Hookbilledkite
06-24-2009, 02:55 PM
Since the summer doldrums have set in and we await the shorebirds to start trickling through within the next few weeks, I thought I would briefly describe a birding trip I took in March to the Puerto Vallarta area. I spent approximately a week scouting locations close to Puerto Vallarta for a future tour.
The accomodations and food are excellent and there is a wide variety of habitats within a few hours drive from town. One of the highlights was driving through Pacific thorn scrub for 4 hours where we saw such birds as Military Macaw, Red-breasted Chat, San Blas Jay, Lesser Roadrunner, Orange-breasted Bunting, Black-throated Magpie-Jay, Golden-cheeked Woodpecker, Golden Vireo, Black-capped Vireo, Streak-backed Oriole, Mexican Parrotlets and others while terminating the drive at a rustic beachfront town (Tehuamixtle) where we dined on fresh shrimp, Red Snapper and cold Pacifico beer. After the meal, we had the opportunity to snorkel on the beach where there were some close reefs and lots of tropical fish. What a refreshing way to end a great morning of birding.
Another day took us to San Blas to take the jungle boat ride where we saw Bare-throated Tiger Heron, Laughing Falcon, Snail Kite, Boat-billed Heron, Citreoline Trogon, Elegant Trogon, Great Black Hawk, Limpkin and others. Birding around San Blas was also good and we saw Russet-crowned Motmot, Surfbirds, Lineated Woodpecker, Masked Tityra, Brant, Purplish-backed Jays, Collared Forest Falcon, Orange-fronted Parakeet, Collared Plover, Elegant Quail, Stripe-headed Sparrow, Red-billed Pigeon, Northern Jacana, Colima Pygmy Owl among others. Stopping along at roadside stands to buy fresh fruit with chile powder and lime was a tasty experience. The regional specialty pescado sarandeado was very delicious.
Another habitat that was visited was mid-level pine forest where we encountered Lilac-crowned Parrot, Black-headed Siskin, Elegant Trogon, Gray Silky Flycatcher, Military Macaw, Mexican Hermit, Green Jay, Acorn Woodpecker, Tufted Flycatcher, Cinnamon Hummingbird and many others. Lunch and dinner stops at local taquerias and seafood palapas were very good.
There is also an old colonial mining town located 2 hours north of Puerto Vallarta where you can find higher elevation birds such as Elegant Quetzal, Cinnamon-bellied Flowerpiercer and Long-tailed Wood-Partridge, but that would have to wait till next time............................. Good Birding!
The accomodations and food are excellent and there is a wide variety of habitats within a few hours drive from town. One of the highlights was driving through Pacific thorn scrub for 4 hours where we saw such birds as Military Macaw, Red-breasted Chat, San Blas Jay, Lesser Roadrunner, Orange-breasted Bunting, Black-throated Magpie-Jay, Golden-cheeked Woodpecker, Golden Vireo, Black-capped Vireo, Streak-backed Oriole, Mexican Parrotlets and others while terminating the drive at a rustic beachfront town (Tehuamixtle) where we dined on fresh shrimp, Red Snapper and cold Pacifico beer. After the meal, we had the opportunity to snorkel on the beach where there were some close reefs and lots of tropical fish. What a refreshing way to end a great morning of birding.
Another day took us to San Blas to take the jungle boat ride where we saw Bare-throated Tiger Heron, Laughing Falcon, Snail Kite, Boat-billed Heron, Citreoline Trogon, Elegant Trogon, Great Black Hawk, Limpkin and others. Birding around San Blas was also good and we saw Russet-crowned Motmot, Surfbirds, Lineated Woodpecker, Masked Tityra, Brant, Purplish-backed Jays, Collared Forest Falcon, Orange-fronted Parakeet, Collared Plover, Elegant Quail, Stripe-headed Sparrow, Red-billed Pigeon, Northern Jacana, Colima Pygmy Owl among others. Stopping along at roadside stands to buy fresh fruit with chile powder and lime was a tasty experience. The regional specialty pescado sarandeado was very delicious.
Another habitat that was visited was mid-level pine forest where we encountered Lilac-crowned Parrot, Black-headed Siskin, Elegant Trogon, Gray Silky Flycatcher, Military Macaw, Mexican Hermit, Green Jay, Acorn Woodpecker, Tufted Flycatcher, Cinnamon Hummingbird and many others. Lunch and dinner stops at local taquerias and seafood palapas were very good.
There is also an old colonial mining town located 2 hours north of Puerto Vallarta where you can find higher elevation birds such as Elegant Quetzal, Cinnamon-bellied Flowerpiercer and Long-tailed Wood-Partridge, but that would have to wait till next time............................. Good Birding!