… And typically that’s loads.
Final week, I failed to provide a submit, as a result of I used to be on the point of spend per week in Mexico’s tropical state of Tabasco. I’m instructing for 25 hours in a Presbyterian Theological Seminary, in addition to talking at a Baptist church on Sunday, so there was a lot of preparation concerned.
Due to the intensive work dedication right here, I’ve not been in a position to go wherever besides the city church and the grounds of the Seminary. Happily, these grounds are giant, superbly maintained, and stuffed with all types of habitat perks. I noticed 32 species right here in my first 24 hours, a few of them thrilling ones.
Final yr I additionally visited Tabasco and my Presbyterian associates, which resulted in all kinds of fantastic lifers. However, despite a birder good friend telling me the city the place I used to be housed must be a great place to see the Russet-naped Wooden-Rail, none ever confirmed up. So I used to be delighted when the Seminary grounds turned out to host not less than 6 of those lovely birds. The Wooden-Rails like to maneuver round in a really seen group. And they’re so trusting that I discovered myself musing whether or not I’d lose Lifer Factors if one ought to occur to climb onto my lap.
My second lifer this journey was a migratory Yellow-throated Warbler, a species I couldn’t hope to see my earlier journey, which had occurred in early summer time. Alas, this little beautiful perched on a wire simply exterior the window of the classroom the place I used to be instructing for the time being, so no photographs have been taken. I confess that I did, nevertheless, momentarily lose all focus. Now all my college students know concerning the Yellow-throated Warbler.
After they have been constructing the Seminary, some dust was faraway from a central space. And, this being Tabasco, the ensuing hole instantly stuffed with water, producing a stunning, birdy pond. Often an Amazon Kingfisher graces this pond, and fortunately, he has no drawback with posing for photographs.
The pond additionally enjoys the fixed presence of three generations of Northern Jacanas. The male and one subadult typically stick collectively, however are sometimes seen alone. The infants, nevertheless, keep near mama. They’re much more awkwardly cute than grownup Jacanas.
Fortunately, one of many Seminary college students can be a birder, and he walked the grounds with me on my second night right here. We have been pleased to expertise three birds of prey on this jaunt. A Snail Kite flew overhead, sadly a bit too far-off to completely recognize its sharply-hooked invoice, made for consuming, effectively, escargots. A Roadside Hawk perched on a submit subsequent to, after all, a street. And two Ferruginous Pygmy-Owls toot-toot-tooted from the comb. We have been unable to see them, however each confirmed up for photographs the subsequent morning. There may be additionally a household of Barn Owls on the premises, and I’ve briefly seen the biggest of them (monumental!) flying by at night time. However that encounter didn’t lend itself to images.
Within the space of Morelia, the place I reside, no parrots are to be discovered. However right here, Olive-throated Parakeets and White-fronted Parrots are a continuing presence within the early morning and late night. The photographs are grainy as a result of these birds don’t stick round till the sunshine is nice.
Two traditional birds of Mexico’s east coast are additionally current. The Brown Jay is noisy, giant, and daring. The Clay-colored Thrush could get its identify from the truth that it’s as frequent as dust right here.
That’s a Melodious Blackbird within the background. And they’re… Melodious, that’s.
Crimson-billed Pigeons are additionally fairly frequent down right here:
Friday night my new birding buddy goes to take me to one among his off-campus websites. So I could have extra tales to inform subsequent week.
