This special tour to the Veracruz region of Mexico will feature the "River of Raptors" , one of the great natural phenomenons on earth. We will participate in the worlds’ most spectacular hawkwatch, where single day counts have exceeded over 700,000 raptors, and the one-day record is 1.5 million! The last seven fall seasons; Pronatura hawk-counters have recorded over five million birds of prey. Besides enjoying this staggering spectacle of raptors, we will visit a variety of habitats and quaint villages, where local avifauna, raptors and North American migrants are enjoyed. This area ranks among the better places in the Americas to observe eastern and western passerine migrants and wintering birds side-by-side in the same locality. We can expect over 300 species, including over 30 species of raptors, a possible 20 species of hummingbirds and numerous endemics. We will also get a chance to enjoy some of the local culture, when we visit the small town of La Antigua where Cortez established the first Spanish colony in 1520; the 13th century Totonacan ruins at Cempoala, built by a native people who were conquered by the Aztecs and later joined Cortez during the conquest of Mexico’s Tenotichtlan, as well as a visit to the Museo de Antropologia in Xalapa, famous for its collection of colossal heads of Olmecs dating back to 900BC.
Birding La Antigua
© J & A Binns
© J & A Binns
Based out of Xalapa, we will visit the cloud forest at Macuiltepetl Ecological Park that holds the endemic Blue Mockingbird and White-naped Brush-Finch, Blue-crowned Motmot and several species of hummingbirds including Azure-crowned, Wedge-tailed and Rufous-tailed. From this quaint colonial capitol in the mountains west of Cardel, we travel to a beautiful waterfall at Xico, famous for its beautiful scenery and excellent birding including Bat Falcons and swifts. Several areas of high-elevation pine forest/oak habitat, such as at Las Minas and La Joya, provide opportunities to observe the endemic Red Warbler, Dwarf Jay and Striped Sparrow, as well as Olive, Hermit and Golden-crowned Warblers. In past visits, large feeding flocks of mixed passerines, including Slate-throated Redstarts, Rufous-capped Warblers, Rufous-capped Brush Finch, Russet Nightingale-Thrush and dozens of other special birds provided very exciting birding opportunities. We see a complete change of habitat around Perote, where the desert dominated by Joshua Trees and Agaves holds Scott’s Oriole, White-eared Hummingbird along with familiar Southwestern US species.
At Catemaco we’ll bird the UNAM Biological Reserve - 800 acres of Primary forest where some of the typical tropical birds include Keel-billed Toucan, Collared Aracari and Violaceous Trogan. Along the forest trail we hope to come across an ant swarm where birds such as Ant-Tanagers, Woodcreepers, Bright-rumped Attila and Stub-tailed Spadebills follow. Raptors in the open country include Bat Falcon and White Hawk. In the afternoon we visit Laguna de Sontecomapan, a large coastal lagoon where we take a boat trip into the lagoon and then up one of the feeder streams. Here we see most aquatic species, as well as some tropical specialties such as Bare-throated Tiger-Heron, Sungrebe, and maybe Grey-headed Kite. Our final morning will be spent at Nanciyaga and La Jungla. These are remnant patches of Rain Forest along the edge of Lake Catemaco, and a good location for many of the common tropical species such as Spot-breasted Wren, Blue-crowned Motmot, Red-lored Parrot and Long-tailed Hermit.
Itinerary
Day 1 ~ Evening arrival at Veracruz Airport. Transfer to Cardel
Day 2 & 3 ~ Cardel, La Antigua and Rio Escondido |
© Kevin Karlson |
We also get a good look at the spectacular passerine migration along the coast, especially the swallows, Scissor-tailed Flycatchers and Dickcissels.
© J & A Binns |
Late mornings and early afternoons are usually reserved for catching the raptor migration back in Cardel from the rooftop of our hotel. Our afternoon excursions will include a visit to the historical town of La Antigua. Here Cortez established the first Spanish colony in Mexico around 1520 and we visit the strangler fig and fern covered remains of his home. We also take a boat ride down the river to the mouth of the gulf where we hope to see four kingfisher species as well as an assortment of waders, gulls and terns. Rio Escondido is an area of open grassland with scattered trees and shrubs. This diversity of habitat provides us with an interesting mix of birds including White-tailed Hawks, Blue-black Grassquits, Canivet’s Emerald and Gray-crowned Yellowthroats. |
Day 4, 5 & 6 ~ Transfer to Xalapa; El Mirador, Parque Macquiltepetl and Las Minas
We transfer to Xalapa for 3 nights. On the way we visit a wonderful coffee plantation with a stunning array of species including Blue-crowned Motmot, Yellow-olive Flycatcher, Wedge tailed Sabrewing, Common Brush Tanager, White-winged Tanager and both Olivaceous and Ivory-billed Woodcreeper as well as colorful butterflies such as Godman’s Mapwings, morphos and Malachites.
© J & A Binns |
The 80-acre Macquiltepetl Park is an extinct volcano in the very center of Xalapa, forming a large hill at the highest level of the city. Here in the cloud forest we can expect Rusty Sparrow, Blue Mockingbird, Cordilleran Flycatcher, Green Jay, Band-backed Wren, Squirrel Cuckoo and White-naped Brushfinch as well as a wide variety of migrants from eastern and western North America.We will also visit the Museo de Antropologia well known for its collection of Olmec colossal heads, and one of Mexico’s most gorgeous waterfalls at Xico. In the late afternoon White-collared Swifts, Montezuma Oropendulas and White-crowned Parrots come to roost and American Dippers are often seen along the rapids. |
On our final morning we’ll visit Las Minas, a dramatic canyon set among the high plateau of central Mexico. Here the pines hold the striking Red Warbler, Golden-browed and Crescent-chested Warbler, Grey Silkys, Mountain Trogon and the endemic Striped Sparrow. From here we continue to the foothills of the Cofre de Perote to Los Humeros, where the beautiful and unique desert habitat dominated by Joshua Trees and Agave’s holds Scott's Oriole, Western Scrub Jay and White-eared Hummingbird.
Day 7, 8 & 9 ~ Transfer to Cardel; La Joya, La Mancha; Playa Chalchiuecan
Descending back into the coastal plain, our first stop is at La Joya, a small patch of pines and dense underbrush similar to Las Minas, where Collared Towhee, Rufous-capped Brushfinch, Russet Nightingale Thrush, Hepatic Tanager, Black-headed Siskin and the altitudinal migrant, Tufted Flycatcher are possible. We keep in touch with the hawk counters and hope to be in the right place at the right time to catch the “River of Raptors”, which often is at Chichicaxtle, Pronatura’s inland site during the mid to late afternoon hours.
Mornings will be spent birding the wetlands at La Fortuna with an assortment of waterfowl including Black-bellied Whistling Duck; La Mancha, and area of lowland forest along coastal dunes where Gray-necked Wood-Rail, Black-headed Trogon, Aztec Parakeet, Laughing Falcon, Common Black Hawk and Short-tailed Hawks are often seen; and Playa Chalchiuecan where we will walk a good stretch of dirt road that leads to the beach. Along the low thorn and scrub habitat on both sides of the road, a number of hummingbirds can be found including Buff-bellied, Cavinet’s Emerald, Bee Hummingbird and the endemic Mexican Sheartail. It is also a great place to hear and hopefully seen the elusive Collared Forest-Falcon. |
© J & A Binns |
For a change of pace we will visit the ruins at Cempoala, where we learn the traditions of the Totonacas and of their encounters with the Spaniards and also visit a field at dusk to witness a ¼ -million Davy’s Naked-backed and Ghost-faced Bats leave their cave!
Day 10 & 11 ~ Transfer to Catemaco; Las Barrancas, Alvarado wetlands, UNAM Biological Station and Laguna de Sontecomapan
The extensive Alvarado lagoon and wetlands is located on the expansive coastal plain south of Veracruz. Here amongst the wet savannah of Las Barrancas, Pinnated Bittern, Double-striped Thick-knee, Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture and Mangrove Swallow can be found. We’ll also look for Common Tody Flycatcher nesting in a small patch of shrubs and hope to see Great Black-Hawk. The wetlands hold Snail Kite and Limpkin, and Black-collared Hawk are occasionally seen.
At Catemaco we encounter lush tropical coastal open habitat and remnant patches of rain forest. Along the edges of forest we’ll search for White Hawks and Bat Falcon, which can be seen chasing swallows. Colorful species such as Violaceous Trogons, Lineated Woodpecker, Black-cowled Oriole, Keel-billed Toucans and Collared Aracari’s can be seen along side Smoky-brown and Golden-Olive Woodpecker; Black-headed Saltator’s and Lesser Greenlets at the UNAM Biological Station. With luck we’ll come across an ant swarm and the possibility of Red-crowned and Red-throated Ant-Tanagers, Ruddy Foliage-Gleaner, Ivory-billed or Barred Woodcreeper and Stub-tailed Spadebill. We take a leisurely afternoon boat ride through the Laguna de Sontecomapan where Violet Sabrewings can be seen nectaring on riverbank vines and three secretive species, the Sungrebe, the Bare-throated Tiger-Heron and Pygmy Kingfisher are occasionally spotted. At our hotel, roosting Mottled Owls can often be found.
Day 12 ~ Nanciyaga and La Jungla; Transfer to Veracruz Our final morning of birding will be spent walking through the remnant tropical forest at La Jungla and Nanciyaga nature reserve, where the thick vegetation and tall trees hold both Spot-breasted and White-breasted Wood-Wrens, Little and Long-tailed Hermits, and in the past has produced a wide variety of warblers including Kentucky and Northern Waterthrush. The marsh around Lake Catemaco has traditionally been a great place to see Ruddy Crake. As we make our way to Veracruz, we’ll stop along the gulf coast for some sea watching where Black Terns have been seen in large numbers as well as Parasitic Jaegers chasing Royal and Sandwich Terns. We finish our tour with a pleasant evening reminiscing about the trip in the beautiful and bustling Veracruz town square over a drink!
Day 13 ~ Early morning departure from Veracruz
Note: Hawk watching on the roof of the Bienvenido Hotel in Cardel requires the climb of 5 flights of stairs. You may take all the time you need for this climb, but please be aware of the situation. This itinerary may change throughout the tour depending on weather, migration flights, etc.
Cost: $2,795.00 per person from Veracruz, based upon double occupancy. Includes all accommodation, meals, transportation, boat rides, entrance fees and donation to Pronatura. Single supplement: $290.00.
Not included in the cost are alcoholic drinks, tips and items of a personal nature.
Note: If you do not request a single room, and we are unable to find you a roommate, you will be assessed the single supplement.