In my last post, I launched the Mexican vacationer heart of Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo, and talked about some birds seen alongside a bicycle path that heads uphill from Ixtapa’s lodge zone. I used to be very proud of this route, however wished to take my remaining time trying to find a marsh or seaside with water-loving birds. The bicycle path supposedly results in a seaside named Playa Linda (Beautiful Seashore), however the route turned out to be too lengthy for me to stroll to, round-trip, within the tropical warmth, so I returned to my parked automotive and tried to search out someplace marshy by driving. Finally, I ended up at a river’s mouth referred to as Playa la Barra (Sandbar Seashore).
By then, it was virtually midday, so the very best birding hours had been properly previous. Nonetheless, the seaside was beautiful, with just a few Mexican vacationers current, and the few birds round appeared unbothered by my presence. I didn’t see something too particular, but it surely was nonetheless a superb time.
Noticed Sandpipers are winter migrants down right here, so I not often see them with their namesake spots. However this one definitely had lots.
Laughing Gulls and Neotropic Cormorants are moderately frequent in Mexico’s highlands. However I’ve to journey to the coast to see a Brown Pelican or Elegant Tern.
I see a whole bunch of Least Sandpipers in any given winter. However they’re not often so trusting as this little fellow.
I additionally see a handful of Semipalmated Plovers every winter. Whimbrels? Not a lot.
On my method again to the lodge, I seen that Wooden Storks had been nesting, proper beside a busy car parking zone. That place may very well be price a second go to… if solely I had one other morning obtainable.
The chance arose when my spouse suggesting we keep in Ixtapa yet one more day, to spend time with our daughter, son-in-law and, particularly, grandchildren who had additionally gone right down to the marriage. Realizing me properly, she tempted me with just a few extra hours of birding on the additional morning. I crumbled.
On my method to my goal spot, I needed to go get gasoline for the journey dwelling. Simply in need of the gasoline station, I seen a concrete drainage ditch with sufficient water, filth, and vegetation to draw a lot of Blue-winged Teals and shorebirds. At a long way, I noticed what I believed to be a White-fronted Ibis, a typical species uphill. However, once I received dwelling, my grainy pictures revealed a Limpkin — my fourth, and remaining, lifer for the journey. And that’s the reason I not often chicken with out my digital camera.
At any fee, I had chosen to go to a spot listed on the map as a “cocodrilario“, a spot for crocodiles. Crocodiles want a marsh, proper? And I wished to chicken a superb marsh in Ixtapa.
However once I arrived on the web site, it turned out to be precisely the place I had already seen the Wooden Stork nests, two days earlier than. And the Wooden Storks had been nonetheless placing on fairly a present, posing, carrying nesting supplies, and constructing their nests.
Not solely that, however a number of Roseate Spoonbills flew shut overhead. One allowed me my first, and long-desired, first rate picture of this beautiful species.
Do you have to ever want to go to this spot, however have a wholesome concern of being eaten by a crocodile, it’s best to know that the location’s namesakes keep behind a sturdy fence. I believe they’re really a captive inhabitants, as I noticed no obvious entry to the broader habitat.
This was additionally not the huge marsh I had hoped for. However the seaside birds did placed on a present.
It appeared odd to think about a Snowy Egret as a “seaside chicken”. However there it was.
A single Willet appeared to have come only for an extended picture session. I photographed it, and one other Noticed Sandpiper, till I bored with doing so.
Face the digital camera.
Now, in profile.
It was nonetheless there on my method again to the automotive.
A Nice-tailed Grackle confirmed that it is aware of simply what to eat a the seaside.
Whereas one other confirmed precisely what it considered me. Not a lot, apprently.
And several other birds diving into the ocean proved that the Boobies I had been seeing had been, in truth, Blue-footed.
Whereas not precisely a shorebird, the Yellow Warbler does appear to love a superb shore. And I like Yellow Warblers.
In abstract, I can’t say I like to recommend solely coming to Mexico for its seashores, as many international vacationers do. However birders who do go to our seaside locations can definitely see many great birds right here. Simply be sure you go away your lodge and discover a bit.
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