Sites Visited and Highlights
(Note: we have not included extremely common or North American birds--such as the GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE, SOCIAL FLYCATCHER, BROWN PELICAN, etc.-- in this list. We also omitted migrant warblers for the most part.)
3/14/2007. In the morning we birded at Dr. Alfredo Barrera Marin Botanical Gardens near Puerto Morelos (number 1 on the map) where we saw , BUFF-BELLIED HUMMINGBIRD, LESSER GREENLET, TROPICAL MOCKINGBIRD, YUCATAN VIREO, NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH, NORTHERN PARULA, YELLOW WARBLER, MAGNOLIA WARBLER, WHITE-EYED VIREO, INDIGO BUNTING, PAINTED BUNTING, HOODED ORIOLE, BLACK-COWLED ORIOLE, and ALTAMIRA ORIOLE.
In the afternoon we visited the ruins at Tulum (number 2 on the map) and added our first YUCATAN WOODPECKER, YUCATAN PARROT, RIDGEWAY'S ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW, GREEN-BREASTED MANGO, YUCATAN FLYCATCHER, and YUCATAN JAY. That evening we drove to Cobá (number 3 on the map) .
3/15/2007. Cobá ruins and lake: Here we saw our first LIMPKIN, ANHINGA, LEAST GREBE, NEOTROPICAL CORMORANT, NORTHERN JACANA, FERRUGINOUS PYGMY-OWL, CINNAMON HUMMINGBIRD, WHITE-BELLIED EMERALD, YELLOW-THROATED EUPHONIA, BLACK-HEADED TROGON, VIOLACEOUS TROGON, TROPICAL PEWEE, BLACK-CROWNED TITYRA, BARRED ANTSHRIKE, GRAYISH SALTATOR, BROWN JAY, MANGROVE SWALLOW, CLAY-COLORED ROBIN, NORTHERN PARULA, YELLOW WARBLER, MAGNOLIA WARBLER, YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER, PROTHONOTARY WARBLER, MELODIOUS BLACKBIRD, BRONZED COWBIRD, YELLOW-BELLIED ELAENIA.
Other birds that we had seen previously included OLIVE-THROATED PARAKEET, YUCATAN JAY.
In the afternoon we drove to Punta Laguna (number 4 on the map) where we added the YELLOW-LORED (YUCATAN) PARROT, LINEATED WOODPECKER, IVORY-BILLED WOODCREEPER, BARRED ANTSHRIKE, SPOT-BREASTED WREN, TURQUOISE-BROWED MOTMOTS and GREEN-BACKED SPARROW.
Other birds: YUCATAN FLYCATCHER.
3/16/2007. Cobá ruins and lake briefly: New birds: SPOTTED RAIL, RUDDY CRAKES (h), YUCATAN POORWILL (h), SWALLOW-TAILED KITE, MANGROVE VIREO, EYE-RINGED FLATBILL, OLIVACEOUS WOODCREEPER, MASKED TITYRA, white-collared seedeater, PROTHONOTARY WARBLER, RED-CROWNED ANT-TANAGER, SLATE-HEADED TODY FLYCATCHER, SUMMER TANAGER, ROSE-THROATED TANAGER.
Other birds: LEAST GREBE, ANHINGA, LIMPKIN, NORTHERN JACANA, CINNAMON HUMMINGBIRD, BLACK-HEADED TROGON, VIOLACEOUS TROGON, TURQUOISE-BROWED MOTMOT, YUCATAN JAY, ORCHARD ORIOLE.
In the afternoon we explored the Vigia Chico Road from Felipe Carillo Puerto (number 5 on the map) : New birds: RED-BILLED PIGEON, LADDER-BACKED WOODPECKER.
Previously seen birds included: OLIVE-THROATED PARAKEET, YELLOW-LORED (YUCATAN) PARROT, YUCATAN WOODPECKER, YUCATAN FLYCATCHER, YELLOW-THROATED EUPHONIA.
3/17/2007. Vigia Chico Road. New birds: plain chachalaca, hook-billed kite, WHITE-TIPPED DOVE, squirrel cuckoo, GROoVE-BILLED ANI, KEEL-BILLED TOUCAN, plain xenops, tawny-winged woodcreeper, NORTHERN BEARDLESS TYRANNULET, GREENISH ELAENIA, STUB-TAILED SPADEBILL (H), warbling vireo, gray catbird, gray-throated chat, carolina wren, tropical gnatcatcher, olive sparrow, black-headed saltator, rose-breasted grosbeak, blue bunting.
Previously seen birds included: olive-throated parakeet, RED-BILLED PIGEON, YELLOW-LORED (YUCATAN) PARROT, YUCATAN WOODPECKER, barred antshrike, Yucatan flycatcher, black-crowned tityra, mangrove vireo, yucatan vireo, yucatan jay, YELLOW-THROATED EUPHONIA.
3/18/2007. Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve (number 6 on the map) --with Alberto Cen as our guide. New birds: THICKET TINAMOU, OCELLATED TURKEY, ROADSIDE and WHITE-TAILED HAWKS, COMMON PAURAQUE, CANIVET'S EMERALD, YELLOW-OLIVE FLYCATCHER, LEAST FLYCATCHER, RUFOUS-BROWED PEPPERSHRIKE, BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER, LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH, PALM WARBLER, HOODED WARBLER, GRAY-HEADED TANAGER, YELLOW-WINGED TANAGER, RED-LEGGED HONEYCREEPER, YELLOW-FACED GRASSQUIT, ORANGE ORIOLE.
Also: PLAIN CHACHALACA, SQUIRREL CUCKOO, BUFF-BELLIED HUMMINGBIRD, NORTHERN BEARDLESS TYRANNULET, GREENISH ELAENIA, STUB-TAILED SPADEBILL (h), mangrove vireo, lesser greenlet, spot-breasted wren, tropical gnatcatcher, gray catbird, RED-CROWNED ANT-TANAGER, SUMMER TANAGER, WHITE-COLLARED SEEDEATER, GREEN-BACKED SPARROW, GRAYISH SALTATOR, BLACK-HEADED SALTATOR, BLACK-COWLED ORIOLE, ALTAMIRA ORIOLE, YELLOW-THROATED EUPHONIA.
3/19/2007. In the morning we drove to Aktun Chen (by Tulum, number 7 on the map) . In the reserve we encountered a pair of GREAT CURASSOWS--MALE and FEMALE.
Also: BUFF-BELLIED HUMMINGBIRD, BLACK-HEADED TROGON, VIOLACEOUS TROGON, TURQUOISE-BROWED MOTMOT, LINEATED WOODPECKER, GREENISH ELAENIA, EYE-RINGED FLATBILL, MASKED TITYRA, MANGROVE SWALLOW, CLAY-COLORED ROBIN.
In the afternoon we drove north to the coast at Rio Lagartos (number 8 on the map) . New birds of interest: MAGNIFICENT FRIGATEBIRD, TRICOLORED HERON, REDDISH EGRET, CATTLE EGRET, YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON, WHITE IBIS, ROSEATE SPOONBILL, COMMON BLACK HAWK, PIPING PLOVER, BLACK SKIMMER, and EASTERN MEADOWLARK.
Also: NEOTROPICAL CORMORANT
3/20/2007. Rio Lagartos. New birds this day included: LITTLE BLUE HERON, WOOD STORK, CRANE HAWK, CRESTED CARACARA, LESSER ROADRUNNER, SMOOTH-BILLED ANI, GROVE-BILLED ANI, TREE SWALLOW, HOUSE WREN, and GRAY-CROWNED YELLOWTHROAT.
Previously seen included: NORTHERN JACANA, OLIVE-THROATED PARAKEET, MANGROVE VIREO, TROPICAL MOCKINGBIRD, WHITE-COLLARED SEEDEATER, YELLOW-FACED GRASSQUIT, ORANGE ORIOLE.
In the afternoon we drove (via a stop in Merida) to Celestun (number 9 on the map).
3/21/2007. Celestun. BARE-THROATED TIGER HERON, BOAT-BILLED HERON, LESSER YELLOW-HEADED VULTURE, GREATER FLAMINGO, RUFOUS-NECKED WOODRAIL, MEXICAN SHEARTAIL, PYGMY KINGFISHER, GREEN KINGFISHER, GREEN JAY, YUCATAN WREN, and WHITE-LORED GNATCATCHER.
Also: MAGNIFICENT FRIGATEBIRD, TRICOLORED HERON, REDDISH EGRET, CATTLE EGRET, WHITE IBIS, NORTHERN JACANA, CANIVET'S EMERALD, TURQUOISE-BROWED MOTMOT, IVORY-BILLED WOODCREEPER, LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH, ORANGE ORIOLE.
3/22/207. Celestun. Yucatan (BLACK-THROATED) BOBWHITE, LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, and WEDGE-TAIL SABREWING.
Previously seen birds included: PLAIN CHACHALACA, MAGNIFICENT FRIGATEBIRD, CATTLE EGRET, WHITE IBIS, LESSER YELLOW-HEADED VULTURE, RUFOUS-NECKED WOOD-RAIL, NORTHERN JACANA, OLIVE-THROATED PARKEET, TURQUOISE-BROWED MOTMOT, PYGMY KINGFISHER, IVORY-BILLED WOODCREEPER, MANGROVE VIREO, YUCATAN WREN, WHITE-LORED GNATCATCHER, BRONZED COWBIRD.
In the afternoon we drove south of Uxmal to Santa Elena (number 10 on the map), where we birded at our lodging--Flycatcher Inn. Here we added: WHITE-BELLIED WREN and BLUE BUNTING. Nearby we heard a YUCATAN NIGHTJAR
Also: CANIVET'S EMERALD, YUCATAN WOODPECKER, GREEN JAY, YUCATAN JAY, OLIVE SPARROW, BLUE BUNTING.
3/23/2007. Uxmal area. First we birded part of the Puuc Circle (Sayil, Labna, Kabah) (number 10 on the map). New birds: CAVE SWALLOW, BRIGHT-RUMPED ATTILA, DUSKY-CAPPED FLYCATCHER, BROWN-CRESTED FLYCATCHER, BOAT-BILLED FLYCATCHER, ROSE-THROATED BECARD, YELLOW-OLIVE FLYCATCHER, YELLOW-THROATED VIREO.
Previously seen birds included: YUCATAN POORWILL (h), ROADSIDE HAWK, CANIVET'S EMERALD, OLIVACEOUS WOODCREEPER, IVORY-BILLED WOODCREEPER, MASKED TITYRA, BLACK-CROWNED TITYRA, RUFOUS-BROWED PEPPERSHRIKE, GREEN JAY, RIDGEWAY'S ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW, CLAY-COLORED ROBIN, ROSE-THROATED TANAGER, ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK, ORANGE ORIOLE, ALTAMIRA ORIOLE.
3/24/2007. Uxmal and surrounding areas (number 11 on the map): SINGING QUAIL, GREY-NECKED WOODRAIL, YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER, EASTERN KINGBIRD, YELLOW-BACKED ORIOLE.
Also: ROADSIDE HAWK, LESSER ROADRUNNER, GROOVE-BILLED ANI, TURQUOISE-BROWED MOTMOT, DUSKY-CAPPED FLYCATCHER, BROWN-CRESTED FLYCATCHER, ROSE-THROATED BECARD, MASKED TITYRA, YUCATAN JAY, CAVE SWALLOW, CLAY-COLORED ROBIN, ORANGE ORIOLE, ALTAMIRA ORIOLE.
In the afternoon we made the long drive across the peninsula to Playa del Carmen, stopping briefly at Chichen Itza (number 12 on the map). Here we saw very few birds because of the crowds and time of day.
We did see: BLACK-HEADED SALTATOR, INDIGO BUNTING, YELLOW-THROATED EUPHONIA.
3/25/2007. In Playa del Carmen, while waiting for the ferry, we saw RUDDY TURNSTONES.
In Cozumel ((number 13 on the map) in the El Presidente grid (see Howell) we added: COMMON NIGHTHAWK, COZUMEL VIREO, BLACK CATBIRD, YELLOW (GOLDEN) WARBLER, BANANAQUIT.
Also: MAGNIFICENT FRIGATEBIRD, CATTLE EGRET, WHITE IBIS, YUCATAN FLYCATCHER, RUFOUS-BROWED PEPPERSHRIKE, YELLOW-FACED GRASSQUIT
3/26/2007 Cozumel. We drove the northern and central parts of the island where we added: COMMON NIGHTHAWK, COZUMEL EMERALD, CARIBBEAN ELAENIA, GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER, and BALTIMORE ORIOLE.
In the afternoon drove south and then we went back to the El Presidente grid. New birds: SOLITARY SANDPIPER, WHITE-CROWNED PIGEON, CARIBBEAN DOVE, MANGROVE CUCKOO, , and WESTERN SPINDALIS.
Also previously seen birds: WHITE IBIS, ROSEATE SPOONBILL, NORTHERN JACANA, WEDGE-TAILED SABREWING, GREEN-BREASTED MANGO, YUCATAN WOODPECKER, COZUMEL VIREO, YUCATAN VIREO, RUFOUS-BROWED PEPPERSHRIKE, BLACK CATBIRD, YELLOW-FACED GRASSQUIT.
3/27/2007 Cozumel. We birded a bit more in Cozumel before catching the ferry back to the mainland: EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE.
Also: WHITE-CROWNED PIGEON, CARIBBEAN DOVE, COZUMEL EMERALD, YUCATAN WOODPECKER, COZUMEL VIREO, YUCATAN VIREO, RUFOUS-BROWED PEPPERSHRIKE, BLACK CATBIRD, BANANAQUIT, WESTERN SPINDALIS YELLOW-FACED GRASSQUIT.
In the afternoon we returned to Puerto Morelos (number 1 on the map): SANDERLING and SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER.
Also: MAGNIFICENT FRIGATEBIRD, WHITE IBIS, ROADSIDE HAWK.
3/28/2007. Puerto Morelos. We birded in the Dr. Alfredo Barrera Marin Botanical Gardens in the morning: WHITE-FRONTED PARROT.
Also: DUSKY-CAPPED FLYCATCHER, MASKED TITYRA, BROWN JAY, BLACK-COWLED ORIOLE, ORANGE ORIOLE.
In the afternoon, the Goldfranks birded the road across from the entrance to the Botanical Gardens, the Central Vallarta road , which turned out to be under heavy construction. They decided to try again early the next morning before the trucks started. On the way back to the hotel, they saw a RUDDY CRAKE in the swampy area in front of the El Cid hotel.
3/29/2007. Our plane leaves today, but the intrepid Goldfranks repeated their trip with local guide from the Gardens, exploring the same road (which they highly recommend). They found one of our last target birds, RUDDY WOODCREEPER, and two others that were new for the trip: LAUGHING FALCON, BLUE GROUND-DOVE (h) .
Also along the road: Plain Chachalaca, Red-Billed Pigeon, White-fronted Parrot, Squirrel Cuckoo, Groove-billed Ani, Wedge-tailed Sabrewing, White-bellied Emerald, both Motmots, Yucatan Woodpecker, Lineated Woodpecker, Ivory-billed Woodcreeper, Barred Antshrike, Eye-ringed Flatbill, Least flycatcher, Yucatan flycatcher, Black- crowned Tityra, Purple Martin, Spot-breasted Wren, Carolina Wren, White-bellied Wren, Tropical Gnatcatcher, Red-throated Ant-tanager, Rose-throated Tanager,Red-legged Honey-creeper, Blue Bunting, Scrub Euphonia.