Birding Lake Chapala

Chapala Birders Newsletter June 2, 2018

101 Species Sighted Last Month
In May our big news was confirmation by the expert birders at eBird, that the owl that was seen by Duncan Poole in April and again in December 2014 in the oak forest high above Las Trojes at 7,500 feet, was the rare and endangered Mexican Spotted Owl.

Other interesting sightings were:

- A Northern Parula (the first sighting at Lake Chapala) seen on our May 14 trip to the Rosa Amarilla Loop.

- A relatively uncommon Happy Wren hiding in the hillside undergrowth on the May 7 birdwalk on the Allen Lloyd Trail.

Mexican Spotted Owl

     Mexican Spotted Owl (from Wikipedia) with insert showing the photo
   taken by Duncan Poole in the oak forest above Las Trojes in 2014,
     (identification recently confirmed by experts at eBird).

Species details:

- The Mexican Spotted Owl is one of three subspecies of the "Mottled Owl". It is brown with oval white spots and often exhibits an "X" pattern of white feathers between the eyes.
- We are near the southern end of its range which runs from Michoacan up the Eastern and Western Sierra Madre ranges to Arizona and New Mexico.
- It inhabits high-altitude pine-oak forests between 6,000 to 9,000 feet, prefering old mature forests with large trees.
- It is rare and endangered as its reproduction rate is low - pairs mate for life, making nests only two years out of three with average clutch size of two to three eggs.
- It hunts between sunset and dawn swooping down on small mammals such as mice and squirrels.

Upcoming Trips and Bird Walks

Our bird walks are open to all those interested in birds, both beginners and experienced birders. Just bring binoculars and show up. We always have knowledgeable birders on hand to identify the species. If you are being given a ride, please make a contribution to gas and tolls (perhaps 50-100 pesos for a half day outing, 100-200 for a day trip).

On Monday June 11, we will meet at 8.00 am at Donas Donuts, leaving immediately for the Sierra de Tapalpa (90 minutes away). We will bird from 9.30 till 12.30 and have lunch in the town of Tapalpa and complete the bird list. We expect to see higher altitude birds such as Acorn Woodpecker and Slate-throated Redstart and if we are lucky Trans-volcanic Jay. Bring your own refreshments for the morning. We will be back about 5.00 pm. If you plan on going, please email John at chapalabirders@yahoo.com ahead of time saying whether you can bring a vehicle.

On Friday June 22, we will meet at 8.30 am at the entrance to Cristiania Park in Chapala. We should see an interesting selection of species in the tall trees and on the shore of the lake. At about 10.30 we will go to 'La Palapa de Don Juan' for breakfast and complete the bird list.

How to Get There: From Ajijic go to the traffic light at the main street of Chapala (Av. Madero), cross straight over and keep going straight for five blocks, turn left at the T intersection and park on the right. (If the streets are under construction turn down to the lake and follow the lakeshore to the park entrance.)

Bird Walk & Trip Reports

On May 7 we had a group of five birders hiking up the Allen Lloyd Trail managing to see a good variety of less common birds including Tropical Parula, Happy Wren, Greenish Elaenia, Northern Beardless Tyrannulet, Rufous-Capped Warbler and Rusty-Crowned Ground Sparrow, totalling 40 species.

On May 12 another group of five travelled to the Rosa Amarilla Loop above the south side of the lake encountering 60 species which included a Northern Parula (first sighting at Lake Chapala), Western Wood Pewee, Spotted Wren, Botteri's Sparrow, Eastern Bluebird, the endemic Black-vented Oriole and sixty Wood Storks.

Monthly Sightings List

Here are the 101 species sighted around Lake Chapala in May:

Ani, groove-billed

Avocet, American (Ca)

Bittern, least (Ch)

Blackbird, red-winged (Ra)

Bluebird, eastern (Ra)

Bobwhite, northern

Bushtit

Caracara, crested

Coot, American

Cormorant, neotropic

Cowbird, bronzed

Cuckoo, squirrel

Dove, Eurasian, collared

Dove, Inca

Dove, mourning

Dove, white-tipped

Dove, white-winged

Duck, Mexican

Duck, ruddy (Ra)

Egret, cattle

Egret, great

Egret, snowy

Elaenia, greenish

Finch, house

Flycatcher, dusky-capped

Flycatcher, gray silky

Flycatcher, social

Flycatcher, vermilion

Gallinule, common

Goldfinch, lesser

Grackle, great-tailed

Grebe, pied-billed (Ra)

Grosbeak, black-headed

Grosbeak, blue

Gull, ring-billed

Hawk, red-tailed

Heron, black-crowned night

Heron, green (Ch)

Heron, tri-colored

Hummingbird, berylline

Hummingbird, broad-billed

Hummingbird, white-crowned

Ibis, white-faced

Jacana, northern

Killdeer

Kingbird, Cassin's

Kingbird, Western (Sa)

Kiskadee, great

Meadowlark, eastern (Ra)

Mockingbird, blue

Mockingbird, northern (Ra)

Motmot, russet-crowned (Sa)

Oriole black, backed

Oriole, black-vented

Oriole, streak-backed

Owl, ferruginous pygmy (Ch)

Owl, northern pygmy

Owl, great-horned

Parakeet, monk

Parula, tropical (Sa)

Pelican, American white

Pewee, western wood

Pigeon, rock

Rail. Aztec (Jo)

Raven, common

Robin, rufous-backed

Seedeater, white-collared

Sora (Ch,Tu)

Sparrow, Botteri's (Ra)

Sparrow, house

Sparrow, Lark

Sparrow rusty-crowned ground

Sparrow, Savannah

Sparrow, stripe-headed

Stilt, black-necked

Stork, wood

Swallow, barn

Swallow, cliff

Swallow, northern rough-winged

Tanager, western (Sa)

Teal, blue-winged

Teal, cinnamon

Tern, Caspian

Tern, Forster's

Thrasher, curve-billed

Towhee, canyon

Tyrannulet, northern, beardless

Vireo, warbling (Sa)

Vulture, black

Warbler, rufous-capped (Sa)

Warbler, Wilson's

Warbler, Yellow

Warbler, yellow-rumped

Whip-poor-will, Mexican (Sc)

Woodpecker, golden-fronted

Woodpecker, ladder-backed

Wren, Bewick's

Wren, canyon

Wren, spotted

Yellowthroat, common

Yellowthroat, gray-crowned

Location codes:

Ac - Ajijic: La Cristina/El Bajio

At - Trails above Ajijic

Av - Ajijic village

Ca - Lake Cajititlan

Ch - Chapala

Cu - Cuitzeo/Ocotlan

Dm - Dike near Malteraña

Dp - Dike near La Palma

Hv - Hidden Valley oak forest

Ja - Jamay

La - La Cañada-Hidden Valley

Jo - Jocotepec

Ld - Lerma & Duero rivers

Pe - Petatan area

Ps - Pumping Station/Santa Cruz

Pt - San Pedro Tesistan area

Pz - San Pedro Itzican area

Ra - Rosa Amarilla loop

Rc - Santa Rosa/Carnero dam

Rp - Riberas del Pilar & canyon

Sa - San Antonio/Allen Lloyd Trail

Sc - San Juan Cosala

Sn - San Nicholas/Golf Club

Tz - Tizapan canyon

Te - San Juan Tecomatlan/Mezcala

Tr - Las Trojes/oak forest

Tu - Tuxcueca/San Luis Soyatlan

Xt - Ixtlahuacan/Las Campanillas

Lake Chapala Birders is an informal group of bird observers led by John and Rosemary Keeling. Don't hesitate to contact us if you are seeking information about birding in the area. We also like to hear about sightings of birds or nests at: chapalabirders@yahoo.com or 376.766.1801. Check out the website: chapalabirders.org

Chapala Birders Newsletter May 2, 2018

133 Species Sighted Last Month
May is the month of nesting. Many species have already nested, but all the others will start nesting this month. There will be more bird song, a bigger dawn chorus, and many otherwise shy birds will be more visible.

In April a small group went up Mount Garcia, on the south side of the lake, in an unsuccessfull hunt for Montezuma Quail, but discovered a very pretty and 'birdy' pond on the ridge, and also sighted a Greater Roadrunner.

A larger group went south of the lake area to Concepcion de Buenos Aires sighting higher altitude birds such as Tufted Flycatcher, Slate-throated Redstart and at night, Mexican Whip-poor-will. Shortly after, Brian Lewis heard these Whip-poor-wills unexpectedly on the hill above San Juan Cosala where he lives. Perhaps we are not doing enough night-birding!

Global Big Day, Saturday May 5

Everyone is encouraged to go birding on May 5 to see how many species they can find in one day, and record the list on eBird. For serious birders, a Big Day is when you bird from midnight to midnight travelling to good spots to maximize the number of species you sight. It has become a team sport. The challenge on May 5 is to see how close we can come to reporting all of the world's 10,000 bird species on that day. You don't have to form a team to take part.

Illustrated Bird Folder for Chapala

We would like more people to be aware that there is now a handsome, laminated folder that illustrates 140 local bird species, called 'Quick Guide to the Birds of the Metropolitan Zone of Guadalajara and Chapala'. Currently we have it available for sale at Diane Pearl Coleciones at Colon and Constitucion in Ajijic, for $150 pesos. This is produced with the help of the US non-profit 'Defenders of Wildlife', which is producing similar guides for other cities and tourist destinations in Mexico.

Colima Warbler

Colima Warbler as seen on the Jocotepec Mountain in March

Species details:

- The Colima Warbler is an endemic species in Mexico that is also found in one small corner of Big Bend National Park, TX, in the summer.
- It's identified by a white eyering, brownish-gray coloring, gray head, yellow rump and vent. Males may show a reddish crest.
- It's a high altitude bird found in pine-oak forests above 6,000 ft.
- Its summer breeding range is in NE Mexico, and its winter range is a triangular area extending north from Guadalajara on the Sierra Madre as well as east from Guadalajara on the Transvolcanic Belt.
- It feeds on insects and caterpillars; and builds a nest on the ground, well hidden by overhanging grass, roots or rocks.

Upcoming Trips and Bird Walks

On Monday May 7 we will meet at 8.00 am to walk the Allen Lloyd Trail which follows a mile-long arroyo with lots of underbrush in which birds love to hide. Expect to see Stripe-headed Sparrow, Western Wood Pewee and possibly a Squirrel Cuckoo. At 10.15 we will head to Cafe Negro restaurant for breakfast.

How to Get There: Drive up the Libramiento a half mile from the traffic light at Walmart, and park on the north side of the road across from the El Dorado Condominium tower.

On Saturday May 12 we will meet at 8.00 am at Donas Donuts to car pool, proceeding immediately to the Rosa Amarilla Loop on the plateau above the south side of the lake (60 minute drive). Expect to see higher altitude and pasture birds such as Eastern Meadowlark, Redwing Blackbird and if we are lucky a Roadrunner. Bring refreshments for the morning and sandwiches for the 12.30 lunch stop. We will be back about 3.00 pm. If you plan on going, please email John at chapalabirders@yahoo.com at least 24 hours ahead of time saying whether you can bring a vehicle, to help in carpool planning.

Bird Walk & Trip Reports

On April 6, there were seven birders out for the walk at La Cristina. Interesting sightings included Black-vented Oriole, Common Raven, Plumbeous Vireo, Cliff Swallow (in addition to the regular Barn and Northern Rough-winged Swallow), Tri-colored Heron and Black-headed Grosbeak, part of an impressive total of 56 species.

On April 16, eleven keen birders travelled to Villa Corona on Lake Atotonilco, were we observed 59 species. These included both Snowy and Semipalmated Plover, American Pipit, Eastern Meadowlark, 10 Roseate Spoonbills, 50 Woodstorks and both Red-winged and Yellow-headed Blackbird.

The April 25 trip to Tapalpa was postponed due to low interest (a time of year thing).

Monthly Sightings List

Here are the 133 species sighted around Lake Chapala in April:

Ani, groove-billed

Avocet American (Ca)

Blackbird, yellow-headed (Tr,Ca)

Bunting, indigo

Bunting, varied

Bushtit

Caracara, crested

Coot, American

Cormorant, neotropic

Cowbird, bronzed

Cowbird, brown-headed

Cuckoo, squirrel

Dove, common ground (Tr)

Dove Eurasian collared

Dove, Inca

Dove, mourning (Tr,Ca)

Dove, white-tipped

Dive, white-winged

Dowitcher, long-billed (Ca)

Duck, black-bellied whistling (Xt)

Duck, fulvous-whistling (Xt)

Duck, Mexican

Duck, ruddy (Ca)

Egret, cattle

Egret, great

Egret, snowy

Elaenia, greenish (At,Sa)

Euphonia, elegant (Tr)

House, finch

Flycatcher, buff-breasted

Flycatcher, dusky-capped

Flycatcher, grey silky (Tr)

Flycatcher, social

Flycatcher, vermillion

Gallinule, common

Goldfinch, lesser

Grackle, great-tailed

Grebe, least (Ca)

Grebe, pied-billed

Grosbeak, black-headed

Grosbeak, blue

Gull, laughing

Gull, ring-billed

Hawk, gray

Hawk, red-tailed

Heron, black-crowned night

Heron, great blue

Heron, green

Heron, tri-colored

Hummingbird, blue-throated

Hummingbird, broad-billed

Hummingbird, calliope

Hummingbird, violet crowned

Ibis, white-faced (Ca)

Jacana, northern (Xt)

Killdeer

Kingbird, Cassin's

Kingbird, thick-billed

Kingbird, tropical

Kingbird, western (Sa)

Kiskadee, great

Mockingbird, blue

Mockingbird, northern

Motmot, russet-crowned

Nightjar, buff-collared

Oriole, black-vented

Oriole, Bullock's

Oriole, orchard (Ac)

Oriole streak-backed

Owl, great-horned

Parakeet, monk

Pelican, American white

Pewee, western wood (Tr)

Pigeon, rock

Pipit, American (Ps)

Rail, Virginia

Raven, common

Roadrunner, greater

Robin, American

Robin, rufous-backed

Sandpiper, least

Sandpiper, spotted

Seedeater, white-collared

Shrike, loggerhead

Solitaire, brown-backed (Tr)

Sora (Xt)

Sparrow, chipping

Sparrow, clay-colored

Sparrow, house

Sparrow, lark

Sparrow, Lincoln's

Sparrow, rusty-crowned ground

Sparrow, stripe-headed

Stilt, black-necked (Ca)

Swallow, barn

Swallow, cliff

Swallow, northern rough-winged

Swallow, tree

Swallow, violet-green

Tanager, hepatic

Tanager, western

Teal, blue-winged

Teal, cinnamon

Tern, Caspian

Thrasher, curve-billed

Thrush, hermit (Tr)

Thrush, orange-billed nightingale

Towhee, canyon

Tyrannulet, northern beardless

Vireo, golden

Vireo, plumbeous