… And generally that’s rather a lot.

Final week, I failed to provide a publish, as a result of I used to be on the brink of spend every week in Mexico’s tropical state of Tabasco. I’m educating for 25 hours in a Presbyterian Theological Seminary, in addition to talking at a Baptist church on Sunday, so there was a number of preparation concerned.

Due to the intensive work dedication right here, I’ve not been capable of go wherever besides the city church and the grounds of the Seminary. Happily, these grounds are giant, superbly maintained, and stuffed with every kind of habitat perks. I noticed 32 species right here in my first 24 hours, a few of them thrilling ones.

Final yr I additionally visited Tabasco and my Presbyterian associates, which resulted in all types of fantastic lifers. However, despite a birder pal telling me the city the place I used to be housed needs to be an excellent place to see the Russet-naped Wooden-Rail, none ever confirmed up. So I used to be delighted when the Seminary grounds turned out to host not less than 6 of those stunning birds. The Wooden-Rails like to maneuver round in a really seen group. And they’re so trusting that I discovered myself musing whether or not I’d lose Lifer Factors if one ought to occur to climb onto my lap.

My second lifer this journey was a migratory Yellow-throated Warbler, a species I couldn’t hope to see my earlier journey, which had occurred in early summer time. Alas, this little beautiful perched on a wire simply exterior the window of the classroom the place I used to be educating in the intervening time, so no pictures have been taken. I confess that I did, nonetheless, momentarily lose all focus. Now all my college students know concerning the Yellow-throated Warbler.

Once they have been constructing the Seminary, some filth was faraway from a central space. And, this being Tabasco, the ensuing hole instantly stuffed with water, producing a stunning, birdy pond. Often an Amazon Kingfisher graces this pond, and fortunately, he has no drawback with posing for pictures.

The pond additionally enjoys the fixed presence of three generations of Northern Jacanas. The male and one subadult generally stick collectively, however are sometimes seen alone. The infants, nonetheless, keep near mama. They’re much more awkwardly cute than grownup Jacanas.

Fortunately, one of many Seminary college students can also be a birder, and he walked the grounds with me on my second night right here. We have been joyful to expertise three birds of prey on this jaunt. A Snail Kite flew overhead, sadly a bit too far-off to completely admire its sharply-hooked invoice, made for consuming, nicely, escargots. A Roadside Hawk perched on a publish subsequent to, in fact, a highway. And two Ferruginous Pygmy-Owls toot-toot-tooted from the comb. We have been unable to see them, however each confirmed up for pictures the subsequent morning. There’s additionally a household of Barn Owls on the premises, and I’ve briefly seen the biggest of them (huge!) flying by at night time. However that encounter didn’t lend itself to images.

Within the space of Morelia, the place I dwell, no parrots are to be discovered. However right here, Olive-throated Parakeets and White-fronted Parrots are a continuing presence within the early morning and late night. The pictures are grainy as a result of these birds don’t stick round till the sunshine is sweet.

Two basic birds of Mexico’s east coast are additionally current. The Brown Jay is noisy, giant, and daring. The Clay-colored Thrush might get its title from the truth that it’s as frequent as filth right here.

That’s a Melodious Blackbird within the background. And they’re… Melodious, that’s.

Pink-billed Pigeons are additionally fairly frequent down right here:

Friday night my new birding buddy goes to take me to considered one of his off-campus websites. So I’ll have extra tales to inform subsequent week.