August 2006

Day One of our two night three day nature adventure.
Rio Corona, Cd Victoria, Los Troncones, and Rio Las Sabinas

We looked forward to four wheeling and swimming in cool mountain spring fed streams. Trip resulted in photos (below) of the Bat Falcon, Great Curassow, Crested Guan, Military Macaw, Yellow-crowned Night Heron, Green Heron, Northern Jacana, and Boat-billed Heron. The birds pictured can be seen in the wild.

We started our mainly site seeing and Mexico familiarization trip from Laguna Vista Bed and Breakfast. We passed through Brownsville and Matamoros around 10AM. Despite the trip not being as focused on nature lots of birds and butterflies were seen and photographed. We entered the caliche road leading to the Rio Corona river bottom just short of Cd. Victoria after 1:30PM. A walk of the dry river bed revealed bird and butterfly activity at the puddles and in the trees. The large trees and Highway Bridge offered cool shade on this warm August day. A picture of Ernie shows the size of a Cyprus Tree under the bridge.

We used the bypass around Cd Victoria to a state park called Los Troncones. A leisurely ride up the canyon in the Sierra Madre Oriental Mountains crossing the slow running stream several times was enjoyed by all. Ernie and Caroline marvelled at the wild (giant like) Elephant Ear plant. Caroline cooled off, as she waded across the stream weighted down with cameras. She took our picture as we crossed the rocky one foot deep flowing stream. We spent two enjoyable hours driving the winding canyon before departing. A drive through Cd Victoria by the zoo and university led us to Highway 85 for Cd Monte.

The winding Sierra Madre Oriental Mountain road offered views to the East with smaller tree covered mountains pictured. As we rounded a curve in the road a large yellow sphere with a black circle marked the entry to the Tropic of Cancer. We could also see to the west, clouds above the mountains making up the cloud forest known as El Cielo, our destination.

 El Cielo is a 356,000 plus acre area making up one of the largest biodiversities in the world. The United Nations made the designation in 1987 as a Man and the Biosphere Reserve. Hundreds of bird species call El Cielo home. In fact, over half of the bird species in Mexico either live or migrate through this large biosphere. Butterfly species are also numerous in and around the biosphere. Getting to the birds and butterflies can offer some four wheeling excitement.

Day Two - CD Monte, El Cielo, La Floridia, and Boca Toma

We spent several hours along canals from the spring to the city and farming communities. The Green Heron and Northern Jacana were two of the birds seen pictured below. Look at the feet on the Norhern Jacana used for walking on the lilly pads while feeding on insects.

Those wanting an interesting experience birding, butter flying, photographing, or just site seeing can call us for their own adventure.