My firm has an workplace in Monterrey so my journey wasn’t the primary time to this industrial metropolis, nor will it’s the final. My earlier put up on birding right here has obtained some criticism – apparently I used to be too harsh on the place. Now, in early March, town confirmed itself from its greatest facet with clear skies and air air pollution ranges so low that solely babies needed to keep indoors. Butt-ugly no extra?
Whereas having fun with my farewell Portuguese espresso and pastel de nata on the Lisbon airport and finding out up on identification I thought of the planning of my two-week journey to the Americas. True to my very own recipe I’d arrive a day or two early to go birding. I’d go together with Mexican birding buddy Mau, guided by Kingfisher Birding who additionally offered the hen footage. Our vacation spot: 4 inland reservoirs and the encompassing scrubland.
First cease: the Presa El Águila. The reservoir has been furnished with picnic areas and facilities. The principle leisure exercise is angling. Fishing with explosives has been explicitly forbidden as a useful signal knowledgeable. It’s widespread data such indicators are historic indicators: some fool tried this at the least as soon as! We left from Monterrey at 5:00 hrs and arrived on the lakeshore with the solar peeking over the horizon. With the Sierra Los Picachos within the distance as a substitute of the extra acquainted Sierra Madre Oriental, the tranquillity and clear air let you might be distant from town.
The wind was sturdy and chilly however had concentrated the birds within the downwind a part of the lake. Drowned timber present perching alternatives and there are shallow and uncovered areas and underwater vegetation on this a part of the lake. It could simply be the feeding alternatives that had drawn within the birds, not the wind. Or possibly we had been simply projecting our distress on the birds. With the solar gaining in power and out of the wind we had been quickly fairly comfy. The birds warmed us too. There was a big raft of lots of of American Coot, an American White Pelican and plenty of duck species.
I can’t identify all geese, however Bufflehead and Canvasback had been lifers in order that they deserve a call-out.
A gaggle of about 15 Least Sandpipers was feeding within the shallows. They had been transferring in our route and appeared to be oblivious of our presence. Quietly we waited for them to get nearer and nearer and nearer nonetheless, after which, bang! Sandpipers up within the air and a common panic among the many coots and geese. A Merlin had simply tried to seize breakfast earlier than our very eyes… She missed and whereas we had been blissful for the sandpipers – they’re very fairly – the thrill we felt was for the falcon. What a spectacle. Hearts racing and tears of emotion welling up in our eyes!
The thrill was removed from over. Subsequent we witnessed an Osprey by means of those self same watery eyes. The hen hovered, plunged and caught a big fish. The wind made it laborious for it to settle so we had been handled to some fly-bys. Typically actual life is healthier than any Sir David Attenborough documentary. Solely a cynic would attribute our tears to the chilly wind.
We checked out the shrubs for songbirds whereas returning to the automotive and had been rewarded with a displaying Pink-winged Blackbird. A Loggerhead Shrike bade us farewell and we headed out to the subsequent vacation spot. Driving slowly out, by means of shrubland and acacia woodland, we scanned for birds. We noticed a Black-throated Sparrow …
… after which our guides heard Cassin’s Sparrow calling. We stopped. I acquired out, stretched and appeared an Jap Screech-Owl straight into its attractive eyes. Was it the small measurement, the very giant eyes, or the lovable ear tufts? I don’t know however I stood mesmerised, drowning in these eyes and feeling remarkably “zen”. I believe I’m in love with an owl.
Subsequent cease: Presa Agualeguas. The emotional excessive of the owl was by no means going to provide this lake a good likelihood besides I’d say this spot was the least engaging of the day. Far fewer birds and an uninteresting panorama. A Nice White Egret plunge diving for a fish nonetheless made the cease worthwhile however we didn’t keep lengthy.
We then checked the Presa El Nogalito for one hen species specifically. The reservoir is surrounded by excessive cliffs with solely a single shallow half with vegetation and the likelihood for birds to forage. And foraging they did, about 200 specimens of the species we had been after: Sandhill Cranes.
There are some picnic spots and facilities at this website, however it’s all in determined want of restore. The bathroom bowls had been smashed up and damaged, however had however attracted clientele… We discovered this in any respect websites we visited: there are amenities however all dilapidated and dirty. No have to linger then, adelante!
It was now nicely previous lunch time and at round 14:00 hrs we pulled into the car parking zone of Presa Sombreretillo within the Sierra Los Picachos. We unpacked the sandwiches and the telescopes – an important piece of apparatus for all websites we visited – and munched our Mexican cheese sarnies whereas watching Mexican Duck. Each the style and the view had been mouthwatering.
The leisure consisted of a gaggle of 8 Grasshopper Sparrows and Cattle Egret attending to a small herd of – await it – cattle. Sorry for that weak joke, however each time an English identify is precisely describing the hen I really feel I have to name it out. If I had been in cost, I’d change the main focus of the naming debate to enhance each single identify. Not simply the racists however the misnomers too. I do know the names are a remnant of the good Anglo-Saxon custom in pure historical past with its hen skins and laboratory work, however the easy and easy naming of e.g. Afrikaans or German hen names is refreshing. A hen that calls out its personal identify, fantastic. Take your decide: Eurasian Eagle Owl or simply Uhu? Even the scientific identify makes extra sense (Bubo bubo). Apologies, I’ve digressed… Again to the lakeside. We noticed all of the duck species we had seen within the different reservoirs plus some Wooden Duck, the already talked about Mexican Duck, Eurasian/Inexperienced-winged Teal, Ring-necked Duck (one other unusual identify – the ring is hardly seen and definitely not a defining attribute of this duck – oh, will you simply cease it!), and Black-necked Grebe (not saying something). We additional noticed a single Noticed Sandpiper on the spillway and a trio of aptly-named Rock Wren.
Though we didn’t discover the encompassing areas there may be a variety of appropriate habitat across the reservoir. Presa Sombreretillo is essentially the most scenic of the 4 reservoirs we visited. There have been a variety of wildflowers, dragonflies, butterflies, and succulents, so for non-birding nature lovers there’s loads to see. It’s about 90 minutes away from town so if in case you have restricted time that is the one to go for.
Each time I return to town I’m liking it extra – there’s a lot nature to take pleasure in within the speedy environment. Monterrey could be the very unlikely vacationer vacation spot in Mexico, however it’s price a go to. As a Cyberdyne Programs T-800 Mannequin 101 as soon as stated: I’ll be again.
