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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91 Species Seen Last Month
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Interesting recent sightings include Blue-black Grassquit and Fulvous Whistling Duck at Cajititlan marsh, and White-tailed Kite at Cajititlan and also at the dike at the east end of the lake. During the month we have heard Northern Bobwhites calling in a variety of locations.
Late in the month Stan and Darnelle Dunn saw Lesser Yellowlegs and an early migrating Spotted Sandpiper at San Nicolas, while John and Rosemary saw a Lucifer Hummingbird in the scrub near the International School (see photo). These hummingbirds like arid scrub areas and are permanent residents here and across the central transvolcanic range.
The Monk Parakeet communal nest in a palm tree in downtown Ajijic came down in a storm. These birds will have to learn to build their large nests in a more secure manner. The five Red-Lored Parrots (also feral escapees) are rumored to be seen near the San Antonio Tlayacapan plaza in the late afternoons.
The 91 species seen in the lake area last month are listed at the end of this newsletter.
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Lucifer Hummingbird
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Lucifer Hummingbird as sighted last month near the International Institute.
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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 August 7, we will meet at 8.30 a.m. at the Pumping Station where we will see field birds like loggerhead shrike and possibly white-tailed kite as well as shore birds. At about 10.30 we will go to Las Delicias restaurant for breakfast and prepare the bird list.
How to Get There: Take the lakeshore road east from Chapala past Santa Cruz. Watch out for three tall gray pump towers on your right with the sign 'Aqueducto'. Immediately after this take the first gravel road to the right; at the next T junction turn left and park at the next intersection. We will walk to the lake.
On Tuesday August 19, we will meet to car-pool at Donas Donuts at 8.00 a.m. leaving immediately for the Rosa Amarilla loop on the plateau on the south side of the lake. We expect to see higher elevation birds including eastern meadowlark, Botteri's sparrow and wood stork. Take refreshments for the morning. Do not expect to be back in Ajijic before 2.00 p.m. If you plan to go please email John at chapalabirders@yahoo.com indicating whether you can bring a vehicle.
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Bird Walk and Trip Reports
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On June 11,we had four carloads of birders out for the trip to the Sierra de Tapalpa. The first impressive sight in the oak forest was a Greater Roadrunner sitting in the top of a sizable tree. Later in the pine forests were Mexican Chickadee and White-breasted Nuthatch and finally, in forest-edged pastures we saw Spotted Towhee and Mountain Trogon. A great day with a total of 47 species.
On July 22 we again had a party of four vehicles on the longer trip to the Rio Verde canyon near Acatic. The hot pools were very refreshing, and the top birds were Rose-throated Becard, Black-throated Magpie Jay and Common Black Hawk out of 41 species observed.
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The July List
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Here are the 91 species observed in July around Lake Chapala:
Ani, Groove-billed
Blackbird-red-winged (Ra)
Bluebird, eastern (Ra)
Bobwhite, northern (CaSnRa)
Bushtit
Caracara, crested
Coot, American
Cormorant, neotropic
Cowbird, bronzed
Cuckoo, squirrel
Dove, Eurasian collared
Dove, Inca
Dove, mourning
Dove, white-tipped
Dove, white-winged
Duck, black-bellied whistling (CaDm)
Duck, fulvous whistling (ca)
Duck, ruddy
Egret, cattle
Egret, great
Egret, snowy
Elaenia, greenish (At)
Finch, house
Flycatcher, dusky-capped
Flycatcher, social
Flycatcher, vermillion
Gallinule, common
Goldfinch, lesser
Grackle, great-tailed
Grassquit, blue-black (Ca)
Grebe, least
Grosbeak, blue
Gull, laughing
Hawk, red-tailed
Heron, black-crowned night
Heron, great blue
Heron, green
Heron, tri-colored (Sn)
Hummingbird, broad-billed
Hummingbird, lucifer (Sa)
Hummingbird, violet-crowned
Hummingbird, white-eared (Sa)
Ibis, white-faced
Jacana, northern
Killdeer
Kingbird, Cassin's
Kingbird, thick-billed
Kingbird, tropical
Kingfisher, green
Kiskadee, great
Kite, white-tailed (CaDm)
Meadowlark, eastern (Ra)
Mockingbird, blue
Mockingbird, northern (Ra)
Oriole, black-backed
Oriole, black-vented
Oriole, streak-backed
Owl, great-horned (Av)
Pelican, American white
Pewee, western wood
Pigeon, rock
Raven, common
Robin, rufous-backed
Sandpiper, solitary (Dm)
Sandpiper, spotted (Sn)
Seedeater, white-collared
Shrike, loggerhead
Sparrow, Botteri's (Ra)
Sparrow, house
Sparrow, house
Sparrow, stripe-headed
Stilt, black-necked
Stork, wood (Ra,Ca)
Swallow, barn
Swallow, cliff (Ra)
Swallow, northern rough-winged
Tern, Caspian
Thrasher, curve-billed
Thrush, orange-billed nightingale
Towhee, canyon
Vireo, golden
Vulture, black
Vulture, turkey
Warbler, rufous-capped
Woodpecker, golden-fronted
Woodpecker, ladder-backed
Wren, Bewick's
Wren, canyon
Wren, spotted
Yellowlegs, lesser (Sn)
Yellowthroat, common (Ca)
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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