That’s right, we’re in Mexico, and it’s been a long couple of days, but I do finally have some pictures to show you. We were lucky enough to have two good friends tag along on this trip, Donna, whom you know from the Milwaukee Birders, and her husband, Mike, who spotted the ruby-throated hummingbird nest in Estabrook a couple of years ago, and here’s who they helped me find in our first stop, the fabulous city of Puebla.
Our hotel was right off the central square, and Donna, Mike, and I were out soon after sunrise this morning to see who might be around. Happily, it didn’t take us long to find this little darling, the first gray silky-flycatcher (Ptiliogonys cinereus) for all of us.
After breakfast, we visited the fort overlooking the city, where the Battle of Puebla took place on May 5th, 1862, and we were greeted right away by this little cutie, a female vermilion flycatcher. Long-time readers may recall that I got a nice shot of a male down in Belize.
Mike and Donna ventured into the fort, to immerse themselves in history, while Anne and I strolled around the lush grounds surrounding the fort, where we found the first Bewick’s wren (Thryomanes bewickii) I’ve been able to capture on film.
Back at the central square, Donna spotted what appears to be my first graphic spiny lizard (Sceloporus grammicus).
Finally, we’ve seen several butterflies down here, but the one that sat still for a moment, because she was busy laying eggs, was this striking green-eyed white (Leptophobia aripa).
Lastly, we drove down to Oaxaca de Juárez this afternoon, and we plan to go looking for wildlife in the morning. I’ll be sure to let you know who we find.
