Chris Lansdell's Birding & Nature Diary: Mexico, The Yucatan, Day 2

We decided on a morning visit to the sewage treatment works track north of the town. I know how to treat my partner on Valentine's Day!
We were in for a bit of a shock though because the quiet 'track' is now a building site as it's being made into a brand new road. Nevertheless we found a place to park on a coned off area of the half-completed road and the workmen who arrived shortly afterwards told us it was OK to park there. Luckily the thick scrubby woodland on both sides of the road proved to be pretty good for birds still. Yucatan Vireos were pretty common with c5 seen plus our 2nd Cozumel Vireo of the trip which once again failed to stay still for a pic! One of my most wanted wintering yank warblers then livened things up further - a gorgeous Blue-winged Warbler, a species I'd never caught up with before. Both 'Golden' Warblers and standard Yellow Warblers were common as were Yellow-faced Grassquits. Yucatan Woodpeckers and Black Catbirds were also present before we hit the main jackpot with a single Cozumel Wren showing nicley and completing the Cozumel trio. Although not yet split from House Wren by the IOC this could be an important bird to have seen. Also along the road were Magnolia Warbler, Northern Parula, Grey Catbird, Bananaquits, Black-throated Green Warbler, Tropical Kingbirds, Tropical Mockingbirds and another tick in the form of a Carribean Elaenia.

Blue-winged Warbler

'Golden' Warbler

Caribbean Elaenia

Yucatan Vireo

Tropical Mockingbird

Yellow Warbler

Next up we drove back through the middle of the island visiting the Mayan ruins at San Gervasio and then on to the coast for an afternoon beer in a beach shack. Being in the heat of the day we didn't see much but a couple of Ovenbirds and Yucatan Vireo at the ruins, a Yellow-throated Warbler that joined us under our rustic beach parasol and a Palm Warbler beside the beach kept us amused.

Ruddy Ground Dove

Ovenbird

Yellow-throated Warbler

My evening walk was once again around the small tracks close to our accommodation. This time a nice American Kestrel posed on some wires, several Cozumel Emeralds, Black Catbirds, Black-throated Green Warblers, my only Cape May Warbler of the trip, American Redstarts, White-crowned Pigeon again and a couple of Yucatan Woodpeckers finished the day.