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
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78 Species Seen Last Month
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In August a total of 78 species were observed around Lake Chapala. (See the full list below).
At the beginning of August John observed two brown birds in the tree outside his office window. One had the heavy beak of a bronzed cowbird. The other one, half the size, came back to feed it a caterpillar. The second bird turned out to be a spotted wren. It usual for cowbirds to lay their eggs in the nests of other birds.
The migrants are beginning to return after breeding up north. We have seen returning gulls, including a Bonaparte's Gull (less than half the size of the other gulls we see here) on a spit at the Pumping Station. We have also observed a Black-throated Gray Warbler on its journey south in pines at Mazamitla, just south of the lake area.
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Black-throated Gray Warbler
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Black-throated Gray Warbler, seen at Mazamitla, is the first warbler species to arrive here in the fall.
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Upcoming Bird Walks & Trips
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On Friday, September 7 at 8.15 a.m we will meet at the Pumping Station. We expect to see a selection of gulls, terns and herons, as well as field birds. At about 10.15 we will head for Las Delicias for breakfast and complete the bird list.
How to get there: Take the lakeshore road east from Chapala. After passing the airstrip, the water ski center and Santa Cruz look out for the three gray pump towers of the Pumping Station. Take the hidden gravel road on the right between the station and the new Don Emilio restaurant. After half a mile turn left at the T junction, take the next right towards the lake and if the track is passable, drive closer to the lake.
On Wednesday, September 19 at 8.00 a.m. we will meet at La Christina. We will see both shore birds and birds of trees and hedges. At about 10 we head for Doña Lola for breakfast.
How to Get There: Take the carretera west from Ajijic about 2 miles, turn left at the sign to Hacienda La Christina (beside the road to Las Palmas); park at the side of the road near the lake.
Everyone is welcome on these walks - just bring binoculars.
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Bird Walk and Trip Reports
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On August 8, ten birders met at the Jocotepec Malecon Park. Though there are less tall trees than before due to back-filling operations, we managed to see 26 species including white-collared seedeater, spotted sandpiper, tri-colored heron, bronzed cowbird and the resident target bird, the Eurasian collared dove.
On August 27, eight enthusiasts drove to the Rosa Amarilla Loop where we sighted thirty eight species, including eastern meadowlark, northern bobwhite, American white pelican (a group of 20 which did not go north for the summer), white-tailed hawk, and several Botteri's sparrows - this species was discovered last summer in the same area.
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The August List
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Here are the 78 species observed in August around Lake Chapala:
Ani, groove-billed
Blackbird, red-winged
Blackbird, yellow-headed
Bobwhite, northern (Ra)
Caracara, crested
Coot, American
Cormorant, neotropic
Cowbird, bronzed
Cowbird, brown-headed
Cuckoo, squirrel
Dove, Eurasian collared (Jo)
Dove, Inca
Dove, white-tipped
Dove, white-winged
Duck, Mexican
Egret, cattle
Egret, great
Egret, snowy
Euphonia, elegant
Finch, house
Flycatcher, ash-throated
Flycatcher, gray silky
Flycatcher, social
Flycatcher, vermilion
Gallinule, common
Goldfinch, lesser
Grackle, great-tailed
Grosbeak, blue
Gull, Bonaparte's (Cs)
Gull, laughing
Gull, ring-billed
Hawk, red-tailed
Hawk, white-tailed (Ra)
Heron, black-crowned night
Heron, great blue
Heron, tri-colored
Hummingbird, berylline
Hummingbird, black-chinned (Av)
Hummingbird, broad-billed
Hummingbird, magnificent
Hummingbird, violet-crowned
Ibis, white-faced
Jacana, northern
Killdeer
Kingbird, Cassin's
Kingbird, tropical
Kiskadee, great
Mockingbird, blue
Motmot, russet-crowned
Oriole, black-vented
Oriole, streak-backed
Owl, great-horned (Av)
Pelican, American white (Ra)
Pewee, western wood
Pigeon, rock
Raven, common
Robin, rufous-backed
Sandpiper, spotted
Seedeater, white-collared
Shrike, loggerhead
Sparrow, Botteri's (Ra)
Sparrow, house
Sparrow, rusty-crowned
Sparrow, stripe-headed
Stilt, black-necked
Stork, wood (Ra)
Swallow, barn
Swallow, northern rough-winged
Thrasher, curve-billed
Thrush, orange-billed nightingale
Towhee, canyon
Vireo, golden (At)
Vulture, black
Woodpecker, golden-fronted
Woodpecker, ladder-backed
Wren, Bewick's
Wren, canyon
Wren, spotted
Location codes:
Ac - Ajijic: La Cristina/El Bajio
At - Trails above Ajijic
Av - Ajijic village
Ca - Lake Cajititlan
Ch - Chapala
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 & canyon
Sa - San Antonio/Chula Vista
Sc - San Juan Cosala
Tz - Tizapan canyon
Te - San Juan Tecomatlan/Mezcala
Tr - Las Trojes/oak forest
Tu - Tuxcueca canyon
Xt - Ixtlahuacan/Las Campanillas
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