ALMOLOYA DEL RIO & LIST 
MEXICO
 (Compass)

Lat:00o00´S/00o00´W ha topography 2,600m 
Protected/registered status 
Best Time for visit (3rd November, 2004)

 

Birding Site Guide

The once extensive Lerma Marshes, w of Mexico City have mostly been 'reclaimed' as farmland. One remaining patch is near the small town of Almoloya del Rio, 20km from the city of Toluca. They can be visited in a day trip from Mexico City. Buses to Toluca leave from the western bus terminal called Poniente, which is next to the metro station of Observatorio. Buses leave every 5 minutes for Toluca and the ride takes a little over an hour. At the Toluca Central Camionera, ask around for buses to Almoloya del Rio. Some buses do not go all the way. Check with the driver whether they go to Atizapan or Atenco and follow the directions after that in the site guide. The altitude is 2,600m, 300m higher than Mexico City. Take it easy, bring plenty of food and water. The sun can also be very strong so bring sun block and a wide-brimmed hat as there is no shade. Follow the instructions in the site guide. The endangered endemic Black-polled Yellowthroats were relatively easy to find and responded well to playback. 40 species including 6 lifers. 


Species seen 

  • Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps
  • Eared Grebe Podiceps nigricollis
  • Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias
  • Great Egret Ardea alba
  • Snowy Egret Egretta thula
  • Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis
  • Black-crowned Night-Heron ? Nycticorax nycticorax
  • White-faced Ibis Plegadis chihi
  • American Wigeon Anas americana
  • Mallard ? Anas platyrhynchos
  • Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis
  • Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura
  • Sharp-shinned Hawk ? Accipiter striatus
  • Red-tailed Hawk ? Buteo jamaicensis
  • American Kestrel Falco sparverius
  • Sora Porzana carolina
  • Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus
  • American Coot Fulica americana
  • Killdeer Charadrius vociferus
  • Laughing Gull Larus atricilla
  • Rock Dove Columba livia Introduced species
  • Hummingbird sp. ?
  • Black Phoebe Sayornis nigricans
  • Vermilion Flycatcher Pyrocephalus rubinus
  • Cassin's Kingbird Tyrannus vociferans
  • Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
  • Marsh Wren Cistothorus palustris
  • European Starling Sturnus vulgaris Introduced species
  • Common Yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas
  • Black-polled Yellowthroat Geothlypis speciosa Endemic Endangered
  • Striped Sparrow Oriturus superciliosus Endemic
  • Song Sparrow Melospiza melodia
  • Red-winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus
  • Yellow-headed Blackbird Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus
  • Brewer's Blackbird Euphagus cyanocephalus
  • Great-tailed Grackle Quiscalus mexicanus
  • Bronzed Cowbird Molothrus aeneus
  • Brown-headed Cowbird Molothrus ater
  • House Finch Carpodacus mexicanus
  • Lesser Goldfinch Carduelis psaltria
  • House Sparrow Passer domesticus Introduced species


Other Fauna 

Author: Charles Hesse 

 

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