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DAY 9    SUNDAY, THE LAST DAY

 

The tour was officially scheduled to end after breakfast.  However, most of us were leaving on the same late flight to Los Angeles, California later in the afternoon.  As an unexpected bonus, the guides (with help from Bill and his rental car) took us back to the canyon near Lázaro Cárdenas.

 

Many birds were the same, but I was able to see both the male and female Red-crowned Ant-Tanagers, birds I had only heard on our first trip.  We were also able to hear and photograph the Flammulated Flycatcher we had worked so hard for on Monday.

 

Several participants and John had to leave on earlier flights, and they headed back earlier than the rest of us.  The rest of us drove back to the hotel for a great buffet lunch, and then packed up and headed to the airport.

 

We said goodbye to Ginny first, as she was flying on an earlier flight to Mexico City and then on to Oaxaca for another Field Guides trip.  (I’m sure she was going to be exhausted by the time the new tour started the next day, but it was hard to feel sorry for her.)

 

The rest of us flew to LA late in the afternoon, and said goodbye as we cleared customs.

 

The trip on back to Portland was wonderfully uneventful, and I was glad to see Shelly pull up to the curb at the airport, load up, and make the short drive to home and bed.  I love to go on these trips, but it’s always good to get back to the 3 ladies I love.

 

Just a few nights later, a strong earthquake hit the Colima area, killing over twenty people.  I found it ironic that while I had looked over my shoulder at the volcano a time or two, I should have been looking at the ground under my feet.  Checking with Field Guides, all participants made it out okay, including those who had stayed longer.  All the locals we met and dealt with were wonderful people, gracious and hospitable. While I feel fortunate that we dodged the bullet, I feel for the people hurt by the quake. 

 

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