Thank you for sending the checklists. We had the best 2 days with you and you found over 120 WOW !!!! species and Mark some lifers. You have done an amazing job with the lists. Mark is missing you....... oh and me too
fyi Rondeau Provincial Park in case Pelee is slow.
Hillman Marsh is a really great spot to visit. Any places or questions feel free to contact us.
Will will put up excellent reviews
Good birding
Barb & Mark
Your best Bracebridge friends
Two of us went birding with Alfonso and Alexis to San Sebastián del Oeste from Puerto Vallarta in January 2023. Communication (from Canada, and later from Mexico) leading up to the trip was great. The day trip was excellent. We were picked up promptly at 6 a.m. from the hotel zone in PV and were in time to catch the bird activity in the mountains. We had our expectations set appropriately to the terrain and birds (montane species), and saw many nice birds on our half day of birding. They were very helpful throughout the day. We were flexible with the pace of the tour, slowing down and speeding up as we felt necessary. Both of them obviously are familiar with the birds in the area, the local culture and shops, and also the driving conditions in and near San Sebastián, as the roads are narrow and sometimes bumpy. We saw around 60 species, a few of the highlights were Red-faced Warbler, Vermillion Flycatcher, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Spotted Wrens and Flame-colored Tanager. They put in a lot of effort to show us the birds in the area. Thank you!
Nikhil Patwardhan, Canada.
Hello Poncho, we are leaving Vallarta. I wanted to thank you again for the excursion, we had a great time. It was nice meeting you. Take care!
Sabrina Bussières, Montreal Canada.
Thanks for a great day of birding. We all enjoyed it.
Jacob Scheer, Washington D.C.
Beautiful day on the water with dolphins, whales, pelicans, blue footed boobies and much more! If you want to see whales, I highly recommend going from Punta Mita with scientist Alfonso Langle. It supports the local cooperative and the Marieta Islands.
Sarah Simons, California.
It was a fantastic trip. Whales and dolphins up close, and the birds were awesome too!
Brian OMalley, Canada.
Last Sunday 6 of us went whale watching with Alfonso . We had a wonderful time
seeing many whales all around us and a large pod of dolphins, as well as numerous sea birds. Also included swiming off the Marieta islands.
Anne Timmins, SF, USA.
We really enjoyed our two days with you and would like to thank you for all the trouble you took to ensure that we got some great birds and visited some very interesting places. Apart from the birds, we especially enjoyed meeting Francisco's family and having a delicious birria at their restaurant. We wouldn't hesitate to recommend Alfonso Langle as a bird guide in the region.
Jean Bacon, Montreal, Canada.
“Yesterday, we had a great trip to see the Military Macaws in their natural habitat. The trail down was too steep for me to walk, so the resident expert and manager Francisco brought his donkey Uber for me to ride. Our guide, Dr. Alfonso Langle is on my left. Both men helped hold me on”.
Marty Wallauer, Oregon, U.S.
“Our day just could not have been any better. For me personally, it was the highlight of the trip. But then, photography is a disease for me…”
Stan Jacobson, Minnesota, U.S.
“Shelley and I want to thank you again for birding with us. It was great fun!"
Barry Mantell, Palm Springs, U.S.
“On March 10, 2000, I had a very sensational experience. I was in Costa Rica with Normand David and Johanne Barrette. We are on the peaceful side near the city of Canas. Housed at the hotel La Pacifica, we decide to take a boat trip that will take us down the Rio Corobici for a few kilometers. It is a river of good dimensions where there are few rapids. It is very winding and it crosses many different habitats.
As we cross an agricultural zone, we notice large holes dug about 1 meter or 2 from the top of the cliff at a regular frequency. We count 6 of these holes. We ask the local guide who runs the boat if he knows which animal has dug these holes. When he tells us about an owl, we ask him to turn back and slowly walk past each hole. And here is the general surprise. From the boat, we can observe with the binoculars the occupants of each of the holes. Most contain at least 3 Barn Owls. We will finally have 17.
On March 16, 2019, I am in Mexico with Anne and Alfonso Langle , a local birdwatching guide whose services we have rented for a day and a half. It is 6:00 pm and we head into a forest of huge pines to observe two species of nocturnal birds. We are on a winding dirt road that climbs into the forest, in several places, I notice steep cliffs and in one of them, I see a big hole and I tell my adventure from Costa Rica to the guide. We do not stop so as not to miss the 2 species caught. After observing them very well, we go down again, but it's dark.
On March 19, 2019, I return with Anne to the same place. I'm determined to stop this time to check the famous hole. And here are two heads of Barn Owls that reveal themselves well hidden in the bottom of the hole. Wow! I took this picture a bit overexposed so that we can see these owls that run many ornithologists when an individual is found in Quebec.
It must be that aging will serve something after all. If the experience cannot be bought, we can at least share it”.
Roy and Anne Laval Quebec, Canada