Jon Gallagher
Well-known member
Not a trip report but a few updates on some of the sites in June 2022. Though not meant to be the optimal time to visit, I saw all my target birds.
Los Tarrales: great place, only problem because of time of year heavy rain in most afternoons. Cost: USD 30 per night (“green season”!), meals USD15, Walked all the trails and the road up to Vesubio. Good birds included: White-bellied Chachalacas, Crested Guans, Highland Guan, Singing Quail, White-faced Quail-Dove, Rivoli’s Hummingbird, Green-throated Mountaingem, Rufous Sabrewing, Emerald-chinned Hummingbird, Berylline Hummingbird, Blue-tailed Hummingbirds, female Slender Sheartail, Rufous-breasted Spintetail, Blue-and-white Mockingbird, Yellow-throated Nightingale-Thrush, Rufous-browed Wren, Rufous-naped Wren, Chestnut-capped Warbler, White-faced Ground-Sparrow, Azure-naped Tanagers, Bar-winged Oriole, Black-capped Swallows.
Fuentes Georginas: very quiet when I was there (time of year?) but still had Horned Guan. Main issue fog and rain in afternoons (almost zero visibility when I arrived). Trail up to ridge extremely slippery. Cost is still 60Q to enter, 25Q to park, but after accepting payment of 190Q per night later they tried to argue that I needed to pay for double occupancy of 380Q per night since I had exclusive use of the cabin. After long argument they conceded. Be aware. Good meals. Best birds: Horned Guan, Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem, Garnet-throated Hummingbird, Wine-throated Hummingbird, White-eared Hummingbird, Rufous Sabrewing, Violet Sabrewing, Azure-crowned Hummingbird, Black-throated Jays, Brown-backed Solitaires, Ruddy-capped Nightingale-Thrushes, Golden-browed Warblers, 1 + more heard Pink-headed Warblers (not ticked because very poor view).
Sierra de los Cuchaniantes NP (near Todos Santos Cachuman): stayed at Hotel Casa Familiar in Todos Santos Cachuman (cost 190Q per night). I used Esteban Matias (WhatsApp +502 5381 0540) for an evening (for the Unspotted Saw-whet Owl, successful at the third site we tried), and a morning. His daily rate has increased to 650Q per day. Can definitely recommend him as he knows the sites, has excellent field skills, and is a good bloke. Best birds: Unspotted Saw-whet Owl, Pink-headed Warbler, Goldman’s Warbler, Black-capped Siskin.
Any questions message me.
Los Tarrales: great place, only problem because of time of year heavy rain in most afternoons. Cost: USD 30 per night (“green season”!), meals USD15, Walked all the trails and the road up to Vesubio. Good birds included: White-bellied Chachalacas, Crested Guans, Highland Guan, Singing Quail, White-faced Quail-Dove, Rivoli’s Hummingbird, Green-throated Mountaingem, Rufous Sabrewing, Emerald-chinned Hummingbird, Berylline Hummingbird, Blue-tailed Hummingbirds, female Slender Sheartail, Rufous-breasted Spintetail, Blue-and-white Mockingbird, Yellow-throated Nightingale-Thrush, Rufous-browed Wren, Rufous-naped Wren, Chestnut-capped Warbler, White-faced Ground-Sparrow, Azure-naped Tanagers, Bar-winged Oriole, Black-capped Swallows.
Fuentes Georginas: very quiet when I was there (time of year?) but still had Horned Guan. Main issue fog and rain in afternoons (almost zero visibility when I arrived). Trail up to ridge extremely slippery. Cost is still 60Q to enter, 25Q to park, but after accepting payment of 190Q per night later they tried to argue that I needed to pay for double occupancy of 380Q per night since I had exclusive use of the cabin. After long argument they conceded. Be aware. Good meals. Best birds: Horned Guan, Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem, Garnet-throated Hummingbird, Wine-throated Hummingbird, White-eared Hummingbird, Rufous Sabrewing, Violet Sabrewing, Azure-crowned Hummingbird, Black-throated Jays, Brown-backed Solitaires, Ruddy-capped Nightingale-Thrushes, Golden-browed Warblers, 1 + more heard Pink-headed Warblers (not ticked because very poor view).
Sierra de los Cuchaniantes NP (near Todos Santos Cachuman): stayed at Hotel Casa Familiar in Todos Santos Cachuman (cost 190Q per night). I used Esteban Matias (WhatsApp +502 5381 0540) for an evening (for the Unspotted Saw-whet Owl, successful at the third site we tried), and a morning. His daily rate has increased to 650Q per day. Can definitely recommend him as he knows the sites, has excellent field skills, and is a good bloke. Best birds: Unspotted Saw-whet Owl, Pink-headed Warbler, Goldman’s Warbler, Black-capped Siskin.
Any questions message me.
