Photo ABCs

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.

Colima Birding: Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Ash-throated Flycatcher

More birds on La Cumbre, near Colima, Mexico:

The Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher is a common bird year-round in Mexico, and especially in winter, when most of the US population heads south as well.

Even though it's a common bird, I always enjoy seeing the perky bird.

 

The Ash-throated Flycatcher is common in the arid Southwest United States and Northwest Mexico, and many winter further south in southwest Mexico.

I have seen them each time I have birded at La Cumbre:

Colima Birding: Black-chested Sparrow

In February of this year I spent one week traveling through parts of Colima and Jalisco, Mexico, starting in the city of Colima and ending in Guadalajara.

One of the top birding spots near the city of Colima is La Cumbre. As its name suggests, La Cumbre is a hill southeast of town used as a site for radio transmitters, hang gliders, and a religious shrine.

The Black-chested Sparrow is found in only a small area of Mexico (and nowhere else). La Cumbre is an excellent place to see them:

 

Red-billed Tropicbird

While in Manzanillo in February, 2019, I hired a boat to take me on a short excursion to circle a nearby small island used by many nesting birds, as well as to circle the lagoon near my lodgings.

The island has countless birds, however they were difficult to photograph, as the island was hundred of feet tall, and most birds were circling high above.

This photo of a Red-billed Tropicbird (one of my favorite birds!) was about as close as I could get: