10,000 Birds

JANUARY 15, 2020

But the Kentish Plover was sheltering its young under its body, and the Little Ringed Plover was incubating an egg — right in the middle of downtown Madrid! Iberian Green Woodpecker, Madrid, Spain. Mexico has a good number of greenish or rusty Woodpeckers. I live in Mexico! Greater Flamingo, Málaga, Spain.

Austria 143

Austria Spain 2019 Birds 143

10,000 Birds

MAY 21, 2019

But for the past 25 years, I have lived in Mexico’s state of Michoacán. On my first trip there, I had the good luck to find the best sites right away. The first is a true endemic, found only in southwestern Mexico, while the second can also be seen in Central America. I don’t have to tell you which sparrow is which!

Mexico 114

Mexico Birds Nevada Sparrows 114

10,000 Birds

JUNE 16, 2021

Don’t get me wrong – we had a blast comparing the birds in our yards, and it was a great reminder of all the species we can see right from our backdoors, but in 2021 I looked forward to a Birdathon that was a bit more mobile. The Red-bellied Woodpecker. Sea and shorebirds on Cape San Blas. Ending the day at St.

Florida 152

Florida 2020 Mexico Raised 152

10,000 Birds

MAY 3, 2017

This large reserve has its namesake mountain range running right down the middle of it, and virtually no roads. The Golden Eagle is not only the National Bird of Mexico, but considered very threatened. These were my first Golden Eagles here in Mexico. Here is the Gila Woodpecker. The Ladder-back Woodpecker.

Eagles 100

Eagles Mexico California Woodpeckers 100

10,000 Birds

APRIL 20, 2016

Exploring the country side around our new (for now) home, La Paz, Mexico has been an interesting treat. We are at 2000 feet altitude, in dry chaparral, desert scrub, and the feature on this sign was the Acorn Woodpecker. We are so far from any kind of habitat or plant life that would possibly support the Acorn Woodpeckers.

Woodpeckers 100

Woodpeckers 2000 Mexico Research 100

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 4, 2017

Several weeks of travel have wrapped up with our visit to Guadalajara, Mexico. Almost immediately after climbing out of our taxi, I notice two things, one of the largest concentrations of swallows circling above the trees I have ever seen, and dozens of Acorn Woodpeckers chasing each other from Eucalyptus Tree to eucalyptus.

Woodpeckers 105

Woodpeckers Rights Mexico Research 105

10,000 Birds

JUNE 7, 2017

The Gila Woodpecker is the first to break the fruit open, gets it fill and moves on. First the Gila Woodpecker. A few minutes later, the Gila Woodpecker was back, and in a was very excited. At some point the female landed right on top of the cactus that contained the nest, and let her wins droop down.

Elephants 104

Elephants Woodpeckers Squirrels Shelters 104

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 31, 2018

We even got our Mexico tans back while we were in Scotland, for goodness sakes. A Blue-throated Hummingbird just flew right past us, and over to one of the feeders. We took their advice, a leap of faith, and got a yearly membership right off the bat. That is our 5th wheel on the right corner.

Tucson 113

Tucson Costa Rica Arizona Woodpeckers 113

10,000 Birds

MARCH 6, 2019

I have lived most of my life in a desert of some form, be it the high desert areas of Oregon, to the more arid Southern Baja of Mexico, so I am truly amazed at the birding opportunities this area provides! From there you go one mile and make a right at Whitehouse Road. This is the wonderful White-throated Sparrow.

Arizona 132

Arizona Tucson Florida 2018 132

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 14, 2018

I know these winds had a lot of the birds all settled in, and not moving much, but right off the bat, I got a new Lifer, in a pair of Nuttall’s Woodpeckers. This extremely common duck, just never comes to Mexico. Here is my new Nuttall’s Woodpecker. This is one of three Downy Woodpeckers I have seen.

Woodpeckers 100

Woodpeckers Oregon California Geese 100

10,000 Birds

MAY 22, 2019

One of the great things about living in southern Arizona is our proximity to Mexico. Spotting any hummingbird nest, short of the one right outside your kitchen window is always a challenge, and so therefore a real treat. To get to see one of such a rare bird just makes it that much sweeter. Here is the male Scotts Oriole.

Arizona 113

Arizona Sparrows Mexico California 113

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 12, 2022

An Acorn Woodpecker , looking elsewhere. Perhaps it was right. And now it is minding mine. As a point of reference, this adult Spotted Wren has developed a full set of spots. Which explains the name. But, when it saw me, it seemed to find me quite curious. Momentarily, a Gray Silky-Flycatcher fixed its gaze on me as well.

Sparrows 147

Sparrows California Woodpeckers Species 147

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 8, 2021

It was kind of this Clay-colored Sparrow (left) and Chipping Sparrow (right) to position themselves so well for comparison purposes. At first glance, female Chipping Sparrows can easily be confused with both male and female Clay-colored Sparrows. Happily, nobody would struggle to identify a Lark Sparrow. I only saw one on this outing.

Sparrows 194

Sparrows Falcons Woodpeckers Species 194

10,000 Birds

JUNE 14, 2017

They stay here in Mexico despite the heat, and raise their families. This male hoped right up on the side of my hide. When ever I am over on the Mexico Mainland, my eyes are always looking for Russet-crowned Mot Mots. This Gila Woodpecker was one of the star attractions of last weeks posting.

Seattle 106

Seattle Mexico 2017 Falcons 106

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 31, 2016

When you travel north of La Paz, Mexico, staying on the Sea of Cortez side of the Baja, you will encounter the phosphate mines of San Juan De La Costa. The topography looks like it is right out of an early John Wayne movie. The first 35 miles of this trip are all on a very nice, two lane paved highway.

Zebras 100

Zebras Birds Sparrows Mexico 100

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 28, 2014

Hecho en Mexico. What better way to start the year than with a visit to Mexico? Gray Thrashers are not as conspicuous as the hummingbirds, but should not be difficult to find in the right places. Destinations Baja California Sur I Am Birder Mexico' A male Belding’s Yellowthroat. You will be content.

California 212

California San Jose Birds Mexico 212

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 18, 2018

But birds can fly so they’ll be fine, right? Gila Woodpecker. According to Audubon, “this big tropical oriole is common in northeastern Mexico, but was not found in our area until 1939. 27, August 2018, Vol. It’s no longer the Middle Ages when ‘wall-building’ was a strategy to keep ‘them’ away from ‘us’. Image by USFWS.

Texas 150

Texas Defenders Of Wildlife Bald Eagle Protest 150

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 24, 2014

August arrived and I was releasing birds knowing they’d need time to adapt prior to making that long flight across the Gulf of Mexico, headed to South America. Maggie Rufo, who works with Veronica at NSCC in Sebastopol, remembers a juvenile Pileated Woodpecker she agreed to release where it had been found in Mendocino. “I

Wildlife Rehabilitation 214

Wildlife Rehabilitation Ohio Tulsa West Virginia 214

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 3, 2015

To be honest, quetzals aren’t seen that often right at Myriam’s but they are seen just down the road. 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. Myriam’s Quetzales ! Are they her’s?

Costa Rica 150

Costa Rica Panama Nicaragua Honduras 150

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 10, 2016

There are hundreds of avian possibilities and you never know if some super rare lifer is waiting right around the next bend in the trail. This year, we were amazingly spared the rains by count day falling right between two tropical depressions, one of which was a hurricane. Counting birds at Luna Nueva on a good, non-pouring day.

Costa Rica 235

Costa Rica 2016 Eagles Belize 235

10,000 Birds

JULY 18, 2018

We had contacted the staff at the observatory, and with Jonnies help, arranged to stay right there in their newly built hostel type facility. The staff there was friendly and very helpful, it is a great place to stay that is very reasonable, and it puts you right in the middle of an amazing amount of birding areas. Mexico species 148.

South Africa 100

South Africa New Zealand Costa Rica Qatar 100

10,000 Birds

MARCH 21, 2024

Being a westerner — raised in California, and now living in western Mexico — I was perhaps most excited about the migratory birds that breed in eastern North America. And the Baltimore Oriole is an iconic eastern bird, which winters along Mexico’s east coast, but never in the west. Then, around 4:00 p.m.,

Mexico 185

Mexico Birds Raccoons Baltimore 185

10,000 Birds

APRIL 7, 2021

That’s a Black-vented Oriole on the left, and the Gray Silky-Flycatcher on the right. March 31: Same as March 30, but add a Golden-fronted Woodpecker (not that unusual, but always an amusing visitor). The desert bird was right where it should be, in a very dry mesquite forest. March 29: Another Monday out.

Nashville 156

Nashville Sparrows Virginia Rights 156

10,000 Birds

MAY 5, 2020

The Peterson Field Guide to Birds of North America, Second Edition covers 807 species in the United States and Canada (like most field guides labelled ‘North America, it doesn’t include Mexico and Central America). Extinct birds, such as Ivory-billed Woodpecker, are included. The text pages have a lively look.

North America 199

North America America Hawaii Birds 199

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 5, 2017

In upstate New York, sparrows, doves, woodpeckers, and cardinals fall into this category and are probably why we see more of those backyard birds (and their semi-psychedelic stylized versions) on Christmas cards, napkins, and other random types of stationary. Watch for it at any number of lowland and foothill sites.

Costa Rica 115

Costa Rica Dominican Republic Kansas Guinea 115

10,000 Birds

MAY 10, 2017

You see I am sitting here typing this with one functioning finger on my right hand. This is because I have torn the ligaments in my right, and I might add, very dominate wrist. The few that are not, are usually hanging around the feeders right out side my office door.

Birds 100

Birds Sparrows Pelicans Rights 100

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 29, 2014

Sorry, that was gratuitous – HAWRs are Happy Wrens , and they live in Mexico.). There’s the popular JAR: just ain’t right. But sometimes we personalize them, and since birds are clearly not all the same, one rehabber’s “sweetiebirds” may be another’s “those sonsabit%*#s.”. I once went through a short illustration phase.

Wildlife Rehabilitation 224

Wildlife Rehabilitation Wildlife Mice Vet 224

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 14, 2018

Some of you might remember back just before we had left Mexico, we had a visit from a Black-throated Magpie-Jay. This area very much, reminds me of my old Mexico stomping grounds with its tidal flats, and mangroves. We ran across this Common Back Hawk right alongside the mangrove swamp. That story is here.

Costa Rica 113

Costa Rica Falcons Mexico Groups 113

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 2, 2016

There is an old dead tree top, right on the edge of the canyon, that looked like it would be a great spot for the passing birds to make a stop. There were Ladder-backed Wood peckers, as well as Gilded Flickers and Gila Woodpeckers like this one. It was a nice quiet morning, so I grabbed my camera, a cup of coffee, and set up nearby.

Coyotes 133

Coyotes Rodents Reptiles Fox 133

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). Acorn Woodpecker , Northern Flicker , Greater Pewee , Grace’s Warbler , and White-eared Hummingbird all commonly occur here.

Honduras 207

Honduras Costa Rica El Salvador Arizona 207

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 28, 2012

This post is old news to those who pay attention to what I say on Facebook but I am still pleased as punch to point out that I have finally reached the 500-bird milestone in the American Birding Association area (basically North America north of Mexico). How did I finally reach this lofty peak?

San Marino 104

San Marino Los Angeles Birds Laws 104

10,000 Birds

JUNE 1, 2021

The rest of Mexico is not included, nor is Hawaii (which isn’t in North America, after all, but has been accepted as part of the American Birding Association area). A small range map is placed in the upper right/left hand corner showing summer, winter, resident, migration, and rare locations. GUIDE COVERAGE.

North America 278

North America America Birds California Condor 278

10,000 Birds

APRIL 13, 2024

I flew into Denver from Mexico. I might have to add the Dallas airport staff to the list of things Buffon was right about. I was high and happy, not from “420” drugs but from the altitude and the anticipation of seeing woodpeckers and owls I had never seen before.

Denver 158

Denver Colorado Ducks Mules 158

10,000 Birds

JULY 27, 2023

And the town’s dry tropical heat means that you need to arrive early, which, along with Mexico eliminating Daylight Savings Time this year, means you must stumble out of bed at 5 am, and be on the road by 6. (An … or Golden-cheeked Woodpeckers. I can’t say I was all that excited about making this third trip.

Bats 130

Bats Mexico ALA 2020 130

10,000 Birds

JULY 20, 2023

July is the month when some of Mexico’s best birders (and I don’t use that term lightly) ask me to take them to the tiny town of Paso Ancho, in the hopes of seeing the ever-so-scarce and little-studied Sinaloa Martin. This female Streak-backed Oriole is the rightful nest owner. Well, it is July again.

Mexico 144

Mexico Oregon Squirrels Science 144

10,000 Birds

MARCH 11, 2011

His fascination with birds and nature began at the age of four or five, and he now works full time in conservation of Gulf of Mexico and Mississippi River birds and ecosystems. Mexico’s Coronado Islands: Brown Boobies, cormorants, oystercatchers, and pinnipeds | Search and Serendipity Mar 12th, 2011 at 8:19 pm [.] Wicked, right?

2011 151

2011 Pelicans Papua New Guinea Birds 151

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 11, 2018

After our brief trip thru the great state of Texas, we were headed back into New Mexico, a state I was quite excited to explore. I have been all around the western states, here and there, but never spent any time in New Mexico. This one flew right over my head. Our first stop was a mutually agreed upon stop, in Tucumcari.

Albuquerque 120

Albuquerque New Mexico Mexico Sparrows 120