2021 Part 6: Mexico

Neither Laura nor I had visited Mexico before and we were not quite sure what was in store. But we both fell in love with this incredibly diverse country. We met so many warm, friendly people, the birding was fantastic, the landscapes were awe-inspiring, and the food - well, it was everything it was cracked up to be and more. We only spent five weeks in this country but I'm already looking forward to a return visit. 

We began the trip in Mexico City, getting our bearings and completing a few short day trips by taxi around the outskirts of the metropolis. Afterwards, we rented a vehicle for 19 days. We completed a big loop south through Puebla and into Oaxaca, eastwards along the coast, past the Isthmus of Tehuantepec and into the mountains of Chiapas, and northwestwards into Veracruz where we returned the vehicle. We then flew to Cancún and explored the Yucatán Peninsula for a week, and finished our Mexico trip by visiting the island of Cozumel for a few days. 

The birding was incredibly productive and we lucked out with a few species that can be tricky in November/December because they are not vocalizing. Of course, there are always a few misses. But even  our big misses went down as heard-only at least, species like Ocellated Thrasher, Dwarf Vireo, Bearded Wood-Partridge and Yucatan Nightjar. 

Some of my favourite moments in Mexico included watching a flock of Rose-bellied Buntings feeding on aster seed-heads at arms-length, birding the majestic pine forests of the Sierra Madre Oriental, discovering a beautiful Middle American Gopher Snake on a quiet road in the Sierra Madre del Sur, and hearing (and then seeing!) a cooperative White-throated Jay at the very first location we checked for this rare species. Mexico - we will be back!

Upon our return to Canada Laura and I birded a little, here and there. Though we dipped on Ontario's second record of Glaucous-winged Gull we had some success with a few other birds such as a Razorbill in Niagara-on-the-Lake, a Black-bellied Whistling-Duck in Niagara Falls and a Golden-crowned Sparrow in Toronto. We closed out the year in Nova Scotia and managed to add a few new species to our 2021 year lists such as Black-headed Gull and Tufted Duck. 

Thanks to everyone who reads my blog and follows along with our travels. Wishing everyone a Happy New Year!

Black-polled Yellowthroat - Ciénega del Lerma, Mexico, Mexico

Strickland's Woodpecker - Parque Las Maravillas, Tlalpan, Ciudad de México, Mexico

Green-striped Brushfinch - Parque Las Maravillas, Tlalpan, Ciudad de México, Mexico

Bidens ocellata - San Juan Tlacotenco area, Morelos, Mexico

Hammond's Flycatcher - San Juan Tlacotenco area, Morelos, Mexico

Gray-barred Wren - San Juan Tlacotenco area, Morelos, Mexico

Broad-billed Hummingbird - San Andrés de la Cal, Morelos, Mexico

San Andrés de la Cal, Morelos, Mexico

Beautiful Hummingbird - San Andrés de la Cal, Morelos, Mexico

Black-chested Sparrow - San Andrés de la Cal, Morelos, Mexico

White-tipped Metalmark (Melanis acroleuca) - San Andrés de la Cal, Morelos, Mexico

Bridled Sparrow - Reserva de la Biósfera Tehuacán-Cuicatlán, Oaxaca, Mexico

Reserva de la Biósfera Tehuacán-Cuicatlán, Oaxaca, Mexico

Reserva de la Biósfera Tehuacán-Cuicatlán, Oaxaca, Mexico

Zone-tailed Hawk - Reserva de la Biósfera Tehuacán-Cuicatlán, Oaxaca, Mexico

Sceloporus gadoviae - Reserva de la Biósfera Tehuacán-Cuicatlán, Oaxaca, Mexico

Gray-breasted Woodpecker - Reserva de la Biósfera Tehuacán-Cuicatlán, Oaxaca, Mexico

Presa Piedra Azul, Oaxaca, Mexico

Boucard's Wren - Presa Piedra Azul, Oaxaca, Mexico

Gray-collared Becard - Presa Piedra Azul, Oaxaca, Mexico

Electrostrymon guzanta - road above Teotitlán del Valle, Oaxaca, Mexico

Laelia furfuracea - road above Teotitlán del Valle, Oaxaca, Mexico

Mountain Trogon - road above Teotitlán del Valle, Oaxaca, Mexico

Sceloporus aureolus - road above Teotitlán del Valle, Oaxaca, Mexico

Oaxaca Sparrow - road above Teotitlán del Valle, Oaxaca, Mexico

Dwarf Jay - Corral de Piedra, Oaxaca, Mexico

Bidens triplinervia - Corral de Piedra, Oaxaca, Mexico

Gray Silky-Flycatchers - Corral de Piedra, Oaxaca, Mexico

Red Warbler - Corral de Piedra, Oaxaca, Mexico

selfie at Zona Arqueológica Yagul, Oaxaca, Mexico

Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay - Microondas Ocotepec, Oaxaca, Mexico

Slaty Vireo - Microondas Ocotepec, Oaxaca, Mexico

Mexican Silverspot (Dione moneta) - Microondas Ocotepec, Oaxaca, Mexico

Sceloporus spinosus - Zona Arqueológica Yagul, Oaxaca, Mexico

Vermilion Flycatcher - Zona Arqueológica Yagul, Oaxaca, Mexico

Lesser Nighthawk - Monte Albán, Oaxaca, Mexico

White-throated Jay - San Jose del Pacifico, Oaxaca, Mexico

Middle American Gopher Snake (Pituophis lineaticollis) - La Soledad, Oaxaca, Mexico

Red-headed Tanager - La Soledad, Oaxaca, Mexico

Middle American Gopher Snake (Pituophis lineaticollis) - La Soledad, Oaxaca, Mexico

Cordilleran Flycatcher - La Soledad, Oaxaca, Mexico

Sunrise at Finca Don Gabriel, Pluma Hidalgo, Oaxaca, Mexico

Dahlia imperialis - north of Pluma Hidalgo, Oaxaca, Mexico

Gray-crowned Woodpecker - north of Pluma Hidalgo, Oaxaca, Mexico

Lasaia agesilas callaina - Parque Botánico Hagia Sofia, Oaxaca, Mexico

Russet-crowned Motmot - Parque Nacional Huatulco, Oaxaca, Mexico

Citreoline Trogon - Parque Nacional Huatulco, Oaxaca, Mexico

Orange-breasted Bunting - Parque Nacional Huatulco, Oaxaca, Mexico

Tropical Tree Lizard (Urosaurus bicarinatus) - Parque Nacional Huatulco, Oaxaca, Mexico

West Mexican Chachalacas - Parque Nacional Huatulco, Oaxaca, Mexico

Red-breasted Chat - Parque Nacional Huatulco, Oaxaca, Mexico

Colima Pygmy-Owl - Parque Nacional Huatulco, Oaxaca, Mexico

Rose-bellied Bunting photoshoot - Isthmus de Tehuantepec, Oaxaca, Mexico

Rose-bellied Bunting - Isthmus de Tehuantepec, Oaxaca, Mexico

Turquoise-browed Hummingbird - Isthmus de Tehuantepec, Oaxaca, Mexico

Sphenarium histrio - Isthmus de Tehuantepec, Oaxaca, Mexico

Cinnamon-tailed Sparrows - Isthmus de Tehuantepec, Oaxaca, Mexico

Lesser Ground-Cuckoo - Isthmus de Tehuantepec, Oaxaca, Mexico

Wind turbines - Isthmus de Tehuantepec, Oaxaca, Mexico

Red-cheeked Mud Turtle - Puerto Arista area, Chiapas, Mexico

Giant Wren - Puerto Arista area, Chiapas, Mexico

El Aguacero - Cañón Río La Venta, Chiapas, Mexico

Snowy Egret, Wood Stork and Great Egret - Puerto Arista area, Chiapas, Mexico

Longwing Crescent (Eresia phillyra) - Armando Zebadua area, Chiapas, Mexico

Dryad Snake (Mastigodryas melanolomus) - Armando Zebadua area, Chiapas, Mexico

Cañon del Sumidero, Chiapas, Mexico

Smicropus laeta - Cañon del Sumidero, Chiapas, Mexico

Belted Flycatcher - Cañon del Sumidero, Chiapas, Mexico

Blue-throated Motmot - San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico

Whiskered Screech-Owl - San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico

Bearded Screech-Owl - San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico

Aplomado Falcon - Pantano de Santa Alejandrina, Veracruz, Mexico

Gray-crowned Yellowthroat - Pantano de Santa Alejandrina, Veracruz, Mexico

Tree Swallows - Reserva de los Biosfera Los Tuxtlas, Veracruz, Mexico

Black-headed Nightingale-Thrush - Reserva de los Biosfera Los Tuxtlas, Veracruz, Mexico

Reserva de los Biosfera Los Tuxtlas, Veracruz, Mexico

Gray Hawk - Amatlán de Los Reyes, Veracruz, Mexico

Snowy Plover - Playa Juan Angel, Veracruz, Mexico

Willet - Playa Juan Angel, Veracruz, Mexico

Sanderling - Playa Juan Angel, Veracruz, Mexico

Common Yellowthroat - Camino Cruz Blanca, Las Minas, Veracruz, Mexico

Camino Los Humeros, Perote, Veracruz, Mexico

Camino Los Humeros, Perote, Veracruz, Mexico

Scott's Oriole - Camino Los Humeros, Perote, Veracruz, Mexico

Couch's Kingbird - Laguna de Miradores, Veracruz, Mexico

Botteri's Sparrow - Laguna de Miradores, Veracruz, Mexico

Pereute charops - Laguna de Miradores, Veracruz, Mexico

Gartered Trogon - Chavarrillo, Veracruz, Mexico

Rose-throated Tanager - Xocén area, Valladolid, Yucatán, Mexico

Biblis aganisa - Xocén area, Valladolid, Yucatán, Mexico

Gray-throated Chat - Xocén area, Valladolid, Yucatán, Mexico

Bed-throated Ant-Tanager - Xocén area, Valladolid, Yucatán, Mexico

Pale Catfish (Rhamdia guatemalensis) - Cenote Sac-Aua, Yucatán, Mexico

Cenote Sac-Aua, Yucatán, Mexico

Mexican Sheartail - Río Lagartos, Yucatán, Mexico

Least Bittern - Río Lagartos, Yucatán, Mexico

Black-crowned Night-Heron - Río Lagartos, Yucatán, Mexico

Yucatan Wren - Río Lagartos, Yucatán, Mexico

Stilt Sandpipers - Río Lagartos, Yucatán, Mexico

Turquoise-browed Motmot - Río Lagartos, Yucatán, Mexico

Mangrove Cuckoo - Celestún, Yucatán, Mexico

Reddish Egret - Celestún, Yucatán, Mexico

Tricolored Heron - Celestún, Yucatán, Mexico

Yucatan Gnatcatcher - Celestún, Yucatán, Mexico

Hooded Oriole - Celestún, Yucatán, Mexico

American Flamingos - Celestún, Yucatán, Mexico

American Flamingos - Celestún, Yucatán, Mexico

American Flamingos - Celestún, Yucatán, Mexico

Boat-billed Heron - Celestún, Yucatán, Mexico

American Pygmy Kingfisher - Celestún, Yucatán, Mexico

Syntomeida epilais - road to La Arena, Campeche, Mexico

Morelet's Crocodile (Crocodylus moreletii) - road to La Arena, Campeche, Mexico

Turquoise-browed Motmot - Zona Arqueológica Uxmal, Yucatán, Mexico

Black Vulture - Zona Arqueológica Uxmal, Yucatán, Mexico

Zona Arqueológica Uxmal, Yucatán, Mexico

Mayan Antthrush - Camino Vigia Chico, Quintana Roo, Mexico

Blue-spotted Comet Darner (Anax concolor) - Camino Vigia Chico, Quintana Roo, Mexico

Limpkin - Laguna Cobá, Quintana Roo, Mexico

Ruddy Crake - Laguna Cobá, Quintana Roo, Mexico

Spotted Rail - Laguna Cobá, Quintana Roo, Mexico

Cozumel Emerald - Isla Cozumel, Quintana Roo, Mexico

Cozumel Vireo - Isla Cozumel, Quintana Roo, Mexico

Collared Peccary - Isla Cozumel, Quintana Roo, Mexico

Ruddy Turnstone