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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News
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The 134 species observed around the Lake last month are listed at the end of this newsletter.
Monk Parakeets in Ajijic
The Monk Parakeets (escapees) seen lately near the pier can now be observed attempting to build a nest in a tall fan palm in the garden behind the Old Posada. This is the only parrot species in the world that constructs a nest - and it is large!
Also, a group of red-lored parrrots have been seen lately in San Antonio Tlayacapan and Riberas del Pilar.
Pelican from North Dakota
Local photographer Xill Fessenden photographed an American White Pelican with bands on its legs on the south shore of the lake (see photo below). On investigation, she discovered that it it was banded as a young bird last July at Chase Lake National Wildlife Refuge in North Dakota, 1,800 miles north of here.
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Banded American White Pelican at Petatan
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This American White Pelican, with a band on each leg, hatched in North Dakota, was seen at Petatan on the south side of the lake in January - photo by Xill Fessenden
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Outstanding Video of Local Birds
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You are in for a treat if you look at this YouTube video http://youtu.be/fnyQych3z5A (you may need to paste this into your address bar). It is a 15-minute slide-show video showing multiple shots of over 70 species of birds seen locally aroung Lake Chapala prepared by our local bird photographer Paul Hart. The shots are fabulous.
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Upcoming Bird Walks
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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 Tuesday April 8 at 8.00 a.m. we will meet at the Jocotepec Malecon Park to observe birds below the pier and in the tall trees of the park, such as northern jacana, tri-colored heron, Eurasian collared dove, and yellow warbler. At about 10 we will head for breakfast at Fonda Dona Lola to complete the bird list.
How to Get There: Taking the carretera to Jocotepec from Ajijic, you will pass the exit for the Jocotepec bypass, then the road curves to the left, you encounter serious topes, then the road cuves to the right with an OXXO on the left. You must exit left at the beginning or the end of this curve, and then proceed to the shoreline. Park your car near the pier.
On Monday April 21 we will meet at 8.00 a.m. at Donas Donuts to carpool, leaving immediately for Tapalpa. It is an hour's drive to the edge of the plateau, then we will bird from 9.00 to 12.30 and go to the village of Tapalpa for lunch. We hope to see higher altitude birds such as Transvolcanic Jay, Slate-throated Redstart, Crested Caracara, and Olive Warbler. Expect to be back to Ajijic by about 5.00 p.m. Bring snacks and liquids to keep you going in the morning.
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Bird Walk and Trip Reports
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On March 10, we had 13 birders out at the Cajititlan Marsh where we observed Least Grebe, American Avocet, Marsh Wren, Rufous Hummingbird, and a single Brown Pelican. The total count was 45 species.
On March 19, ten of us met at El Bajio and were able to see fifty nine different species including an Osprey, Western Tanager, Elegant Euphonia, Cooper's Hawk and a pair of Bushtits putting the finishing touches on a nest which was like an eight-inch elastic green sock with an entrance on the side near the top of the sock.
On March 28, two carloads of people birded the Rosa Amarilla Loop managing to sight 60 species, among them: Eastern Meadowlark, Red-winged Blackbird, Pied-billed Grebe, White-tailed Hawk, Cliff Swallow and Wood Stork.
Mid-month, five of us made a 2-day Colima Volcano Trip, departing at 6.00 a.m., spending the first morning on the north side of the inactive peak where we saw Mexican Chickadee, Slate-throated Redstart, Red Warbler, Hermit Warbler, Collared Towhee and Yellow-eyed Junco. The second morning was spent exploring the south side of the active peak where we observed West Mexican Chachalaca, Lilac-crowned Parrot, White-eared Hummingbird, Golden Vireo and Golden-cheecked Woodpecker.
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The March List
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Here are the 134 species observed in March around Lake Chapala:
Ani, groove-billed
Avocet, American (Ca)
Blackbird, red-winged (Ra)
Blackbird, yellow-headed
Bluebird, eastern (Ra)
Bunting, indigo
Bunting, lazuli
Bunting, painted
Bunting, varied
Bushtit
Caracara, crested (Ra)
Chat, yellow-breasted
Coot, American
Cormorant, neotropic
Cowbird, bronzed
Cowbird, brown-headed
Cuckoo, squirrel
Dove, Eurasian collared (Ch)
Dove, Inca
Dove, white-tipped
Dove, white-winged
Dowitcher, long-billed
Duck, Mexican
Duck, ruddy (Ca,Ra)
Egret, cattle
Egret, great
Egret, snowy
Euphonia, elegant (Ac)
Finch, house
Flycatcher, ash-throated
Flycatcher, cordilleran
Flycatcher, dusky-capped
Flycatcher, social
Flycatcher, vermillion
Gadwall
Gallinule, common
Gnatcatcher, blue-gray
Goldfinch, lesser
Grackle, great-tailed
Grebe, least (Ca,Ra)
Grebe, pied-billed (Ra)
Grosbeak, black-headed
Grosbeak, blue
Gull, laughing
Gull, ring-billed
Hawk, Cooper's (Ac)
Hawk, red-tailed
Hawk, white-tailed (Ra)
Heron, black-crowned night
Heron, great blue
Heron, green
Heron, tri-colored
Hummingbird, berylline
Hummingbird, broad-billed
Hummingbird, rufous (Ca)
Hummingbird, violet-crowned
Ibis, white-faced
Jacana, northern
Kestrel, American
Killdeer
Kingbird, Cassin's
Kingbird, thick-billed
Kingbird, tropical
Kingfisher, belted (Ra)
Kiskadee, great
Meadowlark, eastern
Merlin (Ac)
Mockingbird, blue
Mockingbird, northern (Ra)
Nightjar, buff-collared
Oriole, black-backed
Oriole, black-vented
Oriole, Bullock's
Oriole, hooded
Oriole, streak-backed
Osprey (Ac)
Owl, great-horned (Sc)
Pelican, American white
Pelican, brown (Ca)
Phoebe, black
Pigeon, rock
Pipit, American
Raven, common
Roadrunner, lesser
Robin, rufous-backed
Sandpiper, least
Sandpiper, spotted
Seedeater, white-collared
Shoveler, northern
Shrike, loggerhead
Sora
Sparrow, clay-colored
Sparrow, house
Sparrow, lark
Sparrow, Lincoln's
Sparrow, rusty-crowned ground
Sparrow, stripe-headed
Stilt, black-necked
Stork, wood (Ra)
Swallow, barn
Swallow, cliff (Ra, Jo)
Swallow, northern rough-winged
Swallow, tree
Tanager, western (Ac,Ra)
Teal, blue-winged
Teal, cinnamon
Teal, green-winged
Tern, Caspian
Tern, Forster's (Ch)
Thrasher, curve-billed
Towhee, canyon
Vireo, plumbeous
Vireo, warbling
Vulture, black
Vulture, turkey
Warbler, black and white
Warbler, black-throated gray
Warbler, Lucy's
Warbler, Nashville
Warbler, orange-crowned
Warbler, Wilson's
Warbler, yellow
Warbler, yellow-rumped
Wigeon, American
Willet
Woodpecker, golden-fronted
Woodpecker, ladder-backed
Wren, Bewick's
Wren, canyon
Wren, house
Wren, marsh (Ca)
Wren, spotted
Yellowlegs, greater
Yellowthroat, common
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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