One other week, one other week with out birding. We spoke this weekend at a church in Toluca, three hours away, and I obtained again too drained to hit the hills early Monday morning.
Thankfully, I’ve different 10,000 Birds writers from whom to steal concepts. David Tomlinson wrote this week about what number of and which species he has seen to this point this 12 months, and I can do the identical. Particularly since, to my shock, it seems that I’m one way or the other selecting up species sooner this 12 months, right here in Michoacán, than in every other 12 months. This surprises me, as a result of I’ve spent a good variety of days outdoors of the state (each in Mexico’s state of Tabasco, and in California). I’ve additionally had an uncommon variety of weeks when, like this one, I’ve not gone birding. And at last, there are the circumstances of final winter’s extreme drought, which stored me from seeing previous associates just like the Semipalmated and Snowy Plovers.
Snowy Plovers in higher occasions, 2021
And but, so far, I’m 4 species past my earlier highest complete for mid-July, and eleven species above my five-year common. How can that be, in such difficult circumstances?
I imagine the reply comes down to at least one phrase: biologists. Now, I’ve met fairly just a few biologists over the previous few years who lacked subject expertise, or weren’t actually all for birding. A couple of even are careless with their IDs. However “my” biologists, the scientist associates who go birding with me, have my full confidence and respect, in addition to my friendship. They’re nice folks. And so they have nice eyes and ears!
I’ve fairly a listing of birds I’ve seen, or at the very least heard, as a result of this has been my 12 months of group birding. My second Buff-collared Nightjar, seen by Jonathan mendacity completely nonetheless on a wonderfully matched little bit of floor. The identical month, he additionally ID’d my first Bumblebee Hummingbird for 2024. The identical month, Jorge referred to as me excitedly after our church service, for me to run and see my first Zone-tailed Hawk within the highlands; I normally solely see this raptor within the lowlands. In March, it was the American and Chilean Flamingo pair that Jorge noticed within the distance, and the Virginia Rail that everybody managed to see earlier than I did. Jonathan discovered Gull-billled Terns in June, and Jonathan and Nacho situated Mangrove Cuckoos (proven on the prime of this submit) by their calls, simply final week.
Buff-collared Nightjar
The feminine Bumblebee Hummingbird is a mere 7 cm lengthy. 2018
Zone-tailed Hawk, 2020
Nacho’s photograph of that Virginia Rail
The little man within the entrance was a Gull-billed Tern; the larger ones have been Caspians. 2022
On these uncommon events once I birded alone this 12 months, I often managed to see one thing uncommon all on my own. Sadly, I by no means managed to share my a number of Aztec Thrush sightings. A tough American Bittern additionally turned up once I was alone. Each of those are birds that normally don’t make their manner onto my 12 months lists.
I’ll in all probability be displaying this Aztec Thrush photograph till the day I die.
American Bittern
Most years I see round 290 species within the state of Michoacán, though I can see extra if I journey 4 hours to the coast. This 12 months I hope to simply surpass 300 species, simply right here within the highlands… with a little bit assist from biologists.
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