Mexico is...
a good place to go when it's 20 degrees in Seattle. A brief report from
a brief visit:
First: the Howell and Webb guide is indispensible. It weighed more than
my clothes, but it was worth it. I brought the Natl Geogr book, too, but
didn't use it so much. I decided not to spend much time trying to figure out
species that "seemed" to be from north of the border.
We arrived Puerto Vallarta Friday afternoon (85 deg) and left there
Monday afternoon. I used binoculars at two locations (after 25 years, I
still haven't gotten the hang of wearing binoculars as an integral part of
my everyday apparel). One was just outside of P.V. (suggested by Michael
Carmody) and the other was Yelapa, a tiny village accessed only by boat.
I identified 60 species and saw at least a dozen other "probables" and
"possibles". Twenty of the species were new ones for me and five were
endemic to west Mexico (Golden-cheeked Woodpecker, San Blas Jay, Happy Wren,
Rufous-backed Thrush, and Yellow-winged Cacique). Other favorites included
Military Macaw, Orange-fronted Parakeet, Roseate Spoonbill, White Ibis,
Least Grebe, and Northern Jacana. I am well acquainted with boobies and
frigatebirds, so adding Blue-footed and Magnificent to my list wasn't as
thrilling as it might have been (I did enjoy watching a frigatebird harass a
booby into waves breaking on the beach while I sat in an open restaurant
across the street munching enchiladas). I saw NO ducks or sparrows and
almost no hummingbirds.
It's not wise to reveal secret spots, but let me suggest spending time
in Yelapa. We were traveling light and had heard that it was a great place
to spend time, so we got off the boat and immediately rented beachfront
palapas for one night. Inexpensive and tranquil. I could go on, but won't. I
will say that the butterflies complemented the birds well. There were so
many. Some were incredible.
Thanks to everyone for advice and offers of help.
------------------------
Scott Richardson
NE Seattle
salix at isomedia.com