Subject: Puerto Vallarta
Date: Jan 16 13:43:33 1996
From: Michael Carmody - legacy


Puerto Vallarta is a good location for an initial tropical birding
trip. With minimal effort a number of birds can be observed: (I) on the
main road between the international airport and the city, 1/4km north of
the Hotel Villa del Palmar, a bridge passes over a small stream(a US$2.00
cab ride from any hotel). The stream and fields that border it are open to
entry(between the road and the beach). Though substantially degraded, the
fresh water, riparian trees, and overgrown fields provide sufficient
habitat. Endemic species I have seen during the boreal winter
include(using the taxonomy of Howell and Webb, 1995): Elegant Quail,
Blue-rumped Parrotlet, Happy Wren, Black-capped Gnatcatcher, Rufous-backed
Robin, and Yellow-winged Cacique. Other species of interest include Ruddy
Ground-Dove, Cinnamon and Violet-crowned Hummingbirds, Social Flycatcher,
Greyish Saltator, White-collared Seedeater, and Streak-backed Oriole. I
have found several reptile species also: Spiny-tailed and Green Iguanas,
Whiptail Lizard(lineattissimus), Spiny Lizard(melanorhinus), and Indigo
Snake. (II) Rent a car for one day, or hire a cab for about the same
price(US$40.00). Drive 30km north to Punta de Mita. From this location
US$20.00 hires a guide and his comfortable panga(small motorboat for four
to six) for several hours. This area is beautiful, but the real plus is
twofold: excellent snorkeling among dozens of beautifully patterned
fish(all equipment comes with the boat rental); and an islet with a sizable
colony of Blue-footed and Brown Boobies. The delicious seafood available
in the village highlights the activity. Four additional endemic species,
Citreoline Trogon, Flammulated Flycatcher, San Blas Jay, and Sinaloa Wren
occur within the deciduous forest along the road between the main highway
and Punta de Mita(at this season the deciduous woods resemble the dry scrub
typical of the lower canyons of the mountains in SE Arizona). (III) With a
rented car, or with the inexpensive bus system, travel south toward Barra
de Navidad(US$2.00 pays bus fare as far Chicos Paradise where you should
get off). A transition zone between semidecidous habitat and Pine-oak
forest occurs less than 40km from PV. Birds I have seen in this area
include: Hook-billed Kite, Orange-fronted Parakeet, Golden-crowned
Emerald, Mexican Woodnymph, Amethyst-throated Hummingbird, Masked Tityra,
Blue Mockingbird, Golden Vireo, and Stripe-headed Sparrow. The guide by
Howell and Webb is superior to all other Mexican guides, but the two
smaller field guides, Peterson and Chalif(Mexico) and National Geographic
Society(U.S.), will serve better at this time of year. Tours to Western
Mexico offered by Legacy Tours are filled for 1996. However, in 1997
Legacy will offer an exceptional tour targeting 300 species in this area of
Jalisco, and the nearby states of Nayarit and Colima. Michael Carmody,
Olympia, WA (legacy at halycon.com)