Steve Howell on his just-complete, volcano-adjusted, tour, Mexico: Colima and Jalisco

Adjusted? Well, a very active volcano blowing lava rocks and giant ash clouds (some a few miles high!) into the air has that effect. Fortunately, the bird-rich San Blas area isn’t too far away and we combined Colima and San Blas very successfully, finding over 250 species in a week full of sun, good food, friendly people, and great birding.

Our group enjoying the sun—from the shade!

We started with White-throated Magpie-Jays in Colima...

...and moved on to Black-throated Magpie-Jays in San Blas.

Birds ranged from this understated Flammulated Flycatcher in the shade...

To an overstated, sun-dappled Rosy Thrush-Tanager

Confiding Fan-tailed Warblers fed at ant swarm one morning

Another morning this unconcerned Citreoline Trogon posed in the sun.

We watched this Spotted Rail at length as it hammered a small fish to death!

Non-avian highlights included a stunning tarantula.

This Laughing Falcon flew across the sunset on our last day and closed out a wonderful week of bird-filled travel