Day1
Arrival to Veracruz, short transfer to Cardel where we will be based for 3 nights. Birding en route if time permits.
Days2-3
We spend the first days in the vicinity of Cardel. At lowland forests we search for Black-headed Trogon, Rose-throated Becard, Black-headed Saltator, Aztec Parakeet, Buff-Bellied Hummingbird. At coastal mangrove lagoons and beaches we look for Black-collared Hawk, Snail Kite, Bat Falcon, Laughing Falcon, Pinnated Bittern, Boat-billed Heron, Roseate Spoonbill, Black Skimmer, Belted, Ringed, Amazon, and Green Kingfishers, plus numerous shorebirds. At grassland or prairie habitats and dry scrub-thorn bushes we expect to see Aplomado Falcon, Fork-tailed Flycatcher, Mexican Sheartail, White-bellied and Rufous-naped Wren, Double-striped Thick-knee, Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture, Common Tody-Flycatcher, Plain-breasted Ground-Dove and Varied Bunting. In desert type vegetation dominated by Joshua trees and agaves we search for Scott's Oriole, Say's Phoebe, Canyon Towhee, Rufous-crowned Sparrow, Western Scrub Jay and White-eared Hummingbird.
But each day as soon as the air warms up the main attraction will be to witness the immense migration of birds of prey, the River of Raptors. Millions of Turkey Vultures, Broad-winged and Swainson's Hawks, hundred-thousands of Mississippi Kites, thousands of Ospreys, Sharp-shinned and Cooper's Hawks and American Kestrels pass through here. Many other raptors colour the sky as well, such as Swallow-tailed and Plumbeous Kite, Northern Harrier, Zone-tailed, Red-shouldered, Red-tailed and Harris's Hawk, Merlin, Peregrine Falcon and some local species such as Grey and Roadside Hawk, Hook-billed Kite, Great and Common Black Hawk and Aplomado Falcon.
At each of the sites we will also hope for a spectacular waterbird and passerine migration, mainly Wood Storks, American White Pelicans, Anhingas, White Ibises and large flocks of Scissor-tailed Flycatchers, Red-billed Pigeons and White-winged Doves.
Days4-6
We head towards Xalapa, where we spend 3 nights visiting different habitats. We explore shaded coffee plantations, where both Olivaceous and Ivory-billed Woodcreepers are possible. We will look for Yellow-olive and Ochre-bellied Flycatcher, White-winged and Common Bush Tanager. Other colourful species include Blue-crowned Motmot and Wedge-tailed Sabrewing.
We make a short trip to a spectacular waterfall where beside the stunning scenery we should enjoy the view of White-collared Swift, Bat Falcon, Rufous-capped Warbler, Yellow-throated Euphonia and Montezuma Oropendola.
The paths on an extinct volcano are a great place to see Rusty Sparrow, Tufted Flycatcher, Fan-tailed and Golden-crowned Warbler, Berylline Hummingbird, Blue-crowned Motmot, Squirrel Cuckoo and Green Jay.
At a dramatic canyon and at mountain pine-oak forests we search for endemics such as Blue Mockingbird, Red Warbler, Brown-backed Solitaire, Grey Silky Flycatcher, Cinnamon-bellied Flowerpiercer, Striped Sparrow and Bearded Wood-Partridge among others.
Days7-8
We spend the last days of the circuit tour again in the vicinity of Cardel partly at lowland migration points, partly at different other habitats to look for the above mentioned species.
Days9-10
If you do not participate in the extension to the amazingly intact cloud forests of Las Tuxtlas then we return with you to Veracruz airport for your flight back home, where you arrive the following day.
Extension
Day9
South of Veracruz a huge coastal plain dotted with lagoons, wetlands and wet prairie is an excellent area to search for Pinnated Bittern, Limpkin and large flocks of waders. Flocks of Scissor-tailed and Fork-tailed Flycatchers and different other migrants and residents such as Yellow-bellied Elaenia are often seen in patches of woods. Later during the day Lesser Yellow-headed Vultures and Mangrove Swallows might be in the air. At the drier areas Double-striped Thick-knee can be found, where Aplomado Falcons hunt. Black-collared Hawks are occasionally seen at the wetlands, which also hold Snail Kite and Great Black-Hawk.
Later on we head further South to the Sierra de Las Tuxtlas.
Days10-11
2 full and a half day birding at the Sierra de Las Tuxtlas, where we will visit lush tropical patches of rainforest and coastal open habitats. Tuxtla Quail-Dove, a buff-throated subspecies of Black-headed Saltator and Plain-breasted or Chestnut-capped Brush-Finch are just a few examples of the birds, which can only be found in Las Tuxtlas area. Other species include Violaceous Trogon, Collared Aracari, Black-cowled Oriole, Keel-billed Toucan, Red-lored Parrot, Crimson-collared Tanager, Bright-rumped Attila, Lesser Greenlet, Stub-tailed Spadebill, Ruddy and Buff-throated Foliage-Gleaners, Lineated, Smoky-brown and Golden-Olive Woodpeckers, Ivory-billed and Barred Woodcreepers.
We have to try hard for some of the elevational migrants such as Slate-coloured Solitaire and Blue-crowned Chlorophonia. We try to find hummingbirds like the endemic Long-tailed Sabrewing, Violet Sabrewing and Black-crested Coquette and raptors such as White Hawk, Barred Forest-Falcon and Black Hawk-Eagle.
A rewarding optional programme can be a boat ride through the Laguna de Sontecomapan, where we might see Pygmy Kingfisher, Sungrebe and Bare-throated Tiger-Heron.
Day12
Depending on how we do at other places we might visit La Jungla and Nanciyaga Nature Reserve. A morning birding here not just gives a second chance to find some of the previously mentioned species, but we can always add some new ones as well such as Long-tailed and Little Hermits or White-breasted and Spot-breasted Wood-Wrens. During the afternoon we say goodbye to this fascinating area and travel back to Veracruz.
Days13-14
Finally we drive to Veracruz airport for your flight back home.
Overnight flight, arrival home.
