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Two months in the past, I wrote about seeing certainly one of Mexico’s actually particular endemic birds: the Aztec Thrush. This fowl magnificence is kind of refined. However it’s uncommon, well-camouflaged, not site-loyal, and virtually all the time silent. It will probably solely be discovered, as of this writing, in 594 eBird lists, which might place it excessive on most birders’ want checklist. I reside throughout the coronary heart of its somewhat restricted vary, however till this 12 months, had solely seen this species thrice. I prompt that any of our readers who go to Morelia NOT ask me to indicate them Aztec Thrushes, as I had no concept the best way to produce additional sightings on demand.
As I discussed in that early February publish, I had simply gone to a forest that was severely burnt the earlier spring. I knew I’d see a lot of Grey Silky-Flycatchers there, as they love burnt-over forests. What I didn’t count on was an equal improve within the prevalence of American Robins. And that these Robins can be accompanied by a pair of Aztec Thrushes, which gave me some stunning images.
So this week, I went again to the identical burnt forest, to see whether or not I may need lastly discovered a habitat that would encourage these Aztec Thrushes to quiet down for some time.
One change had occurred since my first go to. Two months additional away from our “wet” season (which wasn’t very wet in any respect, this 12 months), the burnt space’s big bloom of Salvias had ended, and many of the super-abundant hummingbirds seen in that first go to had moved on. However the Robins and Silky-Flycatchers actually hadn’t. I couldn’t probably have counted them precisely as they wheeled overhead, however I actually noticed many dozens of every.
The Silky-Flycatchers have been extra colourful than I had ever seen. Contemplating the month, I think it’s a intercourse factor.
However have been there any Aztec Thrushes? Effectively, I can’t supply any nice images. However the numbers communicate for themselves. Right here is Aztec Thrush #1:
#2:
#3:
And #4:
If you wish to see good images of Aztec Thrushes, you may see a number of in my February publish.
These birds have been all seen fairly removed from each other. So I can say with some confidence that if I hadn’t seen all of them, I would definitely have seen some. The truth is, I don’t doubt that I missed a number of.
So, it seems that possibly you CAN ask for an Aztec. All you want is a big swath of critically burnt forest. Sadly.
The forest, by the best way, is already displaying many indicators of recent life. The pines’ survival technique appears to be to die within the hearth, after which have an astonishing crop of recent seedlings the next 12 months. Different bushes, particularly oaks, survive by sprouting from their burnt trunks, or within the worst state of affairs, from the roots. I’ll ensure that to observe this forest’s restoration over the following few years.
I had gone to this web site particularly on the lookout for my fifth encounter with Aztec Thrushes. However I actually didn’t count on to additionally see a small flock of Cedar Waxwings, an advanced species right here in Mexico. I noticed them as soon as within the spring of 2018, fifteen instances within the irruption spring of 2021, and final spring gave me one other three sightings. However this was my very first sighting this spring. Maybe Waxwings are one other fire-loving species?
I’ll end with a pair of Black-headed Grosbeaks, female and male. Not one of the best images, however actually beautiful birds.
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