Tufted Jay Preserve in the Sierra Madre Occidental and

Tropical coastal San Blas, Mexico.

Tues. January 20 - Sun. January 25, 2009.      (5 days, 5 nights).

A special additional tour after the Mazatlan Bird Festival with author and keynote speaker Peter Alden and top Sinaloa and Nayarit birding guides Javier Cruz and Armando Santiago
Join Peter Alden and top Mexican birding guides on a brief visit in the winter warmth after the festival. The wonderful birding sites of the Mazatlan area, the Tufted Jay canyon high in the Sierras and the San Blas area were first featured in his pioneering,” Finding the Birds in Western Mexico” (U. Arizona Press, 1969). Those early maps, bird lists and 100 color paintings of west Mexican birds by John O'Neill inspired thousands to enjoy their own birding adventures.

Day 1: Jan 20 (Tue): Mazatlan up the Durango Highway to the Tufted Jay Preserve.
An early morning departure in a 10 person van with morning birding stops in the tropical deciduous forest; Purplish-backed Jay and Black-throated Magpie-Jay country. Lunch in a quaint colonial mining town in the foothills of the Sierra Madre. Continue up the west face of the Sierra Madre into oaks and pines to the top. Siesta followed by easy late afternoon nature walk through the pine forests birding and watching the sunset over the Pacific with Mazatlan down below.
Overnight in cabins at the Tufted Jay Preserve, a new remote small (and rustic) eco-lodge at a unique site atop the western wall of the Sierra Madre Occidental. (B,L,D)

Day 2: Jan 21 (Wed). Tufted Jay Preserve
A full morning in long-needled pine forests; exploring parts of a moist cloud forest-like rich broadleaf forest featuring both subtropical trees and boreal firs, oaks and pines that cling to the canyon walls. Search for the highly local and beautiful Tufted Jay, a large snowy white, navy blue and black crested jay restricted to these moist forests. It is not found in Copper Canyon nor the mountains near Tepic. We may also find Mountain Trogon, White-striped Woodcreeper, Aztec Thrush, Crescent-chested and Red Warblers. Afternoon options for siesta, nature walks to other habitats or a village visit. Evening meeting with array of villagers who put down their chain saws, created a locally driven bird sanctuary, and have built a new eco-lodge. As the site has been informally termed "Alden's Barranca" by some birders, Peter Alden will make some remarks on his first return visit in 35 years. (B,L,D).

Day 3: Jan 22 (Thu). Downhill and on to San Blas area.
Pack up in the pines and head back to the tropics. Eyes peeled for an errant flock of Thick-billed Parrots up high. Head south through Jacana filled roadside ponds as we enter ever greener Nayarit province. Passing hillsides of tropical fruit trees enter the palm forests and mangrove ponds outside San Blas. Lunch along the way. Early afternoon arrival at our hotel, Paraiso Miramar, will give us time for afternoon siesta and/or pool or ocean swimming. Late afternoon boarding of long wooden motorized boats for mangrove tunnel trip to La Tovara springs. A little after dusk we will glide down the channel through a tall sedge marsh with scattered trees. We often flush roosting Tropical Kingbirds, Green Kingfishers and there with bright orange eyes at the top of a dead snag, the huge Northern Potoo that flies off after large moths in the night. Look for Bare-throated Tiger-Heron, the nocturnal Boat-billed Heron. Enjoy a sunset beer, swim in the deep freshwater spring (with occasional small crocodile) and Tarzan ropes hanging from huge fig trees. Dinner at our hotel, the Paraiso Miramar located overlooking a great beach at south end of Matanchen Bay about ten miles south of San Blas. (B,L,D).

Day 4: Jan 23 (Fri).  La Bajada Shade-grown coffee plantations and Hill Forest above Matanchen Bay, San Blas.
Early predawn trip up into the forested hills and shade grown coffee plantations along the Old Camino Real. Walk on cobblestones with the ghosts of mule trains full of the riches of the Orient. These once left the early port of San Blas and began the long uphill climb to Mexico City and on to Veracruz.
Birds might include now scarce Lilac-crowned and White-fronted Parrots, Colima Pygmy-Owl, Mexican Hermit, Sparkling-tailed Woodstar, Grey-crowned Woodpecker, Ivory-billed Woodcreeper and many wintering warblers and orioles.
Lunch back at our hotel with siesta or ocean/pool time. Late afternoon visit to San Blas with option to have guided walking tour of old San Blas or birding at the shrimp farms to the north. (B,L,D)
Dinner at our hotel, the Paraiso Miramar.

Trip Includes: 

• Ground transportation in 15 pax van A/C          
• 5 nights lodging: Tufted Jay Preserve (2), San Blas (2) Mazatlan (1)         
• All meals mentioned in the itinerary (5 breakfast,5  lunch, 5 dinner)         
• Gratuities for Bell Boys & Waiters.         
• 2 Sodas (or equivalent) with meals.         
• Bottled water where appropriate.         
• 1 motorboat ride (La Tovara)         
• Local Naturalist bilingual guide         
• Entrance fees in La Tovara & Singayta  
• Not Included:         
  • Air fare    
  • Alcoholic beverages     
  • Personal expenses as room service, telephone calls, etc         
  • Airport Transfers