Forthcoming Departures:
6-18 March 2007 (13 days)
$TBA per person from Manzanillo
Single Supplement: $TBA

5-17 March 2008 (13 days)
$TBA per person from Manzanillo
Single Supplement: $TBA

The tiny state of Colima, and adjacent Jalisco provide a wealth of species in a relatively small area.  Our Colima-Jalisco tour covers an area no more than 100 miles wide, but offers over 400 species!  Endemic-lovers should not be disappointed, as as many as 47 Mexican endemics can be seen on this tour.

Day 1:  Arrive at the Manzanillo airport.  We will spend the night in Barra de Navidad.

Days 2-3:  Coastal Thornforest and Marshes.  The next two days will be spent in the Barra de Navidad area,  concentrating on coastal thornforest endemics like Red-breasted Chat, Orange-breasted Bunting, Citreoline Trogon, Lilac-crowned Parrot, Golden-cheeked Woodpecker, Golden-crowned Emerald, and Flammulated Flycatcher.  Rosy-Thrush Tanager, Lesser Ground-Cuckoo, Collared Plover, Limpkin, Ruddy Crake, White-throated Flycatcher, Boat billed Heron, and mexicana Squirrel Cuckoo may also make an appearance.  Nights in Barra de Navidad.

Day 4:  To Autlán.  This morning we head north to bird Barranca el Choncho, a wooded canyon supporting relatively wet tropical forest.  Targets include Golden Vireo, Bright-rumped Atilla, San Blas Jay, Mexican Hermit, Sparkling-tailed Woodstar, Fan-tailed Warbler, and "Rosy" Ant-Tanager.  Mixed flocks of Blue, Varied, and Painted Buntings are not soon-forgotten.  We'll spend the night in Autlán.

Day 5:  Sierra de Manantlán.  Just above Autlán, one finds some very unique habitat with some very special birds.  The coastal-facing slopes of the Sierra de Manantlán capture enough moisture to form a habitat very reminiscent of cloudforest, a rare thing this far west.  This pocket of lush semi-evergreen forest supports a population of the beautiful Mexican Woodnymph.  Eared Poorwill was rediscovered here in the mid-20th century and though difficult to find, we'll not leave without trying.  Other species of interest include Collared Forest-Falcon, Gray-crowned Woodpecker, Dwarf Vireo, Amethyst-throated Hummingbird, and Green-striped Brushfinch.  We'll spend the night in Ciudad Guzmán. 

Days 6-8:  The Volcanoes.  We have plenty of time to enjoy the scenery and the birds under the towering 14,000-foot cones of Volcán de Fuego and Volcán Nevado.  The list of interesting species is lengthy:  The far-carrying cries of Long-tailed Wood-Partridge are a nice accomaniment to the colorful flocks of Red Warbler, Slate-throated Whitestart, Red-faced Warbler, Colima Warbler, Chestnut-sided Shrike-Vireo, and Black-backed and Dickey's Orioles.  Great Swallow-tailed Swift, Brown-backed Solitaire, Colima Pygmy-Owl, Gray-collared Becard, Golden-browed Warbler, and Cinnamon-bellied Flowerpiercer are also present.  Though rare, we have chances to see Stygian Owl, Scaled Antpitta, Aztec Thrush, Thick-billed Parrot, and Eared Quetzal.  The possibility of running into any of these birds keeps birding here exciting at all times.  Nights in Cd. Guzmán.

Day 9:  To Ciudad Colima.  After some morning birding around Cd. Guzmán, we'll proceed south to the charming town of Cd. Colima, capital of Colima state.  There will be an optional trip to search for Balsas Screech-Owl and Buff-collared Nightjar after dinner.  Night in Cd. Colima.

Day 10:  Laguna La María.  This morning we'll bird the road between Laguna La María and the endearing village of Comalá.  Slaty Vireo, West Mexican Chachalaca, Mexican Parrotlet, Red-headed Tanager, Rusty-crowned Ground Sparrow, Double-toothed Kite, and Spotted Wren will be sought.  If the bamboo is seeding, we'll certainly search for Slate-blue Seedeater, a little-known endemic with a very small range.  No trip to this area would be complete without sampling a meal of delicious appetizers while sipping drinks on the zócalo in Comalá.  Night in Cd. Colima.

Day 11:  Colima to Manzanillo.  The morning will be spent birding scrubby hills surrounding the city.  We'll look for Banded Quail, White-throated Magpie-Jay, Lesser Roadrunner, Orange-breasted Bunting, Black-chested Sparrow, Streak-backed Oriole, and Russet-crowned Motmot.  Night in Manzanillo.

Day 12:  Piedra Blanca.  Today we embark on a boat trip around the small island of Piedra Blanca, home to what is purportedly the largest colony of Red-billed Tropicbirds in the world--almost 1,000 birds!  We'll be on the lookout for other ocean creatures along the way, like Brown Booby, Magnificent Frigatebird, Wandering Tattler, jaegers, storm-petrels, whales, dolphins, sea-turtles, and rays. We'll then relax the evening away in preparation for travel tomorrow.  Night in Manzanillo.

Day 13:  Departure.  Today you will depart the airport for home.

CLIMATE:  Varied.  Though it seldom gets unbearably hot or wet this time of year, it's best to be prepared.  Due to the elevation, it can be quite chilly on the volcanoes at dawn.

DIFFICULTY:  Easy.  All our birding will be done on roads.

ACCOMMODATION:  Very comfortable.  The hotels in Manzanillo, Barra de Navidad, and Manzanillo are modern and quite nice.  The hotels in Cd. Guzmán and Autlán are simple but clean.

For more information, contact Michael Retter at mlretter AT yahoo.com