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Scouting Trip Notes

AVC Tropical Biology

© Callyn Yorke

YUCATAN PENINSULA, INCLUDING PUERTO MORELOS TULUM AND COBA, MEXICO

Yucatan Jay (Cyanocorax yucatanicus) Tulum, Mexico 15 August 2014

Index to Trip Reports

August 11-18, 2014 Puerto Morelos, Coba, Tulum

August 10-20, 2010 Puerto Morelos, Tulum

August 5-12, 2009 Puerto Morelos

YUCATAN PENINSULA: PUERTO MORELOS, COBA, QUINTANA ROO, MEXICO

AUGUST 11-18, 2014

Weather: Fair to partly cloudy with intermittent thundershowers; 73F to 90F. wind ESE 2 -15 mph.

Time: 0630-1800 hrs.

Observers: Merissa Mendez and I.

Areas Covered: 1) Puerto Morelos: Shoreline frontage road and beach about 1 mile north of the town of Puerto Morelos (PM). Habitats included, nearshore waters and edge of reef; sandy shore, mangrove, adjacent forest, beach scrub and ruderal areas. Many pedestrians with leashed and unleashed dogs on the beach and roadways (11,12, 14 August: 0630- 1000 hrs). Avenue Jose Maria Morelos (JM): We walked west about 1.5 mile from town, following a path on the south side of the road and returning on the north side. The south side is an extensive mangrove with pools of stagnant water and mudflats. The north side is predominantly a fresh water marsh with cattails and lotus lily pads, bordered by mangrove woodland along the sidewalk Several bird species new to the trip list were found in and flying over this area, including, Tricolored Heron, Great Egret, Roseate Spoonbill and Jacana. We finished the morning survey in the town center and adjacent shore of PM, where two Yellow Warblers and a Yellow-throated Warbler were found and added to the trip list (17 August: 0900-1100 hrs.). 2) Coba Archaeological site, Quintana Roo (CO). Covered most of the site on a bicycle taxi, stopping frequently to bird on foot. Habitats included a large lake surrounded by rainforest; tropical deciduous forest and clearings. Birds here appeared to be habituated to humans. Our driver, Umberto, was familiar with many of the local birds and was very helpful in locating them. Many visitors arrived at the site after 9 AM, but did not affect birding, which was generally excellent (13 August: 0900-1130 hrs.).

a) Coba Archaelogical Site map showing our principal survey routes. b) Grand pyramid of Coba 13 August 2014

3) Tulum Archaelogical Site (TAS): We walked on pathways throughout the ruins, observing birds in adjacent woodland, open grassland, coastal cliffs and nearshore waters. Hundreds of visitors began arriving here by 0930 hrs., making observations of birds difficult. Two new bird species for the trip list were added here, Ridgeway's Rough-winged Swallow and Purple Martin (15 August: 0900-1200 hrs). A 10x42 binocular and DSLR camera were used for all surveys.

Tulum Archaeological site map showing our survey route (inset lower right), Quintana Roo Mexico 15 August 2014

Black Iguana (Ctenosaurus similis) Tulum Archaeological Site, Quintana Roo, Mexico 15 August 2014

Reptiles observed at one or more of the above locations included, Black Iguana, Striped Basilisk, Yucatan Spiny Lizard, and Brown Anole.

Striped Basilisk (Basiliscus vittatus) Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo, Mexico 17 Aug 2014

a) Yucatan Whiptail (Cnemidophorus sp. c.f. angusticeps) b) Yucatan Spiny Lizard (Sceloporus chrysostictus)

Brown Anole (Anolis sagrei) Puerto Morelos Quintana Roo Mexico 17 Aug 2014

BIRDS NOTED

(numbers following a species represent the highest single count in one area)

Brown Pelican 3 PM.

Double-crested Cormorant 3 PM.

Neotropical Cormorant 1 perched in tree overlooking mudflats and ponds, JM.

Anhinga 1 flying south over the shore, PM; 2 JM (photo).

Anhinga (Anhinga anhinga) Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo, Mexico 17 August 2014

® 2014 Callyn Yorke

Magnificent Frigatebird 6 soaring over shore; one chased by a kingbird (photo), PM; two interacting at PM harbor (photo).

a) Magnificent Frigatebird (Fregata magnificens) Puerto Morelos, Mexico 12 Aug 2014

Magnificent Frigatebirds (Fregata magnicificens) Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo, Mexico 17 August 2014

Great Egret 4 flying over mangrove, JM.

Snowy Egret 2 flying over mangrove, PM, JM.

Tricolored Heron 2 (imm) flying over mangrove, JM (photo).

Tricolored Heron (Egretta tricolor) Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo Mexico 17 August 2014

Green Heron 1 on utility wire, PM (photo); 2 on mudflats and flying over mangrove, JM.

Green Heron (Butorides striatus) Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo Mexico 14 Aug 2014

Roseate Spoonbill 1 flying s over mangrove, JM.

Black Vulture 4 roadway leading to ruins, CO.

Turkey Vulture 10 ubiquitous.

Northern Jacana 3 (ad, imm) on mudflats, JM.

Spotted Sandpiper 1 on shore, PM.

Laughing Gull 4 (ad, imm) flying over shore; landing on warf pilings, PM (photo).

Laughing Gull (Larus atricilla) (L) imm, (R) adult Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo Mexico 17 August 2014

Caspian Tern 1 calls, flying over nearshore waters, PM.

Sandwich Tern 3 (ad, imm) vocal; seen daily, often dipping into shallows near shore and jetty; interactions between adult and immatures; immature often resting on pilings near jetty. PM (photo).

Sandwich Tern (Thalasseus sandvicensis) immature Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo Mexico 12 August 2014

Royal Tern 1 (ad) ID large size; orange-yellow bill, white forehead and crown; seen daily, flying near shore with SATE; occasionally on remnant pilings offshore, PM (photo).

Royal Tern (Thalasseus maxima) Puerto Morelos, QR Mexico 12 Aug 2014

Domestic Rock Pigeon 3 ubiquitous though not numerous around settlements.

White-winged Dove 3 vocal, suburban gardens and edge of mangroves, PM (photo).

White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica) Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo Mexico 14 August 2014

Ruddy Ground-Dove 4 on utility lines, roadways and in suburban gardens, PM (photo).

Ruddy Ground-Dove (Columbina talpacoti) Puerto Morelos QR Mexico 13 Aug 2014

Squirrel Cuckoo 1 subcanopy of rainforest, CO.

Cinnamon Hummingbird 2 gardens and edge of mangrove, PM.

Black-headed Trogon 2 (m,f) vocal; subcanopy of rainforest at edge of ruins, CO (photo).

Black-headed Trogon (Trogon melanocephalus) Coba QR Mexico 13 Aug 2014

Belted Kingfisher 1 fly, call (unseen) mangrove, JM.

Golden-fronted Woodpecker 2 (m,f) ID by relatively long bill, dorsally restricted yellow-orange nasal tufts; predominantly dark dorsum; vocal and active, flying between tree trunks at edge of mangrove, PM; one on dead tree in central town square, PM (photo).

Golden-fronted Woodpecker (Melanerpes aurifrons ) m imm Puerto Morelos QR Mexico 17 Aug 2014 C Yorke

Melanerpes sp. 1 (f) Noted relatively short bill; indistinct yellow nasal tufts, dark dorsum (c.f. GFWO photo above) vocal; foraging low in mangrove trees at the edge of the roadway, PM (photo).

Melanerpes sp. Puerto Morelos, QR Mexico 14 Aug 2014

Tawny-winged Woodcreeper 3 working tree trunks near a family of Yucatan Jays; swarms of small, biting ants in forest leaf litter, CO (photo).

Tawny-winged Woodcreeper (Dendrocincla anabatina) Coba QR Mexico 13 Aug 2014

Ruddy Treecreeper 1 seen briefly flying between tree trunks at edge of forest roadway near Tawny-winged Woodcreeper and Yucatan Jays, CO.

Great Kiskadee 2 gardens and mangrove, PM, JM.

Boat-billed Flycatcher 1 in forest canopy next to lake, CO.

Social Flycatcher 5 ubiquitous in suburban gardens; often on utility lines and in crowns of trees (photo).

Social Flycatcher (Myiozetetes similis) Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo Mexico 12 August 2014

Tropical Kingbird 5 ad, imm. ubiquitous in and around settlements; vocal; loosely gregarious (adults and young) ; sallying from high perches for cicadas and other large insects; often on utility lines .

Tropical Kingbird (Tyrannus melancholicus) Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo Mexico 17 August 2014

Couch's Kingbird 2 (ad, imm) ID by vocalization; relatively short bill (c.f. TRKI); in sucanopy of tall garden tree, PM (photo).

Couch's Kingbird (Tyrannus couchii) same individual in both images Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo Mexico 12 Aug 2014

Ridgway's Rough-winged Swallow 8 flying around ruins at edge of cliff, TAS (photo).

Ridgway's Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx ridgwayi) Tulum Quintana Roo Mexico 15 August 2014

Purple Martin 1 ID by uniformly dark coloration; purplish-blue head rump and underparts; flying at 100 ft. agl over open areas and cliffs, TAS.

Purple Martin (Progne subis ) Tulum Quintana Roo Mexico 15 August 2014

Brown Jay 1 briefly appeard in the forest subcanopy in a loose mixed species flock with YUJA and TWWO, CO.

Yucatan Jay 5 (ad, imm) vocal; adults staying fairly close to young, PM, CO; loosely gregarious while eating fruit, TAS (photo).

Yucatan Jay (Cyanocorax yucatanicus) adult (left) and immature (right) Puerto Morelos Quintana Roo Mexico 14 Aug 2014

Yucatan Jay (Cyanocorax yucatanicus) Tulum Quintana Roo Mexico 15 August 2014

Tropical Mockingbird 5 (ad, imm) vocal, ubiquitous, esp. gardens and beach scrub (photo).

Tropical Mockingbird (Mimus gilvus) immature Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo Mexico 12 August 2014

Yellow-green Vireo 4 vocal, ubiquitous in wooded areas and gardens.

Lesser Greenlet 1 subanopy of tall garden tree, PM.

Yellow Warbler 2 (m,f) a pair foraging with YTWA in foliage of long-leaved pine in town square, PM (photos).

Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia) same individual in both images, Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo Mexico 17 August 2014

Yellow-throated Warbler 1 (m) foraging with YEWA in foliage of a long-leaved pine in town square, PM (photo).

Yellow-throated Warbler (Setophaga dominica) Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo Mexico 17 Aug 2014

Black-headed Saltator 3 vocal, gregarious; subcanopy and middle level of forest near a stagnant pond, CO.

Black-headed Saltator (Saltator atriceps) Coba Quintana Roo Mexico 13 Aug 2014

Melodius Blackbird 3 vocal, gregarious; utility lines, roadside forest and gardens, PM (photo).

Melodius Blackbird (Dives dives) Puerto Morelos Quintana Roo Mexico 14 August 2014

Great-tailed Grackle 10 ubiquitous, vocal, gregarious.

Bronzed Cowbird 2 open areas, roadways, gardens, PM.

Black-cowled Oriole 2 tree tops in garden, PM (photo).

Black-cowled Oriole (Icterus dominicensis) Puerto Morelos Quintana Roo Mexico 12 August 2014

Hooded Oriole 4 roadside mangrove, fruiting trees in gardens, PM (photo).

Hooded Oriole (Icterus cucullatus) Puerto Morelos Quintana Roo Mexico 14 August 2014

YUCATAN PENINSULA, PUERTO MORELOS, TULUM, QUINTANA ROO, MEXICO

August 10 - 20, 2010

Weather: Partly cloudy; occasional afternoon and early morning thundershowers, increasing from 15-20 August; Air Temp. 70F to 87F; Water Temp: 78 to 80F. Winds variable, WNW 2-10; gusting to 30 mph.

Time: 0630 -2000 hrs.

Observers: Merissa Mendez and I.

Areas Covered:

1) DRM resort and adjacent shoreline, red mangrove swamps and suburban yards. I walked slowly along the roadways and beaches, surveying flooded limestone depressions (clearings for local developments), corraline sand beaches with abundant dead sea grass, red mangrove forests and coastal secondary rainforest (mostly intact, except near developments). Road construction in front of the resort interfered with two morning surveys; otherwise, conditions were good for finding and identifying reptiles and birds. The DRM lagoon now has tall fountains in the middle which are turned on daily around 0700 hrs and off sometime after dark. Noticably fewer species of bird and only one or two American Crocodile were found in the lagoon during our surveys this year. Adjacent lagoons (left more or less in a natural state and surrounded on three sides by mangrove) were full of stagnant water and attracted a variety waterbirds. A shallow water-filled depression adjacent to the resort on the south side, attracted several species of wader, including Tricolored Heron, Green Heron, and a few sandpipers. Late afternoon flights of Brown Pelican, Magnificent Frigatebird, Lauging Gull and Sandwhich Tern were common along the outer shore. The resort occasionally applies aerosol insecticide to the grounds and vegetation around the lagoon. The best birding in the area was around the adjacent lagoons and edge of the mangrove. Several species of bird were found during these surveys which were not found last year (e.g Black-bellied Whistling Duck).

American Crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) DRM lagoon 15 August, 2010)

Bark Scorpion (Centruroides sp.) found in our bathroom sink at DRM

Black-bellied Whistling Duck in Adjacent lagoon, DRM

2) Puerto Morelos, downtown, harbor and shoreline: We walked around this small fishing-tourist town to the jetty and S to a large breakwater along a sandy beach with abundant dead sea grass. Relatively little bird-life was found here (0730-0830 hrs.)

3) We spent about 2 hours late one morning surveying a nearby La Mojarras Cenote (Limestone sink hole about 120 ft. deep and 50 yards in diameter) and secondary rainforest, guided by the owner, an amateur naturalist (photo). Several species of bird were found here (e.g. Black-headed Trogon - photo) that were not seen near the resort (1000-1200 hrs.)

4) We drove from Puerto Morelos in a rental car to the Tulum archaeological site and spent about 2 hours walking among the ruins. The site was crowded with hundreds of tourists; the high temperatures of the mid-day probably depressed bird activity. Thus we found relatively few species at the ruins compared with my survey about 12 years earlier (the site now has a well-developed infrastructure, including paved trails, parking about 1/2 mile away and a large entry building) (1300-1500 hrs.)

Black Ctenosaur (Ctenosaura similis) Tulum archaeological site.

5) Island Mujeras Coral Reef National Park. Three other couples, Merissa and I travelled by van to Cancun, then boarded a luxury catamaran for a cruise around Isla Mujeras, stopping for snorkelling and lunch along the way. Snorkelling was poor due to the choppy seas and a reef more than 20 feet in depth. Nevertheless, the boat trip allowed for good views of the nearshore waters and coastal areas near Cancun (0900-1700 hrs.).

6) Reef Snorkel Tour: Merissa and I, along with several others from a nearby resort, traveled by a canopy motorboat about 1/4 mile offshore from DRM and spent about 1.5 hours snorkelling on the outer barrier reef (a National Park). Once past the sea grass beds, the patchy reef appeared with a good variety of colorful fishes (see list below) and abundant corals (e.g. fan, brain and branching corals). Fishes seen were genrally small and common in the region. Water visibility was about 30 ft.

Goatfish and Seargent-Major on reef outside of DRM

7) Reef Scuba-Dive Tour. Together with one other diver (Mark Vaughn) a dive-master and boatman, we dove two offshore sites: Pargo ( depth: 40-60 ft. with coral-covered cliffs and overhangs and swim-throughs adjacent to sandy slopes) and La Cabeza (a well-developed, shallow (15-18 ft) reef with abundant and diverse corals and fishes). Both sites were in excellent condition and allowed close-up views of many species of corals and fishes (0900 -1200 hrs.). An approaching thunderstorm turned the sea surface from choppy to very rough in a matter of minutes. Current was minimal, however. Water visibility was about 50 ft.

Smooth Trunkfish (Lactophrys triqueter) at the La Cabeza reef.

Mark Vaughn at the Pargo dive site.

Field Trip Notes Yucatan Page