Jan 06 2009

Slaty Vireo Picture Show

Published by jeff at 8:35 am under Birding, Central America, Travel

I’ve struggled a bit with this post. Every time I try to write it, it feels too heavy. I dunno, maybe the heat here is getting to me. So I’m going to try an experiment–I’m just going to let the pictures do the talking. I’ll provide a rough translation at the end.

I’ll bet you don’t even need a translation, but in case something wasn’t clear, here goes:

1. The Central Valley of Oaxaca is ringed with high mountains. It’s rather arid and very scenic.

2. The foothills are covered in dense weedy scrub.

3. In winter, the area is home to wintering neotropical migrants like Townsend’s Warbler, which are a wonderful component to the birding experience here. But it is the more restricted range bird species that really set a birder’s heart aflutter.

4. Some of these, like the Slaty Vireo, can be tricky to find outside the breeding season. So while our drivers patiently waited, we visited a number of likely sites, some of them multiple times.

5. The group was patient, but there were times when the search seemed to yield little but frustration.
6. The habitat was tricky to walk through and even trickier to see into.
7. When we did locate a vireo–which happened several times–it would always slip away before more than one or two people had had a decent look.
8. At long last, we were granted a substantial audience with this amazing bird.
9. It was worth it.
10. Really, really worth it.

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10 responses so far

10 Responses to “Slaty Vireo Picture Show”

  1. # Vickieon 06 Jan 2009 at 1:34 pm

    That first image is spectacular and so also our journey into finding the vireo. Your photos did a wonderful job!

  2. # Nedon 06 Jan 2009 at 10:37 pm

    Hey – that’s a good spot for the vireo. Used to be painted to say “Pollo Niños” or some such, so that’s what we call it. good on ya.

  3. # sallyon 07 Jan 2009 at 12:05 am

    I liked your simpler format -

  4. # Dinaon 07 Jan 2009 at 12:23 am

    Very beautiful.

  5. # Barbaraon 07 Jan 2009 at 12:17 pm

    Wonderful photos, as usual. It is evident by the look of the birders that they were very satisfied and the earlier frustration just made their finds more special. Congrats!

  6. # Robinon 08 Jan 2009 at 11:37 am

    WOW, wishing I was there with my camera. What fun. Thanks for sharing the trip.

  7. # Maryon 08 Jan 2009 at 8:18 pm

    Jeff,

    It’s a pleasure to be here! Came from TR Ryan.

    I’m a Marylander but lived 3 years smack in the middle of Delaware, Magnolia, before moving to Charlotte. I miss the shores that I took for granted…

    Those Vireo eyes…wow. Great photos!

    Mary

  8. # Mikeon 13 Jan 2009 at 10:24 am

    What a bird! Great presentation as well, Jeff.

  9. # Jimon 14 Jan 2009 at 3:01 pm

    Nice slide show/blog. You know me – pictures are the ticket. The Slaty Vireo is one sweet little bird.

  10. # The Vagabirding Travel Magazine Awards - IATB #91 | World Travel Pictureson 30 Jan 2009 at 11:39 pm

    [...] Central America, in Oaxaca, Jeffrey delivers luscious landscapes and an unforgettable slaty vireo here. But with all this talk about what an Ace Birder Jeffrey is — let’s not overlook his [...]

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