VISITED SITES

Below is a list of the sites we birded. A lot of information can be found in the excellent Where to Watch Birds in Mexico by Howell and Webb to which will be referred regularly.

Valle Nacional

The winding road between Tuxtepec and Oaxaca leads through several habitats (cutover rain forest patches, montane forest, cloud forest, humid pine-oak forest, ...) and offers a variety of Atlantic Slope birds as well as some lowland species. Most birding was done along the main road. Several side tracks were birded as well and were most rewarding, being around km 51, km 58, km 76 and km 103. We encountered some problems with the local (self declared?) officials as they stated we needed to a permit to enter those side tracks, footpaths included! To avoid problems it might be wise to pay your contribution when asked for...

Highlights: Sumichrats' Wren (1 bird taped in and seen skulking through the dense undergrowth and rocks in the lower part), Gray-barred Wren (regularly heard and seen - noisy!), Red Warbler, Mountain Trogon, Bumblebee Hummingbird (often heard and regular seen, Mexican Antthrush), Rufous-breasted Spinetail (the only one for the trip near the "Camelia Roja site" described in Howell's site guide under 11.8), Garnet-throated Hummingbird. As we were chased away along one of the tracks we didn't find any Long-tailed Wood-Partridges.

Cerro San Felipe (La Cumbre)

CSF is situated along the Route 175 about 8km from Oaxaca to Tuxtepec. In the small village of La Cumbre there are dirt tracks closed by a chain on both sides of the road. A small entrance fee for the whole day was paid at the guard’s house. We only birded the northwestern site by car with regular stops between km 0-11.

Highlights: Dwarf Jay (7 birds seen in total often in a mixed group with the noisy Gray-barred Wrens near km 3-4), Gray-barred Wren, Russet Nightingale-Thrush (2 birds), Slaty Vireo (only 1 skulky bird), Red Warbler and a flock of Rufous-capped Brush-Finches and Collared Towhees, (Mexican) Whip-poor-will (2 seen and more heard), House (Brown-throated) Wren (2 birds). We couldn’t find Aztec Thrush here but it might have been too early in the season.

Teotitlan del Valle

About 45 minutes out of Oaxaca this is an easy to access area of arid temperate scrub. The village is signposted as it is well known for its weavings. Most birding was done in the scrub-filled valley along the bend at km 2.2 and the following bends as described in Howell's site-guide. Driving up the road with regular stops between km 3-8 added some more species. No sign of an Ocellated Thrasher.

Highlights: Dusky Hummingbird (easily seen), Gray-breasted Woodpecker (at least 4 birds seen, mostly perching high up the cacti), Pileated Flycatcher (1 bird seen well near km 3-4 and picked up by its diagnostic call), Boucard's Wren (4 birds responded noisily to playback near km 5-6 ), Dwarf Vireo (it took us a lot of searching for ending up with only 1 bird near the bend at km 2,2- fortunately it was cooperative), White-throated Towhee, Bridled Sparrow (several birds - responded well to pishing), Oaxaca Sparrow (at least 2 very confiding birds positively identified, probably more seen...).

Monte Alban

In the vicinity of Oaxaca a lot of good birds can be seen around the famous ruins of Monte Alban. We were lucky to find the gate opened much earlier than the official opening hour of 9:00. Most birding was done on the numerous footpaths near Tomb 107 described in Howell’s site-guide. An early morning visit seems most rewarding especially for the Thrasher. Near the tombs south of the parking lot an ECO-path (look for the signs) starts and can be followed for several (?) kms. We didn't visit he ruins as from 9:00 they were really crowded and there are no particular birds to see.

Highlights: Ocellated Thrasher (1 responded to playback by singing high up from a tree top - cool bird!), Dusky Hummingbird, Pileated Flycatcher (1), White-throated Towhee (fairly common). We missed a Golden Vireo which was seen by another group along the latter trail.

Yagul

We only had a brief stopover here as we didn't find any Beautiful Hummingbirds on the previous sites. The cacti just before the entrance gate along the entrance road to the ruins form a known stake-out for these hummers.

Highlights: Beautiful Hummingbird (at least 3 birds seen fouraging on their preferred flowering cacti), Dusky Hummingbird, Gray-breasted Woodpecker (at least 3 birds on the same spot), White-throated Towhee.

Route 175 & La Soledad

This road goes from Oaxaca to Puerto Angel. La Soledad is situated around km 184 along the Route 175. We birded the trail 250m north of the small village of La Soledad as described in Howell's site guide. The first km along this track proved to be the best. Another side track was birded some 25 km north of La Soledad as described in the "La Soledad section" of Howell’s site guide.

Highlights: Long-tailed Wood-Partridge (1 bird flushed and 1 more heard along one of the side roads), Aztec Thrush (flocks of 3 and 5+ birds along a side road), Gray-crowned Woodpecker (1 bird taped in along the trail near La Soledad), Blue-capped Hummingbird (2 birds along the trail near La Soledad), Wagler's Toucanet (1 single near La Soledad and 2 noisy and showy birds at the other spot), Russet Nightingale-Thrush (singles seen on two days), Red Warbler, Rufous-capped Brush-Finch, Chestnut-sided Shrike-Babbler (a frustrating heard only). We dipped on White-throated Jay.

Puerto Angel & Playa Zipolite

A pelagic was organized on the spot the previous day with one of the small tourist boats. They all would like to take you out for snorkeling or fishing but you can explain them you want to do bird watching only. Make sure to go far enough (at least 12 nautical miles) to have a chance for Nazca Booby. We also birded the thorn forest near the far west side of the village of Zipolite. Bird activity drops quickly as temperatures rise. Just offshore there is a big rock with a breeding colony of Boobies and the Tropicbirds hang around there as well.

Highlights: Townsend's Shearwater (only 1 bird identified), Pink-footed Shearwater (1500+, but classified as Vulnerable by Birdlife), , Black and Least Storm-Petrel, West Mexican Chachalaca (2 birds near Zipolite), Citreoline Trogon (1, Maarten's # 3000 species), Golden-cheeked Woodpecker (at least 5 birds encountered, the first one already seen from at our hotel), Happy Wren (2 birds taped in in the bushes near Zipolite), Orange-breasted Bunting (not uncommon), Fuerte's Oriole (2 birds), Broad-billed (Doubleday's) Hummingbird (near Zipolite). We also had a Masked or Nazca Booby far out in the ocean but unfortunately weren't able to see its bill color and hence stays unidentifiable...

Tehuantepec

Along the Route 190 from Tehuantepec to Oaxaca we birded the thorn forest at km 7-9 (see Howell's site guide). We also made a stop along Route 200 between Puerto Angel and Tehuantepec at a spot with some suitable habitat.

Highlights: Cinnamon-tailed Sparrow (1 bird seen in the bushes on a stop along Route 200), Rose-breasted Chat (a female at the same spot), Orange-breasted Bunting, Lesser Ground-Cuckoo (a few heard and 2 taped in and seen very well), Broad-billed (Doubleday's) Hummingbird.

Puerto Arista

Just north of the coastal village of Puerto Arista the coastal lagoons, weedy pastures, orchards and thickets offer good birding. We birded several dirt roads (see Webb's site guide) along the main road until we found most of our target species.

Highlights: Giant Wren (not uncommon), Fuerte's Oriole (2 birds picked out a flock of other orioles in a fruiting tree), White-bellied Chachalaca (2 birds), Boat-billed Heron (seen on the grounds of camping José in Puerto Arista), Pacific Screech-Owl (found on its daytime roost).

Tapanatepec

The foothills north of the city of Tapanatepec feature some roadside brush which holds both buntings. We birded between km 10-15 along the Route 190 between Tapanatepec and Tuxtla. A stop at a small valley between km 20-21 was made as well.

Highlights: West Mexican Chachalaca (a few seen but more heard), Green-fronted Hummingbird (1 cooperative bird), Citreoline Trogon (2 birds), Rose-bellied Bunting (not uncommon), Orange-breasted Bunting (several), Broad-billed (Doubleday's) Hummingbird, Long-tailed Manakin (1 female km 20-21).

Ocosingo Road (San Cristobal)

Route 199 starts at the junction a few km SE of Tuxtla and leads to Ocosingo. We birded the forest along this road between km 2-4. Recently some problems have risen with locals (demanding money), mostly around km 2. To avoid this it might be better to park and start birding at km 4 as it holds the same habitat and birds.

Highlights: Golden-cheeked Warbler (single birds along the Ocosingo Road near km 4 and 21), Pink-headed Warbler (5 birds seen in two days around km 4), Black-throated Jay (near km 4), Rufous-collared Robin (good numbers daily near km 4), Rufous-browed Wren (2 showy birds), Garnet-throated Hummingbird.

El Sumidero Canyon

Obviously visible from the city of Tuxtla Guitierrez this is an easily reachable birding site with many good birds. There is a trail starting in the bend near km 11 which leads through some good bamboo patches. Near the mirador El Roblar at km 18 there is an educational trail through some moistier forest, which can add some interesting species. There was not too much to see near the cafe and final mirador at the end of the road.

Highlights: Flammulated Flycatcher (1 bird near km11), Red-breasted Chat (a nice male taped in in the bamboo near km 11), Belted Flycatcher (near km 17), Bar-winged Oriole (only 1 in a large oriole flock), Blue Seedeater (bamboo near km 11), Buff-collared Nightjar (2 birds flushed at day near km 11) . We had no Greater Swallow-tailed Swifts but it might have been too early in the season.

Route 187

This road goes from Tuxtla Guitierez to Paraiso. We birded some remnant forest patches along one of the side roads.

Highlights: Nava's Wren (1 bird taped in and seen extremely well!), Long-tailed Sabrewing (2 birds showed well), White-bellied Wren (2 birds), Stripe-tailed Hummingbird.

El Triunfo

This site in the Sierra Madre de Chiapas is famous for the enigmatic Horned Guan, but some other goodies occur there as well. We had our 6 day trip organized by the Programa de Ecoturismo (see below). All logistics were arranged, including the public busses, taxis, horses and porters, basic sleeping accommodation, food, a non-specialized guide (student), etc. It was a true highlight of the trip! We were based in the research center from where we started all our day trips. As we were limited in time we didn't go for a 2 day trip to Paval to have a chance for the Prevost's Ground-Sparrow (which is gettable elsewhere). We birded along most of the trails: Finca Prusia, Palo Gordo, Canada Honda (=Costa) and some shorter ones.