Birding in Puerto Vallarta - Hotel!

Recently returned from my second trip to Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico.  The Vallarta Bird Festival was another success!  The guides picked some amazing birding spots, though I am convinced there is not a bad place to bird in the entirety of Mexico. 

The following blog posts are organized by location/site.  Bird species/photos will be duplicated as the different species were seen in more than one location. 

The first stop - the hotel I stayed at!  As you can see, it is about as urban as it could be.  But just as in the States, some birds can make anything work, and for some, the presence of people actually are benefits they use.

One direction looking out of the balcony of the room.

The other direction, from the balcony.

First species - Magnificent Frigatebird!  And indeed they are. 

This Snowy Egret flew in to take advantage of being on the beach
to watch for little schools of fish that jumped out of the water
at the edge.  He waited for them to jump, then watched for the
smaller ones and ran towards them, eating quickly just the size
he needed.  I've seen Great Egrets and Great Blue Herons
struggle for minutes with a fish that was clearly too large.
This guy was all about efficiency and practicality.
And preening.

Great-tailed Grackles were everywhere.  Literally.  They are
boisterous, gregarious, and inquisitive.  They were also
getting ready to breed.  There were courtship displays, as well
as nest making.  A pair set up in the top of the palm
tree immediately below the hotel room balcony.
I could look down just so far, then they completed
their work by being hidden from sight.

This male was searching for food inevitably dropped by humans,
as well as nesting material.

Gray-breasted Martins were nesting on the side of the apartment
very near the hotel.  Martins sound like martins the world over;
thank goodness for that.  I look forward to the Purple Martins
returning to MN very soon!