MEXICO 2008: Durango Highway & Tufted Jays.

We met Carolyn from Sendero Mexico at Miramar after our final excursion out to San Blasc to see waders etc on the pools. The very next morning we were heading along the coast towards Mazatlan seeing Rufous-bellied Chachalacas, Gila Woodpeckers and Purplish-backed Jays before headng up the Durango Highway towards the Tufted Jay Preserve near Palmito.

We stayed at the cabins within the reserve just like last year (see Jan '07 entries), although this year it was much warmer up there. We'd hardy settled in before our local guide Santos located our target bird. Several Tufted Jays made their way through the oak woods giving us stupendous views and taking the pressure off early!

After this great start we settled down for dinner under the stars. After dinner coffee by the fire was disturbed by a large owl (probably Stygian) flying past which I managed to miss, although I did hear one a little later in the canyon.