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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101 Species Seen in October
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The species observed around the Lake last month are listed at the end of this newsletter.
Interesting sightings included Brown Pelican which we see on the lake from time to time, Cliff Swallow and Zone-tailed Hawk seen by Don Bell.
John and Rosemary went with Brian and Lois Lewis to check out the Rosa Amarilla Loop, spotting two beautiful adult and three immature White-tailed Hawks.
Mid-month Brian and Lois Lewis went with Don Bell to explore Mexcala and San Pedro Itzican where they found Tropical Parula, which we see only occasionally. This species is resident here, and also occurs throughout much of Latin America.
Annual Christmas Bird Count in December
The Ajijic Area Christmas Bird Count will be held on Monday December 16. Please mark this on your calendar. Sign up instructions will be given in the December Newsletter.
Keen birders will want to also take part in the official Bird Count at the other end of the lake scheduled for Wednesday, December 18.
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Tropical Parula
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Tropical Parula as seen near Mezcala in October.
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Upcoming Bird Walks and Trips
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Our birdwalks are open to all those interested in birds, both beginners and experienced birders. Just bring binoculars and show up. We always have knowledgable birders on hand to identify the species.
On Friday November 8, we will meet at 8.15 a.m. at the Jocotepec Malecon Park. We expect to see a good variety of shore birds from the pier and arboreal birds in the park.
How to Get There: From Ajijic as you approach Jocotepec you enter an 'S' bend at the end of which is an OXXO where you must turn left. Proceed to the lakeshore and park in the parking lot.
On Monday November 18, we will meet at the Pumping Station at 8.15 a.m. We will see shore birds and a good selection of field and scrub birds. At about 10.15 we will head to Las Delicias for breakfast and prepare the bird list.
How to Get There: Drive from Chapala towards the country club. After passing the village of Santa Cruz, look for the grey domes of the pumping station with the sign 'aqueducto' on your right. Immediately after it take the first semi-hidden gravel road on the right. At the "T" junction turn left, and at the next intersection park your vehicle.
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Bird Walk and Trip Reports
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On October 14, the group went up the Riberas Ravine. The weather was cloudy and the birding was disappointing. Species sighted included pied-billed grebe on the reservoir at the top of the ravine, streak-backed oriole and black-throated gray warbler.
On October 30, the group walked the El Bajio road. Under mainly cloudy skies the birding was better. A total of 44 species were observed including bushtit, Forster's tern, Caspian tern, Nashville warbler, blue-gray gnatcatcher and red-tailed hawk.
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The October List
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Here are the 101 species observed in October around Lake Chapala:
Ani, groove-billed
Avocet, American
Becard, rose-throated (Ac)
Blackbird, yellow-headed (Ca,Ra)
Bunting, painted (Ac)
Bushtit
Caracara, crested
Chat, yellow-breasted
Coot, America
Cormorant, neotropic
Cowbird, bronzed
Cowbird, brown-headed
Cuckoo, squirrel (Rp)
Dove, Inca
Dove, white-tipped
Dove, white-winged
Duck, Mexican
Duck, ruddy
Egret, cattle
Egret, great
Egret, snowy
Finch, house
Flycatcher, ash-throated
Flycatcher, cordilleran
Flycatcher, dusky-capped
Flycatcher, gray silky (Ac)
Flycatcher, least
Flycatcher, social
Flycatcher, vermillion
Gallinule, common
Gallinule, purple (Cs)
Gnatcatcher, blue-gray
Goldfinch, lesser
Grackle, great-tailed
Grebe, pied-billed
Grosbeak, black-headed
Grosbeak, blue
Gull, laughing
Gull, ring-billed
Hawk, Cooper's
Hawk, red-tailed
Hawk, white-tailed
Hawk, zone-tailed (Ac)
Heron, black-crowned night
Heron, great blue
Heron, tri-colored
Hummingbird, broad-billed
Hummingbird, violet-crowned
Ibis, white-faced
Kestrel, American
Killdeer
Kingbird, Cassin's
Kingbird, thick-billed
Kingbird, tropical
Kingfisher, belted (Sn,Ra)
Kiskadee, great
Meadowlark, eastern (Ra)
Mockingbird, blue
Mockingbird, northern
Oriole, black-backed
Oriole, black-vented
Oriole, hooded
Oriole, orchard (Ac)
Oriole, streak-backed
Osprey
Pelican, American white
Pelican, brown (Ac)
Pewee, greater
Pigeon, rock
Raven, common
Robin, rufous-backed
Sandpiper, spotted
Seedeater, white-collared
Shrike, loggerhead
Sparrow, house
Sparrow, lark
Sparrow, stripe-headed
Swallow, barn
Swallow, cliff (Ac)
Swallow, northern rough-winged
Swallow, tree
Tanager, western (Sa)
Tern, Caspian
Tern, Forster's (Ac)
Thrasher, curve-billed
Towhee, canyon
Vireo, Cassin's (Ac)
Vireo, plumbeous
Vulture, black
Vulture, turkey
Warbler, black and white
Warbler, black-throated gray
Warbler, Lucy's (Ac)
Warbler, Nashville
Warbler, Wilson's
Warbler, yellow-rumped
Woodpecker, golden-fronted
Woodpecker, ladder-backed
Wren, Bewick's
Wren, canyon
Wren, spotted
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 area
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
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