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Mexico Nayarit

You will notice that there is no introduction to this section yet.

I would like to fill this gap with an introduction from a local birder [or someone who is a frequent visitor] for every on of the geographical pages. The many thousands of birders now regularly using these pages prefer to read something written by someone who can see the place from an insider's point of view. They know the best spots, not just the ones that first time overseas visitors usually visit or that are on the normal birding trip itineraries.

Each introduction carries the e-mail address of the contributor so that birders can get in touch with them if, for example, they are planning a trip [unless the contributor is unable to do this].

Please get in touch if you feel you can contribute an introduction to this page - you don't have to be an expert; I'm not!

top sites

La Laguna de Santa Maria del Oro

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) Birdlist at: http://www.santamariaresort.com

useful reading

Fieldguides, CDs etc.

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

clubs

El Manglar - Mangrove Environmental Protection Group

http://elmanglar.com/
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.

reserves

Nayarit National Parks

http://www.planeta.com/ecotravel/mexico/parques/nayarit.html
Parks in the state including Parque Nacional Isla Isabel...

trip reports

Travelling Birder
http://www.travellingbirder.com
The Travellingbirder.com birding trip report search engine guides you to 7,000+ birding trip reports on the Internet. You can search for trip reports from a specific country and time of year. Not all these reports are in English. So, if you can�t find the trip report you want on this Fatbirder page� give them a try!

1995 [March] - James Norman Paton

http://maybank.tripod.com/Mexico/Durango-SanBlas-03-95.htm
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

http://www.birdtours.co.uk/tripreports/mexico/mexico1/mexico.htm
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

http://maybank.tripod.com/Mexico/Mazatlan-Sinaloa-02-99.htm
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

http://maybank.tripod.com/Mexico/Mexico-11-2000.htm
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

http://www.surfbirds.com/mb/Trip%20Reports/mexico.html
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

http://maybank.tripod.com/Mexico/Colima-Jalisco-02-2002.htm
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

http://www.birder.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/Mexico.htm
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

http://maybank.tripod.com/Mexico/Nayarit-SanBlas-11-2002.htm
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

http://www.noahstrycker.com/tripreports/sanblas03.htm
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

http://www.birdtours.co.uk/tripreports/mexico/mexico15/mex-03.htm
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

http://www.birdtours.co.uk/tripreports/mexico/mexico16/west-mex-dec-04.htm
... 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

http://maybank.tripod.com/Mexico/Nayarit-Sinaloa-09-2005.htm
...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

http://maybank.tripod.com/Mexico/Nayarit-Sinaloa-01-2006.htm
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

http://maybank.tripod.com/Mexico/Jalisco-Nayarit-01-2006.htm
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

http://maybank.tripod.com/Mexico/Jalisco-Nayarit-03-2006.htm
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...

places to stay

Koala Nature Resort

http://www.geocities.com/TheTropics/Reef/2688/webenglish.htm
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]

http://www.playalastortugas.com/
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

http://www.santamariaresort.com/
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

http://www.mexonline.com/villabella.htm
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.

Birding at a volcanic lake

http://www5.gratisweb.com/koala45/
La Laguna de Santa Maria del Oro is a volcanic crater lake near to the town of Santa Maria del Oro in western Mexico, in the foothills of the Sierra Madre mountains. The picturesque and unpolluted lake, altitude 2,400ft., of about 2km diameter is surrounded by mountains rising to about 3,500ft. There are a large number of birds in different habitats (lake, streams, fields, roadside, mountain, and urban) in a relatively small area, offering 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 few hours away).