Lo De Marcos and El Monteon
Are a 15 to 20 minute drive from the limits of Guayabitos; Los Ayala is a 25 minute walk to the south. We normally started birding at 0730 each morning, often finishing in time for brunch at our favourite restaurant, La Terraza. In 2002 we found time for side trips to Mexcaltitan, the mangrove lagoons and swampland between Mexcaltitan and the Pacific Coast, Isla Isabel, Bocas de Camichin, Ixtlan del Rio, Alta Vista, Magdalena and Tequila. All these locations provide birding opportunities within reasonable driving distance, however, we birded these areas in a very casual way while taking a more serious look at the historical and archaeological sites. In 2003 we took a one day excursion through Compostela, Santa Maria del Oro and Tepic bypassing many birding opportunities but managing to see Red-crowned Ant-tanager, Scrub Euphonia, large flocks of Yellow-headed and Red-winged Blackbirds, and numerous Common Moorhens in breeding plumage. We went to a plantation and then the airfield and surrounding lands near La Colonia; about a 20 minute drive from Villas Buena Vidas. We saw Blue Grosbeaks, Painted Buntings, Cedar Waxwings, Black-throated Magpie Jay, Western Wood Peewee, Vermillion Flycatchers, listened to the voices of Great-horned Owls, saw two different hawks and added a Red-billed Pigeon to our new sightings. In 2003 we added 28 species to our list of confirmed observations and created a checklist for interested birders that is available at VBV's reception desk.

During our outings we were joined regularly by inexperienced and first time birders and occasionally by very expert birders. We were delighted with the consensus that birding meant seeing so much more of Mexico's delightful environment and adding a sense of accomplishment to each day. We often stopped to share observations and birding anecdotes with many interested observers. All were enthusiastic about their environment and with the variety and abundance of the bird population.

Sam, Karen's famous and much loved dog, joined us on most of our outings. Sam's opposition to cats and above average interest in investigating iguana provides a relaxing diversion from the intensity of what otherwise might be considered single-minded birders. He is very content to be "on leash" while his extraordinary herding instinct is a most valuable asset in keeping the members together. For example, he refuses to go forward if members get more than 50ft behind or ahead of his favourite, Sharon.

SIGHTINGS FROM VILLAS BUENA VIDA AND SURROUNDING PROPERTY
Northern Rough-winged Swallows, House Sparrows, Great-tailed Grackles, Common Grackles, Mexican Crows, Brown-headed Cowbirds, Groove-billed Ani, Hooded Orioles, Magnificent Frigatebirds, Brown Pelicans, Black Vultures and Turkey Vultures, Brown Boobies, Blue-footed Boobies, Rufous Hummingbird, Willets, and Whimbrel

SIGHTINGS FROM THE BEACH PROCEEDING NORTH FROM VILLAS BUENA VIDA TO LA PENITA BREAKWATER
Willets, Whimbrel, Snowy Egret, Brown Pelican, Magnificent Frigatebirds, Brown Booby, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Green Heron, Tricoloured Heron, Little Blue Heron, Cattle Egret, White Ibis, Roseate Spoonbill, Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Belted Kingfisher, American Bittern, Neotropic Cormorant, Double-crested Cormorant, American Coot, Least Grebe, Anhinga, Heermann's Gull, Sanderlings,Black Skimmer,Neotropic Cormorant,White Ibis,White-faced Ibis

SIGHTINGS FROM THE BEACH PROCEEDING SOUTH FROM VILLAS BUENA VIDA TO THE COAST GUARD BASE
Willets, Snowy Egret, Cattle Egret, Whimbrel, Brown Pelican, Magnificent Frigate Bird, Double-crested Cormorant, Heermann's Gull, Brown Booby, Blue-footed Boobies, Sanderlings, Royal Tern, Belted Kingfisher, Golden-cheeked Woodpeckers, Blue-grey Gnatcatcher, Great Kiskadee, Orchard Oriole

SIGHTINGS IN GUAYABITOS STREETS & PLAZA ADJACENT TO THE CHURCH, ROAD ALONG THE STREAM AND THE MAIN ST.BRIDGE, RESIDENTIAL AREA, TOURIST BUREAU ROAD, ECOLOGICAL PARK OPPOSITE THE TENNIS COURTS & THE ROADS WHICH PARALLEL THE MAIN HIGHWAY
Mexican Parrotlets, Golden-cheeked Woodpecker, Hooked-billed Kite, Northern Jacana, Common Moorhen, American Coot, Least Grebe, Green Heron, Cattle Egret, Anhinga, Sora, Northern Shoveller, Brown-crested (Weid's) Flycatcher, Variable Seedeater, Tropical Kingbird, Social Flycatcher, Great Kiskadee, Belted Kingfisher, Ringed Kingfisher, Roadside Hawk, Orchard Oriole, Hooded Oriole, White-throated Robin, American Robin, Zenaida Dove, Yellow-winged Cacique, Rusty-breasted Seedeater, White-collared Seedeater, Common Yellowthroat, Yellow Warbler, Fan-tailed Warbler, Pine Warbler, Happy Wren, Groove-billed Ani, Rock Dove, Ovenbird, Blue-black Grassquit, Merlin, Varied Bunting, Painted Bunting, Citreoline Trogon,Lincoln's Sparrow,MacGillivary's Warbler,Rufous-backed Thrush

SIGHTINGS FROM THE PLANTATION ROADS EAST OF THE HIGHWAY BEHIND GLOBAL GAS
Broad-winged Hawks,Great Black Hawk,Brown-crested Flycatcher,Cinnamon Hummingbird,Cooper's Hawk,Costa's Hummingbird,Crested Caracara,Mexican Hermit,Northern Mockingbird,Common Raven,Northern Rough-winged Swallow,Barn Swallow,Purple Martin,Red-tailed Hawk,Mottled Owl,Streak-backed Oriole,Thick-billed Kingbird,White-tailed Kite,Western Meadowlark,Yellow-breasted Chat,Tropical Parula,Warbling Vireo,Rufous Hummingbird,Ruddy Ground Dove,White-striped Woodcreeper,Western Peewee,Zone-tailed Hawk,Vermilion Flycatcher,Painted Bunted,Blue Grosbeak,Blue-black Grassquit On one occasion in this area we simultaneously held 3 male Painted Buntings, a Vermilion Flycatcher, a Blue Grosbeak and a White-collared Seedeater in on binoculars; they were perched on a barbed-wire fence!

SIGHTINGS PROCEEDING SOUTH FROM VILLAS BUENA VIDA
THROUGH GUAYABITOS STREETS
Bronzed Cowbirds, Orchard Orioles, Muscovy Duck, Cinnamon Hummingbird, Yellow-winged Cacique, Orchard Orioles,Painted Bunting,Citreoline Trogon

SIGHTINGS PROCEEDING UP THE STATIONS OF THE CROSS HILLSIDE STEPS
Great Kiskadee, Blue-grey Gnatcatcher, Citreoline Trogon,Squirrel Cuckoo,Dusky-capped Flycatcher

SIGHTINGS ON THE MOUNTAIN ROADS OPPOSITE LOS AYALA
San Blas Jay, Magpie Jay, Blue-grey Gnatcatcher, White-collared Seedeater, Lesser Goldfinch, Masked Tityra, Rufous-backed Robin, Common Yellowthroat, Grey hawk, Yellow-winged Cacique, Ferruginous Pygmy- Owl, Grey Saltator.Ash-throated Flycatcher,Northern Waterthrush,Pacific-slope Flycatcher,Pale-billed Flycatcher,Rufous-bellied Chachalaca

EL MONTEON
Grey Hawk, Groove-billed Ani, Brown Booby, Tropical Kingbird, Great Kiskadee, Woodstork, White-winged Dove, American Coot, Anhinga, Swallow(sp), Purplish-backed(Beechey's) Jay, Magpie Jay, Yellow-winged Cacique, Yellow Warbler, Golden-cheeked Woodpecker

LO DE MARCUS STREAM NORTH SIDE OF TOWN AND MOUNTAIN ROAD SOUTH OF TOWN
Spotted Sandpiper, Black-crowned Night Heron, Tropical Kingbird, Little Blue Heron Cattle Egret, Great Egret, Great Blue Egret, White-faced Ibis, Black-necked Stilts, Hooded Oriole, Blue-winged Teal, Green Kingfisher, Yellow Warbler, Vermilion Flycatcher, Stilt Sandpiper, Willet, Inca Dove, Belted Kingfisher, San Blas Jay, Magpie Jay, Masked Tityra, Citreoline Trogon, Wilson's Warbler, Orange-fronted Parakeet, Golden-cheeked Woodpecker, Painted Bunting, Social Flycatcher, Great Kiskadee, Blue-grey Gnatcatcher, Orchard Oriole, Nashville Warbler, Squirrel Cuckoo, Happy Wren, Red-tailed Hawk, American Kestrel, Collared Trogon

OTHER SIGHTINGS:

LA TOVARA SPRINGS, SAN BLAS (90 minute drive from Guayabitos)
Jamaican Potoo, Rock Dove, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Cattle Egret, Double Crested cormorant, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Great Blue Heron, Great Blue Heron (White Phase), Boat-billed heron, Anhinga, Grey Hawk, Northern Goshawk, Green Heron, Least Grebe, Ringed Kingfisher, Amazon Kingfisher, Green Kingfisher, Belted Kingfisher, Tricoloured Heron, Black-crowned Night Heron, Yellow-crowned Night Heron, Tropical Kingbird, Pauraque, Groove-billed Ani, Wood Stork, Roseate Spoonbill, American Bittern, Mexican Parrotlet, Purple Gallinule, Fulvous-whistling Duck, Black-bellied Whistling Duck, Cave Swallow, West Mexican Chachalaca, Lineated Woodpecker, White Ibis, Little Blue heron, Stilt Sandpiper, Black-necked Stilt, Northern Shoveller, Blue-winged Teal

MEXCALTITAN TO ISLA ISABEL VIA MANGROVE LAGOONS AND SWAMPLAND
Brown Booby, Blue-footed Booby, Red-footed Booby, Red-billed Tropicbirds, Sooty Terns, Magnificent Frigatebirds,White Pelican, Ringed Kingfisher,Long-billed Curlew,Bonaparte's Gull,Woodstork,[Nesting on Isla Isabel],Kildeer,Least Tern,Lesser Yellowlegs,Solitary Sandpiper

ALL AREAS
These species are common in almost every location:
Mexican Crows, Great-tailed Grackle, Common Grackle, Brown-headed Cowbirds,
Turkey Vulture, Black Vulture, Magnificent Frigatebird

Copyright 2004 © Barbara and Patrick Giffin