More Trips to Tacambaro

Visiting birders prompted more trips to the Tacambaro area where we were treated again to the "tierra caliente" climate. We welcomed the temperature change, even if this called for peeling off layers throughout the day. Joining me on these two trips were: Hal and Joanne Cohen, Diana Freidmann, Ramiro Sierra, Wayne and Susan Colony and Liz Lauer.

Wayne and Liz photographing butterflies

Two motmots were seen above and to the left of Wayne


Oh so many ferns at the balneario!

Walking the road at the balneario always produces a surprise or two

Susan is showing Liz that the Chachalaca just seen was a new species for her. Lifer!

Here are the birds seen/heard at Rio Corucha and the balneario Arroyo Frio

(not in taxonomic order):

Blue-black grassquit

Inca dove

Mourning dove

House finch

Barn swallow

Squirrel cuckoo

Golden-cheeked woodpecker

Greater pewee

White-collared seedeater

Greater roadrunner

Lesser roadrunner

Black phoebe

Vermillion flycatcher

Turkey vulture

Black vulture

Red-tailed hawk

Broad-billed hummingbird

Violet-crowned hummingbird

Rusty-crowned motmot

Great-tailed grackle

Rock dove

Red-throated becard

Grey-crowned yellowthroat

Collared towhee

Rufous-crowned sparrow

Rusty sparrow

Stripe-headed sparrow

Pileated flycatcher

Blue bunting

Lesser goldfinch

West Mexican chachalaca

Gray silky-flycatcher

Green kingfisher

Hooded siskin

Common yellowthroat (h)

Great kiskadee

Black-chested sparrow

Canyon wren

Groove-billed ani

Mystery birds:

-Dove or pigeon (it blew by me too fast for a good look - not Inca or Mourning)

-Small black and white colored bird (possible Black-and-white warbler)
-Sound heard in deep brush (we all referred to this bird as the turkey sounding bird)

-Probable Fan-tailed warbler (quick look at a bird with yellow belly, dark gray back, and tail with white spots on edge)

-Swifts likely Black or White-chinned swifts (not White-napped due to smaller size). Recordings haven't helped us confirm the species.

-Probable Rufous-capped warbler

Birds seen on the way to/from Tacambaro:

House sparrow

Curve-billed thrasher

Bronze cowbird

Common raven

Rest assured: we also look at dragon and damsel flies. Susan spotted one floating in the pool so she scooped it out of the water. We're still waiting for experts to identify it. I'll be posting more information about the odonata in the area...stay tuned