Steve Happ Photography Ramblings and dissertations

San Cristobal de las Casas

I was feeling tired today so I slept in. Just as well I did, because I photographed some nice birds in the garden of the guest house where I am staying in San Cristobal de Las Casas.

White-eared Hummingbird (Hylocharis leucotis)

I had seen this hummingbird outside my window feeding on the bottle brush flowers. But everyone I got the camera out and ready , it had flown off. I finally got some photos of one when he stayed around for a while.

White-eared Hummingbird (Hylocharis leucotis)

And another photo because I can.

Tennessee Warbler (Oreothlypis peregrina)

Thanks to Manoli for identifying this Tennessee Warbler. It is a very pretty little bird.

Rufous-collared Sparrow ( Zonotrichia capensis) aka Andean Sparrow

I nearly missed this Rufous-collared Sparrow. It was rooting around under a bush.

Bullock’s Oriole (Icterus bullockii)

I got the shock of my life when I identified this one. But if you look closely it is not your standard Altamira or similar. It has a black stripe through the eye and a black patch on the top of the head.

San Cristobal de Las Casas bird list

White-eared Hummingbird (Hylocharis leucotis)
Rufous-collared Sparrow ( Zonotrichia capensis) aka Andean Sparrow
Tennessee Warbler (Oreothlypis peregrina)
Bullock’s Oriole (Icterus bullockii)
Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula)

Tuxtla Gutierrez Zoologica

I struggled to get out of bed this morning. I just wanted to sleep all morning. I had a shower to wake myself. It sort of half worked. Down the street to the corner, a tamale and lukewarm coffee for breakfast, then wait for the colectivo to take me up the hill. I am glad that I got out of bed, it was totally worth it.

Yellow-winged Cacique – Cacique Mexicano (Cacicus melanicterus)

First of all, when I got to the zoo, I wandered around the car park because it was not open yet. There were heaps of birds around. I should have got there earlier. The Yellow-winged Caciques were building a nest right in the entrance area. Hopefully I will get around to doing a complete post on the nest-building later.

Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher – Papamoscas Vientre Amarillo (Myiodynastes luteiventris)

This is the only photo I took of the Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher. You never know.

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck – Pijiji Aliblanco (Dendrocygna autumnalis)

The Black-bellied Whistling-ducks were in a pond in the zoo. They could have flown out any time so I am calling it.

Russet-crowned Motmot – Momoto Corona Café (Momotus mexicanus)

This Russet-crowned Motmot jumped up in front just as I was leaving. Thank you very much. That is the second motmot and I am hoping for the Blue-crowned one as well.

Great Curassow (Crax rubra) – male

This male Great Curassow was rooting around in the leaf litter under the rainforest understory. Standard behaviour for these type of birds. They look and behave very similar to our Australian Brush Turkey.

Great Curassow (Crax rubra) – female

The female Great Curassow is very different with a rufous back and spotty neck.

Bronzed Cowbird (Molothrus aeneus)

This Bronzed Cowbird was stealing the ducks’ food.

Inca Dove (Columbina Inca)

It took me a while to work out what this was. The white undertail with the black lining gave it away.

Altamira Oriole (Icterus gularis)

Amazing birds the Altamira Orioles. They were putting on a show bobbing up and down. Very strange.

White-fronted Amazon (Amazona albifrons)

And a decent photo of a White-fronted Amazon.

Golden-fronted Woodpecker(Melanerpes aurifrons)

Come ten o’clock I headed back down the hill because I had to check out of my hotel. Packed up my bag and headed off to the bus terminal.

Tuxtla Gutierrez bird list

Yellow-winged Cacique – Cacique Mexicano (Cacicus melanicterus)
Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher – Papamoscas Vientre Amarillo (Myiodynastes luteiventris)
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck – Pijiji Aliblanco (Dendrocygna autumnalis)
Russet-crowned Motmot – Momoto Corona Café (Momotus mexicanus)
Great Curassow (Crax rubra)
Bronzed Cowbird (Molothrus aeneus)
Inca Dove (Columbina Inca)
Plain Chachalaca – chachalaca vetula (Ortalis vetula)
Clay-colored Robin (Turdus grayi)
Summer Tanager
Golden-fronted Woodpecker(Melanerpes aurifrons)
Altamira Oriole (Icterus gularis)
White-fronted Amazon (Amazona albifrons)
Black Vulture
Muscovy Duck (Cairina moschata)

Extras

Mexican Spider Monkey (Ateles geoffroyi vellerosus)
Guatemalan black howler, or Yucatan black howler, (Alouatta pigra)

https://www.inaturalist.org/check_lists/39269-Tuxtla-Guti-rrez-Check-List?taxon=3&view=taxonomic

Sumidero Canyon

I got out of bed at 6am, made myself a cup of coffee and headed off down the street to catch the collectivo to Chiapa de Corzo. After a few false starts, I eventually found the right van, paid my 15 pesos and arrived at the port for the boats up the canyon. I am the only one there. I wait for some more people, pay my 200 pesos for the boat ride, and wait some more.

Mexican Spider Monkey (Ateles geoffroyi vellerosus)

Eventually we filled up the boat, got our life jackets and hopped on the boat. We sped off up the river. First stop was at some Mexican Spider Monkeys by the side of the river. These monkeys are listed as Critically Endangered. 🙁

Mexican Spider Monkey (Ateles geoffroyi vellerosus)

I think this one is a female adult. She has got a tracking device around her neck. The other one had one too.

Snowy Egret

Not a great variety of birds on the river. A few Great Egrets and Snowy Egrets, lots of comorants, an oriole or two, and a Kingfisher. Oh, lots of Black Vulture circling overhead, waiting for someone to die!

American Crocodile (Crocodylus acutus)

On the way back we stopped to see this American Crocodile on a rock. Their
numbers are increasing due to studies and management. Another boat gate-crashed our party and it slithered into the river. 🙁

Tourist Boat

And here is what the boats look like. This one was going up the river while we were going home.

Sumidero Canyon animal list

Great Egret
Snowy Egret
Brown Pelican
Black Vulture
Mexican Spider Monkey (Ateles geoffroyi vellerosus)
American Crocodile (Crocodylus acutus)

Catazaja Laguna.

What an amazing morning. I got up at 6am and waited for a collectivo into Palenque. Then I got another Collectivo to Catazaja playa. Well actually the turnabout just out of town. Then I had to get a taxi into Catazaja itself.

Bare-throated Tiger Heron – Garza Tigre Mexicana (Tigrisoma mexicanum)

The first thing I saw when I stepped out of the taxi was a Bare-throated Tiger-heron. What luck! There were a heap of bird hanging around a water drainage pipe.

Great Blue Heron – Garza Azul Ceniza (Ardea herodias)

This Great Blue Heron had a huge fish but it took him ages to get it down.

Little Blue Heron – Garza Azul (Egretta caerulea)

This Little Blue Heron lo/oks a bit like a dark morph Reef Egret.

Tricolored Heron Garceta Tricolor (Egretta tricolor)

Waiting for a fish at the end of the pipe.

Snowy Egret – Garza Nivea (Egretta thula)

This beautiful Snowy Egret was pimping it like a super-model.

Blue-winged Teal (Spatula discors)

Female on the left, male Blue-winged Teal on the right.

Black-necked Stilt – Candelero Americano (Himantopus mexicanus)

I thought I had seen enough stilts, but this is the mexican one. With a bonus Least Sandpiper showing how tiny they are.

Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca)

Northern Jacana – Jacana Norteña (Jacana spinosa)

I came back from a circuit around the lake front and here they were in front of the restaurant. Thank you Northern Jacanas.

Wood Stork – Cigüeña Americana (Mycteria americana)

I think this Wood Stork is a Ciconia type stork.

Mangrove Swallow (Tachycineta albilinea)

This nice Mangrove Swallow landed right in front of me so I took his photo.

Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)

This Gray Catbird looks pretty bland. They only way I could identify it was the red bum.

Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia)

All these bush birds were just accidents while I was just chilling out or walking about.

Yellow-winged Tanager (Thraupis abbas)

Catazaja bird list

Bare-throated Tiger Heron – Garza Tigre Mexicana (Tigrisoma mexicanum)
Great Blue Heron – Garza Azul Ceniza (Ardea herodias)
Little Blue Heron – Garza Azul (Egretta caerulea)
Tricolored Heron Garceta Tricolor (Egretta tricolor)
Snowy Egret – Garza Nivea (Egretta thula)
Blue-winged Teal (Spatula discors)
Black-necked Stilt – Candelero Americano (Himantopus mexicanus)
Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca)
Northern Jacana – Jacana Norteña (Jacana spinosa)
Wood Stork – Cigüeña Americana (Mycteria americana)
Mangrove Swallow (Tachycineta albilinea)
Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)
Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia)
Yellow-winged Tanager (Thraupis abbas)
Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla)
Great Egret – Garza Grande (Ardea alba)
Black Vulture – Zopilote Negro (Coragyps atratus)
Groove-billed Ani (Crotophaga sulcirostris)
Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) or Ringed Kingfisher (Megaceryle torquata) ??? do not know.
White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica)
double-crested cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus)
Neotropic Cormorant (Phalacrocorax brasilianus)
Great-tailed Grackle
royal tern (Thalasseus maximus)
Laughing Gull
Great Kiskadee
Tropical Kingbird
Clay-colored Robin (Turdus grayi)
Eurasian Collared Dove
House Sparrow

Resource

iNaturalist taxonmic list

https://www.inaturalist.org/check_lists/39183-Catazaj–Check-List?taxon=3&view=taxonomic

Palenque Ruinas Birding

This morning I set off to do some bird watching around the Mayan ruins at Palenque. The trouble was, all the collectivos going to Ruinas were full, so I had to catch a van into town to the terminal to get on one. Finally arrived at 7:15, so had breakfast and then walked through some jungle at the side of the complex.

Rufous-tailed Hummingbird (Amazilia tzacatl)

I got this Rufous-tailed Hummingbird just outside the mini-mart while I was waiting for the collectivo into town. First hummingbird I have photographed in Mexico.

Louisiana Waterthrush (Parkesia motacilla)

This Louisiana Waterthrush was in the creek bed behind the tourist complex. I find it strange that Birds have yankee names.

Spot-breasted Wren (Pheugopedius maculipectus)

Deep in the jungle. No light, appalling conditions. Lucky I scraped through on this one. Just.

Chestnut-colored Woodpecker – carpintero castaño (Celeus castaneus)

Worst photo ever. Just a record shot. Nothing to see here folks, move along.

Pale-billed Woodpecker (Campephilus guatemalensis)

I heard this one drumming from miles away. Big noise for a little bird. Spanish name is carpintero pico plata. The French call woodpeckers picpic. Quite appropriate I reckon.

Kentucky warbler (Geothlypis formosa)

Deep in the undergrowth with no light. I just managed to pull this one out of the darkness.

Red-throated Ant-Tanager (Habia fuscicauda)

Take the negatives and turn them into positives, I say. I really like the moodiness of this photo. Chiaroscuro, dude. It is art.

Keel-billed Toucan (Ramphastos sulfuratus)

I was lucky to spot this Kell-billed Toucan inside the tourist complex. Just above a pyramid. Archetypal.

Red-legged Honeycreeper (Cyanerpes cyaneus)

Another one inside the complex. This Red-legged Honeycreeper popped in front of me. The leaf is obscuring its red legs. Honest.

Palenque bird list

Rufous-tailed Hummingbird (Amazilia tzacatl)
Louisiana Waterthrush (Parkesia motacilla)
Spot-breasted Wren (Pheugopedius maculipectus)
Chestnut-colored Woodpecker – carpintero castaño (Celeus castaneus)
Kentucky warbler (Geothlypis formosa)
Pale-billed Woodpecker – carpintero pico plata (Campephilus guatemalensis)
Red-throated Ant-Tanager (Habia fuscicauda)
Keel-billed Toucan (Ramphastos sulfuratus)
Red-legged Honeycreeper (Cyanerpes cyaneus)

Palenque Birds Day 1- Afternoon.

In the afternoon we got visited by some Howler Monkeys in the back yard of my hostel. I was a bit scared at first but they were just curious and came right onto the tree above the kitchen. They were very nice and not aggressive at all like macaques.

Guatemalan Black Howler(Alouatta pigra)

They are also called Yucatan Black Howler.

Guatemalan Black Howler(Alouatta pigra)

This is a close-up of an adult. It is amazing how human they look.

Collared Aracari (Pteroglossus torquatus)

It is a Toucan. I was quite surprised when I saw the monstrous snoz on this thing.

Groove-billed Ani – Garrapatero Pijuy (Crotophaga sulcirostris)

I love the Groove-billed Anis. They look like something out of a science fiction movie. Directly teleported out of the Stargate. A superior intelligence! Spanish name is Garrapatero Pijuy, which means “I have a message from Spock”.

Scarlet Macaw (Ara macao)

One in flight. They fly around all over the paddocks making a racket.

Brown Jay (Psilorhinus morio)

Palenque bird list

Palenque – Calle El Guacimo

This morning I started off early and went up the street. There were birds everywhere. The most amazing for me was seeing a Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture. A truly magnificent creature.

Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture (Cathartes burrovianus)

You can have all your fancy exotic tropical birds. Give me a vulture any day. Well, I got the fancy tropical birds as well, just up the street.

Black-headed Trogon (Trogon melanocephalus)

It took me a while to work out which one it was. Mainly from bird observations at the local level.

Orchard Oriole (Icterus spurius)

I had to look twice to suss this one out.

Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula)

Not an Altimira one. I have seen quite a few orioles in Mexico so far.

American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla)

I have been wanting to see an American Redstart for ages. And here it is. I found him just by the road at the end of the street. The Spanish name is chipe flameante.

Brown Jay (Psilorhinus morio)

“Brown jays vary in plumage geographically: there are two main groups. Northern birds are almost completely dark brown, with lighter brown on the underparts. Southern birds are white-bellied and have bright white tips to the outer tail feathers. The intergrade zone is in Veracruz, Mexico.
Adults in both populations have black bills, legs, and feet. Immatures have yellow bare parts, including yellow eye-rings.” (wiki).

White-fronted Amazon (Amazona albifrons)

It seems a lot of these are kept as pets. ugh.

Scarlet Macaw (Ara macao)

They sound like cockatoos. Really annoying.

Black-crowned Tityra (Tityra inquisitor)

The other one is the Masked Tityra. Funny name. Funny bird.

White-tipped Dove (Leptotila verreauxi)

This White-tipped Dove has got really red eyes.

Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea)

I think he is moulting a bit.

Bat Falcon

I have no idea what this is. Gonna ask for help with this one. Rough guess is Bat Falcon ,Halcón Murcielaguero, (Falco rufigularis). Someone suggested Merlin but I think it is out of range, maybe.

Olive-throated Parakeet (Eupsittula astec)

Also called the Aztec Parakeet. I have seen these before in Cancun but at last I have a nice photo of them.

Palenque Bird List

Black-headed Trogon (Trogon melanocephalus)
Orchard Oriole (Icterus spurius)
Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula)
American Redstart – chipe flameante (Setophaga ruticilla)
Brown Jay (Psilorhinus morio)
White-fronted Amazon (Amazona albifrons)
Scarlet Macaw (Ara macao)
Black-crowned Tityra (Tityra inquisitor)
White-tipped Dove (Leptotila verreauxi)
Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea)
Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture (Cathartes burrovianus)
Olive-throated Parakeet – Aztec Parakeet (Eupsittula astec)
Tropical Kingbird(Tyrannus melancholicus)
Golden-fronted Woodpecker (Melanerpes aurifrons)
Great-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus)
Melodious Blackbird (Dives dives)
Western Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis)
Social Flycatcher
White-winged Dove
great kiskadee (Pitangus sulphuratus)

Campeche, Mexico.

In the afternoon I went along the waterfront at Campeche. It looks out on to the Gulf of Mexico. Texas is just over the gulf. I was not expecting much. I was just hoping to see a few birds and get some decent shots of birds I have not photographed well.

Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius)

I had a good guess that this was a Spotted Sandpiper, of course without the spots of breeding plumage. Thanks to Manoli Strecker for the positive identification.

Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus)

There were quite a few of these hanging out in a big mob of Laughing Gulls. First time seeing these.

Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon)

Pretty crappy photo of a Belted Kingfisher. Just a record shot.

least sandpiper (Calidris minutilla)

I think this is a Least Sandpiper but not sure. I am waiting for an identification. Edit: Yes it is. Thanks Manoli.

Spotted Sandpiper

Again, I am not sure if this is a Solitary Sandpiper. Waiting for id. This time i was way off course. Spotted Sandpiper.

Tropical Mockingbird (Mimus gilvus)

I am seeing these in Campeche as well as in the Yucatan.

Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus)

A close-up of the head of the Double-crested Cormorant showing the distinctive facial markings.

Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus)

And a wider shot of some Double-crested Cormorants sitting on a boat.

Laughing Gull (Leucophaeus atricilla)

Big mob of Laughing Gulls standing on the wharf. Not very funny though. Scientific name is also Larus atricilla. I have no idea which is the correct one.

Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)

At last a decent sharp shot of a Brown Pelican. The Spanish name is Pelícano Café.

Black-bellied Plover (Pluvialis squatarola)

The Americans call it the Black-bellied Plover but it’s proper name is Grey Plover, isn’t it? The Spanish name is Chorlo Gris.

Campeche Bird List

Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius)
Magnificent Frigatebird (Fregata magnificens)
Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus)
Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon)
least sandpiper (Calidris minutilla) 0847 ?
solitary sandpiper 0918 ?
Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)
Black-bellied Plover – Grey Plover – (Pluvialis squatarola)
Tropical Mockingbird (Mimus gilvus)
Laughing Gull (Leucophaeus atricilla)
Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus)
Tropical Kingbird Tyrannus melancholicus