Looking Back at Mexico: Baja California's Cape Region

Our week of driving around the entire tip of Baja California Sur, birding our way as explored the amazing and varied habitats, was a true delight. Seeing the three lowland endemic birds of Belding's Yellowthroat, Gray Thrasher, and Xantus's Hummingbird was almost too easy, but that freed us up to enjoy other aspects of the natural history, such as the plants, butterflies, and lizards. We also found some of the endemic subspecies which may eventually be split, and vagrants were a highlight, topped by Mexico's first Taiga Flycatcher that had been found only two weeks before our tour started. A Northern Parula was also an excellent find on our last hotel's grounds. Also worth mentioning was our amazing morning boat ride on Bahia Magdalena with several very close Gray Whales, countless birds, and an amazing lunch in a remote fishing village. Perfect weather, delicious fresh seafood everywhere, and delightful company all combined to make this an immensely enjoyable tour.

We had great views of Belding's Yellowthroats in three locations.

Rich Hoyer

Early arriving participants saw Gray Thrasher in the neighborhood around our first hotel, but we had excellent views of several more throughout the tour.

Rich Hoyer

Though we had had fulfilling views of Xantus's Hummingbirds early in the tour, this female on a nest at our last hotel was a treat.

Rich Hoyer

Yellow-footed Gull is a handsome regional endemic, breeding only around the Gulf of California.

Rich Hoyer

We ventured into the oak zone of the Sierra La Laguna where the endemic subspecies of Cassin's Vireo, looking more like a Blue-headed Vireo, was easy to find this year.

Rich Hoyer

It was heartening to see the incredible numbers of birds that use Magdalena Bay as their foraging grounds; here are mostly Double-crested Cormorants, with only a few thousand Brandt's Cormorants and Brown Pelicans thrown in.

Rich Hoyer

The main point of our boat trip was to get close and personal with Gray Whales like this one.

Rich Hoyer

There are many fascinating endemic critters to Baja's Cape Region; this Baja California Rock Lizard is always one of our targets.

Rich Hoyer

This Northern Parula was an exciting find, rarely seen in winter in Baja California, and a first for Todos Santos.

Rich Hoyer