Mexico: Yucatán peninsula

I've spent the last 12 days in south-east Mexico, birding the Yucatán peninsula in the states of Campeche, Quintana Roo and Yucatan. It was an awesome trip – I managed 265 species, including all 14 of the gettable Yucatan endemics, plus plenty of regional and Mexican endemics and stacks of wintering North American birds. My eBird trip report can be read here, though note I haven't uploaded any recordings yet (it might take a while!).

The spectacular Ocellated Turkey.

In terms of targets, the trip was a roaring success. I missed no major birds, dipping only a couple of regional species. Starting on Cozumel Island, the two island endemics – Cozumel Emerald and Cozumel Vireo – were easy, and I managed all the gettable subspecies too (some of which, such as the House Wren form, look ripe for a split). Other memorable species included Ruddy Crake, Caribbean Dove, Black Catbird, Yucatan Vireo and Yucatan Woodpecker.

Cozumel Emerald, Cozumel Vireo and Ruddy Crakes.

We then moved south towards the rainforested landscapes bordering Guatemala and Belize. A day birding around the mind-blowing Calakmul Maya ruins deep in the jungle won't be forgotten. Innumerable avian highlights here included the spectacular Ocellated Turkey, plus Great Curassow, Black-throated Shrike Tanager, King Vulture, Keel-billed Toucan, Lesson's Motmot, Singing Quail and Yucatan Flycatcher.

Keel-billed Toucan, Black-headed Trogon and King Vulture.

Other forest sites birded included Hormiguero and the Vigio Chica Road at Felipe Carrillo Puerto – both producing more quality birds, such as Mayan Antthrush, Yucatan Nightjar, Yucatan Poorwill, Grey-throated Chat, Canivet's Emerald, Rose-throated Tanager, Ticket Tinamou and Blue Bunting.

Hooded Warbler, Ferruginous Pygmy Owl and Blue Bunting.

It was then to the north and the Rio Lagartos area for some open country and wetland birding (more my bag!). Again, the list of good birds is a long one, but select specials included Rufous-necked Wood Rail, Bare-throated Tiger Heron, Lesser Roadrunner, Yucatan Wren, Mexican Sheartail, Zenaida Dove and Turquoise-browed Motmot.

Turquoise-browed Motmot, Bare-throated Tiger Heron and Rufous-necked Wood Rail.

To all this, add in glorious weather, plenty of relaxing non-birding activities (including mega Maya ruins) and – best of all – simply wonderful food, then it was a great period away from the British winter (with spring now around the corner). I'll try to do a proper trip report at some point (unlikely!) and will probably write a feature for the magazine.

Structure 2 at Calakmul.