Dates and Cost
August 12-19, 2021 $2850 per person ($350 single supplement)Images
About This Trip
This trip focuses on the birds of the northern Sierra Madre Occidental mountain range, both in Chihuahua and Sonora. This rugged and little-traveled area of Mexico is home to a whole range of interesting birds, including a high number of Mexican endemics. We start in Tucson and make our way into Mexico, spending our first night in Nuevo Casas Grandes. Although this trip is focusing on the endemics of the higher elevations, we will pass through some interesting pinon-juniper, grasslands and riparian habitat on our way to Madera, so we make a couple stops to bird and break up the drive. While in logging town of Madera, we'll be looking for the highly endemic and endangered Thick-billed Parrot and should also see Eared Quetzal. We'll visit Ejido el Largo Thick-billed Parrot Reserve, and walk along old logging roads that will remind you more of coastal Oregon than northern Mexico! One of the highest peaks in the Sierra Madre Occidental (just over 10,000 feet) will be visible today. From Madera, we head to the natural marvel of Basaseachic Falls, one of the highest single drop waterfalls in the world and also home to birds such as the Pine Flycatcher and American Dipper. We'll also do some night birding right outside our high mountain cabins for the Mexican Spotted Owl, Whiskered Screech and Mountain Pygmy Owl. From the falls, we head to logging town of Yecora to continue picking up the species, such as Aztec Thrush, Slate-throated Redstart, Russet Nightingale Thrush, Rufous-capped Brushfinch and Gray-collared Becard. The last full day of birding takes us west and to lower elevations where we should find tropical deciduous bird species. We could see the Happy and Sinaloa Wren, Black-throated Magpie Jay, Squirrel Cuckoo, Elegant Trogon, Colima Pygmy Owl, Elegant Quail and Rufous-bellied Chachalaca. As we get closer to Hermosillo, we will begin to get into the proper habitat for birds of the Sonoran Desert. Species like Curve-billed and Bendire’s Thrasher, Black-capped Gnatcatcher, Gray Vireo and more. We will have our farewell dinner in Hermosillo, the state capital of Sonora. Our last day of the trip includes a 4-hour drive to Tucson, stopping along the way for a few Sonoran desert species.Accommodations
Accommodations throughout are modest in nature, but clean and comfortable and close to the best birding. Food is typical northern Mexico rancho- simple but good. One of the hotels we stay has limited electricity generated by solar power. All combined, it's a one-of-a-kind trip. This trip starts and ends in Tucson.To book your trip or for more information, please contact us by email or call 888-383-0062.
