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© Gustavo Contreras

Las Barrancas

18.97306 , -95.96788

Mexico

Located near the city of Veracruz. The road to Las Barrancas is a very interesting place for bird watching in the state of Veracruz. Due to the combination of grasslands and scrub, it is one of the few places in Veracruz where you can find Double-striped Thick-knee as well as being an excellent place to see Aplomado Falcon or Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, also at the end of the road next to the town you will be able to find a lagoon where you will see different birds than the one you could observe on the way. Las Barrancas is a very popular site for bird watchers during the fall and winter due to the combination of resident and migratory species.

Delete exact location

The introductory text should contain general information about the site, which may include for instance:
• geographic/ biogeographic location
• habitat and vegetation
• typical bird species/bird communities
• protection status
• land use and history
• importance for birdwatching

Site name was changed by Gustavo Contreras into "Las Barrancas" (2021-08-15 07:47:58 )

Coordinates were set by Mathias Ritschard (Admin) : 18.9920/-95.9666 (2021-01-29 14:33:42 )

Site name was set by Mathias Ritschard (Admin) as "Las Barrancas & Laguna El Bayo" (2021-01-29 14:33:42 )

Edited by Gustavo Contreras on 2021-08-15 08:15:53
Located near the city of Veracruz. The road to Las Barrancas is a very interesting place for bird watching in the state of Veracruz. Due to the combination of grasslands and scrub, it is one of the few places in Veracruz where you can find Double-striped Thick-knee as well as being an excellent place to see Aplomado Falcon or Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, also at the end of the road next to the town you will be able to find a lagoon where you will see different birds than the one you could observe on the way. Las Barrancas is a very popular site for bird watchers during the fall and winter due to the combination of resident and migratory species.

  • Top species

List up to ca. 25 species that:
• have a limited distribution range and/or are rare on a global level
• are most sought-after by birdwatchers at this site
• and are relatively easy to see at this site (year-round or seasonally)

Plain-breasted Ground Dove (Columbina minuta)
Double-striped Thick-knee (Hesperoburhinus bistriatus)
Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture (Cathartes burrovianus)
Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius)
Aplomado Falcon (Falco femoralis)
Common Tody-Flycatcher (Todirostrum cinereum)
Yellow-bellied Elaenia (Elaenia flavogaster)
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (Tyrannus forficatus)
Yellow-green Vireo (Vireo flavoviridis)
Rufous-naped Wren (Campylorhynchus rufinucha)
Orchard Oriole (Icterus spurius)
Altamira Oriole (Icterus gularis)
Grassland Yellow-Finch (Sicalis luteola)

Plain-breasted Ground Dove (Columbina minuta) was added by Gustavo Contreras (2021-08-15 07:28:56)

Grassland Yellow-Finch (Sicalis luteola) was added by Gustavo Contreras (2021-08-15 07:28:42)

Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius) was added by Gustavo Contreras (2021-08-15 07:27:26)

Altamira Oriole (Icterus gularis) was added by Gustavo Contreras (2021-08-15 07:27:11)

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (Tyrannus forficatus) was added by Gustavo Contreras (2021-08-15 07:25:45)

Yellow-green Vireo (Vireo flavoviridis) was added by Gustavo Contreras (2021-08-15 07:25:22)

Orchard Oriole (Icterus spurius) was added by Gustavo Contreras (2021-08-15 07:25:02)

Yellow-bellied Elaenia (Elaenia flavogaster) was added by Gustavo Contreras (2021-08-15 07:24:37)

Common Tody-Flycatcher (Todirostrum cinereum) was added by Gustavo Contreras (2021-08-15 07:24:25)

Rufous-naped Wren (Campylorhynchus rufinucha) was added by Gustavo Contreras (2021-08-15 07:24:12)

Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture (Cathartes burrovianus) was added by Gustavo Contreras (2021-08-15 07:23:53)

Aplomado Falcon (Falco femoralis) was added by Gustavo Contreras (2021-08-15 07:23:41)

Double-striped Thick-knee (Hesperoburhinus bistriatus) was added by Gustavo Contreras (2021-08-15 07:23:31)

  • Timing and strategy

If you want to enjoy Las Barrancas, you must arrive before dawn just when the bird activity begins. Because it is a grassland area in combination with bushes, birdwatching is easy as the birds are very easily detected. The best strategy is to move forward with your car and stop in different parts of the road looking for the birds that are between the pastures or in the bushes.

The site is good for bird watching any season of the year but during the fall and winter the species richness increases due to the presence of migratory and winter resident species.

You can stop practically anywhere on the way, but the map shows the places where you can find some representative species of the place. At noon the sun and heat are a problem because it is not an area with much coverage of large trees.

Give recommendations for making your visit as productive as possible.
This may include for instance:
• best season
• best time of the day
• how much time to spend at the site
• best means of locomotion within the site
• recommended routes / areas within the site
• guiding

Edited by Gustavo Contreras on 2021-08-15 08:09
If you want to enjoy Las Barrancas, you must arrive before dawn just when the bird activity begins. Because it is a grassland area in combination with bushes, birdwatching is easy as the birds are very easily detected. The best strategy is to move forward with your car and stop in different parts of the road looking for the birds that are between the pastures or in the bushes. The site is good for bird watching any season of the year but during the fall and winter the species richness increases due to the presence of migratory and winter resident species. You can stop practically anywhere on the way, but the map shows the places where you can find some representative species of the place. At noon the sun and heat are a problem because it is not an area with much coverage of large trees.
Edited by Gustavo Contreras on 2021-08-15 08:07
If you want to enjoy Las Barrancas, you must arrive before dawn just when the bird activity begins. Because it is a grassland area in combination with bushes, birdwatching is easy as the birds are very easily detected. The best strategy is to move forward with your car and stop in different parts of the road looking for the birds that are between the pastures or in the bushes.bushes. You can stop practically anywhere on the way, but the map shows the places where you can find some representative species of the place. At noon the sun and heat are a problem because it is not an area with much coverage of large trees.
Edited by Gustavo Contreras on 2021-08-15 07:48
If you want to enjoy Las Barrancas, you must arrive before dawn just when the bird activity begins. Because it is a grassland area in combination with bushes, birdwatching is easy as the birds are very easily detected. The best strategy is to move forward with your car and stop in different parts of the road looking for the birds that are between the pastures or in the bushes.
  • How to get there

The only safe way to get there is your own car as there is no bus service to take you there.

Explain from where and how to get to this site with private and public transport.

Edited by Gustavo Contreras on 2021-08-15 07:52
The only safe way to get there is your own car as there is no bus service to take you there.

It is a road that goes from the highway to a small town near the sea so if you could get there in your car there is no major problem in traveling the road, birding must be done from the side of the road and not go through the fences since the Paddocks are private property and it is not necessary to enter the paddocks since the birds can be seen from the edge of the road.

Provide information on how to enter this site, which may include:
• entry points
• entry permits / entry tickets and fees
• opening hours / opening season
• other restrictions

Note that this section should only contain information on how to ACCESS (= enter) a site. Info on how to REACH a site should be added to "How to get there" section.

Edited by Gustavo Contreras on 2021-08-15 07:57
It is a road that goes from the highway to a small town near the sea so if you could get there in your car there is no major problem in traveling the road, birding must be done from the side of the road and not go through the fences since the Paddocks are private property and it is not necessary to enter the paddocks since the birds can be seen from the edge of the road.
  • Other attractions

There is not some kind of attraction in the place other than the birds. If you are looking for something else to do, you can visit the city of Veracruz or Alvarado, which are located near Las Barrancas.

Add information about other attractions at this site, including
• wildlife (apart from birds)
• sights (natural, cultural, archaeological, etc.)
• activities (e.g. for non-birding companions)

Edited by Gustavo Contreras on 2021-08-15 08:02
There is not some kind of attraction in the place other than the birds. If you are looking for something else to do, you can visit the city of Veracruz or Alvarado, which are located near Las Barrancas.

In the place you will not be able to find hotels or places to eat. The closest hotels and restaurants are located in the city of Veracruz, approximately 30 minutes from there. There is a gas station right at the entrance of the road, there you can find toilets and a minimarket.

Provide information about what type of facilities are available at
or near this site, including:
• information centers / information points
• catering
• accommodation
• hides and watchtowers
• restrooms / toilets

Edited by Gustavo Contreras on 2021-08-15 08:00
In the place you will not be able to find hotels or places to eat. The closest hotels and restaurants are located in the city of Veracruz, approximately 30 minutes from there. There is a gas station right at the entrance of the road, there you can find toilets and a minimarket.

The area is safe, you just have to be careful with cars while bird watching because of birding on the side of the road.

Are there any security issues or other annoyances at this site? For
instance, these may include:
• offenses like robbery or theft
• natural hazards
• dangerous or annoying animals or plants (mosquitoes, leaches, thorn bushes, etc.)
• noise pollution

Edited by Gustavo Contreras on 2021-08-15 07:43
The area is safe, you just have to be careful with cars while bird watching because of birding on the side of the road.
All information about this site was contributed by Orniverse users. Neither Orniverse nor the contributors accept responsibility for the completeness and accuracy of the information provided.

Gallery

Reports

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Species:
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Las Barrancas - Orniverse