Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Xalapa - Parque Ecologico Macuiltepetl

I spent the long weekend in Xalapa in the company of a number of birders from COAX (the birding club of Xalapa - see www.coaxxalapa.org) and Pronatura Veracruz.

Upon arrival on Saturday morning, I went straight to Macuilteptl Park, a superb site based around an extinct volcano in the middle of the city. Birds were everywhere - some of the most noticeable being parties of roving Band-backed Wrens and the resident Cordilleran Flycatchers.



Seeing mixed flocks of wintering and migrating Warblers is a highlight of birding in Mexico, and Macuilteptl held groups including Nashville, Townsend's, Hermit, Worm-eating, Wilson's, Black-throated Green, Black-and-White, Ovenbird, Hooded, Golden-crowned and Rufous-capped.

Another interesting party of birds held the endemic Blue Mockingbird, Black-headed Saltators, Grey Catbirds and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks.





There was some superb Tanager action as well. Fruiting trees held Summer, Western, Flame-coloured, Yellow-winged, Common-Bush Tanagers and Yellow-throated Euphonias. My highlight of the Park, though, was stunning views of nesting Blue-hooded Euphonias.




Azure-crowned Hummingbird and Wedge-tailed Sabrewing are both endemic Hummers which were found easily in the park, and a surprise bonus came in the form of a lone Mississippi Kite finding its way back to North America.

Certainly a magical place to find in the middle of a buzzing city..

No comments:

Post a Comment

BUBO Listing www.bubo.org