Bird Watching Private Guided Tours in Puerto Vallarta

Boat-billed Herons in Vallarta

Gerardo Hernandez — Sun, 20 May 2012 16:57:51 +0000

Boat-billed Heron in Puerto Vallarta
Boca de Tomates-Boca Negra
May-20-2012
Photos by Gerardo Hernández Vázquez

I saw a couple of Boat-billed Herons in Puerto Vallarta during the Summer of the 2011, they was flying from East to West along -ESTERO EL SALADO-
This morning!!! we saw a Boat-billed Heron (juvenile) here in Puerto Vallarta
Estero Boca Negra-Boca de Tomates

On our private guided birding tours, we’ll pick you up at your hotel or private villa in the Puerto Vallarta area at 6:00 a.m.; or at your cruise ship at 8:00 a.m.

Then we’ll drive north of Puerto Vallarta for about 50 minutes to the natural habitat of some of the bird species endemic to México: Lilac-crowned Parrot (Amazona Finschi), Mexican-Blue-Rumped-Parrotlet (Forpus cyanopygius), Colima Pygmy-Owl (Glaucidium palmarum), Citroline Trogon (Trogon citreolus), Happy Wren (Thryothorus felix), Sinaloa –Bar-Vented-Wren (Thryothorus sinaloa), Rufous-backed Thrush-Robin (Turdus rufopalliatus) -, Blue Mockingbird (Melanotis caerulescens), Golden Vireo (Vireo hypochyseus), Golden-cheecked woodpecker(Centurus chrysogenys)

We’ll return to your hotel, private villa or cruise ship by 12:00 noon

Roseate Spoonbill

Nature Vallarta
Natural Habitat Expeditions
Birding tours in Puerto Vallarta
www.naturevallarta.com
gerardomexico@yahoo.com.mx
Tel. (322) 227 9750
Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco México

Birding tours in San Blas

Gerardo Hernandez — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 16:23:11 +0000

On our private guided birding tours in San Blas
we´ll go on a boat trip thru the mangroves in search of:
Boat-billed Heron, Bare-throated Tiger-Heron, Rufous-necked Wood-Rail, Northern Potoo

Northern Potoo, evening boat trip thru de mangroves

8th San Blas International Migratory Bird Festival
Guided birding trips during the bird festival led by Manuel Lomeli (a native of San Blas)

Manuel Lomeli, Certified Bilingual Guide, can be contacted for a private guided birding trips
in San Blas dial: 285 0992 (from 5pm to 9pm)
in México dial: 01 323 285 0992
From the U.S.A. dial: 011 323 285 0992
Movile in San Blas dial: 044 323 106 3555

Nature Vallarta
Birding tours
Puerto Vallarta to San Blas
www.naturevallarta.com
gerardomexico@yahoo.com.mx
Phone (322) 227 9750
Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco México
Photos by-Fotos de- Gerardo Hernández Vázquez

Birding tours in San Sebastian

Gerardo Hernandez — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 15:59:29 +0000

Birding tours in San Sebastian del Oeste-road to-La Bufa,
I recently took part on a bird watching trip to the beautiful cloud forest that covers the highest parts of the mountains east of Puerto Vallarta, led by certified guide Gerardo Hernandez, a specialist of nature-oriented tourism and expert bird watcher with over 13 years of experience.
We left Puerto Vallarta early in the morning, riding on a comfortable van and sipping at a hot, stimulating cup of coffee. Soon we reached the foothills of the Sierra Madre. Past the town of Las Palmas, the tropical forest gives way to the sub deciduous forest, and as we climbed higher and higher into the mountains, the forest turns oak and pine until we finally reach the cloud forest.
This region borders the state of Nayarit and it is privileged by the existence of several protected natural areas forming a corridor form sea level up to 2,400 meters above sea level, which opens up great opportunities to find an important number of species in the different habitats that make it up. Both the beginner and the expert can have here one of their best bird watching experiences ever.
After a 90 minute drive we arrived in San Sebastian del Oeste, a former mining town in the mountains. From here we proceeded to the road to La Bufa. La Bufa is the highest elevation in the region and is covered by a thick cloud forest, the home to an important number of particularly interesting species of birds, like the Mountain Trogon and the Brown-Backed Solitaire.
Always in ascend to La Bufa the winding road keeps a spectacular view behind every bend and stops become frequent as birds begin to appear.
Along the road there are also many caves, most of them are old mines, the gates to a world of mystery and fantasy that make you wonder what it was like back when men with not much more than their arms extracted the mineral riches of the mountain.
The whole experience of being here in the cloud forest -besides the fact that you can find numerous bird species- is almost religious. Up here the air is transparent, clean, colors are bright and even aromas and sounds are experienced more intensely. The landscape really takes your breath away. Trees cover the road with their foliage giving the sensation of being in an emerald tunnel. The forest is made up of species such as pine, oak, capomo, ash, avilla, parota, mezcahuite and pochote.
A noisy flock of grey-breasted jays displayed a wonderful show before us, flying up and down the mountain side, among the intense green of the pines and oaks, and deep blue shades of the sky and the mountains in the distance.
The morning sun adds an amazing, unique, golden light to the woods.
the species of birds up here in the mountain are generally speaking smaller than in areas of lesser altitude, with the exception, of course, of the large birds of prey that can be seen, like the Red-tail Hawk we saw hovering over our heads.
On this expedition in particular, we watched and photographed a large number of humming birds. It was an incredibly fruitful expedition. Our bird list included such birds as Red-tail Hawk, Rufous-bellied Chachalaca, Squirrel Cuckoo, Groove-billed Ani, Sinaloa Martin, Beryline Hummingbird, Mountain Trogon, Black-throated Magpie-Jay, San Blas Jay
Grey-breasted Jay, Spotted Wren, Brown-throated Wren, White-throated Robin
Brown-Backed Solitaire, Blue Mockingbird, Nashville Warbler, Wilson´s Warbler, Rufous-Capped Warbler, Grace´s Warbler, Painted Redstart, Red-headed Tanager, Hepatic Tanager, black-headed grosbeak, Varied Bunting, Bronzed Cowbird, Yellow-winged Cacique and Hooded Oriole, among others; in an incredible day of communion with nature in a wonderful, magical environment.

Nature Vallarta
Birding Tours
www.naturevallarta.com
gerardomexico@yahoo.com.mx
Phone (322) 227 9750
Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco México
Photos by-Fotos de- Gerardo Hernández Vázquez

Birding tours in Vallarta

Gerardo Hernandez — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 16:21:59 +0000

Birding Tours in Puerto Vallarta
Led by Gerardo Hernández Vázquez

On our private guided birding tours, we’ll pick you up at your hotel or private villa in the Puerto Vallarta area at 6:00 a.m.; or at your cruise ship at 8:00 a.m.

We’ll return to your hotel, private villa or cruise ship by 12:00 noon

In our area we have birds of Northwest Mexico: BLACK-THROATED MAGPIE JAY (Calocita Formosa colliei) as well as ELEGANT QUAIL (Callipepla douglasii) and RUFOUS BELLIED CHACHALACA (Ortalis wagleri), as well as birds of Southwest Mexico: WHITE THROATED MAGPIE JAY (Calocita Formosa Formosa) WEST MEXICAN CHACHALACA (O.P.policephala) and the SAN BLAS JAY (Cyanocorax sanblasiana)

In the sub deciduous tropical forest we can see MILITARY MACAW, (Ara militaris) and GREEN JAY (Cyanocorax yncas).
In the deciduous tropical forest, CITREOLINE TROGON (Trogon citreolus), CINNAMON HUMMINGBIRD (Amazilia rutila), and ORANGE FRONTED PARAKEET (Aratinga canicularis) can be found.

In the thorn forest we can see RUSSET-CROWNED MOTMOT (Momotus mexicanus), and COLIMA PYGMY OWL (Glaucidium palmarum).

The Mangrove forest is home to BOAT-BILLED HERON, (Cochlearius cochlearius), MANGROVE CUCKOO (Coccyzuss minor palloris), MANGROVE VIREO (Vireo pallens), and MANGROVE WARBLER (Dendroica petechia erithachorides)

In Boca de Tomates, a coastal body of water at the Ameca River inlet, we can watch WOOD STORK, (Mycteria americana) ROSEATE SPOONBILL, (Ajaia ajaja) BLACK SKIMMER, (Rynchops niger) SNOWY PLOVER(Charadrius alejandrinus)

In the savanna it is possible to see COMMON NIGHTHAWK, (Chordeiles minor) and RUDDY GROUND-DOVE (Columbina talpacoti), While in the grassland it is possible to spot the following species: EASTERN-COMMON-MEADOWLARK (Sturnella magna).

In the Pine-Oak Forest, it is possible to match : GRACE´S WARBLER (Dendroica graciae), GRAY SILKY-FLAYCATCHER (Ptilogonys cinereus), PAINTED REDSTART (Myoborus pictus) and ACORN WOODPECKER (Melanerpes formicivorus)
The Marieta Islands are the nesting grounds of the BLUE-FOOTED BOOBY (Sula nebouxii) and the BROWN BOOBY (Sula leucogaster).

Black-throated Magpie Jay -endemic to Northwest México-

Nature Vallarta
Birding Tours
www.naturevallarta.com
gerardomexico@yahoo.com.mx
Phone (322) 227 9750
Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco México
Photos by -Fotos de- Gerardo Hernández Vázquez