Birding San Blas
I had forgotten to write several posts on one of my last major bird outings before I took a break. It's actually nice to revisit the experiences after a timeout. Today we visit the beautiful San Blas region on the Pacific edge of western Mexico.
We had planned this trek for over a year. It was right after my work in Cape Verde. And we had an opportunity to catch up with Mark Stackhouse who took us around the birding areas and shared with us his expertise on west Mexican birding.
This trip was a mixed bag for me. I had reached a breaking point in my birding travels. I wouldn't say I was done birding but it was difficult for me as it was right after my divorce and in a new relationship. I discovered that I missed being with my other half and it made me sad to be away for such a long time. And I finally understood what it meant for couples who missed being apart for more than a week. During my marriage, I was always happy to go for months traveling. Was it a sign? Or just that I'm addicted to nature? Rarely is anything one sided. This new feeling is refreshing and scary at the same time. To need someone. And to be needed. How very human. I also recognized that my financial freedoms were coming to an end and that traveling internationally would have to be put on a hold for awhile.....like 2 years!
That realization was humbling but it also gave me a sense of peace. It was okay to take a break and focus on my new life back home. There were days in San Blas when I just shut down and stayed at my hotel to rest and relax instead of go birding. One morning, I stayed at the hotel to just......be. I swam and watched the frigatebirds glide over my head. That too is birding. I know Mark was a bit shocked to learn that I wasn't going and I felt like I disappointed him a bit. Maybe he understood. I just know that at that moment, I needed to just be.
So I tried to absorb all the little details as best I could knowing that it would be a while before I would travel again. To this day, I have not traveled for over a year anywhere. I have not added any lifebirds to my list this year. And I have lost interest in any birding that requires more than a morning. I just want to live and enjoy a Sunday morning breakfast now. Oh I love my birds. And I love so much more. I will travel again. Soon. For now I enjoy the morning single note of the Abert's Towhee that comes through my garden at the break of dawn. He is the first bird I hear and it makes me smile.
Now let's talk about the birding! Wise birders will tell you NOT to bird West Mexico in the middle of summer even though there are great birds. They aren't wrong. It was hot, muggy and buggy. It was miserable birding around the mangroves, but it was beautiful and it was birdy. Ebird data is lacking during the months of June and July due to the extreme temperatures. I added quite a few new birds with the help of Mark's expert knowledge. I first saw the Mottled Owl in Panama a few years back, but it was on my San Blas trek that I got to see TWO Mottled Owls during the day vocalizing!
Social Flycatchers are the norm in San Blas. Euphonias begin to show up. If you asked me to ID the various species of euphonias, I'd probably be able to ID only a few distinct ones like the Elegant Euphonia. But knowing that only West Mexican Euphonias were in the area, it makes the ID a snap. Elegant Euphonias are also in the area but higher up. However, I could see a few show up as a rarity in lower elevations but I'd expect them to do so in winter and not in summer.
West Mexican Euphonia
The Rufous-backed Robin is a delight anytime to observe but with Mark's top notch expertise on this species, we were able to understand better a subspecies of Rufous-backed Robin that breed in this tiny area outside of San Blas. It is known as the Grayson's Thrush by locals. It's a very dull looking "washed out" Rufous-backed Robin almost appearing all gray. It is most likely a separate species related closely to the Rufous-backed Robin. It breeds on the nearby Tres MarÃas Islands and a small population has been found breeding on this large hill outside of San Blas called Chacalilla. It sounds like a town named after Chaca from Land of the Lost. It has some great birding in and around the village.
Grayson's Thrush
We will see if this sub-species is separated during the Ebird taxonomy update this month. If so, it will be a new lifebird and an armchair tick.
And of course, the Sinaloa Wren is quite common and widespread around the San Blas area. This bird is rather shy near the Arizona border. But in San Blas, they don't seem to mind a longer glance.
Sinaloa Wren
Green Herons are beautiful.
Green Heron
As are nice posing, not-afraid-of-birders, Green Kingfishers.
Green Kingfisher
An unexpected bird, not on my summer radar was the Mangrove Vireo. That bird blends in REALLY well with the vegetation among all the mosquitoes and flies! We added a first record in summer. Mark knew they are there all year round but there were no records in Ebird for the month of July. We added a new record!
Mangrove Vireo
I have found that the tropical Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl quite common around the Puerto Vallarta and San Blas area. This may also be another split down the road from our very rare desert Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl in Southeastern Arizona.
Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl
Also, it was a wonderful way to end our day watching Snail Kites fly over the pond area. Any day with a kite is a good day.
Snail Kite
On that particular day I added 3 new lifers, Purplish-backed Jay, Mangrove Vireo and possibly Grayson's Thrush. BUT I added more than just lifers, I added more knowledge and data to my West Mexican birding background thanks to Mark.
I still have more to share with you all on birding around the San Blas area. I sit in the comfort of my dining room looking back at these wonderful memories. Somehow, I have forgotten about all the chigger and mosquito bites I had on my body. I wouldn't recommend birding San Blas during the summer. Wait until the winter. Still, it was gorgeous! Until next time.....
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