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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151 Species in February
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The 151 species observed around the Lake last month are listed at the end of this newsletter.
Unusual sightings this month included Cliff Swallows discovered by Robert Taylor in Jocotepec actively constructing nests. These nests are identifiable by the small circular opening in an approximately spherical mud structure. These birds winter in Argentina and breed from Mexico to Alaska.
At the end of the month John and Rosemary hosted a group of visiting birders from San Miguel de Allende, showing them the Pumping Station area and El Bajio. The highlight of their visit came when one of them quietly imitated the call of the Ferruginous Pygmy Owl in front of a big strangler fig tree at El Bajio. In short order there were 22 species of small birds in the tree including American Redstart and Sinaloa Wren.
For Rosemary and John it was a busy month including a trip to Tapalpa for serious photographers only, and a three-day reconnaissance trip to the Colima volcanoes.
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Cliff Swallows
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Nest-building Cliff Swallows as seen at Jocotepec last month.
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Upcoming Bird Walks and Trips
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On Monday April 8, at 8.15 a.m. we will meet at the parking lot of the Jocotepec malecón, where we will look for Eurasian Collared Dove and look at water birds from the pier, and other birds in the tall trees. At about 10.00 we will return to Fonda Doña Lola for breakfast.
To Get There: From Ajijic go to the south end of Jocotepec; after the topes turn left at the OXXO across from the Pemex. Proceed south to the parking lot.
On Tuesday April 16, at 8.00 a.m. we will meet at Donas Donuts to carpool, leaving immediately for the Rio Verde 90 minutes to the north east. We will go to El Venado where the entrance fee is 75 pesos which allows you to swim in the warm pools continuously fed by hot water coming out of the rocks above. In the canyon expect to see birds like Gila Woodpecker (not seen at Lake Chapala) and Squirrel Cuckoo. Bring bathing suits, snacks and sandwiches for lunch. We will get back around 4.00 p.m. If you plan to come, please let John Keeling know whether or not you will have a car (766-1801, chapalabirders@yahoo.com)
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Bird Walk and Trip Reports
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On March 7, eleven of us went to Cristianía Park in Chapala seeing Blue-wing and Green-wing Teal, Northern Shoveler and Common Yellowthroat in the treated water runoff, and American Avocet and American Pipit on the shore, with a total of 51 species.
On March 15 we had two carloads of people for the Rosa Amarilla Loop seeing several Sparrow species (Lark, Chipping, Clay-colored, Savannah, Song and Stripe-headed); good views of Violet-green and Tree Swallows; as well as Wood Stork, Lesser Scaup and Gadwall for an impressive total of 73 species.
On March 27, fifteen enthusiastic birders went to El Bajio observing Rusty-crowned Ground Sparrow, Orange-billed Nightingale Thrush, Gray-silky Flycatcher and Berylline Hummingbird among the total of 54 species.
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The March List
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Here are the 151 species observed in February around Lake Chapala:
Ani, groove-billed
Avocet, American
Becard, rose-throated (Ac)
Blackbird, Brewer's (Ra)
Blackbird, red-winged
Blackbird, yellow-headed
Bluebird, western (Ra)
Bobwhite, northern (Cs)
Bunting, indigo
Bunting, lazuli (Ac)
Bunting, painted (Ac)
Bunting, varied
Bushtit
Caracara, crested
Chat, yellow-breasted
Coot, American
Cormorant, neotropic
Cowbird, bronzed
Cowbird, brown-headed
Cuckoo, squirrel (At)
Dove, Eurasian collared (Jo)
Dove, Inca
Dove, mourning (Cs)
Dove, white-tipped
Dove, white-winged
Dowitcher, long-billed
Duck, Mexican
Duck, ruddy
Egret, cattle
Egret, great
Egret, snowy
Elaenia, greenish (Ac)
Euphonia, elegant
Finch, house
Flycatcher, cordilleran
Flycatcher, dusky-capped
Flycatcher, gray-silky
Flycatcher, least
Flycatcher, social
Flycatcher, vermillion
Gadwall
Gallinule, common
Gnatcatcher, black-tailed (Ac)
Gnatcatcher, blue-gray
Goldfinch, lesser
Grackle, great-tailed
Grebe, pied-billed
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, tri-colored
Hummingbird, berylline
Hummingbird, broad-billed
Hummingbird, rufous
Hummingbird, violet-crowned
Ibis, white-faced
Jacana, northern
Kestrel, American
Killdeer
Kingbird, Cassin's
Kingbird, thick-billed
Kingbird, tropical
Kingfisher, belted
Kinglet, ruby-crowned (Ac)
Kiskadee, great
Meadowlark, eastern (Cs)
Mockingbird, blue
Mockingbird, northern
Motmot, russet-crowned
Nightjar, buff-collared
Oriole, black-backed
Oriole, black-vented
Oriole, Bullock's
Oriole, hooded
Oriole, orchard
Oriole, streak-backed
Pelican, American white
Pewee, greater
Pewee, western wood (Ac)
Pigeon, rock
Pipit, American (Ch)
Raven, common
Redstart, American (Ac)
Roadrunner, lesser (At)
Robin, rufous-backed
Sandpiper, least
Sandpiper, spotted
Sandpiper, western (Cs)
Scaup, lesser
Seedeater, white-collared
Shoveler, northern
Shrike, loggerhead
Sparrow, chipping
Sparrow, clay-colored
Sparrow, house
Sparrow, lark
Sparrow, Lincoln's
Sparrow, rusty-crowned ground
Sparrow, savannah
Sparrow, song (Cs)
Sparrow, stripe-headed
Stilt, black-necked
Stork, wood (Ra)
Swallow, barn
Swallow, cliff (Jo)
Swallow, northern rough-winged
Swallow, tree
Swallow, violet-green
Tanager, summer (Av)
Tanager, western
Teal, blue-winged
Teal, cinnamon
Teal, green-winged
Tern, Caspian
Tern, Forster's (Ch)
Thrasher, curve-billed
Thrush, orange-billed nightingale (Ac)
Towhee, canyon
Tyrannulet, northern beardless (Av)
Vireo, black-capped (At)
Vireo, Cassin's
Vireo, golden (At,Cs)
Vireo, plumbeous (Ac)
Vireo, warbling
Vulture, black
Vulture, turkey
Warbler, black and white
Warbler, black-throated gray
Warbler, Lucy's (Ac)
Warbler, MacGillivray's
Warbler, Nashville
Warbler, rufous-capped
Warbler, Wilson's
Warbler, yellow
Warbler, yellow-rumped
Wigeon, American (Ac)
Woodpecker, acorn (Hv)
Woodpecker, golden-fronted
Woodpecker, ladder-backed
Wren, Bewick's
Wren, canyon
Wren, happy
Wren, Sinaloa (Ac)
Wren, spotted
Yellowlegs, greater
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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