Up the Cerro Grande

On Saturday, a friend and I trekked up one of the largest mountains of the Tequisquiapan area, the Cerro Grande. We left the Estaccion Bernal at 8 a.m. and fought our way up a river bed and through fields and fields of dense vegetation (I've got the scratches to show for it).

On the way up, I had Grey Flycatchers, Northern and Chihuahuan Ravens, Red-tailed Hawk, Turkey Vulture, Phainopeplas and many others.

About 150 metres from the top, the habitat changes into oak woods. This brings with it a change in wildlife. All of a sudden, there is an abundance of butterflies and, amazingly up here, dragonflies. Some great birds as well. A male Painted Redstart fanned its tail incessantly, and some flowering trees held (apparently breeding?) Yellow-rumped Warblers and many Hummingbirds, including Magnificent, White-eared and Broad-billed.

Lots of White-throated Swifts dashing around the summit, and also a single Tree Swallow.

I'd love to return to bird it more thoroughly, but might not be possible given the effort required to get there!