Mexico: Birding in the Rain

A star of our birding trip was the tufted flycatchers that were so very cooperative for the photographers. This one, photographed in the rain while perched over a reservoir outside Zitacuaro, often came too close for focusing!

On the same lake, Barn Swallows and Northern Rough-winged Swallows zipped by too fast for focusing, but perched now and then to rest.

Along the shores this little Wilson's Warbler hid from the rain drops undar large leaves as it hunted for bugs.

The rain continued throughout the day so we continued birding from under cover at a wonderful local taco place -- Agasutaco.

From the restaurant we found many Western Tanagers, Indigo Buntings, Blue Grosbeaks and even the less common Flame-colored Tanager and Blue Mockingbird!

photos and text © Kevin Loughlin

PA Young Birders Trip Report - Barnegat Light, NJ

Getting great scope views of winter ducks!

Better late than never! This trip report was from our January 9 PA Young Birders Club field trip!

Eleven kids and their families, including students from Kevin’s sister’s Kim’s Project Eagle, braved the frigid temperatures and wind on this sunny morning to walk the jetty at Barnegat Lighthouse. 

Jetty at Barnegat Light

Once we got everyone a pair of Nikon binoculars around their necks, we had ample opportunity to practice using optics in the parking lot. Cedar Wawings, American Robins and Yellow-rumped Warblers posed obligingly in the Eastern Red Cedars.

Red-breasted Mergansers and Long-tailed Ducks were the first waterfowl we spotted close to the concrete walkway. This gave the kids an opportunity to look through the spotting scope and learn how to use the focus dial.

Harlequin Duck

Once on the jetty Common Loons and Brant were easily seen in the inlet, with the loons diving for fish.  Harlequin Ducks were spotted ahead, floating in the calmer water alongside the jetty. Purple Sandpipers, Ruddy Turnstones and Black-bellied Plovers were probing the algae-covered rocks just above the tide line. 

Surf Scoter

Stepping carefully along the boulders we worked our way towards the end of the jetty seeing many Surf Scoters along the way.  Some flew by at top speed while others bobbed in the swells giving us an opportunity to study both sexes.   On the far side of the inlet Great Cormorants perched on the light tower and rafts of Common Eiders and Black Scoters floated in the surf.

'Ipswich' Savanna Sparrow

With a cold, stiff wind in our faces on our way back it was hard to view much in the inlet. However we did have a very confiding “Ipswich” Savannah Sparrow sheltered amongst the jetty boulders, and looking for seeds on the sand.

Text © Adrian Binns

Photos © Kevin Loughlin

Mexico: Sierra Chincua Monarch Butterflies

We came to see the Monarch Butterflies. One is a beautiful creature... silent as it flutters by. These fragile creatures migrate to the high mountains of Mexico every year by the millions. Here they over-winter before mating and then returning (just the females) to the USA and Canada. Here they lay their eggs and die. Each generation goes through the metamorphosis, flies further north to lay more eggs, then dies. This continues until, inexplicably, the generation that hatches in September, typically the eighth, becomes the migratory generation that returns to Mexico.

Arriving in late October through early December, the Monarchs fly through the surrounding towns finding their way into the oyamel fir tree forests high in the mountains of Michoacan, Mexico. They are celebrated by the people and have been for hundreds of years, maybe even thousands though we have no written record that far back.

Many of the hillsides are covered in deciduous trees at lower elevations. These trees give way to cedar, fir and pine higher up.

Unfortunately, many of the forests are being taken down for farms or for lumber. The people here need to survive and earn a living. We need to help them find the balance so that the Monarchs are not lost forever.

Curve-billed Thrashers and other species attract birders and other tourists come just for the butterflies every season and pour money into the local economy. This is obviously a huge help, but the money comes only for a few short months...

photos and text © Kevin Loughlin

Mexico: Land of Color

A church along the main road to Tlalpujua.

Mexico is a land of wonderful color. Although we were there for the Monarch Butterflies and the many species of birds, there was no driving passed any photo opportunity. The many and varied churches made for some great studies in color and texture.

A church off the main highway near a waterfowl-filled lake.

Our first full day in Mexico went from sunny blue skies, to cloudy with chance of rain and back to sunny again as we drove over and through the mountains west of Mexico City. Along with our birding stop at a local lake full of waterfowl, a stop to photograph the town of Santa Rosa and it's church added to the flavor of Mexico.

The cathedral in Tlalpujua.

The huge cathedral in Tlalpujua hosted colorful celebrations late into the night during our stay in the "Pueblo Magico" as it was holy week. Though the busy streets did not distract us from our main goal of seeing the Monarchs on their wintering grounds, we did take some additional opportunity to enjoy the shows (more on that in a future post...)

text and photos © Kevin Loughlin

Count the Monarch Butterflies!

Monarch Butterflies cover the trees at Cerro Pelon.

WOW! The Monarchs were definitely there! There being their wintering grounds in the mountains of Mexico in the state of Michoacan. Each year millions of these seemingly fragile creatures make their way thousands of miles to a small region in Mexico to over-winter, and each year we travel with a group to go see them.

This year the El Nino rains were devastating and the city of Angangueo was inundated with mud... killing 18 people. We were fortunate to have been able to make other arrangements shortly before our trip, but the El Rosario Sanctuary was closed to visitors while we were there. In fact, during our stay, El Rosario received about 3 inches of snow, covering many of the butterflies!

We were able to visit two other reserves: Cerro Pelon and Sierra Chincua. We were fortunate to see the butterflies on the only two sunny days we had on 7-day our trip! It is very unusual to have so much rain there at this time of year, but the El Nino current created exaggerated weather patterns creating torrential downpours and much flooding in the region.

During our trip my computer's hard drive was giving me problems, however, I have replaced the drive and was able to save all my files, so I will be posting more photos and stories from this incredible trip soon!

photos and text © Kevin Loughlin

Puerto Rico - Bioluminescent Bay

Splashing around in the Bioluminescent Bay creates an eerie blue glow!

The unfortunate name of Puerto Mosquito was bestowed on this natural marvel centuries ago. However, Puerto Mosquito on the tiny island of Vieques (off Puerto Rico's eastern shore) is now considered one of the best bioluminescent bays in the world.

Mosquito Bay's eerie, electric blue glow is created by microscopic plant/animal organisms called dinoflagellates. They release energy in the form of light, much the way fireflies do. Several dinoflagellate species are found in oceans worldwide: on the U.S Atlantic coast, the waters around Borneo and the Sea of Japan. Although in some places bioluminescence is seasonal, Mosquito Bay glows year-round, thanks to a plentiful population of the species Pyrodinium bahamense, whose name means "whirling fire." Only 1/500 inch in diameter, these organisms flash when agitated, probably as a defense mechanism. Each flash last only 1/10 second, yet the collective blue radiance can be seen for miles. The reason for this intensity is Mosquito Bayís high concentration of dinoflagellates... 720,000 per gallon!

The bay is in danger, however, from many angles. The popularity of Vieques has caused ever increasing development which in turn created more pollution in the form of garbage as well as fuel spillage from boats. This pollution can kill the organisms, which has been the case in Puerto Rico's other bioluminescent bays in Parguera and Fajardo, which are now at 10% of the Mosquito Bay levels.

Light pollution also abounds from the ever-growing population around the bay. Owners of condos refuse to use downward shining lights and allow their spot lights ands street lights to shine in all directions. Though the light does not hurt the organisms, more light equals less intense visibility... which then equals fewer visitors to the bay diminishing its economic value. Tourism is the top product of Vieques and protection of the bay is essential.

The tour boat uses powerful electric motors rather than gas... and the glow from the propeller is the first example of the amazing phenomena that visitors experience.

Mark Martin, a driving force behind the Vieques Historic and Conservation Trust, leads exploratory trips for visitors through Islands Adventures. With help from many individuals and organizations, the he and the Trust have been able to ward off additional development around the bay, but many more battles lie ahead!

text and photos by Kevin Loughlin

Puerto Rico - Pearly-eyed Thrasher

This Pearly-eyed Thrasher was preening after a bath in the morning dew.

The Pearly-eyed Thrasher is not a Puerto Rican endemic as it is found on many islands in the Caribbean.

An opportunistic omnivore, the thrasher feeds mainly on insects, but also on fruit, lizards, small crabs and other birds' eggs and young.

An aggressive species, it is well known to compete with the critically endangered Puerto Rican Parrot for cavity nesting sites... often eating the eggs and young of the parrot.

text and photo © Kevin Loughlin

Puerto Rico - Cubuy Falls

Few words are needed for this image. The Cubuy River and its spectacular falls lie a short walk down the hill from Casa Cubuy, our lodge for two nights.

Along with these incredible views, Casa Cubuy is also the most reliable place to find the endemic Puerto Rican Screech Owl.

photo and text © Kevin Loughlin

Puerto Rico - Endangered Species

Yellow-shouldered Blackbirds and female Shiny Cowbird

Notice the band on the Yellow-shouldered Blackbird in the foreground? Heavily studied and watched, this Puerto Rican endemic is critically endangered due to habitat loss, nest predation by cats and other introduced mammals, and by nest parasitism from Shiny Cowbirds which arrived on the island within the last century. La Paguera offers the best opportunity to find this gregarious species as they seem to prefer mangroves and coastal scrub.

photos and text © Kevin Loughlin

Puerto Rico - Caribbean Gem

Elfin-woods Warbler, a Puerto Rican endemic.

We are now on day 3 of our Puerto Rico: Caribbean Gem 8-day itinerary. And first thing this morning, at the Maricao State Forest, we got the target for the region... the Elfin-woods Warbler. This was my only shot, just as it decided to fly off and disappear.

This quiet warbler had been passed by for decades, until 1972 when it was discovered by science! It is only found regularly in the mountains of Maricao and El Yunque. It never sings, and only offers fine, plaintiff chips which one must listen for quite intently, especially on windy days like we had today.

text and photo © Kevin Loughlin