Even getting to the entrance to pay our ridiclously high entry fee of GBP23 each before they opened at 08.00 we still joined a 30 minute queue. Getting in we dashed around the main sights to get some photographs before the hordes invaded. There were precious few paths to walk to get away from people but the worst thing was that there were c300 (a conservative estimate!) stalls inside the archaeological site with stallholders constantly hassling you to buy their tat. This completely ruins the experience and is yet another example of the Mexican greed for tourists money. When we left the site after only 2 hours the crowds were simply staggering. My advice would be avoid this spoilt place at all costs!
Needless to say there weren't many birds to be found - just Cinnamon Hummingbird, White-fronted Parrot, Squirrel Cuckoo, Northern Rough-winged Swallows, Black-headed Saltator and a Black-and-white Warbler.
White-fronted Parrot
Cinnamon Hummingbird
Black-and-white Warbler
After that 'experience' we were in pretty low spirits and the general feeling lasted for the rest of our time in the area. We couldn't wait to get out of there in the morning!
That late afternoon/evening I went for a walk from the hotel. It was windy making birding difficult but I did manage to winkle out Groove-billed Ani, Caribbean Dove, Turquoise-browed Motmot, Velasquez's Woodpeckers, Least Flycatcher, 2 Great Kiskadee, 2 Masked Tityra, Lesser Greenlet, 2 Green Jays, Blue-grey Gnatcatcher, Altamira, Hooded and Orchard Orioles, 2 Northern Parulas, Yellow-throated Warbler, Summer Tanager, c8 Yellow-winged Tanagers, Yellow-faced Grassquit and 2 Greyish Saltators.
We did at least finish the day with a nice meal in a restaurant in town as we looked forward to our 'escape to the coast' tomorrow...
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