Mike in the Wild

Besides the lush landscape, what initially struck me at the Vallarta Botanical Gardens were the butterflies.  It was early November, past the rainy season along the Mexican State of Jalisco's Pacific coast, and the fluttering insects were everywhere.  I wondered whether they were the most - both in variety and numbers - I'd ever seen gathered in one place. Of course I knew most people visited the Vallarta Botanical Gardens for the plants.  Several acres showcased both native and exotic species of flora growing along paths and tended in greenhouses and assorted settings.  The most renowned specimens were probably the wide variety of orchids.  But I was actually visiting the garden for the birds.  And fortunately for wildlife lovers, most of the gardens were protected as a vast forest preserve covering over seventy acres just a short drive from busy Puerto Vallarta. The first bird I encountered was a golden-cheeked woodpecker.  I wasn't fast enough to photograph a pair of mac