Great Birding at Pilar Pass and Pilar Pond

November 5 2006
Aves Galeria Newsletter
Great Birding at Pilar Pass and Pilar Pond

Led by Kevin and Jeanne, 30 Audubonistas gathered
at the mouth of what I am calling "Pilar Pass" on
Sunday morning, November
5, 2006. We were advised by Kevin that the lower
trail to the Dam and Pond were submerged under five
feet of water. So we took the upper trail.

In all, we, collectively, identified 27 species, many of
which were at the parking area adjacent to the
Jehovah Witness's Kingdom Hall. Of course no one of
us saw all the species sited. But with 30 pairs of
eyes, many of us saw much more than we could
have individually.

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Pilar Report

At the mouth of the Canyon, we were treated with
excellent renditions of:

Blue Grey Gnatcatcher
Vermilion Flycatcher
Social Flycatcher
Great Kiskadee
Violet Crowned Hummingbird
Beryline Hummingbird
Tropical Kingbird
Inca Dove
Magnificent Hummingbird
White Crowned Sparrow
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Barn Swallow
Grackle
Wilson's Warbler
Yellow Fronted Woodpecker
House Finch, and, of course, the
Ubiquitous House Sparrow.

Up the sometimes steep and rocky trail, we trudged
ever upward toward the dam and pond. While most
took a circuitous route above the pond, a few of us
ventured down the short trail to the dam.

There waited a Belted Kingfisher
above a couple of Pied Billed Grebes paddling about
the pond. Another brilliant Vermillion Flycatcher
sallied down to the surface for a bite of bug.


A family of Pond Turtles sunned themselves
on a nearly verticle rock.

Along the trail were sited several Black Vultures
and a Turkey Vulture (note the difference in the white feathers on
each) in a hilltop snag above a large hawk which
later proved to be a Red Tailed Hawk. (EarlyBirder
Vince reports that he also saw Common Ravens in
that same tree).

Also reported by the advance troup of hikers who
approached the Pond from above were:
Red Tailed Hawk (probably the same one
sited on the branch below the vultures)

Merlin
Loggerhead Shrike
White Faced Ibis (overflight)
Curve Billed Thrasher and
another species of
Wren

On the descent, those of us who still hear the higher
frequencies, were treated with the cascading call of
the Canyon Wren (Click to Listen) You may add your sitings on our Chapala Discussion Forum HERE - >

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How to Get There ...
If you missed this group event or want to go it
alone, go to Mom's Deli and turn toward the mountains. Go
to the end of the road and park by the Jehovah's
Witnesses' Kingdom Hall. A little to the east is the
trail up the canyon.

Be careful. The trail is precipitous and falls quickly lead
to the bottom of the canyon.

Happy Birding,
Allen y Judy

Aves Galeria
Ramon Corona #23
Ajijic, Jalisco, Mexico

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Contact Information
email: avesajijic@yahoo.com
phone: 52 766 376 2759
web: http://avesajijic.blogspot.com