Two months in the past, I wrote about seeing one in every of Mexico’s actually particular endemic birds: the Aztec Thrush. This chicken magnificence is sort of refined. However it’s uncommon, well-camouflaged, not site-loyal, and virtually all the time silent. It will probably solely be discovered, as of this writing, in 594 eBird lists, which might place it excessive on most birders’ want checklist. I stay throughout the coronary heart of its somewhat restricted vary, however till this 12 months, had solely seen this species 3 times. I recommended that any of our readers who go to Morelia NOT ask me to indicate them Aztec Thrushes, as I had no concept how you can produce additional sightings on demand.

As I discussed in that early February put up, I had simply gone to a forest that was severely burnt the earlier spring. I knew I might see a lot of Grey Silky-Flycatchers there, as they love burnt-over forests. What I didn’t count on was an equal improve within the prevalence of American Robins. And that these Robins can be accompanied by a pair of Aztec Thrushes, which gave me some stunning photographs.

So this week, I went again to the identical burnt forest, to see whether or not I may need lastly discovered a habitat that would encourage these Aztec Thrushes to cool down for some time.

One change had occurred since my first go to. Two months additional away from our “wet” season (which wasn’t very wet in any respect, this 12 months), the burnt space’s large bloom of Salvias had ended, and many of the super-abundant hummingbirds seen in that first go to had moved on. However the Robins and Silky-Flycatchers actually hadn’t. I couldn’t probably have counted them precisely as they wheeled overhead, however I actually noticed many dozens of every.

The Silky-Flycatchers have been extra colourful than I had ever seen. Contemplating the month, I think it’s a intercourse factor.

However have been there any Aztec Thrushes? Nicely, I can’t provide any nice photographs. However the numbers converse for themselves. Right here is Aztec Thrush #1:

#2:

#3:

And #4:

If you wish to see good photographs of Aztec Thrushes, you may see a number of in my February put up.

These birds have been all seen fairly removed from each other. So I can say with some confidence that if I hadn’t seen all of them, I would definitely have seen some. In reality, I don’t doubt that I missed a number of.

So, it seems that perhaps you CAN ask for an Aztec. All you want is a big swath of critically burnt forest. Sadly.

The forest, by the way in which, is already displaying many indicators of latest life. The pines’ survival technique appears to be to die within the fireplace, after which have an astonishing crop of latest seedlings the next 12 months. Different timber, particularly oaks, survive by sprouting from their burnt trunks, or within the worst state of affairs, from the roots. I’ll make sure that to comply with this forest’s restoration over the subsequent few years.

I had gone to this web site particularly in search of my fifth encounter with Aztec Thrushes. However I actually didn’t count on to additionally see a small flock of Cedar Waxwings, a sophisticated species right here in Mexico. I noticed them as soon as within the spring of 2018, fifteen instances within the irruption spring of 2021, and final spring gave me one other three sightings. However this was my very first sighting this spring. Maybe Waxwings are one other fire-loving species?

I’ll end with a pair of Black-headed Grosbeaks, female and male. Not the perfect photographs, however actually pretty birds.