Blue-throated Hummingbird— Photo: Brian Gibbons

Nestled in a valley just 40 miles from Puerto Vallarta, San Sebastian del Oeste seems stuck in a colonial era. Its narrow cobbled streets and charming square are remnants of a previous time, one that made it a silver-mining boom-town. Much quieter now, San Sebastian, surrounded by corn and agave fields, is a perfect base for our explorations of the Sierra Madre Occidental, which looms to the east.

Hacienda Jalisco is a charming hacienda that was used as offices for the mining companies 150 years ago. The gardens, orchards, and woods that surround the hacienda, and the creek that runs through the grounds, are great places to see some of our first birds of the Sierra.

Over the next couple of days we will enjoy some spectacular mountain birding. Birds that we will endeavor to see include Long-tailed Wood-Partridge (always a challenge), Lesser Roadrunner, Mountain Trogon, Mexican Woodnymph, Bumblebee Hummingbird, Chestnut-sided Shrike-Vireo, Aztec Thrush, Cinnamon-bellied Flowerpiercer, Flame-colored Tanager, Red Warbler (rare), Green-striped Brush-Finch, and many more. Roving the pine fir and oak woodlands are large flocks of wintering North American birds including Bullock's and Scott's orioles; Townsend's, Hermit, and Red-faced warblers; and Black-headed Grosbeaks. Crescent-chested Warbler, Red-headed Tanager, Slate-throated Redstart, and Gray-collared Becards regularly join these mixed flocks. At the flower banks higher up we hope to find Blue-throated, Magnificent, and Amethyst-throated hummingbirds. This is also the foraging area of the Flowerpiercer.

We should see at least ten additional Mexican endemics, as well as a variety of montane birds that will not be present at the lower elevations visited on our Short West Mexico tour. We will also have ample time to wander the cobbled streets and to purchase some of the locally-grown organic coffee—it's wonderful.