Cardel and the River of Raptors

A late report from our trip to Cardel, Veracruz, in mid-September to observe the River of Raptors - one of the great spectacles of migration.  

Although conditions weren't great with Hurricanes battering both coasts of Mexico, we had a spell of an hour or two, when the river was in full flow.  Mid-September is the best time to see migrating Mississippi Kites (the massive movements of Turkey Vultures, Broad-winged and Swainson's Hawks come later).  In a short period, 4000 of these graceful raptors passed the famous roof of Cardel's tallest hotel.

Mississippi Kites

Ospreys were also on the move, passing by at a rate of one every 5 or so minutes.  We also got lucky by catching a gorgeous Swallow-tailed Kite shooting over the hotel..

Swallow-tailed Kite

As well as raptors, there were large migrating flocks of Dickcissel, Eastern Kingbird, Purple Martin, Barn Swallow, Bank Swallow, Cliff Swallow and many hundreds of Dragonflies.

In the afternoons, we spent some time around the beach and took a boat ride from La Antigua.  I photoed the Green Kingfisher and Neotropic Cormorant from the boat, and the Black Skimmers from our restaurant!

Green Kingfisher

Skimmers

Neotropic Cormorant

Proper birding around this part would yield many more species, but on a relaxed weekend we still managed the following: Brown Pelican, Laughing Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Royal Tern, Black Tern, Sandwich Tern, Forster's Tern, Willet, Black-necked Stilt, Semipalmated Plover, Turnstone, Sanderling, Magnificent Frigatebird, Yellow-crowned Night Heron, Snowy Egret, Cattle Egret, Great Egret, Black-crowned Night Heron, Roseate Spoonbill, Jacana, BB Whistling Duck, Social Flycatcher, Yellow-winged Tanager, Blue-grey Tanager, Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Groove-billed Ani, Roadside Hawk, White-tailed Hawk, Crested Caracara, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture....