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
|
|
Another new species for Lake Chapala
|
|
On the bird walk to the lower oak forest at Las Trojes, we came across three pods of mixed warbler species passing through on migration, one of which was a Slate-throated Redstart, a species not recorded here before. This is a warbler having a black body, red belly and black and white tail which it fans from time to time. This species has many sub-species found from Mexico to the Andes of South America. In central America it has an orange belly and in South America it has a yellow belly. Though it often joins flocks of mixed warbler species, it is normally non-migratory.
Uncommon Hummingbird Sighting
On a separate trip to Las Trojes John and Rosemary spotted a striking male Calliope Hummingbird sitting on a twig, sallying out to catch insects and returning to its perch. This tiny bird breeds in the western U.S. and Canada and comes down to west Mexico for the winter.
135 Species observed in September
This is a much higher count than usual - the previous September low and high counts were 97 and 107 respectively. We speculate that the migrants are coming down a few weeks early this year.
|
| |
|
Calliope Hummingbird
|
| 
Calliope Hummingbird as sighted last month at Las Trojes.
|
| |
|
Immature White Pelicans Update
|
|
In mid-August we discovered that 500 young American White Pelicans were occupying three small islands off the shore at San Nicolas. The immediate questions were: Were they born here this spring? Or did they just not go back up north for the summer? Or did they fly down early from up north? Two weeks later John Keeling discovered one of them with a red plastic tag on the wing. He reported the code number on the tag to the Patuxent Banding Center in Maryland. The bird was tagged in July 2013 when two months old at the Minidoka Wildlife Refuge in Idaho. Given that we have seen many more white pelicans than usual on the lake this summer, and no nesting activity has been found, our conclusion is that these immature birds chose to stay here for the summer instead of flying up north to breed.
|
| |
|
Upcoming Trips and Bird Walks
|
|
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 Friday October 10, we will meet at 8.30 a.m.at La Christina (the west side of Ajijic). We expect to see a good variety of birds on the shore, in the tall trees and in the scrub area. At about 10.30 we will go to Dona Lola's for breakfast and complete the bird list.
How to Get There: Two miles west of Ajijic, turn down at the sign for 'Hacienda La Christina" (which is right beside the turn for Las Palmas). Park near the lake.
On Saturday October 18, we will meet at Donas Donuts to carpool, leaving immediately for the Rosa Amarilla loop on the plateau at the south side of the lake. We will see grassland and higher altitude birds. Bring mid-morning refreshments and sandwiches since we get back to Ajijc about 2.30. If you intend to go please email John at chapalabirders@yahoo.com indicating whether you will bring a vehicle.
On Friday October 24, we will meet at 8.30 a.m. at the Jocotepec Malecon Park. We will see shorebirds and other species in the tall trees of the park. At about 10.30 we will head to Dona Lola's for breakfast.
How to Get There: Coming from Ajijic, as you get close to Jocotepec, you encounter a long left curve, a series of topes and then a curve to right, with an OXXO on the left side. Turn left at the OXXO, go down to the lake and park in the parking lot.
|
| |
|
Bird Trip and Walk Reports
|
|
On September 12, we had a select group of seven birders out at the shorebird hotspot of San Nicolas bay and the lower Santa Cruz dam where we saw both Black-bellied and Fulvous Whistling Ducks, Yellow-headed blackbird, Black-necked Stilt and Little Blue Heron, out of a total count of 39 species.
On September 17, we had six birding-hikers out for the five-hour (return trip) hike along the "horizontal oak forest" at Las Trojes. We encountered three flocks of mixed warblers - including Black and White, Black-throated Gray, Hermit, Red-faced, Townsend's, and Wilson's Warblers, also Painted Redstart, and the new Slate-throated Redstart mentioned above. We have not encountered so many warbler species together in our area before. The total species count was 37.
|
| |
|
135 Species seen in September
|
|
Here are the 135 species observed in September around Lake Chapala:
Ani, groove-billed
Avocet, American (Ra)
Becard, rose-throated
Blackbird, red-winged (Ra)
Blackbird, yellow-headed (Sn)
Bobwhite, northern (Sn)
Bunting, varied
Bushtit (Tr)
Caracara, crested
Coot, American
Cormorant, neotropic
Cowbird, bronzed
Cuckoo, Squirrel
Dove, common ground
Dove, Eurasian collared
Dove, Inca
Dove, white-tipped
Duck, black-bellied whistling (Sn)
Duck, fulvous whistling (Sn)
Duck, Mexican
Egret, cattle
Egret, great
Egret, snowy
Elaenia, greenish (Tr,Ac)
Euphonia, elegant (Tr)
Finch, house
Flycatcher, ash-throated
Flycatcher, buff-breasted
Flycatcher, cordilleran
Flycatcher, dusky-capped
Flycatcher, gray silky (Tr,Ac)
Flycatcher, social
Flycatcher, vermillion
Gallinule, common
Gnatcatcher, blue-gray
Godwit, marbled (Sn)
Goldfinch, lesser
Grackle, great-tailed
Grassquit, blue-black
Grebe, least
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, little blue (Sn)
Heron, tri-colored
Hummingbird, beryline
Hummingbird, broad-billed
Hummingbird, calliope (Tr)
Hummingbird, rufous
Hummingbird, violet-crowned
Ibis, white-faced
Jacana, northern
Kestrel, American (Tr)
Killdeer
Kingbird, Cassin's
Kingbird, thick-billed
Kingbird, tropical
Kiskadee, great
Kite, white-tailed (Jo)
Meadowlark, eastern (Ra)
Mockingbird, blue
Mockingbird, northern (Ra)
Motmot, russet-crowned
Oriole, black-backed
Oriole, Bullock's
Oriole, hooded
Oriole, orchard
Oriole, streak-backed
Osprey (Ca)
Owl, great-horned (Av)
Pelican, American white
Pelican, brown (Ac)
Pewee, greater (Tr)
Pewee, western wood
Phoebe, black (Tr)
Pigeon, rock
Raven, common
Redstart, painted
Redstart, slate-throated (Tr)
Robin, American (Tr)
Robin, rufous-backed
Sandpiper, least
Sandpiper, solitary (Jo,Ac)
Sandpiper, spotted
Sandpiper, western (Jo)
Seedeater, white-collared
Shrike, loggerhead
Solitaire, brown-backed (Tr)
Sora
Sparrow, Botteri's (Ra,At,Tr)
Sparrow, house
Sparrow, lark
Sparrow, rusty-crowned ground
Sparrow, stipe-headed
Spoonbill, roseate (Sn)
Stilt, black-necked
Stork, wood (sn,Ra)
Swallow, barn
Swallow, tree
Tanager, hepatic (Tr)
Tanager, western
Teal, blue-winged (Ra)
Tern, Forster's
Thrasher, curve-billed
Thrush, orange-billed nightingale (Tr)
Towhee, canyon
Vireo, golden (Tr)
Vulture, black
Vulture, turkey
Warbler, black and white
Warbler, black-throated gray
Warbler, hermit
Warbler, Nashville
Warbler, orange-crowned
Warbler, red-faced (Tr)
Warbler, Townsend's
Warbler, Wilson's
Warbler, yellow
Warbler, yellow-rumped
Willet
Woodpecker, acorn (Tr)
Woodpecker, golden-fronted
Wren, Bewick's
Wren, canyon
Wren, spotted
Yellowlegs, greater (Jo,Sn)
Yellowthroat, common
Yellowthroat, gray-crowned (Ac)
Location codes:
Ac - Ajijic: La Cristina/El Bajio
At - Trails above Ajijic
Av - Ajijic village
Ca - Lake Cajititlan
Ch - Chapala
Cu - Cuitzeo/Ocotlan
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
Ps - Pumping Station/Santa Cruz
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
|
| |
|
|
