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Final week, David Tomlinson wrote concerning the pleasure of that first birding outing for the 12 months, when each hen is new once more. One all the time desires to see as many species as potential in a single day, whether or not on an ocean island with few species, or in Suffolk, England. It was on this latter area that he experiences seeing 60 species on his first outing of this 12 months.
However what number of species can one see over a number of hours within the highlands of central Mexico? It received’t shock you that our totals are greater. Again when birding was nonetheless a solitary exercise for me, my information present that my first outings yielded 75-85 species. These days, I’m a bit extra skilled now, and nearly all the time accompanied by a number of biologist mates. Which results in totals at or simply above 100 species.
A 7-hour outing final 12 months, alongside the shores of Lake Cuitzeo, gave my one biologist companion and I precisely 100 hen species. This 12 months, nevertheless, Lake Cuitzeo is only a dry lakebed, not engaging in any respect for many birds. So three biologist companions and I headed to the world across the city of Las Mesas, with its reservoir surrounded by thorn forest, adopted by pine/oak forest with meadows, and eventually, mature pine forest. It was a sensible selection, leading to a one-day whole of 104 species for the 4 of us.
After all, for even the most important listers amongst us, it’s not simply the variety of species, but in addition their magnificence and character. Amongst our highlights had been 5 doves species, a full 9 hummingbirds, 6 herons/egrets, 3 hawks and a couple of falcons, 4 woodpeckers, all of 12 Tyrant Flycatchers, 3 vireos, 6 New World Sparrows, 4 New World Orioles in numerous shades of orange, 16 New World Warblers, 2 tanagers, and 6 grosbeaks and buntings. A Belted Kingfisher placed on a present by the reservoir, as did the Frequent Ravens flying overhead. Blue Mockingbirds, Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrushes, and Brown-backed Solitaires serenedad us with their persistent songs. You possibly can spherical out the checklist with 1 duck, 2 grebes, American Coot, Killdeer and Noticed Sandpiper, 2 vultures, 2 swallows, Bushtits, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, and Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, 2 wrens, 1 thrasher, Grey Silky-Flycatchers, Olive Warblers (which aren’t actually warblers), 2 finches, and Brown-headed Cowbirds. And I hope I didn’t go away anybody out. Birds being simply offended, and all that.
I ought to point out, in passing, that this variety of species can be significantly bigger in Mexico’s tropics. It will even be a lot bigger if one did a real dawn-to-dusk (and a bit extra on every finish) Large Day.
As for the day we had, it was not a banner day for photographs, for me. That’s as a result of I managed to knock my ISO (lighting) marker from Automated to 100 ISO, and for some motive didn’t try any photographs as I took them. So I made a beautiful assortment of completely black photographs through the center a part of the day. However the birds did their half; this was all on me. Listed here are a number of good photographs of these early — and late — birds:
Each time I’m going to the Las Mesas reservoir, I hope for and anticipate some good photographs of the attractive Black-chinned Sparrow.
Male Indigo Buntings look slightly blotchy within the winter. However nonetheless lovely.
For some motive, I’m much more keen on the Lazuli Bunting.
We additionally noticed a male Painted Bunting, however didn’t handle photographs.
New World Tanagers haven’t any downside competing with our Buntings.
Too many branches, however hey, it’s a Pink-faced Warbler!
We spent loads of time with this feminine Bushy Woodpecker, a lifer for one in every of my mates.
Then we observed a male Bushy Woodpecker close by.
Our greatest hummingbird for the day was a male Ruby-throated Hummingbird, as males not often winter within the highlands, and the females of that migratory species are basically an identical to these of their closest relative, which additionally winters right here. However this resident Broad-tailed Hummingbird was the one which gave me good photographs.
There have been a lot of Hammond’s Flycatchers round… together with 11 different members of the Tyrant Flycatcher household.
After all, you go birding, and also you see different lovely issues. Imagine it or not, these two butterflies are from the identical species.
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