Ultimate week I commented that I spent that week educating on the Presbyterian Southeastern Theological Seminary within the Mexican town of Villahermosa. Some of the scholars there, Eduardo, grew to become out to be a slightly new, however avid, birder. On Friday we completed early, and I wasn’t touring house till Saturday. So Eduardo put aside the afternoon to turn me one of the most town, and take me birding in two town parks.
A gatekeeper regarded us over as we left the Seminary.
It was once an excessively humid 99ºF (37ºC) within the early afternoon, so we went to the town’s superb (and air-conditioned) archeology museum first. Then, round 4:00 p.m., the temperature was once simply slightly beginning to drop, so we walked around the boulevard to the town’s “Gunpowder Park” (Parque L. a. Pólvora).
Being a westerner — raised in California, and now dwelling in western Mexico — I used to be possibly maximum fascinated by the migratory birds that breed in japanese North The usa. I do know of just one position to peer a wintering American Redstart in Morelia, the place I are living. However this can be a personal assets, to which I don’t have get entry to. I photographed the primary of most effective two Northern Parulas ever reported in my state, long ago in 2013. However clearly, I haven’t noticed one since then. And the Baltimore Oriole is an iconic japanese fowl, which winters alongside Mexico’s east coast, however by no means within the west. This was once most effective my fourth come upon with the species (all at the east facet).
Eduardo, on the other hand, was once extra fascinated by a few western birds that grew to become up: a male Summer time Tanager, caught between his wintry weather yellow and summer season pink plumage, and an aptly-named feminine Western Tanager. He will have to have visited my house ultimate month, when each species had been visiting my birdbath virtually day by day. (Despite the fact that, fact be informed, this species does appear to be a rarity in Tabasco.)
We had been each fascinated by a Lesser Nighthawk Eduardo noticed snoozing immobile on a tree department. It was once through some distance my very best (and longest) view of this species.
Two different birds, each citizens, stunned us. As we gazed upwards at the ones backlit migratory warblers, I spotted a Naked-throated Tiger-Heron… nesting! This species is slightly commonplace in tropical Mexico, however I no doubt by no means anticipated to peer it nesting in an city park. And but, there it was once.
After which there was once a Inexperienced Heron, now not most effective appearing us its nest, but additionally an egg. It felt unethical to {photograph} a nest from so shut. However what may just I do? The heron had made up our minds to position its nest just one meter (a backyard) from the walkway of a downtown park! I spotted it, iced over, took my picture, after which temporarily moved away.
After completing our circuit of Parque los angeles Pólvora, we were given into Eduardo’s automotive and drove a brief distance to the Parque Tomás Garrido. This park is on a miles greater frame of water, and the species confirmed it. Like the former park, there have been no geese, coots, or grebes to be noticed. However there have been nice numbers of six types of herons, with a supporting forged of Neotropical Cormorants and a unmarried Anhinga. I desperately tried to get usable footage of the terns flying through, suspecting that a minimum of one was once now not of the Caspian Tern selection I will simply see close to Morelia. Positive sufficient, a couple of footage published the lengthy yellow invoice and darkish uppersides at the number one feathers of a Royal Tern. Caspian Terns have a thick pink invoice, with a grayish brow within the wintry weather.
All week lengthy, I had admired the Amazon Kingfisher that will seek advice from the Presbyterian Seminary. However I by no means noticed the Ringed Kingfisher that Eduardo advised me about. I by no means noticed it, this is, till Parque Tomás Garrido. There it was once, large invoice and cast pink underparts for the entire global to peer. It’s, it seems that, the most important New International kingfisher.
A couple of featherless creatures helped to make our park visits particular. Parque los angeles Pólvora was once crawling, actually, with small and big, moderately prehistoric-looking, iguanas. I preferred their angle.
The reptiles in Parque Tomás Garrido had been of the crocodilian selection. Some had been relatively massive. I’m glad to mention that those proper at the different facet of a low wall weren’t so massive.
However this park’s flagship non-birds might be none rather then the Coati, a tropical raccoon relative. Those have grow to be so habituated that we noticed about twenty of them crowding a pair that foolishly fed them a couple of Cheetos.
Having stated all this, I will have to end through noting that Villahermosa isn’t a specifically particular town, in terms of herbal habitats. It was once particular to me, as a result of I come from a special facet of Mexico. Nonetheless, this type of flora and fauna revel in is to be had in just about any Mexican town. Which is moderately liberating, don’t you suppose?
A Golden-fronted Woodpecker, or Velazquez’s Woodpecker, relying to your most well-liked taxonomy.