DAY 7 FRIDAY
Friday began
as a repeat of Wednesday, with a
After a brief restroom stop at the Pemex, where we turned off of the toll road, we were successful in driving up the volcano road while it was still dark. Unfortunately, it was windy and we had no success in attracting night birds before dawn broke. Our goal was to bird higher than Wednesday, so we planned on driving past our highest Wednesday spot without stopping to bird along the way.
We had a pleasant interruption along the way when we came across Long-tailed Wood-partridges in the road. This species is difficult to get good views of, as demonstrated by the skulking bird we had encountered on Wednesday. We immediately stopped when the first bird was noted. There were a total of four birds, and we sat and watched as they ran back and forth trying to decide which side of the road to be on. Unfortunately, the rest of the gang in the van behind couldn’t see as well, but some were able to sneak up alongside the Suburban to get views. David was one of those able to move up and see the birds for number 2,500 on his life list. Chris noted that this was the best viewing of this species he had ever had.
We climbed to ~8,500’, and then began birding
our way back down. Many of the birds we
saw were repeats of Wednesday, with several spectacular new birds.
Just up from
where we parked, Chris spotted a Green Violet-ear.
As with other hummingbirds I have seen, pictures just don’t do justice the
beauty of these little birds.
Just down the road a ways, John played the song of the Chestnut-sided Shrike-Vireo, and was able to attract a pair that gave very satisfying scope views. This was a fascinating bird, and one of my favorites of the trip.
After a bit, we drove back down the road and
parked at a dry waterfall. Chris heard a
Pine Flycatcher, and was able to call it closer, but we were unable to view it.
We had heard Gray-breasted Wood-Wrens, and some had seen them, as we birded on the mountain. While calling the Pine Flycatcher, a pair came into view and I was finally able to get a view of these dark brown, gray breasted, short tailed wrens.
We took a drink/snack break, and then birded downhill again. We had repeatedly tried to call out Collared Towhees on Wednesday and up to this point on Friday. Although the birds were very responsive vocally, only some had glimpses and no birds were cooperative. Persistence paid off however, as the guides were able to call a bird out where most of us had great views.
For lunch, we drove back to the wide area we had eaten at on Wednesday. While the guides made a pasta dish (the pasta cooked at the restaurant the night before?) with sun-dried tomatoes. I was watching another Green-violet Ear, and kept hearing another bird with it that I could never find. I finally recorded the call and played it for the guides, who told me that both sounds I was hearing were from the same hummingbird.
As we began birding again after lunch, David saw a thrush-like bird back up the road a bit. The guides played the song of the Russet Nightingale-Thrush, and two Russets responded. For such a secretive bird, these two put on a real show by sitting out in the open at eye level for an easy viewing.
Driving back off the volcano, we stopped at several locations to bird. At one stop, the guides were able to call in a Dickie’s form of Audubon’s Oriole. The bird stayed a short time, and I was only able to see it briefly.
At another stop, we found a female Yellow-bellied
Sapsucker, a lifer for me. A
White-striped Woodcreeper cooperated by pausing for photographs, despite some
local vaqueros moving cattle beneath.
Farther down, the slopes were full of birds. We stopped at the water pipe we had seen on Wednesday, and birded around it for awhile. We flushed a covey of Banded Quail, and although we were able to hear them and tried vainly to see them again, I was only able to see a flash of one bird in flight.
We ran out of time before birds, and had to head back. As we drove back to the Pemex station at the glorieta, I could see a large kettle of raptors circling overhead. I noted that one bird was likely not a vulture. I had been on the look out for White-tailed and Roadside Hawks, without luck. When we got to the station, I hopped out with my binoculars and saw that the buteo had dark edging to the primaries, and a white tail. Chris kindly took a look at the bird, which by that time was quite a ways away, and agreed it was likely a White-tailed Hawk. On the drive back to Colima from the Pemex, those riding in the van with John saw another White-tailed, but I did not see that bird.
Being busy with the White-tailed Hawk, I missed Bob inquiring about his altimeter. I heard later that with help from the guides, Bob was able to speak to employees at the station. Wonder of wonders, they had found it and were able to return it to Bob (who insisted they take a reward for their help).
We ate dinner at the restaurant in our hotel. Although smaller than the restaurant at the hotel next door, the food was good.