Birding in Mexico: Bosques de Monterreal

A Blue-throated Mountain Gem feeding on flowers in the mountains

Our next stop was Bosques de Monterreal. On the way, we stopped for lunch at a favorite spot of Rene's. It was, by now, quite late, so there were only about three options on the menu: a thin broth with a hunk of meat and small scattering of vegetables (this part of Mexico is not big on the veggies) or some stews with beans and rice. I choose the latter with beef and was not impressed. I'm not a big meat person and don't care for heavy meals mid-day, so that was part of it. But, the meat was a bit fatty and tough and, well, it just wasn't my thing. 

Cute place, but ...

Then, we drove up the mountains into the cool green, passing numerous bear warning signs. We were headed into an are known for growing apples and having lots of Black Bears.

Some of the local crop

As we reached our first spot to bird, what did we see???? Two Black Bears – a mama and cub – running down the hill and beside the road behind a fence. We hadn't even pulled the car over and, by the time I jumped out with my camera, all I could see was two Bear butts behind the bushes. 

Still, what a treat!

Monterreal is a small ski resort situated in the municipality of Arteaga, in the southeast of the Mexican state of Coahuila, about 40 minutes from Saltillo and 90 minutes from Monterrey. 

Lots of mountains

It is the only commercial ski area in Mexico, with skiing on natural snow generally possible between December and February. Because of its elevation (ranging from 9,000 to 11,302 feet), it is cool, green and moist – a big departure from the Chihuahuan Desert. And, like any ski resort, it is filled with vacation homes, condos and housing developments.

Photo: Bosques de Monterreal

We stopped outside the Bosques de Monterreal gated community to look for Susan's target: the Colima Warbler. 

A bosque is a forest habitat found along the riparian flood plains of streams, riverbanks and lakes. It derives its name from the Spanish word for forest. Bosques are found in Mexico and in the Southwestern United States (I have blogged about Bosque del Apache in New Mexico).

So, back to this magical Warbler: the Colima Warbler is cute, but certainly not spectacular. 

Kind of drab

Its allure lies in the difficulty of finding one. Found in the highlands of Mexico, it sometimes sings from atop bushes and small trees, but is otherwise generally stays low and well-hidden.

Making an appearance

It does not join mixed-species flocks, making it hard to find. The Colima Warbler breeds in oak scrub and thickets within mountainous pine-oak forests and winters in brushy flower banks and tangles. Most are found in Mexico, with a very small number breeding in the Big Bend region of Texas. To see one there, you need to hike up an arduous trail – often in high heat.

This one didn't take much effort (except a plane ride, guide and drive)

Susan had decided that that hike was too much for her, so Mexico was a good bet. And, it turned out to be. We saw a couple. Most were super hard to photograph ("low and well-hidden"), but I did capture one ...

The yellow is pretty

Susan was ecstatic. Rene said that Golden-cheeked Warblers (one of my nemesis birds) also frequented the area, but, alas, none were to be found.

We did see some familiar birds that I didn't photograph (a Band-tailed Pigeon, some Turkey Vultures, Acorn Woodpeckers, Mexican Jays, a Common Raven, a Clay-colored Thrush, a Yellow-eyed Junco, some Spotted Towhees and a Black-headed Grosbeak) and a couple of lifers for me.

I already talked about the Colima Warbler.

There were also two Gray Silky-flycatchers high up in a tree in very bad light ... 

I wish he had come closer

... and a skulking Brown-backed Solitaire that stayed deep in the thicket ...

Intent on hiding

We saw a gorgeous Rufous-capped Brushfinch that stayed in the bushes most of the time ...

One of my favorite lifers from this trip

... but did come out in the open for some glamor shots ...

Showing off

A slightly less beautiful relative also made an appearance.

Possibly a juvenile or molting adult

I also spent a lot of time trying to shoot a Blue-throated Mountain-gem Hummingbird as it flitted and landed deep in the trees ...

A new Hummingbird for me

... and then among some beautiful (but deeply shaded) flowers.

A pretty sight

I asked Rene if we were going to be able to get better Hummingbird views at any feeders and he said that no one has bird feeders for viewing in Mexico. As a result, almost all the Hummingbirds we saw were quickly flying by or in deep shade. 

The feeders at my house in Colorado facilitate photos

We never got any good views of their brilliant colors except that very distant Ruby-throated we saw in Valle de Soledad.

I am sure we would have had better results had we not gotten stuck in that traffic jam and had had more time, but we did OK.

Photo: SoupAddict

Then, we drove back to Monterrey (in more traffic) to meet up with Heather at our hotel (our delay prevented us from picking her up). 

We had had a long day, so we decided to eat there. Not a great call. 

They did have the tortilla soup we had tried to get the night before, but it was an oddly sweet thick tomato-type soup, not the chicken-broth-based recipe I am familiar with. And, they still didn't have flan. Oh, well. We went to bird not to eat.

Trip date: August 12-18, 2024