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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118 Species Seen Last Month
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May was a good month, perhaps because some species waited longer than usual to fly north to their summer breeding grounds. After wondering all winter 'where have all the birds gone', we have been happily surprised by the quantity of birds seen on our personal birding trips in April and May, both locally to Las Trojes and the Pumping Station, and further away near Mazamitla and Talpa de Allende (four-hours drive from here).
We have recently received reports of sightings of the Rufous-crowned Sparrow at Las Trojes and San Juan Cosala (see photo). This is an uncommon bird in this area, recognized by its plain breast, rufous cap, brown line behind the eye and a black and white malar (moustache) stripe. It is found in mountainous scrubby areas of Mexico as well as in certain zones across the southern U.S.
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Rufous-crowned Sparrow
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Rufous-crowned Sparrow as sighted recently in the oak forest at Las Trojes.
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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 knowledgeable birders on hand to identify the species.
On Thursday, June 12, at 8.00 a.m. we will meet at Donas Donuts to carpool, leaving immediately for Cajititlan marsh, 30 minutes away. This is our best area for water birds, because it has many reed beds and is easily accessible by road. At about 10.30 we will head back to Sunrise Restaurant for breakfast and complete the bird list. If you plan to go please email chapalabirders@yahoo.com saying whether or not you can provide a vehicle (to help us balance cars and passengers.)
On Friday, June 27, we will meet at 8.00 a.m. at El Bajio. Expect to see shore birds and a good variety of field birds, as this area has many tall trees. We may see different species of oriole and several species of wren.
To Get There: Drive west from Ajijic about 2 miles, look for the sign for El Bajio, and exit towards the lake at the point where the super topes exist. Park immediately on the lateral road. At about 10.30 we will go to Fonda Doña Lola for breakfast.
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Bird Walk and Trip Reports
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On May 6 we had six birders out to stroll the pretty garden streets of La Floresta with its tall eucalyptus trees -- followed by breakfast overlooking the lake. We saw roosting Black Vulture, Gray Silky Flycatcher, Bewick's Wren and Streak-backed Oriole, as well as nesting Spotted Wrens and nesting Social Flycatchers.
On May 12, a car-load of birders set out for the Rosa Amarilla Loop on the plateau on the south side of the lake. Interesting sightings included White-tailed Hawk, Eastern Bluebird, Wood Stork, Buff-breasted Flycatcher, Botteri's Sparrow, and on their way up north to breed - Wilson's Phalarope and American Pipit.
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The May List
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Here are the 118 species observed in May around Lake Chapala:
Ani, groove-billed
Avocet, American
Blackbird, red-winged (Ra)
Bluebird, eastern (Ra)
Bobwhite, northern (Cs)
Bunting, indigo
Bunting, varied
Bushtit
Chat, yellow-breasted
Coot, American
Cormorant, neotropic
Cowbird, bronzed
Cowbird, brown-headed
Cuckoo, squirrel
Dove, Eurasian collared
Dove, Inca
Dove, white-tipped
Dove, white-winged
Duck, fulvous whistling (Ca)
Duck, Mexican
Duck, ruddy
Egret, cattle
Egret, great
Egret, snowy
Finch, house
Flycatcher, ash-throated
Flycatcher, buff-breasted (Tr, Ra)
Flycatcher, dusky-capped
Flycatcher, gray silky
Flycatcher, social
Flycatcher, vermilion
Gallinule, common
Goldfinch, lesser
Grackle, great-tailed
Grebe, least (Ra)
Grebe, pied-billed (Ra)
Grosbeak, black-headed
Grosbeak, blue
Gull, laughing
Gull, ring-billed
Hawk, Cooper's
Hawk, red-tailed
Hawk, white-tailed (Ra)
Heron, black-crowned night
Heron, great-blue
Heron, green
Heron, tricolored
Hummingbird, broad-billed
Hummingbird, magnificent
Hummingbird, violet-crowned
Ibis, white-faced
Jacana, northern
Killdeer
Kingbird, Cassin's
Kingbird, thick-billed
Kingbird, tropical
Kiskadee, great
Kite, white-tailed
Meadowlark, eastern (Ra, Cs)
Mockingbird, blue
Mockingbird, northern (Ra, Cs)
Motmot, russet-crowned
Night-jar, buff-collared
Oriole, black-backed
Oriole, black-vented
Oriole, bullock's
Oriole, streak-backed
Owl, great-horned (Sc, Av)
Pelican, American white
Pelican, brown (Ca)
Pewee, greater (At)
Pewee, western wood
Phalarope, Wilson's (Ra, Cs)
Phoebe, black
Pigeon, rock
Pipit, American (Ra)
Raven, common
Roadrunner, lesser
Robin, rufous-backed
Sandpiper, spotted
Seedeater, white-collared
Shoveler, northern
Shrike, loggerhead
Sparrow, Botteri's (Ra)
Sparrow, house
Sparrow, lark
Sparrow, rufous-crowned (Sc)
Sparrow, rusty-crowned ground
Sparrow, stripe-headed
Spoonbill, roseate (Ra)
Stilt, black-necked
Stork, wood (Ra)
Swallow, barn
Swallow, cliff (Jo)
Swallow, northern rough-winged
Swallow, tree
Tanager, western
Teal, blue-winged (Ra, Ca)
Tern, Caspian
Thrasher, curve-billed
Thrush, orange-billed nightingale
Towhee, canyon
Tyrannulet, northern beardless (Sc)
Vireo, Bell's (At)
Vireo, golden (At)
Vulture, black
Vulture, turkey
Warbler, rufous-capped
Warbler, yellow
Warbler, yellow-rumped
Woodpecker, golden-fronted
Woodpecker, ladder-backed
Wren, Bewick's
Wren, canyon
Wren, Sinaloa (At)
Wren, spotted
Yellowthroat, common (Ca)
Yellowthroat, grey-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 area
Po - Poncitlan
Pt - San Pedro Tesistan area
Pz - San Pedro Itzican area
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/South Shore area
Xt - Ixtlahuacan/Las Campanillas
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