My ornithologist birding buddy Jonathan Vargas occurred to be on the town final week, with a while off from his glorious work as a birding information and researcher. He needed to go searching for the Slaty Vireo at my web site of El Temascal, however I rained on his parade by declaring that I had solely seen this elusive species there 3 times in 35 visits to the positioning, and by no means previously 5 years. As a substitute, he graciously agreed to go to Copuyo, a bit city he discovered final yr. Copuyo is an hour away from our properties in Morelia, 1,000 meters (3,300 ft) downhill, and solely three kilometers (2 miles) away from the also-small city of Paso Ancho, my favourite web site for Tierra Caliente (Sizzling Nation) endemics. However Copuyo is on the shady aspect of the valley, which ends up in some totally different and attention-grabbing species.
Our eventual aim there was a forested ravine about two kilometers up, the place we had seen a pair of Colima Pygmy-Owls just a few months earlier than. A Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl, toot-toot-tooting subsequent to a long-billed Plain-capped Starthroat, tried to distract us on our method. However eBird has some 43 lists with Ferruginous Pygmy-Owls for every record with a Colima, so we soldiered on.
Simply earlier than we reached our goal ravine, we heard the extra tentative toots of the Colima Pygmy-Owl. No sooner had we noticed that chook, after we heard a second. And after we later walked on to a extra distant canyon, we noticed a 3rd!
The Colima Pygmy-owl is smaller than its Ferruginous cousin. Actually, this true owl is simply the dimensions of a Home Sparrow. It has white dots on its crown, versus the white streaks of the Ferruginous, and three gentle tail stripes as an alternative of seven. As my photographs right here reveal, it additionally prefers extra wooded spots, and likes to perch amongst numerous branches. This makes photographing it a problem.
EBird has solely 4,000 lists which included the Colima Pygmy Owl. (The Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl turns up 174,000 occasions.) Our sighting is simply the tenth for our state of Michoacán, and the very first repeat sighting in a single spot right here. So when you ever come to Michoacán and wish to see it, properly, we’d simply know the place you may.
We noticed or heard 44 different species on that specific stroll, and I’ll get again to a few of them in a bit. However first I’ll transfer on to 2 different locations we stopped as soon as we completed with Copuyo. First, we made stopped at one in all my Paso Ancho spots, and managed a too-brief-for-photographs sighting of some very endemic Banded Quails, which have been our goal species for that cease.
Then we had simply sufficient time to cease and observe the uphill path on the above talked about El Temascal, a highland city on the best way again to Morelia. Please excuse me for mentioning that I had some gastric misery on our method up, which saved us from reaching the particular spot the place I had seen the Slaty Vireo 5 years earlier. Once I made my reappearance, we determined we must flip round and head again to our automobile. However we had barely began strolling downhill, after we heard an unmistakeable music. Might it’s? Sure, it was! The grownup Slaty Vireo allowed us little time for images, and within the pleasure, I didn’t keep in mind to regulate my gentle ranges. My photographs have been somewhat unhappy, though adequate for an ID. However fortunately, Jonathan did a lot better. The Slaty Vireo is a beautiful little chook.
Right here’s the very best I may do with my greatest picture. You already know… “Fowl images is my ardour.“
Jonathan’s picture was fairly an enchancment.
These two birds have been definitely those that made our day. However you can not head into these spots with out seeing many different attention-grabbing and/or lovely birds. So I’ll simply present just a few of these as properly:
The at all times beautiful Orange-breasted Bunting, maybe essentially the most lovely of the Tierra Caliente endemics
A pleasant view of a Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher
The attractive music of the Banded Wren is at all times heard from a number of instructions in Tierra Caliente. However they’re not often seen, and when they’re, it’s at all times in dense brush.
A pair of White-throated Magpie-Jays turned up alongside the Copuyo path! These very smart birds appear to know the way to verify they’re at all times closely backlit.
An endemic Golden-cheeked Woodpecker confirmed curiosity in a stand of Paso Ancho cactus.
As did a Streak-backed Oriole.
A Nutting’s Flycatcher loved a tasty pillbug.
Up in El Temascal, we loved seeing an endemic male Purple-headed Tanager.
We completed the day with 67 species seen, so there have been fairly just a few different beauties within the combine. Tierra Caliente is dwelling to many colourful species. However these have been those that gave me the very best photographs on today. I want it have been at all times that simple!
