Charlie's sighting of a Peregrine on-a-quarter, on this slow birding day,
emboldened me to go ahead and report on my out-of-Kentucky experience, earlier
this week…thanks Charlie!
I was in Puebla Mexico this week, for work. We were strongly discouraged from
straying far from the hotel, for safety sake, and I also didn't have much time.
It nearly killed me, because Puebla is in the very-birdy high country, about
80 miles southeast of Mexico City, near the Popocatepetl volcano.
I made the best of it and took my book and binocular for a walk around the
fenced hotel compound, on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, for about an hour
each time. I saw a baffling variety of birds, even in the noisy city. The
first bird I saw was a Yellow-rumped Warbler and then a Wilson's and MANY other
familiar looking Warblers, mostly in the treetops, that I couldn't make out in
the failing light (I was born with a defect in the Warbler Identification
Gene). There were Warblers literally everywhere. Now I know where they all
go! There were many other birds that I just had to let go because I didn't
have my scope and time: several Wrens (including one the size of a
mockingbird) several of the Tropical/Cassin's type Kingbirds and assorted
doves. I did identify a Gray Silky-Flycatcher and Slate-throated Redstart
(both absolutely lovely) a Black-headed Grosbeak, Bushtit, Ladder-backed
Woodpecker, Broad-billed Hummingbird, a pair of Rufous-backed Robins, several
Inca Doves and Canyon Towhees, which were everywhere.
The highlight though was a Vermillion Flycatcher that cooperated wonderfully on
Wednesday, just as the sun was setting. I've always wanted to see one and it
was every bit as beautiful as I'd anticipated. I managed a few passable photos
with my iPod, through the binocular. I Flickr posted the two best ones.
Stephen Tyson, Schochoh, Logan Co.
https://flic.kr/p/RaWNoU
https://flic.kr/p/Rep6cH
