VERACRUZ 2014: Day 4 – Into the Cloud Forest

Day 4 / Oct 5: Xalapa -Macuilteptl Park; Anthropological Museum; Xico-Texolo Waterfall

Pico de Orizaba and Xalapa

Our first full day in Xalapa, the capital city of Veracruz, dawned clear and bright. We spent the morning birding in the lovely Macuilteptl Park, in the center of Xalapa. The park is built around an old volcano, with walkways that steadily ascend to stunning views of the city as well as of Pico de Orizaba, the highest peak in Mexico and the highest mountain between Denali and the Andes.

Summer Tanager

The park’s woodland habitat is lively with avian activity, and birds are seen with relative ease, including Rusty Sparrow, the endemic Blue Mockingbird, Brown Jay and spectacular Green Jays. We enjoyed wonderful migrants including Summer Tanager, Ovenbird, and Worm-eating, Black-and-White, Nashville, MacGillivray’s, Hooded, Magnolia, Townsend’s, Canada, and Wilson’s Warblers, along with local resident Slate-throated Redstarts.

Smudged Crescent

Colorful butterflies, including Smudged Crescents, patches and Zebra Longwings flitted among the park’s lush flower gardens and fruiting vegetation.

Olmec Head

After a full exploration of the park, Tom, Cathie, and Vera were treated to a wonderful visit to the Anthropology Museum, personally guided by my good friend and expert historian Sagrario Cruz. The museum features world-class collections of Mexican relics, including the colossal heads of the pre-Hispanic Olmec culture, amply reflecting the rich and storied history of the country.

Texolo Falls

After lunch, we drove through coffee plantations and small towns to the spectacular Texolo Waterfall. We found shelter from the rain, and enjoyed the beautiful scenery as well as a pair of Emerald Toucanets, a resident, but not-often-seen bird of the region. It was a wonderfully relaxing way to end a busy day!

– Robert Straub