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MEXICO - OAXACA

21 February - 04 March 2001

by Richard Palmer

This was a 12 day trip starting and ending in Tucson, Arizona from February 21st through March 04, 2001.  Our goal was to find as many land birds as possible without spending much time at the Pacific Ocean or on water birds.  267 species were seen with about 12,726 individual birds recorded.  26 endemics were seen or heard on the trip.

Participants:

Rob Johnsen, Green Valley, AZ
Sally Johnsen, Green Valley, AZ
Larry Liese, Tucson, AZ
Steve Mahoney, Green Valley, AZ
Karen McBride, Green Valley, AZ
Pinau Merlin, Tucson, AZ
Richard Palmer, Green Valley, AZ,   Trip leader and compiler
Dorothy Palmer, Green Valley, AZ
Ed Post, Green Valley, AZ
Cindy West, Higley, AZ
Betty Wotton, Green Valley, AZ
Bob Wotton, Green Valley, AZ

Getting there:

Most of the group flew from Tucson to Los Angeles to Mexico City to Oaxaca.  A couple of our group chose to fly from Phoenix direct to Mexico City and then to Oaxaca.  Getting there took one whole day to accomplish, arriving at our hotel after dark.  No birding was possible the first or last day due to the travel time required.

Lodging:

We used the following hotels during our stay in Mexico.  All hotels had an adequate restaurant.

February 21, and 22, 2001;  March 02 and 03, 2001:
Hotel Hacienda la Noria ($65.00 USD per night per room with two double beds.)
Avenida Eduardo Mata Number 1918 la Costa
San Jose la Noria
Oaxaca, Oaxaca,  C.P. 68120
Telephone from the United States:
011 52  951 47555
FAX from the United States:
011 52  951 65347
email for reservations (English and Spanish languages):  hacienda@lanoria.com

February 23 and 24, 2001:
Puesta del Sol Cabins ($45.00 per night per room with two double beds.)
Kilometer 131.5, Highway 175
San Jose del Pacifico
Telephone from the United States
011 52 957 20111  (Spanish speaking only)
email for reservations (English and Spanish languages):
SanJose@SanjoseDelPacifico.com

February 25 and 26, 2001:
Hotel Calli ($35.00 per night per room with two double beds.)
Carretaria C. Colon Kilometer 720
70760 Tehuantepec, Oaxaca
Telephone from the United States:
011 52 971 50088 or 011 52 971 50088
FAX from the United States:
011 52 971 5011
email for reservations (English and Spanish languages):  callitour@hotmail.com

February 27, 28 and March 01, 2001:
Hotel Hacienda ($28.00 per night per room with two double beds.)
Blvd. Benito Juarez 409
68300 Tuxtepec, Oaxaca
Phone from the United States:
011 52 287 51621
FAX from the United States:
011 52 287 51998
email for reservations (English and Spanish languages):
hacienda@tuxcom.net.mx

Transportation:

I tried very hard to rent two 9 passenger Suburban type vehicles for the trip but was unable to find any car rental agency who had them.  Our next choice was to rent 3 mid size vehicles for the group of 12.  Only straight shift cars were available according to the rental agencies.  The vehicles offered were short of cargo space for baggage which made this option barely acceptable.  It was then I took the advice of Norman Erthal and contacted the Turismo Panoramico de Oaxaca by FAX at 011 52 9 512 5475.  They provided a 15 passenger Ford Club Wagon, driver, provided for the gas, the drivers lodging and his meals for less money that the three vehicles would have been.  They can also be contacted by email at:  panorami@prodigy.net.mx  Total cost was $2,447.00 for the twelve day rental including insurance.  Ask for Simon as a driver, always on time and a very careful driver.  He speaks some English.  Total miles driven 1,162 for the twelve days.  Roads were slow driving due to a lot of mountain driving.  Some were under reconstruction slowing us down.  We averaged about 25 miles per hour including birding stops.

SITES VISITED:

This is an abbreviated site report.   The reader will need a copy of A Bird-Finding Guide to Mexico by Steve N.G. Howell for reference to the sites listed in this trip report.  Numbers listed are from his book.

February 21:

Travel day, home to Oaxaca

February 22:

Monte Alban (site 11-1)
Yagul (site 11-3)
Mitla (site 11-3)
Tule and the giant tree ( in route to Yagul)

February 23 and 24:

San Jose Del Pacifico area (kilometer 132 on highway 175)

February 25:

Travel day from San Jose Del Pacifico to Tehuantepec.  Birding stop at Huatulco.

February 26:

Travel to and from Tehuantepec to Tapanatepec and the Chiapas border.  Entire day allotted to finding the Rose-breasted Bunting and the Cinnamon-tailed Sparrow.  (sites 11-13 and 11-15)

February 27:

Travel day from Tehuantepec to Tuxtepec (site 11-8)

February 28:

All day devoted to the Tuxtepec area (site 11-8)

March 01:

Valle National (site 11-7)

March 02:

Travel day from Tuxtepec to Oaxaca City.

March 03:

Cerro San Felipe (site 11-5)

March 04:

Travel day Oaxaca home.

I will be glad to answer any questions not covered in this trip report by
email or UPS letter.

The list of species.
 
 
# COMMON NAME SCIENTIFIC NAME # ind.
01 Little Tinamou Crypturellus soui 1H
02 Thicket Tinamou Crypturellus cinnamomeus 1H
03 American White Pelican Pelecanus erythrorhynchos 11
04 Brown Pelican Pelecanus occidentalis 2
05 Neotropic Cormorant Phalacrocorax brasilianus 87
06 Magnificent Frigatebird Fregata magnificens 20
07 Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias 1
08 Great Egret Ardea alba 99
09 Snowy Egret Egretta thula 74
10 Little Blue Heron Egretta caerulea 4
11 Tricolored Heron Egretta tricolor 2
12 Reddish Egret Egretta rufescens 2
13 Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis 425 
14 Green Heron Butorides virescens 2
15 White Ibis Eudocimus albus 8
16 White-faced Ibis Plegadis chihi 27
17 Wood Stork Mycteria americana 1
18 Black Vulture Coragyps atratus 1043
19 Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura 1067
20 Blue-winged Teal Anas discors 30
21 Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata 2
22 Osprey Pandion haliaetus 5
23 Gray-headed Kite Leptodon cayanensis 2
24 Hook-billed Kite Chondrohierax uncinatus 2
25 White-tailed Kite Elanus leusurus 3
26 Snail Kite Rostrhamus sociabilis 2
27 Northern Harrier Circus cyaneus 2
28 Sharp-shinned Hawk Accipiter striatus 5
29 White Hawk Leucopternis albicollis 4
30 Gray Hawk Asturina nitida 42
31 Great Black-Hawk Buteogallus urubitinga 1
32 Roadside Hawk Buteo magnirostris 22
33 Short-tailed Hawk Buteo brachyurus 1
34 White-tailed Hawk Buteo albicaudatus 2
35 Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis 15
36 Black Hawk-Eagle Spizaetus tyrannus 2
37 Crested Caracara Caracara cheriway 27
38 American Kestrel Falco sparverius 62
39 Aplomado Falcon Falco femoralis 1
40 Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus 3
41 Plain Chachalaca Ortalis vetula 20H 
42 West Mexican Chachalaca Ortalis poliocephala 66
43 Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus 2
44 American Coot Fulica americana 32
45 Black-necked Stilt Himantopus mexicanus 12
46 Northern Jacana Jacana spinosa 12
47 Greater Yellowlegs Tringa melanoleuca 1
48 Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularia 3
49 Laughing Gull Larus atricilla 100 
50 Rock Dove Columba livia 251 
51 Red-billed Pigeon Columba flavirostris 14
52 Band-tailed Pigeon Columba fasciata 2
53 White-winged Dove Zenaida asiatica 25
54 Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura 14
55 Inca Dove Columbina inca 57
56 Common Gound-Dove Columbina passerina 24
57 Ruddy Ground-Dove Columbina talpacoti 58
58 Blue Ground-Dove Claravis pretiosa 1H
59 White-tipped Dove Leptotila verreauxi 11
60 Green Parakeet Aratinga holochlora 8
61 Pacific Parakeet Aratinga strenua 2
62 Orange-fronted Parakeet Aratinga canicularis 10
63 Parrot species Amazona species 10
64 Squirrel Cuckoo Piaya cayana 1
65 Lesser Ground-Cuckoo Morococcyx erythropygus 3
66 Lesser Roadrunner Geococcyx velox 2
67 Groove-billed Ani Crotophaga sulcirostris 89
68 Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl Glaucidium brasilianum 7
69 Lesser Nighthawk Chordeiles acutipennis 15
70 (Mexican) Whip-poor-will Caprimulgus vociferus oaxacae 4
71 White-collared Swift Streptoprocne zonaris 65
72 White-naped Swift Streptoprocne semicollaris 20
73 Vaux's Swift Chaetura vauxi 40
74 White-throated Swift Aeronautes saxatalis 4
75 Green Violet-ear Colibri thalassinus 5
76 Dusky Hummingbird Cynanthus sordidus 14
77 Broad-billed Hummingbird Cynanthus latirostris doubledayi 3
78 White-eared Hummingbird Hylocharis leucotis 46
79 Azure-crowned Hummingbird Amazilia cyanocephala 7
80 Rufous-tailed Hummingbird Amazilia tzacatl 6
81 Blue-capped Hummingbird Eupherusa cyanophrys 1
82 Garnet-throated Hummingbird Lampornis rhami 1
83 Magnificent Hummingbird Eugenes fulgens 6
84 Citreoline Trogon Trogon citreolus 1
85 Violaceous Trogon Trogon violaceus 2
86 Mountain Trogon Trogon mexicanus 9
87 Blue-crowned Motmot Momotus momota 6H
88 Belted Kingfisher Ceryle alcyon 2
89 Collared Aracari Pteroglossus torquatus 2
90 Keel-billed Toucan Ramphastos sulfuratus 10
91 Acorn Woodpecker Melanerpes formicivorus 3
92 Golden-cheeked Woodpecker Melanerpes chrysogenys 3
93 Gray-breasted Woodpecker Melanerpes hypopolius 7
94 Golden-fronted Woodpecker Melanerpes aurifrons 26
95 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Sphyrapicus varius 1
96 Ladder-backed Woodpecker Picoides scalaris 3
97 Hairy Woodpecker Picoides villosus 4
98 Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus cafer 3
99 Lineated Woodpecker Dryocopus lineatus 2
100  Rufous-breasted Spinetail Synallaxis erythrothorax 12
101  Spotted Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus erythropygius 3
102 Spot-crowned Woodcreeper Lepidocolaptes affinis 2
103 Barred Antshrike Thamnophilus doliatus 4
104 Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet Camptostoma imberbe 1
105 Greenish Elaenia Myiopagis viridicata 1
106 Pileated Flycatcher Xenotriccus mexicanus 8
107 Tufted Flycatcher Mitrephanes phaeocercus 11
108 Greater Pewee Contopus pertinax 3
109 Least Flycatcher Empidonax minimus 4
110 Hammond's Flycatcher Empidonax hammondii 2
111 Gray Flycatcher Empidonax wrightii 2
112 Dusky Flycatcher Empidonax oberholseri 7
113 Cordilleran Flycatcher Empidonax occidentalis 3
114 Vermilion Flycatcher Phrocephalus rubinus 33 
115 Dusky-capped Flycatcher Myiarchus tuberculifer 5
116 Ash-throated Flycatcher Myiarchus cinerascens 5
117 Nutting's Flycatcher Myiarchus nuttingi 1
118 Brown-crested Flycatcher Myiarchus tyrannulus 1
119 Great Kiskadee Pitangus sulphuratus 41 
120 Boat-billed Flycatcher Megarynchus pitangua 3
121 Social Flycatcher Myiozetetes similis 36 
122 Tropical Kingbird Tyrannus melancholicus 305
123 Cassin's Kingbird Tyrannus vociferans 8
124 Thick-billed Kingbird Tyrannus crassirostris 2
125 Western Kingbird Tyrannus verticalis 77 
126 Scissor-tailed Flycatcher Tyrannus forficatus 50 
127 Rufous Piha Lipaugus unirufus 2
128 Rose-throated Becard Pachyramphus aglaiae 2
129 Masked Tityra Tityra semifasciata 1
130 Black-crowned Tityra Tityra inquisitor 2
131 Loggerhead Shrike Lanius ludovicianus 20 
132 White-eyed Vireo Vireo griseus 2
133 Dwarf Vireo Vireo nelsoni 1
134 Plumbeous Vireo Vireo plumbeus 2
135 Blue-headed Vireo Vireo solitarius 1
136 Hutton's Vireo Vireo huttoni 5
137 Warbling Vireo Vireo gilvus 7
138 Brown-capped Vireo Vireo leucophrys 1
139 Green Shrike-Vireo Vireolanius pulchellus 2H 
140 Steller's Jay Cyanocitta stelleri 13 
141 White-throated Magpie-Jay Calocitta formosa 55 
142 Brown Jay Cyanocorax morio 71 
143 Dwarf Jay Cyanolyca nana 2
144 Western Scrub-Jay Aphelocoma californica 18 
145 Common Raven Corvus corax 5
146 Mangrove Swallow Tachycineta albilinea 35 
147 Violet-green Swallow Tachycineta thalassina 332
148 N. Rough-winged Swallow Stelgidopteryx serripennis 130
149 Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica 22 
150 Bridled Titmouse Baeolophus wollweberi 2
151 Bushtit Psaltriparus minimus melanotis 16 
152 Band-backed Wren Campylorhynchus zonatus 16 
153 Rufous-naped Wren Campylorhynchus rufinucha 6
154 Boucard's Wren Campylorhynchus jocosus 1
155 Rock Wren Salpinctes obsoletus 10 
156 Canyon Wren Catherpes mexicanus 5
157 Sumichrast's Wren Hylorchilus sumichrasti 1H 
158 Banded Wren Thryothorus pleurostictus 5
159 House Wren Troglodytes aedon 5
160 White-bellied Wren Uropsila leucogastra 4H 
161 Gray-breasted Wood-Wren Henicorhina leucophrys 2
162 Ruby-crowned Kinglet Regulus calendula 2
163 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Polioptila caerulea 28 
164 White-lored Gnatcatcher Polioptila albiloris 8
165 Western Bluebird Sialia mexicana 1
166 Brown-backed Solitaire Myadestes occidentalis 28 
167 Slate-colored Solitaire Myadestes unicolor 6
168 Russet Nightingale-Thrush Catharus occidentalis 2
169 Ruddy-capped Nightingale-Thrush Catharus frantzii 2
170 Black Robin Turdus infuscatus 2
171 Clay-colored Robin Turdus grayi 26 
172 White-throated (Thrush) Robin Turdus assimilis 2
173 Rufous-backed Robin Turdus rufopalliatus 16 
174 American Robin Turdus migratorius 26 
175 Aztec Thrush Ridgwayia pinicola 13 
176 Northern Mockingbird Mimus polyglottos 5
177 Tropical Mockingbird Mimus gilvus 1
178 Ocellated Thrasher Taxostoma ocellatum 1
179 Curve-billed Thrasher Taxostoma curvirostre 4
180 Blue Mockingbird Melanotis caerulescens 1
181 Cedar Waxwing Bombycilla cedrorum 33 
182 Gray Silky-flycatcher Ptilogonys cinereus 91 
183 Olive Warbler Peucedramus taeniatus 11 
184 Orange-crowned Warbler Vermivora celata 36 
185 Nashville Warbler Vermivora ruficapilla 72 
186 Virginia's Warbler Vermivora virginiae 1
187 Crescent-chested Warbler Dendroica pensylvanica 9
188 Northern Parula Parula americana 4
189 Yellow Warbler Dendroica petechia 6
190 Magnolia Warbler Dendroica magnolia 2
191 Yellow-rumped Warbler Dendroica coronata 64 
192 Townsend's Warbler Dendroica townsendi 41 
193 Hermit Warbler Dendroica occidentalis 5
194 Yellow-throated Warbler Dendroica dominica 1
195 Black-and-white Warbler Mniotilta varia 6
196 American Redstart Setophaga ruticilla 5
197 Mourning Warbler Oporornis philadelphia 1
198 MacGillivray's Warbler Oporornis tolmiei 4
199 Hooded Yellowthroat Geothlypis nelsoni 3
200 Gray-crowned Yellowthroat Geothlypis poliocephala 1
201 Wilson's Warbler Wilsonia pusilla 31 
202 Red Warbler Ergaticus ruber ruber 21 
203 Slate-throated Redstart Myioborus miniatus 9
204 Golden-crowned Warbler Basileuterus culicivorus 4
205 Rufous-capped Warbler Basileuterus rufifrons 16 
206 Golden-browed Warbler Basileuterus belli 2
207 Common Bush-Tanager Chlorospingus ophthalmicus 4
208 Hepatic Tanager Piranga flava 2
209 Summer Tanager Piranga rubra 4
210 Western Tanager Piranga ludoviciana 24 
211 Flame-colored Tanager Piranga bidentata 1
212 Crimson-collared Tanager Ramphocelus sanguinolentus 4
213 Blue-gray Tanager Thraupis episcopus 1
214 Yellow-winged Tanager Thraupis abbas 12 
215 Scrub Euphonia Euphonia affinis 2
216 Yellow-throated Euphonia Euphonia hirundinacea 9
217 Blue-crowned Chlorophonia Chlorophonia occipitalis 1
218 Green Honeycreeper Chlorophanes spiza 1
219 Blue-black Grassquit Volatinia jacarina 30 
220 White-collared Seedeater Sporophila torqueola 26 
221 Yellow-faced Grassquit Tiaris olivacea 1
222 Cinnamon-bellied Flowerpiercer Diglossa baritula 2
223 Rufous-capped Brush-Finch Atlapetes pileaus 1
224 Chestnut-capped Brush-Finch Buarremon brunneinucha 1
225 Collared Towhee Pipilo ocai 1
226 Spotted Towhee Pipilo maculatus 2
227 White-throated Towhee Pipilo albicollis 61 
228 Canyon Towhee Pipilo fuscus 3
229 Stripe-headed Sparrow Aimophila ruficauda 16 
230 Bridled Sparrow Aimophila mystacalis 2
231 Cinnamon-tailed Sparrow Aimophila sumichrasti 2
232 Rufous-crowned Sparrow Aimophila ruficeps 1
233 Rusty Sparrow Aimophila rufescens 3
234 Oaxaca Sparrow Aimophila notosticta 1
235 Chipping Sparrow Spizella passerina 20 
236 Lincoln's Sparrow Melospiza lincolnii 5
237 Yellow-eyed Junco Junco phaeonotus 35 
238 Grayish Saltator Saltator coerulescens 5
239 Buff-throated Saltator Saltator maximus 8
240 Rose-breasted Grosbeak Pheucticus ludovicianus 6
241 Black-headed Grosbeak Pheucticus melanocephalus 13 
242 Blue Bunting Cyanocompsa parellina 2
243 Blue Grosbeak Guiraca caerulea 10 
244 Rose-bellied Bunting Passerina rositae 10 
245 Indigo Bunting Passerina cyanea 120
246 Orange-breasted Bunting Passerina leclancherii 16 
247 Painted Bunting Passerina ciris 3
248 Red-winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus 22 
249 Eastern Meadowlark Sturnella magna 2
250 Melodious Blackbird Dives dives 20 
251 Great-tailed Grackle Quiscalus mexicanus 5170
252 Bronzed Cowbird Molothrus aeneus 325
253 Black-vented Oriole Icterus wagleri 6
254 Orchard Oriole Icterus spurius 3
255 Hooded Oriole Icterus cucullatus 9
256 Yellow-tailed Oriole Icterus mesomelas 1
257 Streak-backed Oriole Icterus pustulatus 4
258 Bullock's Oriole Icterus bullockii 3
259 Altamira Oriole Icterus gularis 9
260 Baltimore Oriole Icterus galbula 1
261 Yellow-billed Cacique Amblycercus holosericeus 5
262 Yellow-winged Cacique Cacicus melanicterus 27 
263 Montezuma Oropendola Psarocolius montezuma 15 
264 House Finch Carpodacus mexicanus 53 
265 Black-headed Siskin Carduelis notata 2
266 Lesser Goldfinch Carduelis psaltria 60 
267 House Sparrow Passer Domesticus 156

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Dick Palmer
1022 West Union Bell Drive
Green Valley,  Arizona  85614-5945
Email:  PalmerRD@aol.com
Phone:  (520) 648-6735