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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150 Species recorded in February
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The 150 species observed around the Lake last month are listed at the end of this newsletter.
Unusual species this month included the Blue-black Grassquit in Jocotepec mentioned below, a dozen Wood Storks seen on the Rosa Amarilla loop, and several uncommon species seen on the Las Trojes Bird Hike including Red-faced Warbler, Acorn Woodpecker and White-striped Woodcreeper.
Another 'escapee' was reported by John Roynon who discovered a Military Macaw loose in central Riberas del Pliar. He noted it was not behaving like a wild bird!
Ryon Johnston reported the sighting of a male Blue-black Grassquit in non-breeding plumage in Jocotepec. This has been verified by photos taken by Derick MacDonald. We have normally seen the males in breeding plumage (almost totally black) in mid-summer only, typically identified by their unique vertical jumping behaviour.
These birds are resident from here to the coast and as far south as Honduras. They are small, being the same size as the white collared seedeater, but with a beak more like a bunting. The females are easy to confuse with the females of several species such as seedeaters, buntings and sparrows.
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Blue-black Grassquit
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This male Blue-black Grassquit in winter plumage has been seen in Jocotepec for two winters now. Photo - Derick MacDonald.
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Upcoming Bird Walks and Trips
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On Thursday March 7, at 8.00 a.m. we will meet at the entrance to Cristianía Park in Chapala. We will walk through the park and beyond to the shoreline, seeing a broad spectrum of species. At about 10.00 a.m. we will head for breakfast at Las Delicias.
To Get There: From Ajijic cross straight over the main traffic light; go 5 blocks to the T-junction; turn left and park immediately on your right.
On Friday March 15 we will carpool at Donas Donuts at 8.00 a.m. leaving immediately for the Rosa Amarilla Loop on the south side of the lake. On the higher level fields and reservoir we are likely to see White-tailed Hawk, American Avocet and Woodstork. Bring refreshments. Don't expect to be back in Ajijic before 2.00 p.m.
On Wednesday March 27 we will meet at El Bajio at 8.00 a.m. This has been a perennially good birding spot - let's hope there is not too much construction going on. At about 10.00 we will head for Doña Lola's for breakfast and to complete the morning's list.
To Get There: Drive about 2 miles west from Ajijic; look for the sign for El Bajio on the right and then take the next left. Park on the side road beside the carretara.
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Bird Walk and Trip Reports
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February 8, we were joined by 14 birders to hike the lower oak forest at Las Trojes, which was as beautiful and as easy going as usual, and the red-faced warblers were wating for us in the usual area, though not as easy to see as the last time. Others on the list of 30 speces included Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Brown-backed Solitaire, White-striped Woodcreeper, Flame-colored Tanager and Townsend's Warbler.
February 21, saw fourteen birders at the Pumping Station. Of particular interest were Yellow-headed Blackbird, Peregrine Falcon, American Pipit, Tricolored Heron, Warbling Vireo and Song Sparrow in a list of 58 species identified.
February 23, there were 16 keen birders in the convoy of cars going to the Primavera Forest. We hiked an area just south of Ahuisculco and had our lunches in a park close to the village with large overhanging trees which proved quite birdy revealing Russet-crowned Motmot and Gila Wookpecker which is a species we do not see at Lake Chapala.
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The February List
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Here are the 150 species observed in February around Lake Chapala:
Ani, groove-billed
Avocet, American
Blackbird, yellow-headed
Bunting, indigo
Bunting, lazuli
Bunting, painted (Ac)
Bunting, varied
Bushtit
Canvasback
Chat, yellow-breasted
Coot, American
Cormorant, neotropic
Cowbird, bronzed
Cowbird, brown headed
Dove, Inca
Dove, mourning
Dove, white-tipped
Dove, white-winged
Dowitcher, long-billed
Duck, Mexican
Duck, ring-necked (Ra)
Duck, ruddy (Ra)
Egret, cattle
Egret, great
Egret, snowy
Euphonia, elegant
Falcon, peregrine
Finch, house
Flycatcher, cordilleran
Flycatcher, dusky-capped
Flycatcher, gray-silky
Flycatcher, least
Flycatcher, social
Flycatcher, vermillion
Gadwall (Ac)
Gnatcatcher, blue-gray
Goldfinch, lesser
Grackle, great-tailed
Grassquit, blue-black (Jo)
Grebe, eared
Grebe, least
Grebe, pied-billed
Grosbeak, black-headed
Grosbeak, blue
Gull, laughing
Gull, ring-billed
Harrier, northern
Hawk, Cooper's (Ac)
Hawk, red-tailed
Hawk, white-tailed
Hawk, zone-tailed
Heron, black-crowned night
Heron, great blue
Heron, tri-colored
Hummingbird, broad-billed
Hummingbird, rufous
Hummingbird, violet-crowned
Ibis, white-faced
Kestrel, American
Killdeer
Kingbird, Cassin's
Kingbird, thick-billed
Kingbird, tropical
Kingfisher, belted
Kinglet, ruby-crowned
Kiskadee, great
Meadowlark, eastern (Ra)
Mockingbird, blue
Mockingbird, northern
Motmot, russet-crowned
Nightjar, buff-collared (Av)
Oriole, black-backed
Oriole, black-vented
Oriole, Bullock's
Oriole, hooded
Oriole, orchard (Sa)
Oriole, streak-backed
Owl, great-horned
Parakeet, orange-fronted
Pelican, American white
Pewee, greater
Pewee, western-wood
Pigeon, rock
Pintail, northern
Pipit, American (Ch)
Raven, common
Redstart, painted
Roadrunner, lesser (Ra)
Robin, rufous-backed
Sandpiper, least
Sandpiper, spotted
Scaup, lesser
Seedeater, white-collared
Shoveler, northern
Shrike, loggerhead
Solitaire, brown-backed (Tr)
Sparrow, chipping
Sparrow, house
Sparrow, lark
Sparrow, Lincoln's
Sparrow, rusty-crowned ground
Sparrow, savannah
Sparrow, song
Sparrow, stripe-headed
Stilt, black-necked
Stork, wood (Ra)
Swallow, barn
Swallow, northern rough-winged
Swallow, tree
Swallow, violet-green
Tanager, flame-colored
Tanager, hepatic
Tanager, western
Teal, blue-winged
Teal, cinnamon
Tern, Caspian
Tern, Forster's (Ac,Rp)
Thrasher, curve-billed
Thrush, orange-billed nightingale
Towhee, canyon
Tyrannulet, northern beardless (Ac)
Vireo, Cassin's
Vireo, plumbeous
Vireo, warbling
Vulture, black
Vulture, turkey
Warbler, black and white
Warbler, black-throated gray
Warbler, hermit
Warbler, Lucy's (Ac)
Warbler, MacGillivray's
Warbler, Nashville
Warbler, red-faced
Warbler, Townsend's (Tr)
Warbler, Virginia's
Warbler, Wilson's
Warbler, yellow
Warbler, yellow-rumped
Wigeon, American (Rp)
Woodcreeper, white-striped (Tr)
Woodpecker, acorn (Tr)
Woodpecker, golden-fronted
Woodpecker, ladder-backed
Wren, Bewick's
Wren, canyon
Wren, happy (Ar)
Wren, spotted
Yellowlegs, greater (Ra)
Yellowlegs, lesser (Ra)
Yellowthroat, gray-crowned
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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