Puerto Vallarta - El Tuito

You're a bit stranded trying to bird in Mexico without a car. Though the bus services are OK, it's impossible to reach the more remote sites. Fortunately on the Wednesday I hired an excellent local birding guide for the morning. Alejandro Martinez picked me up from El Nogalito at dawn and took me up into the mountain area of El Tuito for a great mornings birding.

Firstly, we stopped off in an area known as Las Juntas to see what was around. Common Ground Doves and Inca Doves took off from under our feet and in the shrub, a Yellow Grosbeak flitted around with a Streak-backed Oriole and some Blue Buntings. An Acorn Woodpecker joined the party.

The drive to El Tuito yielded some more new species. A couple of Northern Ravens chowed down on some road-kill, and a Blue Mockingbird flew in front of the car.

Straight away El Tuito threw up some bonuses. A pair of Elegant Trogons first, and then another flurry of jungle birds - Tennessee Warbler, MacGillivray's Warbler, Plumbeous Vireo and Gnatcatchers.

Alejandro was excellent, picking out some of the trickier species that I would have struggled to nail straight away - Greater Pewee, Western Wood Pewee, Dusky-capped Flycatcher, Northern Beardless Tyrannulet and Brown-backed Solitaire. A Red-tailed Hawk drifted overhead with big numbers of Black and Turkey Vultures. Unfortunately, we were unable to find the rare Solitary Eagle...

On the way back, I was dropped off at the Botanical Gardens. The highlight here was excellent views of Stripe-headed Sparrows, another endemic in this wonderful part of the World.

Guide Contact Details

Alejandro Martinez Rodriguez
birdinginmexico@gmail.com
www.birdinginmexico.com