Postcards from Mexico: Yucatan & Cozumel
A delightful group of participants in a beautiful part of the world filled with many fabulous birds all equaled up to truly wonderful tour to the Yucatán Peninsula and the island of Cozumel. We saw many of the peninsula's regional endemics, such as the very orange Orange Oriole, lustrous Black Catbirds, and the adorable Yucatan Gnatcatcher, but the choices of favorite birds by tour's end really reflected the lasting memories made by the intimate experiences we had with so many other species. A perfect example is that top votes went to the Lineated Woodpecker, a widespread species, with a bird that drummed on an open branch, seemingly oblivious to our nearby presence. The American Flamingos at Rio Lagartos just have to be seen to be believed, and even then, they stretch one's imagination. An American Pygmy Kingfisher put in a surprise appearance at an open pond, a bird we've seen only once before in this tour's 15-year history. Two King Vultures, among the northernmost members of their species, also got high votes by putting on a spectacular soaring show over the forests north of Felipe Carrillo Puerto. Also leaving indelible marks were many other species, such as a pair of Crane Hawks emerging at dawn at our first birding stop. On the Vigia Chico Road, a pair of Bat Falcons joined us for our early picnic breakfast, a Mayan Antthrush slowly walked into sight and then sang from an elevated perch, a Turquoise-browed Motmot perched on a power line, a Barred Antshrike emerged from a dense thicket, and a few Blue Buntings shows off their amazing colors. Our early morning of owling was very successful with several Mottled Owls, two of them showing very well. Our visit to the northern coast a Rio Lagartos was highlighted by Mangrove Yellow Warblers, amazing views of wintering Northern Parulas, a mid-town roost of Boat-billed Herons, simply stunning Vermilion Flycatchers, and a Least Bittern that flew out of its hidden spot and landed in plain sight. We also enjoyed the unique birding on Cozumel Island, where memorable highlights included all three endemics as well as many Green-breasted Mangos, and the closest fly-by of a Short-tailed Hawk imaginable.
