Planta de Tratamiento de Aguas Hotspot

This hotspot is in the top ten Cozumel sites for species diversity, likely at in least part due to the diversity of habitats ( mangrove forested lagoons, low tropical forest, semi-tropical deciduous forest, and tasiste palm savanna) surrounding this site.  It is not uncommon to also see a variety of shorebirds and waterfowl fly over this site.  From September to May, this site hosts diverse warblers and other songbirds.  This is also an excellent place to glimpse views of the Ruddy Crake and Sora; in any case, you will hear their distinct calls throughout the wetland areas of the hotspot (especially near sunrise).

The new road to the water treatment plant is excellent.  However, the quality of the road diminishes rapidly after you pass the plant.  A four-wheel drive vehicle is recommended  during most times of the year to access the northern hotspots at Torre de observación de Manglares y Embarcadero de San Miguel and Isla de la Pasion (via fishing boat "taxi").  This site can also be combined with the nearby sites to the NW of the plant (e.g., San Miguel Bello Caribe, Playa Pública Punta Norte Pescadores, and the entrance to the Golf Course).  

Additional information on species and sighting frequencies can be found on the eBird Overview, Bar Chart, and Illustrated Checklist pages for this site.

Tips for Birding this Site

There is no public access to the plant property, so birding is done along the road that passes by the plant.   Because these wetlands are at least in part fed by effluent from the treatment plant, the water often has an unnatural color and unpleasant odor.  If you plan to hike the unpaved road to the NE, especially during the wet season (May-Oct), rubber boots are recommended as the potholes on the road are quite large and deep, and the standing water sometimes looks and smells rather unpleasant.

The marshy fields in front of the plant (see left photo) host a mix of songbirds (including  Bananaquit, Great-tailed Grackle, Yellow-faced Grassquit, Morelet's Seedeater), woodpeckers, swifts, martins, and swallows; egret, heron, jacana are also present during the wet season (May-Oct).  In contrast, the forested area to the NW of the plant is rich with doves, flycatchers, kingbirds, parrots, woodpeckers, cuckoo, and Songbirds (e.g., Black Catbird, Yucatan Vireo, Summer Tanager, Rufous-browed Peppershrike). To the NE, along the unpaved road toward the coast, you will likely encounter a variety of shorebirds, waterfowl, songbirds (including Northern Waterthrush, American Redstart, Yellow Warbler, Bananaquit, House Wren), Ruddy Crake, Sora, and woodpeckers.

A narrow foot trail heads south toward the airport property from the west corner of the concrete structures surrounding the plant (see fourth photo above); this trail can be followed through semi-tropical deciduous forest for quite some distance and generally has a lot of birds along it (e.g., Black Catbird, Bananaquit, flycatchers, Yucatan Vireo, Yucatan Woodpecker, warblers).

Parking at this site is a challenge, and there can be a lot of tourist ATV tour traffic when the cruise ships are in.  One can generally park off the main road just after the pavement ends, or in the small pull-off opposite the plant entrance.  Biting insects can be a nuisance during the wet season (May-Oct), and after rains throughout the year.  There are no facilities at this site.