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
|
|
98 Species Seen in September
|
|
The species observed around the Lake last month are listed at the end of this newsletter.
Interesting sightings included the pair of Peregrine Falcons at Lake Cajititlan mentioned in the bird walk report below.
John and Rosemary went round the lake mid-month and rediscovered the small nesting colony of Monk Parakeets. These were observed two years ago, but the ID was unclear. This time the communal nest was clearly visible. Monk Parakeets are the only parrot to make a nest (the rest use holes in trees). This species used to be exported in vast quantities from Argentina. They now occur in breeding colonies throughout southern Florida as well as the the parks of major cities in Europe and North America.
|
| |
|
Monk Parakeet
|
| 
Feral Monk Parakeet as seen at Maltarana in September.
|
| |
|
Upcoming Bird Walks and Trips
|
|
On Monday October 14, we will meet at the trail head of the Riberas Canyon at 8.00 a.m. This will be a hike, at times rocky, to a small dam and to a lookout point. There is a fair chance we will see a squirrel cuckoo. At about 10.00 we will head for Mom's for breakfast.
How to Get There: Go to the east end of Riberas del Pilar. Turn uphill on the easternmost street. Follow it to the end, and park.
On Wednesday, October 30, we will meet at El Bajio at 8.00 a.m. Expect to see a good selection of orioles, warblers and shorebirds. At about 10.00 we will go to Fonda Dona Lola for breakfast and to complete the bird list.
How to Get There: Drive about 2 miles (4km) west from Ajijic and look for the sign to El Bajio. (It is just east of the roads to Las Palmas and La Cristina). Exit and park on the road parallel to the carretera.
|
| |
|
Bird Walk and Trip Reports
|
|
On September 10, we had 12 birders out to scour the shore and explore the usually productive overgrown field at La Cristina. We saw ring-billed gull just returned from the north, blue mockingbird, elegant euphonia, gray silky flycatcher and rusty-crowned ground sparrow.
On September 18, eight birders joined us at Lake Cajitlan. The big sighting was a pair of peregine falcons at the marsh - it will be interesting to see if they stick around - they will if there's a good supply of small birds to catch. Also observed were Osprey, Crested Caracara, least bittern and twenty wood storks.
On September 30, 13 of us travelled to the Sierra de Tapalpa. High points were feeling the sun burn through the low clouds, revealing birds like the colorful collared towhee with its green body and black and white collar, bushtit, western tanager, hermit warbler and acorn woodpecker.
|
| |
|
The September List
|
|
Here are the 98 species observed in September around Lake Chapala:
Ani, groove-billed
Bittern, least (Ca)
Blackbird, red-winged
Blackbird, yellow-headed
Bluebird, eastern
Bobwhite, northern (Cs)
Bushtit
Caracara, crested
Coot, American
Cormorant, neotropic
Cowbird, bronzed
Cuckoo, squirrel (Rp)
Dove, Eurasian collared (Ch)
Dove, Inca
Dove, white-tipped
Duck, fulvous whistling
Duck, Mexican
Egret, cattle
Egret, great
Egret, snowy
Euphonia, elegant
Falcon, peregrine (Ca)
Finch, house
Flycatcher, dusky-capped
Flycatcher, gray silky
Flycatcher, social
Flycatcher, vermillion
Gallinule, common
Gallinule, purple (Cs)
Gnatcatcher, blue-gray
Goldfinch, lesser
Grackle, great-tailed
Grebe, least
Grosbeak, blue
Gull, laughing
Gull, ring-billed
Hawk, Cooper's (Cs)
Hawk, red-tailed
Heron, black-crowned night
Heron, great-blue
Heron, green
Heron, tri-colored
Hummingbird, broad-billed
Hummingbird, rufous (Ra)
Hummingbird, violet-crowned
Ibis, white-faced
Jacana, northern
Kestrel, American
Killdeer
Kingbird, Cassin's
Kingbird, thick-billed (Aj)
Kingbird, tropical
Kiskadee, great
Mockingbird, blue
Motmot, russet-crowned
Oriole, black-backed
Oriole, black-vented
Oriole, hooded
Oriole, orchard
Oriole, streak-backed
Osprey (Ca)
Owl, great horned (Sc)
Parakeet, monk (feral) (Dm)
Pelican, American white
Pelican, brown (Ch)
Pewee, greater
Phalarope, Wilson's (Ra)
Pigeon, rock
Raven, common (Ra)
Robin, rufous-backed
Sandpiper, least
Sandpiper, spotted
Seedeater, white-collared
Shrike, loggerhead
Sparrow, house
Sparrow, rusty-crowned ground
Sparrow, stripe-headed
Spoonbill, roseate (Pe)
Swallow, barn
Swallow, northern rough-winged
Tanager, western
Tern, Caspian
Thrasher, curve-billed
Thrush, orange-billed nightingale
Towhee, canyon
Vulture, black
Vulture, turkey
Warbler, black-throated gray
Warbler, Nashville
Warbler, Wilson's
Warbler, yellow-rumped
Woodpecker, golden-fronted
Woodpecker, ladder-backed
Wren, Bewick's
Wren, canyon
Wren, spotted
Yellowthroat, common
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 & coast
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
|
| |
|
|
