A Return to the Gardens
Golden-crowned Emerald-finally! Lifer achieved After my Cape Verde excursion, I had another birding trek planned to Western Mexico. This was a true birding trip and a great way for me to compare my style of birding to the typical style of birding many utilize to find their birds. I needed to pick up a few birds that I missed during my first visit to Puerto Vallarta. However, we added San Blas as well to the trip for a greater understanding of West Mexican birds with friend and guide Mark Stackhouse. With a lot of aches and pains, we accomplished our mission. But we started out in a comfortable area first to get acclimated to the temps....the Vallarta Botanical Gardens. I went with my friend Jon who had never birded the area. So he had lifers left and right on this trip. Unfortunately, my usual travel companion, and mutual friend, Gordon couldn't go due to health concerns and he needed to stay alive. As he likes to say, "Gettin
