Final yr, the oldest Christmas Fowl Rely in Mexico turned 50 years outdated. That may be the CBC in San Blas, Nayarit, based by American birders in 1973.
We’ve got an extended methods to go earlier than we attain that milestone in Michoacán. We held our very first CBC simply three years in the past, making a whole circuit across the stunning Lake Pátzcuaro. Thus far, these counts have been finished nearly completely by Mexicans, most of them biologists… in addition to the native expat birder Georgia Conti, and yours actually. We could not have seniority within the Mexican CBC world, however we do have one spectacular setting:
Lake Pátzcuaro has an altitude of 1,920 m (6,300 ft), and is actually stunning. Listed below are a number of extra photographs of the lake, taken by the group that my Cuban ornithologist good friend Jorge and I led:
Jorge and I
In all places you look, the lake is surrounded by volcanic mountains.
A number of the odd rock formations at San Jerónimo Punchécuaro
Typical countryside close to the lake
Searching for woodland birds close to Matugeo
We will’t compete with the San Blas CBC, with its a lot bigger habitat range. However we did obtain a really respectable 153 species seen. Our group of 9 observers noticed 103 species, barely edging out the opposite two groups.
My finest birds for the day had been a number of Grass Wrens. I beforehand knew this species from only one web site, however that web site is on non-public property, and this one has free entry.
Grass Wrens apparently share this splayed posture with their relations, the Marsh Wrens. However for each Grass Wren sighting registered on eBird, you could find 37 Marsh Wren sightings (or 6 sightings of the much more carefully associated Sedge Wren).
I look forward to finding the Grey Hawk in tropical lowlands. However that is our second yr encountering it within the highlands round Lake Pátzcuaro.
It takes a little bit of effort to identify a Say’s Phoebe down right here.
American Pipits are frequent… on the bottom, close to water. However seeing this one, perched in a tree, nearly appeared like a lifer to me.
A Neotropical Cormorant made a dramatic touchdown.
And a Black-crowned Night time Heron struck a pose.
On our final cease of the day, within the woodland I confirmed above, I noticed this Hermit Thrush. He appeared more than happy with himself.
And now, we now have a brand new growth. In a number of days, our area will add our first ever Christmas Fowl Rely for Lake Cuitzeo. Lake Cuitzeo is positioned a half hour north of Morelia. It’s barely much less scenic than Lake Pátzcuaro, which is a half hour south-southwest of the identical metropolis. However I count on the next species and particular person chook depend for Cuitzeo, because it hosts many, many extra winter geese and shorebirds.
Lake Cuitzeo
So right here’s my supply to our American readers (and a few particularly adventurous European readers): Subsequent yr, you may do your Christmas Fowl Rely in your house city of East Plainville in Iowa. Or you may take a direct flight from Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, San Jose, or Oakland to the UNESCO World Heritage Metropolis of Morelia, based in 1540. Spend a number of days there, and some extra within the Pueblo Mágico (Magic City) of Pátzcuaro, as soon as capital of the pre-Columbian Purépecha empire. If you are right here, you will get two Christmas Fowl Counts for the worth of 1. (Which is not any worth in any respect, not less than for the Counts themselves.)
We’ll even choose you up on our option to the Counts. And we’ll enable you ID all these new birds.
