Cascada Chuveje

A really excellent morning's birding last Monday on the track to Cascada Chuveje in the Sierra Gorda.  It's a very beautiful location, and we stumbled on some really interesting species.  

Chuck Aid had heard some Singing Quails earlier, and as I caught up with him, he was studying a fine pair of Olivaceous Woodcreepers.  Bird activity was high, and as well as several Vireos (Blue-headed, Cassin's, Huttons)  and Warblers (Black-and-white, Rufous-capped, Slate-throated Redstart, Painted Redstart, Townsends, Wilson's, Yellow-rumped) we caught up with a fine Rufous-browed Peppershrike.

Rufous-browed Peppershrike

Acorn Woodpekers (at least 10) were a constant feature of the birding here, flying back and forth across the valley with some Ladderbacks present as well.  We were also treated to fly-bys of 2 Broad-winged Hawks.  

Int he more open areas, several Elegant Euphonias were present, as well as family parties of Spotted Wrens and some Rusty Sparrows.

Rusty Sparrow

Additional highlights over the course of the morning included Grey Catbirds, Vaux's Swifts, White-throated Swifts, Greater Pewees and many more.

Presa Jalpan

I had a few visits this weekend to Presa Jalpan, in the heart of the Sierra Gorda.  It's a pleasant spot, and a great place to catch up some birds typical of Tropical Deciduous habitat.

I was fairly surprised to see a Bufflehead on the Presa, in a mixed flock of duck (also present were Ring-necked Ducks, Redheads, American Wigeons, 1 Northern Pintail, Green-winged, Blue-winged Teals and Ruddy Ducks).  Pied-billed Grebes, Least Grebes, Eared Grebes and Neotropic Cormorants were knocking around as well.

In the scrub around the Presa and uptowards Rio Adentro, I bumped into 1 Elegant Trogon, Northern Cardinal, Eastern Phoebes, Golden-crowned Warblers, White-eyed Vireo, Brown-backed Solitaires, Ash-throated Flycatchers, Boat-billed Flycatchers, Great Kiskadees, Social Flycatchers, Spot-breasted Wrens etc etc (full list for both trips below).

Eastern Phoebe

      Full Species List over 2 visits

American Wigeon  4
Blue-winged Teal  5
Northern Pintail  1
Ring-necked Duck  4
Bufflehead  1
Ruddy Duck  3
Pied-billed Grebe  5
Eared Grebe  5
Neotropic Cormorant  4
Great Blue Heron  2
Snowy Egret  1
Cattle Egret  2
Turkey Vulture  6
Spotted Sandpiper  1
Eurasian Collared-Dove  1
Vaux's Swift  100
Elegant Trogon  1
Green Kingfisher  1
Great Kiskadee  4
Social Flycatcher  8
Couch's Kingbird  3
White-eyed Vireo  1
Common Raven  2
Northern Rough-winged Swallow  40
Canyon Wren  3
Spot-breasted Wren  4
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher  5
Ruby-crowned Kinglet  2
Brown-backed Solitaire  3
Blue Mockingbird  6
Gray Catbird  1
Nashville Warbler  2
MacGillivray's Warbler  2
Townsend's Warbler  1
Hermit Warbler  1
Rufous-capped Warbler  14
Golden-crowned Warbler  1
Wilson's Warbler  6
Blue-gray Tanager  1
Olive Sparrow  1
Flame-colored Tanager  1
Yellow-throated Euphonia  2
Gadwall  3
Green-winged Teal  6
Redhead  2
Least Grebe  3
Roadside Hawk  1
White-tipped Dove  2
Broad-billed Hummingbird  3
Golden-fronted Woodpecker  1
Eastern Phoebe  2
Vermilion Flycatcher  1
Dusky-capped Flycatcher  1
Ash-throated Flycatcher  1
Great Kiskadee  2
Barn Swallow  20
Black-crested Titmouse  4
House Wren  2

Ruby-crowned Kinglet  1
Orange-crowned Warbler  1
Northern Cardinal  1

Sierra Gorda - Chuveje

Close to Rio Escanela, this beautiful site hosts a spectacular waterfall..

Visited here in the afternoon, so there wasn't as much bird activity as in other spots, but it still threw up a few crackers, such as great views of this Rufous-capped Warbler.

Sierra Gorda - Rio Escanela

I had a superb weekend in the Sierra Gorda, taking in some magnificent scenery and wildlife.


This Biosphere Reserve is just a couple of hours north of Tequis, but boasts a huge diversity of habitats and provides a pleasant change from the arid desert that most of Queretaro is made up of.

Camping on the Rio Escanela, I woke up at dawn and explored the campsite to find some of the best birding I've had yet in Mexico. Wintering Wood-Warblers were everywhere and included: Black-and White, Townsend's, Yellow-Rumped and some gorgeous Painted Redstarts.

Painted Redstart, Rio Escanela

White-eared Hummingbird, Rio Escanela

Some fruiting trees held a stunning variety of birds. Literally dripping with lifers..I struggled to record everything I saw. Firstly a few Tufted Titmice feeding up high with some Lesser Goldfinch. Ruby-crowned Kinglets and some Hutton's Vireos flicked through as well. Lower down some Audubon's Orioles and a female Black-headed Grosbeak. And flitting around the forest floor were Canyon Wrens, Lincoln Sparrows, House Wrens and undoubtedly others that I missed.

Hutton's Vireo, Rio Escanela

I had to tear myself away to head back to the tent and set up breakfast. Never mind, though, at least I could eat by the river as gorgeous American Dippers zipped past low over the water..

After breakfast we took a 'river walk' to Puenta de Dios, a spectacular natural bridge. The forest was quiet for short periods but would then erupt into life as we encountered mixed flocks.

Puenta de Dios, Sierra Gorda

One held Chestnut-sided Shrike Vireos, Melodious Blackbirds and a Crescent-chested Warbler together with the more common birds. Dippers were a constant presence on the river and there was also a pair of Black Phoebe.

What a superb place - one morning was truly too little.