Another work trip this time to Mexico city, installing art works for the artist Richard Long at a private home and horse stables designed by Mexican architect Luis Barragan.
My first time in Central America and as is the case with these trips I try to make the most of relatively urban birding outside of work hours with the exception of one entire morning just outside the city. The things I was hoping to see were mostly common, all it took was to track down a warbler flock or find the right kind of scrubby habitat and there were no disappointments although id like to spend more time in a wilder environment when/if I return one day and also spend some time at a wetland type habitat as I saw no waders, not a huge surprise at 2,500m above sea level!
I counted 14 species of warbler, 9 of which were new birds for me and I believe I could have seen another 2/3 new species with more time. Below are the birds I photographed, beginning with the more common wintering north American Birds and later the Mexican specialties!
Townsend’s Warblers
Audabon’s Warbler
Wilson’s Warbler
Black Throated Gray Warbler
Hermit Warblers
Macgillivray’s Warblers
Olive Warbler
Rufous-Capped Warblers
Cresent-Chested Warbler
Red Warbler
Slate-Throated Redstart
Nashville and Orange–Crowned warblers remained un photographed on this trip despite being very common, I also saw Hooded Yellowthroat which was new to me.
In the group I loosely think about as ‘other cool things that I’d like to see’ this includes Vireos, Tanagers, Humming birds and sparrows I saw a few new species of each thing like; Bullock’s and Black headed Oriels, Cassin’s and Hutton’s Vireos, Rufous Crowned sparrow and despite there being over 100 species of Humming bird in my Mexican bird guide I saw only three; Berrylline, Broad–billed and White Eared.
Berylline Hummingbird
Broad-Billed Hummingbirds
One of the unexpected ‘favourite’ birds of the trip for me were Canyon Wrens. These along with Bewicks Wrens broke up the sometimes deserted scrubland nicely with excellent song and characterful posing.
Canyon Wren
Another stand out bird was the Vermillion Flycather I probably saw half a dozen of each males and females, the males looking incredible in flight but the peachy tones of the females stole the show slightly for me.
Vermillion Flycatchers
As is the case with many of these work trip posts Im focusing on my targets and the birds that showed well and because I don’t make trip lists of use ebird I’m omiting lots of stuff that I did see and enjoy for example a few flocks of Vaux’s swifts, small mixed flocks of Black–headed and Rose–breasted Grosbeaks, a Hook-billed kite, Hammonds, Least, Cordilleran Flycatchers + Western Wood and Greater Peewees but i’ll end this post with a random selection of photographs.
Song Sparrow
Lincoln’s Sparrow
Blue Grosbeak
American Robin
Belted Kingfisher
Green Heron
PERDIX BIRDER 