10,000 Birds

APRIL 27, 2022

But there are almost no ways to buy bird-friendly native plants down here in Mexico, so I’m still doing it on the cheap. I planted the remaining seeds a month ago: Central Mexico is home to the original Dahlias, single flowers in yellow, orange and red. These days, money is not so much of an issue.

Mexico 238

Mexico Collecting ALA Sparrows 238

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 21, 2019

And, alas, heat is one thing Mexico’s Pacific coast has in excess. It was created by Mexico’s government in the last century as an industrial and port city, and has all the lack of charm those attributes suggest. My wife hates heat. But this past week, my wife travelled to the U.S. to visit her elderly father.

Mexico 130

Mexico Alligators ALA 2019 130

10,000 Birds

JUNE 23, 2021

When it comes to wrens, central Mexico has it pretty good. And when you do get it to come within sight (alas, with playback, always), it can be as bold as any other member of this cocky family. I confess, I have yet to see Rock or Sedge Wrens here — but I know they are there.)

ALA 172

ALA United States Mexico Family 172

10,000 Birds

APRIL 13, 2024

I flew into Denver from Mexico. Alas, those sightings will be for another time as the weather had thrown a spanner in the works: half a meter of snow had closed off our intended destination. I might have to add the Dallas airport staff to the list of things Buffon was right about.

Denver 173

Denver Colorado Ducks Mules 173

10,000 Birds

APRIL 22, 2020

When you are an American expatriate who lives, and birds, in Mexico, it is a topsy-turvy world. But alas, my garden Wilsons have not been seen here on the 4th of April. However, the platform did not allow me to include photos. Since I consider myself a better writer than photographer, I can live with that.

Nashville 133

Nashville ALA Louisiana Mexico 133

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 10, 2021

Alas, the flowering plants had almost all dried up, and hummingbirds were few. I am in communication with birders all over Mexico, and almost everywhere, they have been reporting groups of Cedar Waxwings. Although they were a yearly sight during my youth in California, I had only seen them once in all my years birding in Mexico.

Woodpeckers 198

Woodpeckers Nashville Mexico ALA 198

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 30, 2022

I happen to have visited that country twice (both for ministerial purposes and, alas, before I started my second birding period). I talked them through their transit from the Mexico City airport and bus station to Morelia. I was born in 1958.) This two-country conflict has yet to end.

ALA 195

ALA Louisiana Adoptable Mexico 195

10,000 Birds

JUNE 8, 2016

So, I was very excited to be spending some time in Mexico. The bulk of the fifty species here in Mexico, all live on the other side of the Sea of Cortez, on the mainland part of Mexico. Alas, our adventure has only carried us to the southern half of Baja California. The names, the colors, they were all fascinating to me.

Coyotes 123

Coyotes Mexico California ALA 123

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 4, 2019

And so would the situation have remained, except that I moved to Morelia, Mexico in 1994. (I Alas, we mostly get females; the males winter along the coast. I will pass over my years in Mexicali, the desert city that made me forget about birding for many years.) This one was on the latter.

Minnesota 130

Minnesota ALA Mexico California 130

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 11, 2018

Alas, they turned out to be Ring-billed Gulls , but as I turned back to the car another flock of white caught my eye. In truth, they breed inland and can even spend a good portion of the winter months on inland, freshwater bodies across the Southeast, Mexico, and California.

Kansas 115

Kansas Pelicans ALA Cows 115

10,000 Birds

JULY 21, 2018

Chaco Cultural National Historic Park, a World Heritage Site in New Mexico, teeters back and forth with ongoing lawsuits. But, alas, I’d have colored practically the whole letter. Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Photo courtesy of Steven Chase, USFWS. Chaco Cultural National Historic Park. © The White House. al from abuse of power!

Colorado 163

Colorado Protection Bears ALA 163

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 25, 2019

Back when I rediscovered birding, about seven years ago, there didn’t seem to be anyone doing serious birding in my corner of Mexico. Alas, my 150-600 mm lens was declared dead the day before, so my 300 mm photos are not up to the level of the outing.).

2019 149

2019 Birds Blackbirds Sparrows 149

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 22, 2021

Alas, as the decade progressed, I also saw the site degenerate. First, fences started to appear. Sections were logged, to be replaced with avocado groves, or, even worse, the biological desert of unvaried pasture.

Kansas 201

Kansas Wounded ALA Squirrels 201

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 3, 2015

Quetzal is THE beloved, sacred bird of Guatemala and they do live there (and in southern Mexico, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama) BUT are more accessible in Costa Rica. We even heard one sing briefly across the street from the restaurant (alas, it did not come closer for a view)! Even the non-birders will love the scenery. Yes, the R.

Costa Rica 150

Costa Rica Panama Nicaragua Honduras 150

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 14, 2014

One of these islands may have been the present day Northern Central American Highlands which includes Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, and parts of extreme southern Mexico (Chiapas). Alas, our time here was over too soon. This is a fascinating area of transition.

Honduras 222

Honduras Costa Rica El Salvador Arizona 222

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 1, 2018

They birded 6 countries; USA, UK, Costa Rica, Serbia, Australia, and Mexico. Veliko blato lake NR / Mika Alas fish farm–IBA Uš?e Veliko blato lake NR / Mika Alas fish farm–IBA Uš?e Veliko blato lake NR / Mika Alas fish farm–IBA Uš?e Veliko blato lake NR / Mika Alas fish farm–IBA Uš?e

2018 113

2018 Australia Woodpeckers Sparrows 113

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 3, 2018

Elephant Butte Dam area, New Mexico. Hwy 469, near Tucumcari New Mexico. Veliko blato lake NR / Mika Alas fish farm–IBA Uš?e Veliko blato lake NR / Mika Alas fish farm–IBA Uš?e Veliko blato lake NR / Mika Alas fish farm–IBA Uš?e Veliko blato lake NR / Mika Alas fish farm–IBA Uš?e

2018 113

2018 Australia Woodpeckers Sparrows 113

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 5, 2019

Veliko blato lake NR / Mika Alas fish farm–IBA Uš?e Veliko blato lake NR / Mika Alas fish farm–IBA Uš?e Veliko blato lake NR / Mika Alas fish farm–IBA Uš?e Veliko blato lake NR / Mika Alas fish farm–IBA Uš?e Veliko blato lake NR / Mika Alas fish farm–IBA Uš?e Kruger NP Central Park.

2018 113

2018 Australia Woodpeckers Sparrows 113