West Mexico: Playa de Ora Road - Colima

This was a slower day as we birded the famous Playa de Ora Road that transects some interesting dry thorn forest but these days the road is almost impassable and it took some neat manoeuvring to get our two vehicles along it. Around the fields at the base of the hills a cracking male Orange-breasted Bunting appeared, along with the usual high numbers of Nashville Warblers, and a few Stripe-headed Sparrows. An Olive Sparrow showed well, as did Citreoline Trogon, a few Warbling Vireos, a flock of White-throated Magpie-Jays, and another Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl before we eventually nailed the endemic Flammulated Flycatcher. 

Flammulated Flycatcher (Mexican endemic)

Then we drove down to the beach where a huge flock of Blue-footed and Brown Boobies were fishing way offshore. Along the beach we saw American Kestrel, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Northern Mockingbird, and a female Blue Grosbeak.

Driving back up across the hills, we saw a Swainson’s Thrush feeding along the road, and eventually a White-bellied Wren before setting out on the 90 minute drive to Colima and along the way we saw a Roadside Hawk. We arrived at the motel at 5pm and took the opportunity for a rest before dinner.