One morning in Mazatlán, in May of this year, I took a drive through the foothills east of town, to areas said to be good for birding.
I had very little luck finding birds to photograph, and decided to head back to town. On the way back, however, I came across a grove of trees on either side of the highway near the very small town of El Recodo.
Though the light was already harsh, the birding was excellent, and made the morning drive worthwhile.
The highlight was a number of nests being constructed by Streak-backed Orioles.
A Great Kiskadee, photographed moments after the above photo:
An Elegant Quail (life-bird!). The Elegant Quail can only be found in northwest Mexico:
A Sulfur-bellied Flycatcher (another life-bird!). This bird breeds in southeast Arizona, much of Mexico and Central America, and winters in South America.
Though I usually don't like photos looking up at a bird, this does show the bird's sulfur belly!
The rattle-like sound of the Gila Woodpecker formed a frequent background for birding in Sinaloa. Here is one taking a food back to its nest:
Another sub-optimal photo looking up at a bird. I'm only posting this because it was another life-bird, seen earlier the same morning.
The Yellow-green Vireo breeds in much of Mexico and Central America and winters in northwestern South America. This bird was easy to hear but very difficult to see high up in a tree.
Even though the birding was not productive during much of that morning's drive, it's not often I see four life-birds in one morning (including the Sinaloa Crow posted a few days ago)! All-in-all, the morning drive turned out to be a success!
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