Saturday, June 18, 2011

Sierra Gorda - Rio Escanela Camping

I had a superb camping trip up to Rio Escanela in the Sierra Gorda last weekend with some friends. On the whole, there were a lot fewer birds than last time - when we visited in January, the vegetation was alive with mixed flocks of North American migrants (seehttp://hileybirding.blogspot.com/2011_01_01_archive.html).

This time round, breeding Mexican residents were the main attraction. One such bird was this Rufous-capped Warbler, probably on its way to feed its young with a beak full of insects..




From the same family, we also found a Crescent-chested Warbler and a Painted Redstart.

The large Wrens of Mexico form a very charismatic family. At the camp ground, I came across a noisy pair of Spotted Wrens..



And later on, in the undergrowth a skulking Spot-breasted Wren.

Orioles are one of the most beautiful groups of birds out here in Mexico. I was pleased to catch up with a pair of Audubon's Orioles chowing down on some cactus fruit...




There were also plenty of Orange-billed Nightingale Thrushes around the campsite early on.


Other species seen at the camp ground included Violet-green Swallow, Rough-winged Swallow, Mexican Jay, Long-billed Thrasher, Yellow-throated Euphonia, Lesser Goldfinch, Black-headed Grosbeak, Flame-coloured Tanager, Rusty Sparrow, Brown-headed Cowbird (parasitising Canyon Towhee) and White-eared Hummingbird.

No comments:

Post a Comment

BUBO Listing www.bubo.org