Tropical Mockingbird
The area of Progreso described by Howell chucked up some superb endemics and local specialities. Before long, brief stops by stretches of promising scrub land had produced numerous pairs of White-lored Gnatcatchers, an incredible abundance of Tropical Mockingbirds,and some abiding Mangrove Warblers.
White-lored Gnatcatcher, Progreso
Common and Ruddy Ground Doves were plentiful and I soon caught sight of two much desired endemics - Mexican Sheartail and courting Yucatan Wrens.
Yucatan Wrens
Many of the waterbirds were out of range for binoculars, but regular scans of the lagoons and roadside ponds brought Blue-winged Teals, Lesser Yellowlegs,Greater Yellowlegs, Black-bellied Plover, Willet, Spotted and Least Sandpipers, Great Blue, Little Blue and Tricolored Herons, Roseate Spoonbills, Snowy and Great-white Egrets, White Ibises and American Flamingos.
A viewing tower 15km east of Progreso brought views of a fishing Caspian Tern and Ringed Kingfisher, and close by were Groove-billed Anis and a Brown-crested Flycatcher. Hawking for insects were Mangrove Swallows, Barn Swallows, some superb Purple Martins, andRidgway's Rough-winged Swallows.
All this was in a few cheeky hours in the morning. Greater time spent here would have yielded a lot more birds, but I was happy with the above. As mentioned, I was largely following Howell's site guide. It's an excellent book, though unfortunately out of date due to the rapid development in much of Mexico. Contact me for further site details.
Mangrove Warbler
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