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Tabasco might be the wettest state in Mexico. Throughout Mexico’s dry season (which is simply now ending), a lot of the nation turns brown, as our vegetation survive the annual drought by dropping their leaves. However Tabasco solely turns from a giant swamp into barely swampy grasslands punctuated with some remaining swampy jungle. As such, it gives some distinctive birding experiences.
I just lately traveled to Villahermosa, Tabasco’s state capital, to talk and sing in a number of Presbyterian church buildings there. Throughout my keep, I used to be busy on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday nights, in addition to all day Sunday. However the mornings, and all of Friday, have been free. Even higher, I occur to have a web-based birding buddy who supplied to create space that Wednesday and Friday to take me to see a few of Tabasco’s birds. Since I’ve restricted expertise with japanese Mexico, and even much less expertise with tropical species, I enthusiastically accepted.
Sensible choice! By week’s finish I had 30 new species on my life record. And the ultimate species, seen within the neighborhood by which I used to be housed, gave me my five hundredth species in Mexico. 500 down, 600 to go.
Our first day trip, Wednesday, I noticed a number of lifers even earlier than reaching our goal website. Two confirmed up blocks from my host’s dwelling. I grabbed some severely overexposed images of my first Inexperienced-breasted Mango.
There have been quite a few Pale-vented Pigeons, and one was clearly nesting.
Some non-lifer Plain Chachalacas appeared unusually assured; West-Mexican Chachalacas on my dwelling turf are far more timid.
I had seen Altamira Orioles a couple of occasions earlier than. Nonetheless, every species on this journey was a Tabasco-lifer, so each one was a welcome addition.
Then we detoured into the middle of Villahermosa, to see the Northern Potoo that spends every day within the backyard of one among Rolando’s members of the family. This was a lifer I had lengthy hoped for! Mexicans name this the “Stick Chook” (pájaro estaca), and, certain sufficient, it by no means moved as I noticed it.
“Nothing to see right here, I’m only a stick.”
Then Rolando took me to Jonuta Highway (el Camino a Jonuta, pronounced hoe-NOO-tah). I had heard about Jonuta Highway for years. It stretches from Chiapas state to the border with Campeche state, Tabasco being a small and slim state. The highway travels nearly fully by way of marshy pasturelands. I advised Rolando I didn’t really feel I used to be actually in Tabasco, as a result of I had but to see a cow standing in water. Then we noticed a cow, standing in water.
Due to this, lots of the species we noticed are water-loving species. Naked-throated Tiger-Herons, a rarety elsewhere, are nearly a pest right here.
In an uncommon twist, Tiger-Herons get their title from the markings on juveniles and immatures.
Adults are a lot much less tiger-ish.
This one had but to depart the nest.
The same Pinnated Bittern, nonetheless, was a fowl that Rolando had doubted he might present me. And but, there it was! This bittern has “tiger-stripes” in all ages, however they’re vertical, not horizontal.
Limpkins additionally appeared commonly. Limpkins like to feed on freshwater snails. A west-coast Limpkin was a lifer for me only one month earlier; however on the Jonuta Highway, they have been all over the place.
Way more stunning, nonetheless, is that freshwater snails are additionally the popular meals for an area member of the hawk household. I had seen an grownup Snail Kite as soon as whereas birding in Veracruz state, however was nonetheless excited to now see an immature one in Tabasco.
Right here in Mexico, they name Ospreys “Fishing Eagles”. However Tabasco has a second fowl of prey that fishes. Once more, Rolando was protecting his fingers crossed that he might present me a Black-collared Hawk. However we didn’t see one… We noticed 4! I want I might have seen one fishing.
In Mexico they name this fowl the “Cinnamon Eagle”, Águila Canela.
I by no means did handle a photograph of the Olive-throated Parakeets that flew overhead, my lifer #6 for the day. However the #7 Sofa’s Kingbirds have been extra useful. This species is sort of equivalent to the Tropical Kingbirds that may be seen and heard all over the place in tropical Mexico. However their decrease, raspier calls left little doubt that these have been Sofa’s. Rolando was additionally enthusiastic about this discover.
On the way in which to Jonuta Highway, Rolando knowledgeable me that on this area, Lesser Yellow-headed Vultures are widespread, however Turkey Vultures are uncommon. Go determine! I want I might have gotten an excellent picture, however… Lesser Yellow-headed Vultures look similar to Turkey Vultures, except you get a close-up of their head. Which I didn’t get. I might present you an awesome picture from Acapulco, however that may be dishonest.
Japanese Meadowlarks sang from many fenceposts. They actually usually are not uncommon birds, however they do know the right way to pose for his or her portrait!
Our one Tropical Mockingbird for the day most popular to decide on a dramatic stance for his portrait.
The absence of white wing patches confirms that this Mockingbird is Tropical, not Northern.
On a visit to Veracruz state a few years in the past, we noticed a number of Fork-tailed Flycatchers. However you possibly can by no means see too many Fork-tailed Flycatchers.
Evidently, I had a spectacular expertise with my buddy/information. Rolando Chávez is a lawyer and accountant, however in his “spare time”, he does function an expert birding information, utilizing his wonderful command of the English language. Click on on his title right here to contact him. Or yow will discover him in Instagram at rchavezdm. In the event you go to Villahermosa, do look him up!
Subsequent week: our even higher expertise in a Tabasco jungle.
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