Most weeks, I can weblog about going someplace a bit extra unique, and seeing one thing a bit extra uncommon for me. However this week, I had no automobile to drive, so I needed to go on foot to the character reserve on the far facet of our neighborhood.
This place, referred to as Los Filtros Viejos (the Previous Filters) as a result of it was once Morelia’s important water supply, is definitely an incredible place for birding. The one motive I don’t go there typically, is that it’s only frivolously forested, is usually sizzling (particularly in April), and I inevitably find yourself strolling a tough 10 km/6 miles on its very uneven, rocky pathways with a purpose to see its number of habitats. I’m all the time down for the day after I get dwelling. And there may be nothing I can see there that I can’t additionally see, alongside rarer birds, elsewhere.
Nonetheless, I did handle to see a good 65 species in 6 hours, and lots of of them stayed fairly near me, permitting for some good photographs. Let’s see for those who agree:
I appreciated a number of the photographs as a lot for his or her backgrounds as for the chook itself, reminiscent of this Lincoln Sparrow foraging amongst duckweed, algae, Ficus fruits, and Jacaranda flowers.
This feminine Assorted Bunting exhibits only a trace of the male’s stunning colours. You will notice one other feminine under.
Warbling Vireos are quite common in Morelia within the winter, together with at my birdbath. Most different North American vireos have an virtually shrike-like invoice, however this one is extra warbler-shaped.
Since I don’t have a photograph right here of the male Black-headed Grosbeak, you’ll need to take my phrase for it that this feminine is simply as good-looking because the male, which isn’t the case with many different chook species:
The Rusty Sparrow is discovered solely from central Mexico south to Central America. However you’ll be able to typically see it at Los Filtros Viejos. It appears frustratingly much like the Rufous-crowned Sparrow of the western United States and Mexico, however is way bigger and has a heavier invoice.
Black-and-white Warblers are normally dapper little birds, with their head-to-tail zebra stripes. However this one had simply bathed, and had not but combed its hair. Or maybe it was going via that awkward stage.
This Plumbeous Vireo, nonetheless, couldn’t have appeared extra put collectively. Word that shrike-like invoice.
The beautiful Rufous-capped Warbler is one thing of a flagship species for this web site. And no, I didn’t flip this picture on its facet; that’s a really vertical rock face.
On this photograph, the star attraction was the stunning new purple foliage of a Cedrela tree. However there’s a yellow Wilson’s Warbler within the background, as effectively. (Locals name this tree Cedro Rojo, Pink Cedar. However it’s clearly not a real coniferous cedar.)
Most of our winter New World sparrows appear to have already headed north. However our resident Chipping Sparrows by no means go away.
No different native chook can match the colours of our male Elegant Euphonias — though the females come shut. The excellent news is that these photographs do present these colours faithfully. They usually present their favourite habitat: within the heart of mistletoe thickets, the place they eat the tiny fruits. Sadly, he by no means moved out from the middle of that thicket.
Since I not often get to see migratory male Indigo Buntings of their summer time finery, I’ll embrace this very fuzzy photograph, taken from a substantial distance:
So then I began taking photographs of that different feminine Assorted Bunting, feeding on grass seeds. Abruptly I noticed a floor squirrel creeping up on the Bunting. Once I noticed this photograph, I couldn’t assist however consider the 2 be aware theme from Jaws. BUM-bum, BUM-bum!
After which, the large beast lunged! Happily, the little Bunting managed to flee. Leaving the squirrel to feed on the exact same grass stalk.
And in direction of the top of my lengthy stroll, since I’m displaying these photographs in chronological order, I had an in depth encounter with a totally endemic chook. The Noticed Wren can solely be discovered within the mountains of central Mexico, and up alongside the nation’s Sierra Madre Occidental.
I really like the closeup this chook gifted me. However there is also one thing particular about nature itself completely framing a shot:
As so typically occurs, I even have a pair of non-bird photographs to share. The bromeliad’s flower spike was about one meter/three ft lengthy. And this turtle should be somebody’s escaped pet, since Painted Turtles shouldn’t be discovered within the wild a lot past the southern U.S. border. It clearly is doing effectively in its new dwelling, having grown to a couple of foot lengthy. However I do marvel how effectively it’s dealing with this yr’s significantly decreased water provide right here.
