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Mexico Nayarit
   
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Common Potoo nyctibuis griseus ©Vince Gravel http://www.birdsofmexico.blogspot.com

Nayarit is one of Mexico’s 31 states and is located on the central west coast, bordering the Pacific Ocean. Nayarit is surrounded by the states of Sinaloa to the northwest, Durango to the north, Zacatecas to the northeast and Jalisco to the south with the Pacific Ocean bordering it to the west.

Nayarit is one of Mexico’s 31 states and is located on the central west coast, bordering the Pacific Ocean. Nayarit is surrounded by the states of Sinaloa to the northwest, Durango to the north, Zacatecas to the northeast and Jalisco to the south with the Pacific Ocean bordering it to the west.

Nayarit covers 26,908 square kilometers (10,389.2 sq mi), making it one of the smaller states of Mexico. Nayarit is located between latitude lines 23°05' north and 20°36' south and longitude lines 103°43' east and 105°46' west. Its terrain is broken up by the western ends of the Sierra Madre Occidental mountains. Its highest mountains are: San Juan, Sanguangüey, El Ceboruco, Cumbre de Pajaritos and Picachos. Nayarit has two volcanoes, Ceboruco and Sangangüey. In the northeast are broad, tropical plains watered by the Río Grande de Santiago, a continuation of the Lerma River. The main state rivers are the Río Grande de Santiago, San Pedro, Acaponeta, Ameca and Las Cañas. The last two also form natural boundaries with the states of Jalisco and Sinaloa, respectively. Nayarit also has several lagoons such as the Santa María del Oro, San Pedro Lagunillas and Agua Brava.

A variety of products are able to be produced in Nayarit due to its variable geography and climate. Volcanic soil, heavy rains and many altitude variations due to the mountains allow for the diverse crops. The crops include grain, sugarcane, cotton, coffee, and tobacco. Forest wealth is also taken advantage of and cattle raising is also important.

A locally based birder has kindly submitted the following notes on the birding opportunities provided by this under watched Mexican state:The City of San Blas and area : The ciyt was once a quiet fishing village, but it has changed a lot in recent years. Nevertheless, its still one of the BEST birding areas in Mexico. It has at least seven different eco-systems. Great birding is to be had on Peso island, [called that because they used to charge one (1) peso for a boat trip to the island] but of course the price has gone up since then. Next is the Fort & Cemetery - Sewage pond road is the next on the list. Then comes the trip up the Rio San Cristobol River, take this in the early morning and make arangments in ADVANCE for the best birding.

Take the trip to La Tovara in the evening looking for the Northern Potoo, owls & much more. You can take the trip in the La Tovara lagoon in the early morning you need to make arrangments in ADVANCE for this trip too. El Pozo Estuary can be excellent - again make reservations in ADVANCE. Other nearby birding hotspots to see are the Shrimp Ponds, Guadalupe Victoria Road, Roadside lagoon, Chacalilla, Singayta, Mecatan West Entrance, El Palillo, Cocodrilario Road, and La Bajada. Mirador del Aguila is the place to find MILITARY MACAWS also great is Rancho La Noria. If that is not enough you can also go WHALE WATCHING!

 
 

La Laguna de Santa Maria del Oro

Website
Satellite View
La Laguna de Santa Maria del Oro, is a volcanic crater lake in western Mexico, near Tepic in the foothills of the sierra Madre mountains, the picturesque lake of about 2km diameter is located at 2300ft altitude, and is surrounded by mountains rising to about 3500ft nearby, and 6000ft further away (the first range of the sierra Madre). There are over 260 different species seen with in 10 miles of the lake. There are a variety of habitats, lake streams agriculture fields thorn forests, tropical deciduous forest, pine-oak forest scrub. It offers excellent winter birding in a moderately warm and dry climate in the transition zone between the coastal lowlands and the interior highlands (San Blas is only a two hours away)

A bird finding guide to Mexico

by Steve N. G. Howell

Fieldguides, CDs etc.

For a selection of appropriate fieldguides and CDs etc see the general Mexico page of Fatbirder...

El Manglar - Mangrove Environmental Protection Group

Website

El Manglar was established in 1993 to protect the mangroves surrounding San Blas, Nayarit, Mexico from megatourism and shrimp farms. The Mangrove Environmental Protection Group is a grassroots organization made up of people from all walks of life. Its membership is mostly Mexican but people from other parts of the world also attend the meetings. As a group we share the common goals of protecting the mangroves and other natural resources, and promoting awareness, especially among the youth.

Nayarit National Parks

Website
Parks in the state including Parque Nacional Isla Isabel...

1995 [March] - James Norman Paton

Report

What follows is a report of a trip I and another birder took March 18 - 24 to Durango and San Blas, Nay. in Mexico. In was done from El Paso in my car, and may be of particular interest to border residents who have not yet ventured into MX. Only recently have I been online and able to post the report...

1998 [February] - Greg Roberts

Report

Drove to Chamela Biological Research Station (CBS). Birded a dirt road near Chamela town and thorn forest around the station. Overnight at the station`s staff quarters (pre-arranged)...

1999 [February] - Dick Palmer

Report

This hotel is an excellent base for birding the Durango Highway. It is a little rustic but certainly adequate for a birders needs. The management took care of all our needs, all we had to do was ask...

2000 [December] - George & Ellen West

Report

We drove south from Green Valley, AZ through the Mariposa entrance to Mexico, leaving about 7:30 AM on November 17. We obtained permits and visas 25km along the way on Route 15...

2001 [January] - Elise Faike - San Blas

Report

Located on Mexico`s central Pacific coast about 120 km (70 miles) north of Puerto Vallarta, quaint San Blas is a busy little town of about 10,000 friendly people on the edge of what`s sometimes called the National Swamp...

2002 [February] - Tom Harvey - San Blas

Report

The guides and I scouted many birding hot spots. In three days of scouting, not intensive birding, we observed 147 species including several local specialties such as Bare-throated Tiger Herons, Boat-billed Herons, Wood Storks, Great Black Hawks, Crane Hawks, Wilson`s Plovers, Mexican Parrotlets, Mangrove Cuckoos, Citreoline Trogons, Masked Tityras, Mangrove Swallows, San Blas Jays, Purplish-backed Jays, Mangrove Vireos, and Mangrove Warblers. Other birders reported Rufous-necked Wood Rails and Russet-crowned Motmots.

2002 [November] - Steve Dark - San Blas and other Nayarit areas

Report

Birding kicked off big time from our first weekend, we hired a car and headed for San Blas where we would spend the next four days full on birding. Finding San Blas wasn`t difficult, good roads, good signs, but finding our contact (Jose) in San Blas wasn`t so easy. Try driving into the middle of Gloucester and asking if anyone knows where I can find John... Anyway not everyone was as daft as me and my good lady had taken Jose`s telephone number down when he rang us at our hotel, bless her!

2002 [November] - Tom Harvey - Update

Report

Between November 7-11 I went to San Blas Mexico. I am pleased to report that just two weeks after the hurricane most hotels and restaurants are open, electricity is on, and phone service was partially connected. The coast road from Puerto Vallarta through Las Varas and the road from the Mazatlan-Tepic highway are open...

2003 [December] - Noah Stryker

Report

In December 2003 I took a trip to San Blas, Mexico, with my mom and dad to do some birding and enjoy some sunshine during the wet Oregon winter at home. We flew into Puerto Vallarta, spent a couple days there, then spent the majority of our trip at San Blas with an added jaunt for the last couple days up to the village of Mexcaltitan and a couple nights in Tepic...

2003 [March] - Neil Osborne

Report

This report covers a trip to West Mexico ( Sinaloa, Nayarit, Jalisco and Colima) and The Yucatan Peninsula (Yucatan and Quintana Roo).

2004 [December] - Paul Prevett

Report

... This report provides brief updates for some of the familiar birding sites in the 3 west-central regions (5, 6, 7) of the country, reflecting changes we noted that might have relevance for visiting birders. We also give an overview of the birds we saw. Throughout, we use Howell’s site names and numbering system. Our trip encompassed 22 days from November 18 to December 9, 2004...

2005 [September] - Martin Reid

Report

...We had five species of nightbird within 25 yards of our cabin. Down near P. Vallarta there's lots of choice , but the Hotel Marlyn in Bucerias is a reasonable choice for a room with a/c at 200 pesos. For aficionados of Tacky, the room decor is a Must-Have! It is located on Fresno street just 70 yards from the ocean (where Brown and Blue-footed Boobies can be seen)...

2006 [January] - Barry Cooper & Gail Mackiernan

Report

Along with our friend Sally Wechsler we visited San Blas, Nayarit, and vicinity and sites along the Durango Road, Sinaloa. During our time at San Blas we stayed at the Hotel Garza Canela and while birding the Durango Road we stayed at the cabins at Daniel’s Restaurant and Hotel in Copala. We will only make the following limited comments on the accommodations, as both hotels have been discussed at some length in several earlier trip reports...

2006 [January] - Blake Maybank

Report

In 2006 our club's annual trip was to the Puerto Vallarta area (hereafter PV), a wonderful destination that offered comfortable, affordable accommodations within reach of diverse, productive birding...

2006 [March] - Allan Welby

Report

Puerto Vallarta is a great base for birding the states of Jalisco and Nayarit. I found it easy to get around the area, do some birding, and return to my resort and my non-birding family by late morning...

2008 [January] - Scott Bowers

Report

I took a last minute flight to Puerto Vallarta where I rented a car and checked out some nearby natural areas...

Koala Nature Resort

Accommodation

KOALA, is located beside this beautiful crater lake in rural western Mexico, near Tepic, Nayarit, within a few hours by car from Puerto Vallarta and San Blas on the Pacific coast, and Guadalajara in the altiplano...

Playa Las Tortugas [Turtle Beach]

Accommodation

Come stay at the villas of Playa Las Tortugas, adjacent to a spectacular beach, and protected estuary which is home to hundreds of bird species and other animals.

Santa Maria Resort

Accommodation

A natural and secluded lake in a volcano crater Crystal clear water of the lake experience changes in color. Excellent year round temperature, huge diversity of wildlife and a quiet and relaxing atmosphere makes this lake a truly unique place. Santa Maria Lagoon is a very good place for birdwatchers. A very well made and interesting study on the birds of the area has been made by an experience birdwatcher from Canada that has spent many years at Santa Maria Lagoon.

Villa Bella B&B

Accommodation

La Cruz de Huanacaxtle is a small fisherman village ten minutes north of Puerto Vallarta´s international airport on the Bahia de Banderas coast. Throughout the year, fishermen leave this small inlet to catch many marine species including dorado (mahi-mahi); red snapper, sawfish, sailfish, tuna and marlin. The rustic restaurants and beautiful beaches make this area of the bay particulary appealing. The tranquil waters of the cove offer a natural shelter to many sailboats during the winter.

Bird list for La Laguna de Santa Maria del Oro

Website

The following list is based on winter observations over a period of about five years. The frequency of occurence and the ease of seeing the birds is indicated by a letter and a number. The letter indicates observed status; the number, the ease of finding the bird...

Checklist

Website

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