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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Another New Species for Lake Chapala
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In mid-January Erik Benedictson was photographing the birds in his garden in Chapala when he spotted a brightly colored warbler on the fountain which turned out to be a Yellow-throated Warbler - another first for the Lake Chapala List. This species breeds in the eastern U.S. and winters in the Caribean and the southern coasts of Mexico. It is also known to wander.
Other unusual sightings inlcuded Ring-necked Duck and Canvasback sighted by John Roynan and Don Bell near Rosa Amarilla; and Black-capped Vireo seen by John Keeling and John Roynon on the trails above Ajijic.
The 141 species observed around the Lake last month are listed at the end of this newsletter,
Another 'Escapee' near Ajijic
On January 2nd, keen birders Brian and Lois Lewis spotted a Keel-billed Toucan outside a large, lake-edge home in El Bajio, just west of Ajijic, This bird is still in the area and was photographed this week by Mike Saunders. It is native to south-eastern Mexico, Belize and northern Honduras.
As we said in the last newsletter, more than 40 species of wild birds are regularly sold illegally in the markets of Guadalajara. The Christmas season is the peak purchasing period, and some accidentally fly out their cages.
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Keel-billed Toucan
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Keel-billed Toucan seen just west of Ajijic. Photo - Mike Saunders
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Upcoming Bird Walks and Trips
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On Friday February 8, at 8.00 a.m. we will carpool and depart for the Las Trojes Forest Hike. This is an easy trail - 2 hours out and one hour back. Driving time to the trailhead is one hour. Bring sandwiches for lunch at noon overlooking the Hidden Valley. If you come, please email John Keeling ahead of time and indicate if you will bring a vehicle or not.
On Monday February 18 we will meet at the Pumping Station at 8.15 a.m. Expect to see a variety of shore birds and field birds.
How to Get There: Take the shore road east from Chapala, passing Santa Cruz on the left and the Water Skiing Park on the right. Take the gravel road on the right immediately after the sign "Acueducto" at the Pumping Station. At the T-junction (1km) turn left and park at the next intersection. Note the road beyond this point is currently very uneven.
On Saturday February 23 we will depart at 7.00 a.m from Donas Dounts to go to the Primavera Forest. We hope to see a few species we don't see at Lake Chapala. Expect a minimum 90-minute drive each way. Bring sandwiches for lunch (as restaurants for late breakfast or early comida are hard to find.) If you plan to come please email John Keeling so we can balance cars and people. Maximum five vehicles.
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Bird Walk and Trip Reports
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January 11, twenty three enthusiastic people turned out at the Malecon Park in Jocotepec. With the lake less than half full, the water is out beyond the pier, which allows excellent views of 'mud-flat' birds on one side, and birds liking vegetation close to water on the other. Sightings included Willet, Common Yellowthroat, Cooper's Hawk and Eurasian Collared Dove for a total of 61 species.
January 21, four car-loads of people drove to the Rio Verde at Acatic and were amazed by the depth and beauty of the Canyon. Though the birds were not immediately evident, we managed to see 53 species including 23 new to the Rio Verde list including Townsend's Warbler, Warbling Vireo and Orange-fronted Parakeets.
January 29, fourteen birders gathered at La Christina spending most of the time along the beach. Among the 54 species seen were Gadwall, Painted Bunting, Northern Mockingbird and Gray Silky Flycatcher.
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The January List
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Here are the 141 species observed in January around Lake Chapala:
Ani, groove-billed
Avocet, American
Blackbird, yellow-headed
Bunting, indigo
Bunting, painted (Ac)
Bunting, varied
Bushtit
Canvasback (Rc)
Caracara, crested
Chat, yellow-breasted
Coot, American
Cormorant, neotropic
Cowbird, bronzed
Cowbird, brown-headed
Dove, Eurasian-collared (Jo)
Dove, Inca
Dove, white-tipped
Dove, white-winged
Dowitcher, long-billed
Duck, Mexican
Duck, ring-necked
Duck, ruddy
Egret, cattle
Egret, snowy
Euphonia, elegant
Finch, house
Flycatcher, ash-throated
Flycatcher, cordilleran
Flycatcher, dusky-capped
Flycatcher, gray silky (Av,Ac)
Flycatcher, least
Flycatcher, social
Flycatcher, vermillion
Gadwall (Ac)
Gallinule, common
Gnatcatcher, blue-gray
Goldfinch, lesser
Grackle, great-tailed
Grebe, least
Grosbeak, black-headed
Grosbeak, blue
Gull, laughing
Gull, ring-billed
Harrier, northern
Hawk, Cooper's
Hawk, red-tailed
Heron, black-crowned night
Heron, great blue
Heron, tricolored
Hummingbird, black-chinned
Hummingbird, broad-billed
Hummingbird, rufous
Hummingbird, violet-crowned
Ibis, white-faced
Jacana, northern
Kestrel, American
Killdeer
Kingbird, Cassin's
Kingbird, thick-billed
Kingbird, tropical
Kingbird, western
Kingfisher, belted
Kiskadee, great
Kite, white-tailed
Meadowlark, eastern (Ra,Cs)
Mockingbird, blue
Mockingbird, northern (Ac)
Nightjar, buff-collared (Sc,At)
Oriole, black-backed
Oriole, black-vented
Oriole, Bullock's
Oriole, hooded
Oriole, orchard (Rp)
Oriole, streak-backed
Owl, great-horned
Pelican, American white
Pewee, greater (Ac)
Pewee, western wood
Phoebe, black
Pigeon, rock
Pintail, northern
Pipit, American (Cs)
Raven, common
Redstart, American (Ac)
Roadrunner, lesser (Sa)
Robin, rufous-backed
Sandpiper, least
Sandpiper, spotted
Scaup, lesser
Seedeater, white-collared
Shoveler, northern
Shrike, loggerhead
Snipe, Wilson's
Solitaire, brown-backed
Sparrow, clay-colored
Sparrow, house
Sparrow, lark
Sparrow, Lincoln's
Sparrow, rusty-crowned ground
Sparrow, savannah (Jo)
Sparrow, song (Jo)
Sparrow, stripe-headed
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
Vireo, black-capped (At)
Vireo, Cassin's
Vireo, plumbeous
Vireo, warbling
Vulture, black
Vulture, turkey
Warbler, black-throated gray
Warbler, Lucy's
Warbler, Nashville
Warbler, orange-crowned
Warbler, rufous-capped
Warbler, Virginia's (At)
Warbler, Wilson's
Warbler, yellow
Warbler, yellow-rumped
Wigeon, American
Willet
Woodpecker, golden-fronted
Woodpecker, ladder-backed
Wren, Bewick's
Wren, canyon
Wren, spotted
Yellowlegs, greater
Yellowthroat, common
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
Ja - Jamay
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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