4.5 Day Birding Tour - February 2025.
This tour was designed for Dave and Pam whom I’ve guided before in 2022, this time the objective was to look for endemic birds plus visiting some of the more “remote” archaeological sites in the Yucatan Peninsula.
Day 1
Our tour started in Mérida, where I picked up Dave and Pam for a quick drive to the coast, to one of our favorite birding locations in the area where we had an amazing first outing with 82 species in two hours!
Highlights included: Blue-winged Teal, Common Ground Dove, Groove-billed Ani, Squirrel Cuckoo, Mangrove Cuckoo, Cinnamon Hummingbird, Black-bellied Plover, American Avocet, Semipalmated Plover, Least Sandpiper, Sandwich Tern, Royal Tern, American Flamingo, Neotropic Cormorant, White Ibis, Roseate Spoonbill, Little Blue Heron, Tricolored Heron, Reddish Egret, Green Heron, Brown Pelican, Great Horned Owl, Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl, Turquoise-browed Motmot, Green Kingfisher, Yucatan Woodpecker, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Barred Antshrike, Common Tody-Flycatcher, Rufous-browed Peppershrike, Mangrove Vireo, Yucatan Gnatcatcher, Yucatan Wren, Spot-breasted Wren, Yellow-billed Cacique, Black-cowled Oriole, Hooded Oriole, Yellow-tailed Oriole, Orange Oriole, Red-winged Blackbird, Northern Waterthrush, Black-and-white Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, American Redstart, Northern Parula, Yellow Warbler, Palm Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Painted Bunting and Cinnamon-bellied Saltator.
Barred Antshrike (Thamnophilus doliatus) in Progreso.
We were also very lucky to spot a Jaguarundi!
After our successful start, we went back to Mérida to check an ecological park where the birding had been pretty good. We spent an hour there and spotted 34 species, including: Least Grebe, Anhinga, Neotropic Cormorant, Black Vulture, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Least Flycatcher, Great Kiskadee, Boat-billed Flycatcher, Social Flycatcher, White-eyed Vireo, Yellow-throated Vireo, Yucatan Jay, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Altamira Oriole, Melodious Blackbird, Magnolia Warbler, Yellow-throated Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Summer Tanager and Rose-breasted Grosbeak.
Yucatan Jay (Cyanocorax yucatanicus) photographed in park in Mérida.
We left Mérida to check in at our hotel near Valladolid and then go birding at the Xocen Birding Trail Reserve, where we met with our guide Angel Castillo for an afternoon birding together. The reserve there, has a well-preserved forest which of course produces a wide variety of different species that we were looking for. Unfortunately, that day we had a very strong rain that made us leave earlier than expected. We still managed to see and hear 35 species, including: White-tipped Dove, Vaux’s Swift, Canivet’s Emerald, Turkey Vulture, Roadside Hawk, Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl, Turquoise-browed Motmot, Yucatan Woodpecker, Olive-throated Parakeet, Tawny-winged Woodcreeper, Masked Tityra, Northern Bentbill, Northern Beardless Tyrannulet, Northern Tropical Pewee and Red-throated Ant-Tanager.
Day 2.
For our second day, we left Valladolid very early in the morning and headed to Felipe Carrillo Puerto, to visit the Siijil Noh Ha reserve. A community reserve with semievergreen forest and a lagoon, amazing spot for birds (and fish too!).
We got to the road that takes you to the reserve and we started birding along the forest. We saw 53 species of birds. Including: Scaled Pigeon, Squirrel Cuckoo, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Wedge-tailed Sabrewing, Buff-bellied Hummingbird, White-bellied Emerald, Black-headed Trogon, Gartered Trogon, Pale-billed Woodpecker, White-crowned Parrot, White-fronted Amazon, Yellow-lored Amazon, Olivaceous Woodcreeper, Masked Tityra, Gray-collared Becard, Rose-throated Becard, Yellow-olive Flatbill, Greenish Elaenia, Yucatan Flycatcher, Lesser Greenlet, Brown Jay, Gray-breasted Martin, Long-billed Gnatwren, White-bellied Wren, Yellow-throated Euphonia, Black-cowled Oriole, Orchard Oriole, Orange Oriole, Gray-throated Chat, Blue Bunting, Indigo Bunting and Red-legged Honeycreeper.
Yellow-lored Amazon (Amazona xantholora) in Felipe Carrillo Puerto.
After our first stop, we arrived to the gate of the reserve, paid our entrance fees, and walked around some of their trails. Luckily, in one of them there was an ant-swarm with lots of good species that you usually don’t see! Highlights included: White-bellied Emerald, Smoky-brown Woodpecker, Ivory-billed Woodcreeper, Stub-tailed Spadebill, Tawny-crowned Greenlet, Mangrove Vireo, Mangrove Swallow, Long-billed Gnatwren, Yellow-billed Cacique, Prothonotary Warbler, Tennessee Warbler, Palm Warbler, Red-throated Ant-Tanager, Gray-throated Chat and Blue Bunting.
Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria citrea) at the Siijil Noh Ha Reserve.
We had lunch in town and while eating, we got a few birds, nothing uncommon but it’s always nice to see Blue-gray Tanagers.
After a nice meal, we left Felipe Carrillo Puerto and headed to Bacalar. We checked in, rested for a bit and then walked a trail inside the hotel grounds for two hours. We managed to get about 49 bird species, including: Plain Chachalaca, White-tipped Dove, Squirrel Cuckoo, Vaux’s Swift, White-bellied Emerald, Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl, Black-headed Trogon, Lesson’s Motmot, White-crowned Parrot, Olive-throated Parakeet, Tawny-winged Woodcreeper, Masked Tityra, Rose-throated Becard, Eye-ringed Flatbill, Yellow-olive Flatbill, Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet, Bright-rumped Attila, Boat-billed Flycatcher, Lesser Greenlet, Brown Jay, Spot-breasted Wren, Gray Catbird, Wood Thrush, Clay-colored Thrush, Yellow-throated Euphonia, Yellow-billed Cacique, Black-cowled Oriole, Hooded Oriole, Ovenbird, Black-and-white Warbler, American Redstart, Magnolia Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Rose-throated Tanager, Red-throated Ant-Tanager, Gray-headed Tanager and Cinnamon-bellied Saltator.
White-crowned Parrot (Pionus senilis) photographed in Bacalar.
Day 3.
For our next morning, we had planned to visit the Kohunlich Archaeological Site, so we left the hotel early and drove to this incredible mayan site just 50 minutes away from our hotel. On the way, we spotted a Ringed Kingfisher!
We got to narrow road that takes you to the ruins and we started making stops along the way for birds. During our first stop of just a little bit more than 20 minutes, we spotted almost 40 species, including: Scaled Pigeon, Red-billed Pigeon, Caribbean Dove, Vaux’s Swift, Cinnamon Hummingbird, Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Olive-throated Parakeet, Ivory-billed Woodcreeper, Great Kiskadee, Social Flycatcher, Tropical Kingbird, Couch’s Kingbird, Rufous-browed Peppershrike, Mangrove Vireo, Green Jay, Olive Sparrow, Orchard Oriole, Yellow-tailed Oriole, Altamira Oriole, Gray-crowned Yellowthroat, Common Yellowthroat, Northern Parula, Magnolia Warbler, Yellow-throated Warbler, Blue Grosbeak, Blue-black Grassquit, Morelet’s Seedeater, Black-headed Saltator and Cinnamon-bellied Saltator.
Then, as we kept driving, we spotted a Russet-naped Wood-Rail, beautiful and colorful species! One of the few rail species that don’t hide so much.
As we got close to the ruins, we made one last stop before actually going into the archaeological site, this time, on a seasonal pool just outside the ruins. We did about 40 minutes and spotted around 35 bird species, including: Green-breasted Mango, Boat-billed Heron, Roadside Hawk, American Pygmy Kingfisher, Yucatan Woodpecker, Northern Bentbill, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Great Crested Flycatcher, Tawny-crowned Greenlet, Lesser Greenlet, Spot-breasted Wren, Yellow-throated Euphonia, Yellow-billed Cacique, Black-cowled Oriole, Altamira Oriole, Louisiana Waterthrush, Yellow-winged Tanager and Black-headed Saltator.
Boat-billed Heron (Cochlearius cochlearius) at the seasonal pool in Kohunlich.
Finally, we went into the Mayan site, we walked the different trails around the area for two hours, spotting close to 50 species. Highlights included: Squirrel Cuckoo, Rufous-tailed Hummingbird, Great Black Hawk, Gartered Trogon, Chestnut-colored Woodpecker, Bat Falcon, White-crowned Parrot, Olivaceous Woodcreeper, Tropical Royal Flycatcher, Ochre-bellied Flycatcher, Northern Bentbill, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Bright-rumped Attila, Dusky-capped Flycatcher, Lesser Greenlet, White-eyed Vireo, Yellow-throated Vireo, Long-billed Gnatwren, White-bellied Wren, White-breasted Wood-Wren, Kentucky Warbler, Hooded Warbler, Red-throated Ant-Tanager, Blue Bunting and Red-legged Honeycreeper.
Long-billed Gnatwren (Ramphocaenus melanurus).
After a successful morning of birding, we drove all the way to our next hotel, in the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve. We had lunch, rested for a little bit and then walked the hotel grounds for some birding in the afternoon. In two hours, we spotted 35+ species, including: Plain Chachalaca, White-tipped Dove, Caribbean Dove, Wedge-tailed Sabrewing, Buff-bellied Hummingbird, Wood Stork, Roadside Hawk, Black-headed Trogon, Turquoise-browed Motmot, Keel-billed Toucan, Collared Aracari, Bat Falcon, Olive-throated Parakeet, Masked Tityra, Brown Jay, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, White-bellied Wren, Altamira Oriole, Baltimore Oriole, Melodious Blackbird, Gray-throated Chat and Blue Bunting.
Keel-billed Toucan (Ramphastos sulfuratus).
At night, we spotted a Northern Potoo.
Northern Potoo (Nyctibius jamaicensis).
Day 4.
On our fourth day, we visited the Calakmul Archaeological Site. A 62 km slow drive with birding stops along the way made up for a long morning filled with nature.
As soon as we arrived, we spotted a Turquoise-browed Motmot smacking a grasshopper against a branch. There were also four Yucatan Jays hanging around the entrance.
Turquoise-browed Motmot (Eumomota superciliosa) with a grasshoper.
Everyone that visits Calakmul, knows that Km 27 is A MUST. So, we stopped there to check the seasonal pools and spotted some really good birds like Russet-naped Wood-Rail, Northern Jacana, Little Blue Heron, Gartered Trogon, Pale-billed Woodpecker, Collared Forest-Falcon, Yellow-olive Flatbill, Stub-tailed Spadebill, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, White-bellied Wren, Wood Thrush, Louisiana Waterthrush and Gray-throated Chat.
As we were driving, we spotted our first Ocellated Turkey, one of the only two turkey species in the world, this one, endemic to the Yucatan Peninsula.
Ocellated Turkey (Meleagris ocellata) photographed at the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve.
We got to the ruins and after a little bit more than 3 hours we spotted 47 species, including: Ruby-throated Hummingbird, White-bellied Emerald, Roadside Hawk, Black-headed Trogon, Gartered Trogon, Keel-billed Toucan, Pale-billed Woodpecker, Golden-olive Woodpecker, Yucatan Flycatcher, White-eyed Vireo, Mangrove Vireo, Brown Jay, White-browed Gnatcatcher, Carolina Wren, Spot-breasted Wren, White-bellied Wren, Swainson’s Thrush, Wood Thrush, Scrub Euphonia, Yellow-throated Euphonia, Gray-throated Chat and Blue Bunting.
After birding the Calakmul Site, we had a free evening at the hotel grounds. Both, relaxing by the pool or improving your shots of Keel-billed Toucan were possibilities for this afternoon, I think Dave did both. I definitely had a good time photographing birds feeding on a tree right in front of the hotel’s restaurant. Here’s a Collared Aracari shot I got there:
Collared Aracari (Pteroglossus torquatus).
Then around 4 PM, I went for another walk around the hotels grounds, spotting almost 40 species, including: Red-billed Pigeon, White-tipped Dove, White-winged Dove, Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl, Black-headed Trogon, Gartered Trogon, Collared Aracari, Yucatan Woodpecker, Ivory-billed Woodcreeper, Dusky-capped Flycatcher, Boat-billed Flycatcher, Couch’s Kingbird, Rufous-browed Peppershrike, Green Jay, Carolina Wren, Spot-breasted Wren, Gray Catbird, Scrub Euphonia, Yellow-throated Euphonia, Red-throated Ant-Tanager, Gray-throated Chat and Blue Bunting.
Blue Bunting (Cyanocompsa parellina).
Day 5.
On our last day, we planned to visit the Hormiguero Archaeological Site. While leaving the hotel grounds, we heard a Yucatan Nightjar singing.
As we did with many of the archaeological sites we visited, we birded the road to the ruins first. Spotting almost 60 species, including: Canivet’s Emerald, Russet-naped Wood-Rail, Keel-billed Toucan, Lineated Woodpecker, Barred Antshrike, Red-capped Manakin, Ochre-bellied Flycatcher, Stub-tailed Spadebill, Greenish Elaenia, Yucatan Flycatcher, Lesser Greenlet, Long-billed Gnatwren, Green-backed Sparrow, Kentucky Warbler, Rose-throated Tanager, Summer Tanager, Gray-throated Chat, Red-legged Honeycreeper and Black-headed Saltator.
Then, inside the beautiful mayan site, we spotted another 26 bird species and Howler Monkeys! Highlights included: Turquoise-browed Motmot, Bat Falcon, Red-capped Manakin, Stub-tailed Spadebill, Lesser Greenlet, Long-billed Gnatwren, White-bellied Wren, Red-crowned Ant-Tanager and Gray-throated Chat.
Red-capped Manakin (Ceratopipra mentalis).
This was the end of the tour, after that, we returned to Mérida. We finished up the tour with 201 total species and Dave had 36 lifers.
Written by Luis Trinchan Guerra.
