As some of you requested, here is a list and summary of our trip. Generally
the weather was great - in the 80's during the day, 40's-50's at night. It can
be cool in PV during the early morning, in the winter, so a light coat is
great.
We arrived late Thurs. morning, 21 Jan., and the next morning we birded
along a small stream which flows through the city to the sea. A long narrow
island runs through the center of the stream with shops and restaurants so you
can shop, eat and bird in great comfort! The trees along this island (called
Isle Cuale) held some interesting birds: Inca Doves, Orchard Orioles, Snowy
egrets, Great Egrets, Tricolored Herons, Cassins Kingbirds, Green Herons,
Rufous-backed Robins, Great Kiskadees (fun birds to watch), Belted and Green
Kingfishers, Squirrel Cookoos, Yellow-crowned Night Herons (roosted in trees
above the stream during the day). Warblers included Wilson, Yellow, Black-
throated Grey, Nashville, and Grace's. In addition, along the island were
Blue-grey Gnatcatchers, Bell's and Hutton's Vireo, Groove-billed Ami, and
several species of Flycatchers that were tough to ID.
At the mouth of the stream were Franklin's , Bonoparde's, Hearmann's and
California Gulls, also Elegant Terns, Spotted Sandpipers, Black-necked Stilts,
Olwacons Cormorants, Brown Pelicans and Great-tailed Grackles everywhere!
Soaring above were Magnificent Frigatebirds (loved to watch them), Black and
Turkey Vultures, Northern Roughwinged and Marigroove Swallow, plus Vaux's
Swift.
23 Jan, Saturday, we rented a car and drove about l 1/2 hours north to a
small village on the coast called San Francisco (not California!). Here were
Brown and Blue-footed Boobies, Common Black Hawks, both vultures and White
Ibis.
A small estuary behind this beach and to the south held some surprises:
Northern Jacana, Common Moorhen, Caribbean Coots, Gadwall, cinnamon teal,
Green-winged Teal, Yellow-crowned Night-herons (roosting in the trees) and a
Great Blue Heron.
25 Jan., Monday, was the bird trip. We arranged this through a company I
saw advertised in a magazine called "Vallarta", under the leisure section.
The company was called "Open Air Expeditions", tel. 322-2-3310; Fax
322-3-2407; or e-mail: openair at vivamexico.com. The trip started at 6:30 am
and we ended about l pm when it became quite warm. They take on mostly small
groups. Ours was 6. Trip cost was $42 per person (not pesos), transportation
was provided, a light breakfast, snacks and water. Our guide's name was
Kimberly and she was great: friendly and enthusiastic. She knew the birds
very well and referred several times to "A Guide to the Birds of Mexico and
North Central America" by Howell and Webb. This is a real must for anyone
going to Mexico to do serious birding. Colorful plates and good descriptions
of the birds, available probably through ABA.
Our trip was near the small town of Guinduri, about l 1/4 hours south of
PV and up a rutted, almost unpassable road. We parked about 2-3 miles off the
main road and walked up into the canyon near a small stream. At first it was
cool and we saw few birds, but as soon as the sun warmed, out they came!
Here's what we saw: Stripe-headed Sparrow, Lilac-crowned Parrots, Yellow-
winged Cacique, San Blas Jay, Green Jay, Orange-fronted Parakeets, Cinnamon
Hummingbirds, Nashville Warblers, Wilson's Warblers, Russet-crowned Motmot,
Grey-silkey Fly Catcher, Streaked-backed Oriole, Ferruginous Pygmy Owl, Scale
Flycatcher, Masked Titya, American Kestrel, Golden-cheeked woodpecker, Black-
throated Grey Warbler, Plumbeous Vireo, Vermilion Flycatcher, Cedar Waxwings,
Summer Tanagers, and a Happy Wren.
After the trip we stopped at a small "watering hole" for cool drinks and
summarized our notes. Everyone had a great time and felt the trip was worth
the money. We were warned that other companies promise birds but often guides
don't show up or know nothing about birds - not the case here! Kimberly also
takes day trips for sea and shorebirds to the coast if you wish or even longer
jungle trips.
Hope this answers all your questions. If I skipped some info you want,
let me know.
Good birding!! Doug Watkins

P.S. His wife did all this typing (Doug hunts and pecks as a true birder
would). So when you run across any errors, blame me not him. Pipper