MEXICO MARCH 2007 TOUR NEWS Leaders: Jeff Marks and Vaughan Ashby

Birdfinders San Blas, Mexico tour (arranged jointly with Montana Audubon) was an outstanding success with a full group seeing no less than 33 West Mexican endemics together with a number of other highly localised species. We started at the pretty coastal resort of San Poncho where Brown and Blue-footed Boobies gave unbelievable views as they dived after shoals of fish driven close inshore. Heermann's Gulls and Elegant Terns were other local specialities seen along with literally hundreds of the endemic Sinaloa Crows in the palm trees on the beach. Ferruginous Pygmy-owls 'tooted' from our hotel patio but it was in the nearby hills that the real excitement began with no less than 10 endemics: Mexican Parrotlet, Citreoline Trogon, Russet-crowned Motmot, Golden-cheeked Woodpecker, Rufous-backed Robin, Happy and Sinaloa Wrens, Golden Vireo, Black-throated Magpie-jay and Yellow-winged Cacique together with Collared Forest-falcon, Ivory-billed Woodcreeper and Nutting's Flycatcher seen on the first gentle days birding. During our nights here we dined at several atmospheric local restaurants and enjoyed rests in the heat of the day when birding activity was low. Over the next three days, we added several more endemics (Rufous-bellied Chachalaca, San Blas Jay and Orange-breasted Bunting) as well as a number of migrants.

Moving on to San Blas itself, we enjoyed a superb boat trip where Boat-billed Heron, Bare-throated Tiger-heron, Limpkin, White Ibis, Common Black-hawk, Laughing Falcon and many other waterbirds showed at point-blank range as well as huge American Crocodiles. As it got dusk, Northern Potoos gave us stunning views together with Lesser Nighthawks and Common Pauraques and then finally on the way home, Fishing Bats. During our time here, we also ventured into the hills where further endemics were added (Lilac-crowned Parrot, Golden-crowned Emerald, Grey-crowned Woodpecker, Blue Mockingbird and Grey Silky-flycatcher) as well as a number of other highly localised birds such as White-throated Flycatcher. The nearby shrimp ponds were a virtual magnet for herons and waders all of which gave outstanding views but the real surprise was finding a Southern Lapwing, a major rarity this far north.

Moving further north, we spent three nights on the Durango Highway in the foothills of the Sierra Madre where even on our first evening we found the endemic Rusty-crowned Ground-sparrow close to our hotel. Our two full days here were eagerly awaited and we were not disappointed as we enjoyed a truly magical first morning in the high altitude oak and pine forests seeing a further six endemics (Mountain Trogon, Tufted Jay, Golden-browed & Red Warblers, Red-headed Tanager and Rufous-capped Brush-finch). It was the sheer number of birds here however, that was memorable with outstanding and prolonged views of many of the species. In fact, it was so good that we didn't get our lunch until after 3.00 p.m! Even the lunch spot was a good one however, with Black-headed Siskin in the garden of the shop! Our second visit to the high altitude oak and pine forests wasn't quite so productive which made us realise how lucky we had been the day before. Nevertheless, we eventually managed to eventually all enjoy prolonged views of a Green-striped Brush-finch as well as many of the birds seen the day before such as the highly localised Arizona Woodpecker, Red-faced Warbler and Yellow-eyed Junco.

Before returning to San Blas, we spent a couple more hours in the mountains eventually getting good views of a Colima Pygmy-owl and Black-capped Vireo before dropping down to the lowlands. A new site for Fan-tailed Warbler was investigated and found to be productive before we set off for the long drive back to San Blas, only punctuated by a Pizza stop in a wonderful colonial town square and some point-blank views of White-naped Swifts. Back in San Blas we went on a second boat trip on which Snail Kites and Purplish-backed Jays were seen. Finally, we headed back to San Pancho for the last night.