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
|
|
90 Species Seen in July
|
|
The species observed around the Lake last month are listed at the end of this newsletter.
In the middle of the month John and Rosemary went round the Rosa Amarilla loop where there were still 50 wood storks and 10 American white pelicans. Rosemary saw an unusual-looking sparrow with a single white stripe over the top of its head and a buffy unstreaked breast. This turned out to be a grasshopper sparrow which is a new species for the Lake Chapala Area.
John was out at El Bajio standing hopefully at a big tree where many species were seen in the spring, when he spotted a pair of small northern beardless tyrannulets busily building a nest hidden in a small bunch of air plants.
Now that nesting has been completed for most species we are entering the season of "confusing immatures" as many birds have a juvenile plumage considerably different from the adult plumage making identification more difficult.
|
| |
|
Grasshopper Sparrow
|
| 
Grasshopper Sparrow as seen at Rosa Amarilla in July.
|
| |
|
Upcoming Bird Walks and Trips
|
|
On Friday August 9, we will go to Lake Cajititlan, meeting at 8.00 a.m. to carpool at Donas Donuts, leaving immediately. This is currently our most productive birding area. At the marsh we expect to see wood storks and perhaps roseate spoonbills. We will also visit the dock at San Juan Evangelista where we might see least bittern and common yellowthroat. If you are going please email John at chapalabirders@yahoo.com and let him know whether or not you will bring a vehicle.
On Wednesday August 14, we will go to the Rosa Amarilla circuit which is a one hour drive to the plateau on the south side of the lake. We will carpool at 8.00 a.m. at Donas Donuts leaving immediately. Bring drinks and snacks. Expect to get back to Ajijic by 2.00 p.m. If you are going please email John at chapalabirders@yahoo.com and let him know whether or not you will bring a vehicle.
On Tuesday August 20, we will meet at 8.15 a.m. at the Malecon Park in Jocotepec. Expect to see a mixture of birds in the tall trees and on the shore, including Eurasian Collared Dove which breeds at the park. At about 10.00 we will go for breakfast to Fonda Dona Lola to prepare the bird list.
To Get There: From Ajijic go to Jocotepec and exit left on the curve leading to the main street of Joco (by the OXXO and Pemex). Drive towards the shore and park in the parking lot.
|
| |
|
Birdwatching Etiquette
|
|
From time to time it is appropriate to remind ourselves what is considered good behaviour when birding.
1. Don't Scare the Birds
* Focus on looking for birds.
* Avoid talking, laughing and sudden movements.
* Avoid wearing bright colored or white clothes and hat.
Birds have moderate hearing and excellent vision, and they are acutely aware of their surroundings. Most birds will spook when you get within 20 or 30 feet of them. You will notice that when you raise your hand to point to a bird, that is when it flies away. You will also notice if you stay still, birds will come by and just ignore you, or they may come to you to satisfy their own curiosity. Keep as quiet as you can while you watch.
2. Be Considerate of Your Fellow Birders
* Avoid blocking the view of others viewing a bird.
* When you spot an interesting bird, describe to others where it is.
3. Be Considerate of the Environment
* Protect the habitat of the birds.
* Leave the trails, gates and fences as you found them.
* Take out your own litter.
4. Be Prepared
* Bring binoculars.
* Dress for the possibility of rocky or marshy trails, and thorn bushes.
|
| |
|
Bird Walk and Trip Reports
|
|
On July 17, the hike on the lower oak forest trail at Las Trojes was cancelled due to rain.
On July 27, we had seven people out in two vehicles for the day trip to Tapalpa. On the Los Espinos road we saw many eastern bluebirds, white-eared hummingbird, buff-breasted flycatcher, northern flicker and acorn woodpecker, while on the sierra road we saw crested caracara and eastern meadowlark out of a total of 30 species.
On July 29, a group of 9 birders walked out to the extended shoreline behind the Pumping Station. Good sightings included tri-colored heron, red-winged blackbird, eastern meadowlark, black-necked stilt, an early willet and early least sandpipers for a total of 36 species.
|
| |
|
The July List
|
|
Here are the 90 species observed in July around Lake Chapala:
Ani, groove-billed
Bittern, least (Ca)
Blackbird, red-winged (Ra,Cs)
Blackbird, yellow-headed (Ca)
Bobwhite, northern (Cs)
Bushtit (Ca)
Caracara, crested
Chat, yellow-breasted (Ra)
Coot, American
Cormorant, neotropic
Cowbird, bronzed
Cuckoo, squirrel
Dove, common ground
Dove, Eurasian collared (Ch)
Dove, Inca
Duck, black-bellied whistling (Ca)
Duck, fulvous whistling (Cs)
Duck, Mexican
Duck, ruddy
Egret, cattle
Egret, great
Egret, snowy
Elaenia, greenish (At)
Finch, house
Flycatcher, ash-throated
Flycatcher, dusky-capped
Flycatcher, gray silky
Flycatcher, social
Flycatcher, vermillion
Gallinule, common
Gallinule, purple (Ca)
Goldfinch lesser
Grackle, great-tailed
Grebe, pied-billed (Ra,Ca)
Grosbeak, blue
Gull, laughing
Hawk, Cooper's
Hawk, red-tailed
Heron, black-crowned night
Heron, great blue
Heron, green
Heron, tricolored
Hummingbird, broad-billed
Hummingbird, violet-crowned
Ibis, white-faced
Jacana, northern (Sc)
Killdeer
Kingbird, Cassin's
Kingbird, thick-billed
Kingbird, tropical
Kiskadee, great
Kite, white-tailed (Cs)
Meadowlark, eastern (Cs)
Mockingbird, blue
Mockingbird, northern (Ra)
Motmot, russet-crowned
Oriole, black-vented
Oriole, streak-backed
Pelican, American white (Ca,Ch)
Pewee, greater
Pewee, western wood
Pigeon, rock
Raven, common
Robin, rufous-backed
Sandpiper, least (Cs)
Seedeater, white-collared
Shrike, loggerhead
Sparrow, Botteri's (Ra)
Sparrow, grasshopper (Ra)
Sparrow, house
Sparrow, rusty-crowned ground
Sparrow, stripe-headed
Stilt, black-necked (Cs)
Stork, wood (Ca,Ra)
Swallow, barn
Swallow, northern rough-winged
Thrasher, curve-billed
Thrush, orange-billed nightingale
Towhee, canyon
Tyrannulet, northern beardless
Vireo, golden
Vulture, black
Vulture, turkey (Ra)
Willet (Cs)
Woodpecker, golden-fronted
Woodpecker, ladder-backed
Wren, Bewick's
Wren, canyon
Wren, spotted
Yellowthroat, gray-crowned (Ra)
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
Sn - San Nicholas/Golf Club
Tz - Tizapan canyon
Te - San Juan Tecomatlan/Mezcala
Tr - Las Trojes/oak forest
Tu - Tuxcueca canyon
Xt - Ixtlahuacan/Las Campanillas
|
| |
|
|
