Hi, Tweeters!

Had a chance to go to Mexico this last weekend. To lake Chapalla. Managed to
score a couple of new lifers:

Vermiliion flycatcher-- at least two
Great Kiskidee -- at least 10 in trees. Considered "nuisance" bird
by some because they like to eat tree fruits--but aren't they flycatchers?
Anhinga -- one only
Boat-tailed grackles -- 50+ to shore, then back into trees than back to
shore, making lots of noise.
At least 10 Great Egrets Though they looked like pure white herons to me.
American Coots on lake -- 30-40
Ooodles and oodles of House sparrows around hotels, cafes
Hummingbird, Mountain Gem (according to old Peterson's "Birds of Mexico"
Light Chartreuse gorget) 1
Canyon Wren -- Heard only
Cassin's finches--mostly heard
Common ground dove -- 3 or so noticed at a time picking around shoreline
rocks. Very inconspicuous, no pattern on back that I could see.

How's that for old eyes/ears, no binocs, no spotting scopes--both too heavy
to pack around.

One thing I have noticed in places like Lake Chapalla, MX and Boulder, CO:
bright colored birds, like Myrtle warbler and Vermilion flycatcher become
shockingly irridescent in sunlight. How come that doesn't happen (except for
hummingbirds, but then even those not quite so blindingly florescent) in the
maritime Pacific Northwest? To get that effect, does there need to be high
altitude? Low latitude?
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