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Lake Chapala Birders
Observadores de Aves del Lago de Chapala
Your hosts
John and Rosemary Keeling
If you have reports of interesting bird sightings near Lake Chapala, or need information about birding around the lake, email us at:
ChapalaBirders@yahoo.com
or phone 376-766-1801
Website:
ChapalaBirders.org
| | | Four Unusual Sightings |
| In addition to a number of sightings of the phainopepla, there were four rare sightings among the 149 species seen around the lake in January. (The full list is shown below).
John Roynon saw a female Mountain Trogon near the Tepalo waterfall. This is within its normal range, but it is very rare here. (We had a probable sighting of one on the Primavera Forest trip in the fall.)
Bob Forgie spotted a Common Merganser at the San Juan Cosala malecon. This species is normally seen in the winter in northern Mexico, but used to be seen this far south in the early days of birding more than a hundred years ago.
Don Bell saw some Franklin's Gulls at La Canacinta. These are 'irregular' throughout much of Mexico. Their regular migration route from the northern prairies follows the Atlantic coast down to the isthmus where they cross over and continue down the Pacific coast to winter on the west coast of South America.
Lois Brock observed a Ringed Kingfisher at the malecon between Riberas and Chapala. It is characterized by its large size and raucous call. Here, it is considerably outside its normal range, but it is a common resident at the coast. |
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| | Mountain Trogon |
|  Female Mountain Trogon seen at the Tepalo waterfall. |
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| | Birding Trip to El Tuito |
| We have organized a four day/three night birding trip to El Tuito, Februry 21-24. This trip fills up quickly with people who have been before, but we still have 2 spots open. El Tuito is in the center of a large unpopulated area south of Puerta Vallarta. We will explore a variety of highland and lowland habitats accompanied by a professional guide. If you are interested, please email or phone John Keeling. |
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| | Upcoming Bird Walks |
| Tuesday February 7 at 8.30 am Robert Taylor will lead a bird walk at the Jocotepec malecon. Expect to see Eurasian collared doves, woodpeckers, warblers and a range of shore birds. At 10.30 we will head to El Bambu restaurant for breakfast.
How to Get There: From Ajijic, drive to Jocotepec and turn left on the curve to the right entering Joco where there is an OXXO on the left and a Pemex on the right. Park in the malecon car park.
Monday February 13 at 8.00 am we will meet at El Bajio where Don Bell will lead the group. Expect to see vireos, tanagers, warblers and shore birds. At 10.00 we will head for Doña Lola's for breakfast and prepare the bird list.
How to Get There: From Ajijic drive west for about 2 mi (4km) and look for the sign 'El Bajio'. Exit left and park on the lateral road.
Wednesday February 29 at 8.00 am we will car-pool at Donas Donuts and drive to the Cajititlan marsh where John Roynon will lead us. Expect to see marsh and creek birds as well as dry scrub species. At 10.30 we will go to Los Cinco Potrillos restaurant for breakfast. |
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| | Bird Walk Reports |
| On January 6, a convoy of 19 birders followed John Keeling around the Rosa Amilla loop on the south side of the lake. The 54 species observed included ruddy duck, crested caracara, eastern meadowlark, northern mockingbird and phainopepla.
On January 23 John Roynon guided 28 birders around Cristiania Park in Chapala. The weedy shore line at the east end provided considerable bird activity. Sightings included Eurasian collared dove, greater pewee, American pipit and semipalmated plover. |
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| | January List |
| Here are the 149 species observed in January around Lake Chapala:
Ani, groove-billed
Avocet, American
Blackbird, Brewer's (Dm)
Blackbird, red-winged
Blackbird, yellow-headed
Bunting, indigo
Bunting, lazuli
Bunting, painted (Dp)
Bunting, varied
Bushtit
Caracara, crested
Chat, yellow-breasted
Coot, American
Cormorant, neotropic
Cowbird, bronzed
Cowbird, brown-headed
Cuckoo, squirrel
Dove, common ground
Dove, Eurasian collared
Dove, Inca
Dove, white-tipped
Dove, white-winged
Dowitcher, long-billed
Duck, Mexican
Duck, ruddy
Egret, cattle
Egret, great
Egret, snowy
Euphonia, elegant
Finch, house
Flycatcher, ash-throated
Flycatcher, cordilleran
Flycatcher, dusky-capped
Flycatcher, gray silky (Ac,Av)
Flycatcher, least
Flycatcher, social
Flycatcher, vermilion
Gadwall
Gallinule, common
Gnatcatcher, blue-gray
Goldfinch, lesser
Grackle, great-tailed
Grebe, least
Grebe, pied billed
Grosbeak, black-headed
Grosbeak, blue
Gull, Franklin's (Ac)
Gull, laughing
Gull, ring-billed
Harrier, northern
Hawk, Cooper's
Hawk, red-tailed
Hawk, white-tailed (Ra)
Heron, black-crowned night
Heron, great blue
Heron, green
Heron, tri-colored
Hummingbird, berylline
Hummingbird, broad-billed
Hummingbird, violet-crowned
Ibis, white-faced
Jacana, northern
Kestrel, American
Killdeer
Kingbird, Cassin's
Kingbird, thick-billed
Kingbird, tropical
Kingbird, western
Kingfisher, belted
Kingfisher, ringed (Ch)
Kiskadee, great
Kite, white-tailed
Meadowlark, eastern
Merganser, common (Sc)
Merlin
Mockingbird, blue
Mockingbird, northern
Motmot, russet-crowned
Nighthawk, lesser (Cs)
Oriole, black-backed
Oriole, black-vented
Oriole, Bullock's
Oriole, hooded
Oriole, streak-backed
Pelican, American white
Pewee, greater
Phainopepla
Phoebe, Say's
Pigeon, rock
Pintail, northern
Pipit, American
Plover, semipalmated
Raven, common
Redstart, American
Robin, rufous-backed
Sandpiper, least
Sandpiper, spotted
Seedeater, white-collared
Shoveler, northern
Shrike, loggerhead
Snipe, Wilson's
Sparrow, chipping
Sparrow, clay-colored
Sparrow, house
Sparrow, lark
Sparrow, Lincoln's
Sparrow, rusty-crowned ground
Sparrow, Savannah
Spoonbill, roseate
Stilt, black-necked
Swallow, barn
Swallow, northern rough-winged
Swallow, tree
Swallow, violet green
Tanager, hepatic
Tanager, summer
Tanager, western
Teal, blue-winged
Teal, cinnamon
Teal, green winged
Tern, Caspian
Tern, Forster's
Thrasher, curve-billed
Towhee, canyon
Trogon, mountain (At)
Vireo, black-capped
Vireo, warbling
Vulture, black
Vulture, turkey
Warbler, black and white
Warbler, black-throated gray
Warbler, Macgillivray's
Warbler, Nashville
Warbler, orange-crowned
Warbler, rufous-capped
Warbler, Townsend's
Warbler, Virginia's
Warbler, Wilson's
Warbler, yellow-rumped
Wigeon, American (Ac)
Woodpecker, golden-fronted
Woodpecker, ladder-backed
Wren, Bewick's
Wren, canyon
Wren, happy (At)
Wren, house
Wren, spotted
Yellowlegs, greater
Yellowthroat, common
Location codes:
Ac - Ajijic: La Cristina/El Bajio
At - Trails above Ajijic
Av - Ajijic village
Ch - Chapala
Cl - Lake Cajititlan
Cs - Santa Cruz/pumping station
Dm - Dike near Malteraña
Dp - Dike near La Palma
Hv - Hidden Valley oak forest
Jo - Jocotepec
Ld - Lerma & Duero rivers
Pe - Petatan causeway
Po - Poncitlan
Pt - San Pedro Tesistan
Pz - San Pedro Itzican
Ra - Rosa Amarilla loop
Rc - Santa Rosa: Carnero dam
Rp - Riberas del Pilar
Sc - San Juan Cosala
Sv - San Antonio/Chula Vista
Te - San Juan Tecomatlan/Mezcala
Tr - Las Trojes/oak forest
Tu - Tuxcueca
Xl - Ixtlahuacan/Las Campanillas
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