Sometimes you just need an impulse purchase... (Mexico)

Well, I am in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico! This was an impulse buy, but a much needed vacation in the sun. Chris invited me to join her at her friend, Patrick's flat. The balcony has an amazing view of the beach and is surrounded by some very charming apartment buildings. Yesterday we were exhausted from travel, but decided to venture down the beach only to be kicked off after I was soaked by a very large wave (see picture). After 12 hours of sleep (2 of which were spent cursing the neighbors' dogs and party goers across the street), we ventured out to buy food from the local supermarket, including my favorite cookies: Gamesa consen consientete! We had a quick, delicious snack consisting of cheese, fresh bread and cookies and we made our way down the boardwalk to Isla Rio Cuale, an island within the city. There, we pushed through hundreds of vendors until arriving at a quiet spot where we watched birds and a very large, lazy iguana (see picture). We attempted to visit with a young boy who spoke little English and showed him pictures of the birds we saw:

Golden-cheeked

woodpecker (apparently they refer to this bird as "loco")

Rufous-backed robin

Great-tailed grackle

Snowy egret

Little blue heron

Green heron

Wilson's warbler

Blue-gray gnatcatcher

Cinnamon hummingbird

Great kiskadee

Cassin's kingbird

Yellow-throated vireo

Other birds we saw on the boardwalk:

Magnificent frigatebird

Common tern??

Laughing gull

Brown pelican

Double crested cormorant

Ring-billed gull (I think from far away)

Tropical kingbird

After a short siesta, Chris and I are ready for a night out. We are especially inspired by the latin dance club on the corner, whose music can be heard at least 6 blocks away. Clap clap stomp stomp. Feliz Ano Nuevo!

Born again blogger...

I decided to start this blog a few months ago so that I could keep my friends and family updated as to my whereabouts. However, I have become incredibly busy and (let's face it) lazy in posting.

First, I want to explain what my title means. Few people believe me when I tell them that I have moved close to 15 times in the past 4 years and hence many of my friends refer to me as a nomad. One who knows me might then relate my lifestyle to that of a nomadic bird, such as a crossbill. Because Loxia is the genus of crossbills, I feel the title is appropriate (???). ps I love Fringillidae finches :)

I am now continuing my journey as a lifelong student at the University of Utah, SLC. I have few complaints, except for the excessive smog, and I am probably the happiest I've been in years. I assure you, my nomadic days are not over with. My next stop is the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador where I will be helping with and conducting my own research on Medium ground finches (one of Darwin's finches). In May/June I hope to return to Minnesota for a few weeks where I will relax/camp at Itasca State Park. Following my travels home, I will be flown off to the Philippines (island still yet to be determined) where I will work with a team of researchers to collect parasites off of various animals.

The point of this pointless blog is to let you know that this will my communication tool. Not facebook, not e-mail. Primarily because I will have limited access to internet, I can post pictures, and provide short anecdotes.

Thanks for caring and I love you all!