New paths, new birds

 Before I set out on my daily walks in San Miguel de Allende, I try to find new ways of getting to where I’m going. On the digital map that I use, solid lines denote roads. Dotted line denote walking trails, or in some cases, stairs.  There are a lot of stairs in San Miguel.

In my morning stroll I made it to my regular hummingbird watching spot using a circuitous route through a creek bed.  When I got there it was pretty clear that it wasn’t going to be a great day for hummingbirds as the wind was pretty bad. This particular spot is way out in the open, making it very hard for these little birds to hover easily.  Instead, I took a massive set of stairs to a park at the bottom of the hill.

Parque Juarez is right in the centre of town, very near the iconic Rosewood Hotel. It has playgrounds, basketball courts, and lots of meandering paths through beautiful and quiet forests. I spend several hours in there trying to capture a couple of different birds. Felix, a local artist, was also painting in one spot.

This golden-fronted woodpecker was very distinctive in its calls. With both deep yellow and bright red on its head, you can’t miss it. 

One yellow bellied bird was fond of particular tree and kept coming back to this one spot. The trick was waiting for a moment when it was in nice light.

The hummingbirds were around, too, as the park was protected from the wind. I’m getting way better at spotting them after two weeks of being here. I always walk around with my glasses as they allow me to see the tell tale movements that let me know that hummingbirds are in the area. This little guy was quietly hanging out on a branch.

One our way back through the desert-like preserve, we several of these beauties. They almost blend into the bushes and shrubs. They remind me of the flickers we have back home.

Massive monarch butterflies are often seen near water. We see them, but they are difficult to photograph as they don’t stay still very long. This one did. I am grateful.

Lastly, these cute yellow birds were hanging out on the line as the sun started to dip down to the horizon. Mornings and late afternoons are best for bird watching.