Photo ABCs

Michoacán Birding: Petatán

My trip through Colima and Jalisco strayed into the northwest corner of the state of Michoacán, so I could visit to town of Petatán.

Petatán is a town of fewer than 500 inhabitants, on an island-like peninsula that juts into Lake Chapala.

In the winter, Petatán's pelican population by far outnumbers its people!

There is a small tilapia processing plant in Petatán, and the remains of the fish are placed in buckets. Children sell the buckets to tourists to feed to the pelicans. As a result of this free smorgasbord, American White Pelicans, similar to American retirees, have found Lake Chapala a wonderful place to spend the winter!

Twilight in Petatán:

Pelican food!

A boy with a bucket which held hundreds of fish skeletons, now in the bellies of American White Pelicans:

American White Pelicans gather for a handout:

Though the pelicans would compete for the fish, not once did I see them fight or squabble. My theory is that since American White Pelicans spend much of the time feeding communally, sharing comes naturally to them.

Jalisco Birding: Mazamitla (cont.)

More birds from a road above Mazamitla, Jalisco, from February of this year:

Acorn Woodpecker:

Female Hepatic Tanager:

Broad-tailed Hummingbird:

Jalisco Birding: Mazamitla

My birding guide and friend Anuar Lopez recommended a dirt road above the town of Mazamitla as a good spot for birding.

It did not disappoint.

Typical of mountain birding, the birding was sporadic, that is there would be lulls followed by activity, when a flock might move through the area.

The highlight was the presence of flocks of Transvolcanic Jays.

Transvolcanic Jays are the Mexican equivalent of our Pinyon Jays. They travel in large, raucous flocks sweeping through the area, making a huge racket, calling back and forth to each other. They get their unusual name because their range is found in the volcanic belt between the Volcánes de Colima to the west and Volcán de Orizaba on the east, a distance of around 425 miles.

Whenever I travel in Mexico in winter, I almost always see Wilson's Warblers, with only Yellow-rumped Warblers being more common:

The Arizona Woodpecker is found in Southeast Arizona, as well as in mountainous regions of western Mexico. Here is one in Mazamitla:

–Lincoln's Sparrow:

More from Mazamitla tomorrow.

Mazamitla, Jalisco

The next stop on my tour of Colima and Jalisco was the town of Mazamitla, Jalisco.

Mazamitla, while perhaps unknown to Americans (as it was to me), is a popular weekend mountain resort for visitors from Guadalajara and elsewhere in central Mexico.

It is full of cobblestone streets, rental cabins, hiking trails and excellent restaurants.

My nice cabin:

While there, I searched for a restaurant that served Bote, a local specialty soup made with pulque.

I found one, Casa Magna, a block away from the town square.

Of the countless meals I have had in Mexico, this was one of the very best. It was a treat from start to finish. I would gladly return to Mazamitla just to eat in this restaurant!

Bote, the traditional soup of Mazamitla. Though I couldn't taste the pulque, it was delicious!

Jalisco Birding: El Tigre (cont.)

More birds from a morning in El Tigre, Jalisco, Mexico in February of this year:

The Buff-breasted Flycatcher is mostly found in mountainous regions of Mexico and Central America, as well as the mountains of Southeast Arizona:

The Gray Silky-flycatcher is found only in Mexico and neighboring Guatemala:

These spectacular Elegant Euphonias (great name!) were a treat to see, but maddeningly never approached closer than this distant tree, and never in plain view for a decent photo. This bird is found only in Mexico and parts of Central America.

Jalisco Birding: El Tigre (cont.)

More birds seen in the village of El Tigre, Jalisco, in February of this year:

Canyon Towhee:

Blue Mockingbird (a bird that usually eludes me!):

Rufous-capped Brushfinch:

House Wren:

More to come tomorrow!

Jalisco Birding: El Tigre

In February of this year I spent a morning birding in a private yard in the village of El Tigre, in the mountains east of Mazamitla, Jalisco.

While the birds were plentiful, most were skittish, hiding in the weeds, feeding deep within the trees, or feeding in distant trees.

Here are a few that came into a clear view:

Lincoln's Sparrow:

Cassin's Vireo:

Hepatic Tanager:

Female Black-headed Grosbeak:

More to come tomorrow!

Colima Birding: Laguna La Maria

Laguna La Maria is located about 20 miles east of Comala, Colima, and is one of my favorite spots to bird in the state of Colima.

The morning I visited in February, I heard and saw high in the canopy various trogons and parrots that I was unable to photograph.

These birds were more cooperative:

The Vermilion Flycatcher is very common throughout most of Mexico, but I still enjoy seeing them:

The White-throated Thrush is found in various regions of Mexico, Central and South America. Here is one perched on a decaying picnic structure:


The Tufted Flycatcher is one of the more colorful flycatchers in Mexico. Backlit:

Frontlit:

A Social Flycatcher:

At one point I heard a tremendous commotion occurring on the other side of the lake, about 100 yards away.

I turned my camera towards the noise, where two Muscovy Ducks were having the most vicious row I've ever witnessed among ducks. It lasted only a few seconds, and I'm not sure what it was about or who the victor was!

Colima Birding: La Campana Ecological Park

Though I have visited the city of Colima a number of times, I had never visited the La Campana Ecological Park prior to my visit in February of this year.

What an excellent birding spot!

The park has miles of trails which wind through thick forest, and is remarkable for being quite close to downtown Colima.

Leaving the parking lot I photographed this Least Flycatcher:

Walking the trails, I encountered a number of Northern Beardless-Tyrannulets (great name!):

Rounding out the afternoon of flycatchers was this Pacific-slope Flycatcher:

While at the park I got the barest glimpse (but no decent photo) of a male and female Painted Bunting.

I was happy to see a life-bird, this Rusty-crowned Ground-Sparrow, which is a Mexican endemic species, found only in western Mexico:

Colima Birding: Groove-billed Ani, Orange-breasted Bunting

More birds from La Cumbre, near Colima, Mexico.

Th Groove-billed Ani is a common in south Texas, most of Mexico and Central America, and northern South America.

There was a flock of them at La Cumbre the morning I was there, though they mostly stayed within in a tangle of weeds and tree branches:

The bird I most wanted to see at La Cumbre was the Orange-breasted Bunting.

They mostly remained reclusive while I was there. As I was about to leave this one popped into view for a moment.

I obtained much better photos on my previous two visits, but I was happy to see this one. This one is a female, so is not as flamboyant as the male.