MEXICO 2008: Mazatlan.

After a final night at the cabins watching Buff-collared Nightjar we headed down to the coast and Mazatlan the next morning. A hastily arranged boat trip saw us heading out to some offshore islands and steep rocks in search of inshore seabirds.

On the "Booby Rocks" there were plenty of Brown Boobies plus a few Blue-footed Boobies and it wasn't long before the hoped-for Red-billed Tropicbird made an appearance.

Lots of Eared Grebes around the rocks and in the harbour too. After this mini-pelagic we headed towards the larger Isla de los Venados where we landed and had a bite to eat.

Birds on the shore included Willet (above), Reddish Egret, Royal and Elegant Terns, Laughing and a single Bonaparte's Gull.

Some cracking adult Ring-billed Gulls were on the beach too but we had to head into the arid scrub after a while. A bit of "pishing" stirred up a few birds including Common Yellowthroat, Green-tailed Towhee and best of all a Five-striped Sparrow. After all this excitement we headed back to Mazatlan for dinner in the plush Playa de Mazatlan Hotel.

So that's Mexico then (apart from getting home a day late). Off to Cuba next week.