange-crowned,and Nashville
Warblers, Buff-breasted Flycatcher and Mexican
Jay. Eventually the flocks dispersed and we crossed the road
and investigated down the hill in more wooded areas. Although
the birding was not as rapid fire we did find Crescent-chested
and Wilson’s Warbler, Slate-throated Redstart,
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Cordilleran Flycatcher,
Brown Creeper, White-striped Woodcreeper, Olive
Warbler, Cinnamon-bellied Flowerpiercer and
Gray-barred Wrens. It should be noted that we never really
got more than 200 yds from the roadway.
Some of the highlights in no particular order:
- Three species of Tinamou
- A stunningly cooperative Pinnated Bittern
Pinnated Bittern, ©2004 Mark W. Eaton
- Walk-away looks at a Bat Falcon
- More rails seen at one location than any other birding site ever, including at least 3 Soras in view at the same time.
- Nice scope views of Double-striped Thick-Knee
- A pair of Black-and-White Owls directly above our heads
- Finally, good looks at a Stripe-throated [Little] Hermit
- Collared Aricaris and Keel-billed Toucans aplenty
- Five species of Woodcreeper, sometimes head-smashingly difficult to identify
- Male Barred-Antshrike; are you kidding me?
- Sulphur-rumped Flycatcher
- Great looks at a Chestnut-sided Shrike-Vireo
- Northern x Tropical Parula (a Parula with the yellow wrapping up behind the auriculars that had a partial white eye crescent above one eye)
- Black-polled Yellowthroat
- Six (!) adult male Red-legged Honeycreepers in th same tree
- Green-striped Brush-Finch in plain view
- Solid looks at Sierra Madre Sparrow
- Black-cowled Oriole
- Black-backed [Abeille's] Oriole
- Both Oropendolas in view at the same time
- Mexican Black Howler Monkeys!
- Prehensile-tailed Porcupine!
Prehensile-tailed Porcupine ©2004 Kevin McKereghan
Additional photos and color may be found here.
Trip location codes:
| Code | Date | Location |
| AM | 14-Mar | Amatlan |
| LB | 14-Mar | Los Barrancas |
| AL | 14-Mar | Alvarado |
| PA | 14-Mar | Playa Azul |
| MP | 15-Mar | R.M.O. Pipicipan |
| RC | 15-Mar | Road to Coyame |
| PA | 15-Mar | Playa Azul |
| UN | 16-Mar | UNAM Station |
| BA | 16-Mar | Las Barras |
| BP | 17-Mar | Bottling Plant |
| UX | 17-Mar | Uxpanapa Road |
| UX | 18-Mar | Uxpanapa Road |
| VE | 18-Mar | Drive to Veracruz |
| AM | 19-Mar | Amatlan |
| CM | 20-21 Mar | Cuernavaca and environs |
Avian trip results as follows:
313 Species
| Species | Location | Notes |
| Great Tinamou | UN | Heard only |
| Thicket Tinamou | AM | Heard only |
| Slaty-breasted Tinamou | MP, UN, UX | Heard only |
| Black-bellied Whistling-Duck | BA, BP, VE | |
| Blue-winged Teal | AL, VE, CM | |
| Lesser Scaup | PA | |
| Ruddy Duck | CM | |
| Plain Chachalaca | AM, MP, RC, UX | |
| Crested Guan | MP | Heard only |
| Least Grebe | RC, PA, BA, BP | |
| Pied-billed Grebe | LB, RC, BA, CM | |
| Brown Pelican | AL, UN | |
| Neotropic Cormorant | AL, LB, PA, RC, X | |
| Magnificent Frigatebird | LB, AL, UN, BA | |
| Pinnated Bittern | BA | |
| Great Blue Heron | LB, AL, UX | |
| Great Egret | LB, AL, RC, PA, CM, X | |
| Snowy Egret | LB, RC, PA | |
| Little Blue Heron | LB, AL, BA | |
| Tricolored Heron | AL, RC, BA | |
| Cattle Egret | LB, AL, CM, X | |
| Green Heron | AL, PA, RC, BA, X | |
| Black-crowned Night-Heron | PA, RC, BP | |
| Yellow-crowned Night-Heron | AL | |
| White Ibis | AL, BA | |
| White-faced Ibis | AL, BA, CM | |
| Roseate Spoonbill | VE | MWE not observed |
| Wood Stork | UX | |
| Black Vulture | LB, AM, AL, CM, X | |
| Turkey Vulture | LB, AL, AM, CM, X | |
| Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture | LB, AL, BA | |
| Osprey | AL, UX, UE | |
| White-tailed Kite | AL | |
| Snail Kite | LB, AL, PA, BA, VE | |
| Northern Harrier | LB | |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | CM | |
| Cooper's Hawk | CM | |
| White Hawk | UN | |
| Gray Hawk | AM, AL, MP, RC, X | |
| Common Black-Hawk | LB, UN | |
| Great Black-Hawk | LB | |
| Roadside Hawk | LB, AL, PA, UN, BA, X | |
| Broad-winged Hawk | VE | |
| Short-tailed Hawk | AM | |
| Red-tailed Hawk | CM | |
| Collared Forest-Falcon | MP, BP | Heard only |
| Crested Caracara | LB, AL, UX | |
| Laughing Falcon | AM, RC, BP, UX, AM | |
| American Kestrel | AL, BA, UX, VE | |
| Merlin | CM | |
| Aplomado Falcon | AL, LB | |
| Bat Falcon | UX | |
| Ruddy Crake | BP | |
| King Rail | CM | |
| Virginia Rail | CM | |
| Sora | BP, CM | |
| Purple Gallinule | BP | |
| Common Moorhen | AL, RC, BP, CM | |
| American Coot | CM | |
| Limpkin | AL | |
| Double-striped Thick-knee | LB, VE | |
| Killdeer | AL, CM | |
| Black-necked Stilt | AL, UN, VE | |
| Northern Jacana | LB, AL, RC, BA, BP | |
| Greater Yellowlegs | AL, UN | |
| Lesser Yellowlegs | AL, UN, CM | |
| Solitary Sandpiper | CM | |
| Spotted Sandpiper | UN, BA | |
| Least Sandpiper | AL, CM | |
| Baird's Sandpiper | CM | |
| Pectoral Sandpiper | AL, CM | |
| Wilson's Snipe | CM | |
| Laughing Gull | AL, PA, RC, BA, BP | |
| Royal Tern | LB, AL, BA | |
| Forster's Tern | LB, BP | |
| Rock Pigeon | X | |
| Red-billed Pigeon | AL, PA, RC, X | |
| Short-billed Pigeon | UN, UX | Heard only |
| Mourning Dove | CM | |
| Inca Dove | LB, AL, RC, UN, BA, VE | |
| Common Ground-Dove | LB | MWE not observed |
| Ruddy Ground-Dove | LB, UN, BA, UX, AM | |
| Blue Ground-Dove | UX | |
| White-tipped Dove | AM, MP, UN, BP, X | |
| Gray-headed [Dove] Quail-Dove | UX | Heard only |
| Olive-throated Parakeet | UX | |
| White-crowned Parrot | AM, UX | |
| Red-lored Parrot | AM, UN, BA | |
| Squirrel Cuckoo | AM, RC, UN, UX | |
| Groove-billed Ani | LB, UN | |
| Central American Pygmy-Owl | UX | Heard only |
| Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl | AM, UN, BA | |
| Mottled Owl | PA, RC | |
| Black-and-white Owl | UN | |
| Common Pauraque | MP, UN, RC, UX | |
| Chestnut-collared Swift | AM | |
| White-collared Swift | LB, UX | |
| Vaux's Swift | AM, UX | |
| Stripe-throated [Little] Hermit | AM, UX | |
| Wedge-tailed Sabrewing | AM | |
| Long-tailed Sabrewing | PA, UX | |
| Violet Sabrewing | MP, UN | |
| Green Violet-ear | CM | |
| White-eared Hummingbird | CM | |
| White-bellied Emerald | MP, PA, UX, UN | |
| Azure-crowned Hummingbird | AM, MP, RC, UN, BP | |
| Rufous-tailed Hummingbird | MP, UN, UX, BP, AM | |
| Buff-bellied Hummingbird | AM | |
| Magnificent Hummingbird | CM | |
| Ruby-throated Hummingbird | AM, PA, UX | |
| Calliope Hummingbird | CM | |
| Rufous Hummingbird | AM | |
| Black-headed Trogon | AM, UX | |
| Violaceous Trogon | AM, UN, UX | |
| Collared Trogon | MP, RC | |
| Russet-crowned Motmot | CM | |
| Blue-crowned Motmot | AM, UN | |
| Ringed Kingfisher | RC, PA, UX | |
| Belted Kingfisher | RC, BA, BP | |
| Green Kingfisher | PA, BA, UX | |
| Collared Aracari | AM, RC, UN BP | |
| Keel-billed Toucan | AM, MP, RC, BP, VE | |
| Acorn Woodpecker | CM | |
| Golden-fronted Woodpecker | AM, LB, X | |
| Hairy Woodpecker | CM | |
| Golden-olive Woodpecker | AM, MP, UN, UX | |
| Northern Flicker | CM | |
| Lineated Woodpecker | UN, UX | |
| Pale-billed Woodpecker | AM, UX | |
| Rufous-breasted Spinetail | MP, UX | |
| Buff-throated Foliage-gleaner | MP | |
| Olivaceous Woodcreeper | AM, MP, RC, UN, BP, X | |
| Ivory-billed Woodcreeper | UN, UX | |
| White-striped Woodcreeper | CM | |
| Streak-headed Woodcreeper | UX | |
| Spot-crowned Woodcreeper | RC | |
| Barred Antshrike | MP, UX, AM | |
| Yellow-bellied Tyrannulet | UX | |
| Greenish Elaenia | UX | |
| Yellow-bellied Elaenia | UX | |
| Ochre-bellied Flycatcher | AM, UN | |
| Sepia-capped Flycatcher | UX | |
| Common Tody-Flycatcher | UX | |
| Eye-ringed Flatbill | UN | |
| Yellow-olive Flycatcher | AM, MP, UN | |
| Sulphur-rumped Flycatcher | UX | |
| Greater Pewee | CM | |
| Eastern Wood-Pewee | UN | Heard only |
| Yellow-bellied Flycatcher | UX | |
| Acadian Flycatcher | AM | |
| Traill's Flycatcher | UX | |
| Least Flycatcher | BA | MWE not observed |
| Cordilleran Flycatcher | CM | |
| Buff-breasted Flycatcher | CM | |
| Black Phoebe | UX | |
| Vermilion Flycatcher | LB | |
| Bright-rumped Attila | MP, UN, BP, UX | |
| Dusky-capped Flycatcher | AM, MP, UN, UX, CM | |
| Great Crested Flycatcher | RC, UN, BP, UX | |
| Great Kiskadee | LB, AL, RC, PA, X | |
| Boat-billed Flycatcher | AM, LB, RC, X | |
| Social Flycatcher | AM, LB, AL, PA, MP, X | |
| Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher | UN | |
| Tropical Kingbird | AL, UN, BA, UX | |
| Couch's Kingbird | LB, PA | |
| Scissor-tailed Flycatcher | LB, RC, BA, UX | |
| Fork-tailed Flycatcher | LB, BA, VE | |
| Rose-throated Becard | UN, UX | |
| Masked Tityra | AM, RC, PA, X | |
| Black-crowned Tityra | AM, RC | |
| Loggerhead Shrike | CM | |
| White-eyed Vireo | MP, RC, UN, UX, AM | |
| Yellow-throated Vireo | UX, AM | |
| Blue-headed Vireo | AM, MP, RC, UN, CM | |
| Hutton's Vireo | CM | |
| Warbling Vireo | CM | |
| Lesser Greenlet | MP, RC, UN, UX | |
| Chestnut-sided Shrike-Vireo | CM | |
| Rufous-browed Peppershrike | AM | Heard only |
| Steller's Jay | CM | |
| Brown Jay | AM, AL, X | |
| Mexican Jay | CM | |
| Purple Martin | UX | MWE not observed |
| Tree Swallow | LB | |
| Mangrove Swallow | BA, UX | |
| Northern Rough-winged Swallow | AM, LB, MP, UN, X | |
| Barn Swallow | LB, UN, BA, UX, CM | |
| Mexican Chickadee | CM | |
| Bushtit | CM | |
| White-breasted Nuthatch | CM | |
| Pygmy Nuthatch | CM | |
| Brown Creeper | CM | |
| Band-backed Wren | AM, MP, UN, UX | |
| Gray-barred Wren | CM | |
| Sumichrast's Wren | AM | Heard only |
| Spot-breasted Wren | AM, MP, RC, UN, UX | |
| House Wren | AM, MP, UN, BA, CM, X | |
| Marsh Wren | CM | |
| White-bellied Wren | UX | |
| White-breasted Wood-Wren | AM, MP, UN, UX | |
| Ruby-crowned Kinglet | CM | |
| Blue-gray Gnatcatcher | AM, LB, CM, X | |
| Tropical Gnatcatcher | UX | MWE not observed |
| Western Bluebird | CM | |
| Brown-backed Solitaire | CM | |
| Wood Thrush | RC, MP, UN, UX | |
| Clay-colored Robin | AM, UN, BA, UX | |
| White-throated [Thrush] Robin | AM, CM | |
| Rufous-backed Robin | CM | |
| American Robin | CM | |
| Gray Catbird | RC, UN, UX | |
| Northern Mockingbird | LB | |
| American Pipit | CM | |
| Gray Silky-flycatcher | CM | |
| Olive Warbler | CM | |
| Blue-winged Warbler | AM, MP, RC, UX | |
| Golden-winged Warbler | UX | |
| Tennessee Warbler | UX | |
| Orange-crowned Warbler | LB, CM | |
| Nashville Warbler | AM, CM | |
| Crescent-chested Warbler | CM | |
| Northern Parula | AM, MP, RC, UN, UX | |
| Northern x Tropical Parula | AM | |
| Tropical Parula | AM, RC, UX, X | |
| Yellow Warbler | LB, RC, PA, UX, BP | |
| Magnolia Warbler | AM, LB, UN, PA, X | |
| Yellow-rumped Warbler | CM | |
| Black-throated Green Warbler | AM, MP, UN, UX, CM | |
| Townsend's Warbler | CM | |
| Black-and-white Warbler | AM, MP, RC, UN, BP, CM | |
| American Redstart | AM, RC, MP, UN, BA, X | |
| Worm-eating Warbler | AM, RC, UN, UX | |
| Ovenbird | RC, BP, UX | |
| Northern Waterthrush | UX, CM | |
| Kentucky Warbler | UX | MWE not observed |
| Common Yellowthroat | AM, LB, RC, BA, BP, CM, X | |
| Black-polled Yellowthroat | CM | |
| Gray-crowned Yellowthroat | AM, BA, BP, UX | |
| Hooded Warbler | AM, X | |
| Wilson's Warbler | AM, CM, X | |
| Red Warbler | CM | |
| Slate-throated Redstart | CM | |
| Fan-tailed Warbler | AM | |
| Golden-crowned Warbler | AM, MP, UX | |
| Rufous-capped Warbler | AM, MP | |
| Yellow-breasted Chat | AM, UN, UX | MWE not observed |
| Bananaquit | UX | |
| Red-crowned Ant-Tanager | MP | |
| Red-throated Ant-Tanager | AM, RC, UN, BP, UX | |
| Summer Tanager | AM, MP, RC, UN, BA, X | |
| Western Tanager | AM | |
| Flame-colored Tanager | CM | |
| White-winged Tanager | AM, MP | |
| Blue-gray Tanager | AM, UN, BA, BP, UX | |
| Yellow-winged Tanager | AM, UN, BA, UX, AM | |
| Red-legged Honeycreeper | AM, MP, UX | |
| Blue-black Grassquit | UN, UX | |
| Variable Seedeater | UX | |
| White-collared Seedeater | AM, MP, UN, BA, UX | |
| Yellow-faced Grassquit | MP | |
| Cinnamon-bellied Flowerpiercer | CM | MWE not observed |
| Grassland Yellow-Finch | LB, VE | |
| Green-striped Brush-Finch | CM | |
| Orange-billed Sparrow | UX | MWE not observed |
| Olive Sparrow | UX, AM | |
| Spotted Towhee | CM | |
| Canyon Towhee | CM | |
| Rusty Sparrow | MP, UX | |
| Striped Sparrow | CM | |
| Chipping Sparrow | CM | |
| Savannah Sparrow | LB, CM | |
| Sierra Madre Sparrow | CM | |
| Song Sparrow | CM | |
| Lincoln's Sparrow | AM, LB, CM | |
| Yellow-eyed Junco | CM | |
| Grayish Saltator | UN, UX | |
| Black-headed Saltator | AM, MP, UN, BP | |
| Black-faced Grosbeak | MP, UX | |
| Northern Cardinal | AM, MP | |
| Rose-breasted Grosbeak | UN, AM | |
| Black-headed Grosbeak | CM | |
| Blue-black Grosbeak | UX | |
| Indigo Bunting | AM, AL, MP, RC, X | |
| Painted Bunting | UX, AM | |
| Red-winged Blackbird | AL, BA, CM | |
| Eastern Meadowlark | LB, BA, UN | |
| Yellow-headed Blackbird | CM | |
| Melodious Blackbird | AL, PA, RC, X | |
| Brewer's Blackbird | CM | |
| Great-tailed Grackle | X | |
| Bronzed Cowbird | PA, BA, UN, NM, CM | |
| Brown-headed Cowbird | CM | |
| Black-cowled Oriole | AM | |
| Orchard Oriole | UN, UX | |
| Yellow-tailed Oriole | MP, UX | |
| Bullock's Oriole | CM | |
| Altamira Oriole | RC, UN | |
| Baltimore Oriole | RC, UN, UX, BP | |
| Black-backed [Abeille's] Oriole | CM | |
| Scott's Oriole | CM | |
| Yellow-billed Cacique | MP | |
| Yellow-winged Cacique | UX | Veracruz just east of Oaxaca border on Hwy. 185, 1km south of turnoff to Tuxapec |
| Chestnut-headed Oropendola | AM | |
| Montezuma Oropendola | AM, MP, RC, X | |
| Scrub Euphonia | AM, LB, UX | |
| Yellow-throated Euphonia | AM, BP, UX | |
| Elegant [Blue-hooded] Euphonia | AM, CM | |
| Olive-backed Euphonia | UX | |
| House Finch | CM | |
| Pine Siskin | CM | |
| Black-headed Siskin | CM | |
| Lesser Goldfinch | AM, CM | |
| House Sparrow | VE, CM | |
| Gray-headed tanager-like bird with orange face | UX | Well seen for almost 30 seconds by 3 people |
Non-avian trip list folllows:
| Mammals | Location | Notes |
| Mexican Black Howler Monkey | MP, UN, RC | |
| Central American Spider Monkey | UX | |
| White-nosed Coati | UX | |
| Prehensile-tailed Porcupine | RC | |
| Nine-banded Armadillo | UX | Recently captured by the young roadside entrepreneur?) |
| Northern Tamandua [Banded Anteater] | VE | Roadkill |
| Mexican [Red-bellied] Gray Squirrel | AM, MP, UX | Including all-black forms |
| Eastern Cottontail | AM | |
| Coyote | MP | |
| bat sp. | AM, UN, UX | Small and large varieties |
| Herps | ||
| Giant Toad [Marine or Cane Toad] | UN | |
| bufo toad sp. | AM | Golden color |
| chirping or treefrog sp. | UN | |
| large frog sp. | UX | |
| snake spp. | RC, UX | |
| House Gecko | PA | |
| Spiny-tailed Iguana | BA | |
| basilisk lizard sp. | UN, UX, AM | |
| Brown (?) Anole | AM | The displaying lizard with the bright orange throat "fan") |
| Rose-bellied Lizard | UX | |
| whiptail sp. | UX | With reddish head |
| tree-type lizard sp. | UX | |
| Odonates (note that some do not have common names) | ||
| Argia anceps | AM | A golden-winged dancer with mostly-blue abdomen |
| Leptobasis vacillans | UX | A tropical dancer-type with red abdomen, green thorax and face |
| Coryphaeschna diapyra | UX, AM | A large, tropical darner-type with reddish abdomen, green thorax and head; many flying; females/imm. males |
| Great Pondhawk | UX, AM | Several big lime-green males |
| Orange-bellied Skimmer | UX | Bright pink male with red face |
| Spot-tailed Dasher | UX | Perched male |
| Red-faced Dragonlet | UX | The perched male we saw 2 days along the road across from garbage dump |
| Band-winged Dragonlet | AM, UX | Females/imm. males -- including the one captured and photographed by Kevin |
| Red Saddlebags | BP | |
| Striped Saddlebags | BP | |
| spreadwing sp. | AM | |
| bluet sp. | UX | |
| many other UNIDs | ||
3.29 [SFBirds] Orchard Orioles continue
The two first year male ORCHARD ORIOLES
were still present at the NW corner
of Middle Lake this morning. They dropped into the willows from
the eucs
above around 7:30. The birds were quite similar; I don't think
I could tell
one from another, and they were quite active in the willows.
Field marks of
interest from the bird better observed of the two:
- Green
- Only slightly larger than the nearby Yellow-rumped Warblers
- No noticeable curvature observed on the lower mandible
- Two well-defined wingbars
But the piece de resistance were the vocalizations.
In addition to the soft
chucks that were often given by the birds, one actually broke
into song.
The song was warbler-like; a varied set of high-pitched soft
warbles
intermixed with occasional soft chuck notes, quite different
from the lower,
more deliberate whistles of a Hooded Oriole.
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