Site Report: Tulum

Altamira Oriole (Icterus gularis) Male

Yucatan Jay (Cyanocorax yucatanicus)

Yellow-backed Oriole (Icterus chrysater)

Sanderling (Calidris alba) Basic Plumage

Yucatan Jay (Cyanocorax yucatanicus) Juvenile

Tulum is a popular destination for its white sand beaches and Mayan ruins. Unfortunately, any charm that this area once had is quickly being replaced by Package Resort Land. I tried to bird on the recently paved road south of town, but heavy traffic (mostly taxis cruising for business) made that impossible.

Visits

2009-01-16: The trip to Tulum started off on an ominous note as it required catching a bus in Playa Del Carmen. It could be faulty memory, but I seem to remember a scenic road along the coast between Playa and Tulum. This road seems to have been moved inland to make room for more mega-resorts. Tulum itself is now within range of the resorts, and it was difficult or expensive to get to any worthwhile sites.

Species Seen

Kingdom: Animals (12 records)

Phylum: Chordates (12 records)

Class: Birds (11 records)

Order: Doves and Pigeons (1 record)
- Family: Pigeons and Doves
- White-tipped Dove (Leptotila verreauxi)

Order: Pelicans (2 records)
- Family: Cormorants
- Neotropic Cormorant (Nannopterum brasilianum)
- Family: Sandpipers and Allies
- Sanderling (Calidris alba)

Order: Perching Birds (7 records)
- Family: American Blackbirds and Orioles
- Yellow-backed Oriole (Icterus chrysater)
- Altamira Oriole (Icterus gularis)
- Family: Jays and Crows
- Yucatan Jay (Cyanocorax yucatanicus)
- Family: Swallows
- Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)
- Northern Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis)
- Family: Tanagers and Allies
- Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra)
- Family: Tyrant Flycatchers
- Great Kiskadee (Pitangus sulphuratus)

Order: Woodpeckers, Barbets, Toucans, and Honeyguides (1 record)
- Family: Piculets and Woodpeckers
- Golden-fronted Woodpecker (Melanerpes aurifrons)

Class: Reptiles (1 record)

Order: Lizards and Snakes (1 record)
- Family: Iguanas
- Green Iguana (Iguana iguana)

Lifelists

Trips

Mexico to Panama