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 aspect of our neighborhood.
This place, known as Los Filtros Viejos (the Previous Filters) as a result of it was Morelia’s principal water supply, is definitely an ideal place for birding. The one purpose I don’t go there usually, is that it is just frivolously forested, is usually scorching (particularly in April), and I inevitably find yourself strolling a tough 10 km/6 miles on its very uneven, rocky pathways with a view to see its number of habitats. I’m at all times 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 an honest 65 species in 6 hours, and plenty of of them stayed fairly near me, permitting for some good photographs. Let’s see in the event you agree:
I preferred a number of the photographs as a lot for his or her backgrounds as for the chicken itself, corresponding to this Lincoln Sparrow foraging amongst duckweed, algae, Ficus fruits, and Jacaranda flowers.
This feminine Various Bunting reveals only a trace of the male’s stunning colours. You will note 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 nearly 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 must take my phrase for it that this feminine is simply as good-looking because the male, which isn’t the case with many different chicken species:
The Rusty Sparrow is discovered solely from central Mexico south to Central America. However you may usually see it at Los Filtros Viejos. It seems frustratingly just like the Rufous-crowned Sparrow of the western United States and Mexico, however is far 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, nevertheless, couldn’t have seemed extra put collectively. Observe 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 aspect; that’s a really vertical rock face.
On this photograph, the star attraction was the beautiful new crimson foliage of a Cedrela tree. However there’s a yellow Wilson’s Warbler within the background, as effectively. (Locals name this tree Cedro Rojo, Crimson 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 depart.
No different native chicken 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 middle 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 hardly ever get to see migratory male Indigo Buntings of their summer season finery, I’ll embrace this very fuzzy photograph, taken from a substantial distance:
So then I began taking photographs of that different feminine Various Bunting, feeding on grass seeds. Instantly I noticed a floor squirrel creeping up on the Bunting. After I noticed this photograph, I couldn’t assist however consider the 2 word theme from Jaws. BUM-bum, BUM-bum!
After which, the enormous beast lunged! Fortuitously, the little Bunting managed to flee. Leaving the squirrel to feed on the exact same grass stalk.
And in the 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 completely endemic chicken. The Noticed Wren can solely be discovered within the mountains of central Mexico, and up alongside the nation’s Sierra Madre Occidental.
I like the closeup this chicken gifted me. However there is also one thing particular about nature itself completely framing a shot:
As so usually occurs, I even have a pair of non-bird photographs to share. The bromeliad’s flower spike was about one meter/three toes lengthy. And this turtle have to 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 surprise how effectively it’s dealing with this yr’s tremendously decreased water provide right here.
