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 at the lake, email us at:
ChapalaBirders@yahoo.com
or phone 376-766-1801
Website:
ChapalaBirders.org
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171 species seen in December
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This is the highest monthly species count since December 2010 when we recorded 167 species. The December count is usually the highest month, helped by the Christmas Bird Count which puts more eyes out in the field looking for birds.
This month many observations were reported by Nicola Cedron, an excellent bird spotter, who currently lives in Mexico City where he is an active birder. We were pleased to accompany him on a local trip to Lake Cajititlan and the Santa Cruz Dams, when we recorded 86 species in one morning. He contributed Lesser Nighthawks seen at dusk at the upper Santa Cruz Dam, and White-throated Swifts, a new species for the Lake Chapala Area, seen at Chupinaya 3,000 feet above Ajijic.
The month was notable for the sightings of three uncommon grebes - several Western Grebes at Lake Atotonilco (not in the Lake Chapala area), three Clark's Grebes seen during the Christmas Bird Count at Lake Cajititlan, and five Eared Grebes spotted by John Keeling at the upper Santa Cruz dam.
Other interesting sightings included five Ring-necked Ducks spotted by Nicola Cedron on the lower Santa Cruz dam, and a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker photographed by university student Carlo Cuevas at the Jocotepec malecon park.
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Yellow-headed Blackbirds
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This photo by Paul Hart shows one of the smaller clouds of several clouds of male Yellow-headed Blackbirds that were sighted east of Jamay on the Christmas Bird Count at the far end of the lake. These birds can be seen over the reed beds at Chapala and at lake Cajititlan. They like to roost in reed beds, and move to fields to eat seeds and grubs in the daytime.
They go north in the summer, breeding in the western U.S. and Canada. A male with a good cattail marsh territory may acquire up to five females to nest in his territory. The female builds the nest and both male and female feed the young. After breeding they form large flocks for mutual protection against hawks.
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Christmas Bird Count Results
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We deployed four teams for the Christmas Bird Count (CBC) on December 16 (West Ajijic, East Ajijic, East Chapala, and Cajititlan) and one team to the "Cienega" count at the far end of the lake on December 18. The overall species count was 113 for the Ajijic area, which is "normal", and 85 species for the Cienega area.
Interesting sightings included an Aztec Rail in Riberas, and at Lake Cajititlan three elegant looking Clark's Grebes and a White-throated Flycatcher. At the Cienega we saw a Snow Goose, which is seen here only occasionally, and many vast clouds of Yellow-headed Blackbirds which darkened the sky as they flew over us, estimated to be at least 35 thousand birds (see the photo above).
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Upcoming Trips and Bird Walks
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Our bird walks 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. If you are being given a ride, please make a contribution to gas and tolls (perhaps 50-100 pesos for a half day outing, 100-200 for a day trip).
On Monday January 11 we will meet at 8.00 a.m. at the shore of the lake in Riberas del Pilar. To get there, go the the 7-11 store in Riberas, turn towards the lake, go two blocks to the shore and park. The water level currently provides shallow areas suitable for all kinds of ducks such as Fulvous Whistling Ducks. After exploring the shore and adjacent streets, at about 10.00 am we will head to Mom's Restaurant for breakfast and complete the bird list.
On Monday January 18 we will meet at 8.00 am at Donas Donuts to car pool and proceed immediately to Tapalpa. It's a 90 minute drive to the edge of the plateau where we will bird from 9.30 to 12.30. We will then head to the town of Tapalpa for lunch. Expect to see higher altitude birds such as Painted Redstart, Slate-throated Redstart, and Acorn Woodpecker. Bring jackets for warmth and refreshments for the morning. Do not expect to be back before 5 pm. If you plan to go, please email chapalabirders@yahoo.com saying if you can bring a vehicle or not, to help us plan the car pooling.
On Friday January 29 we will meet at 8.00 am at Donas Donuts to car pool, leaving immediately for the Cajititlan Marsh. This is a 30-minute drive. We expect to see Common Yellowthroat, Northern Jacana, Marsh Wren and Least Grebe. At about 10.15 we will head back to Chapala to have breakfast at Las Delicias. If you plan to go please email chapalabirders@yahoo.com saying whether or not you will bring a car.
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Bird Walk & Trip Reports
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On December 11 we had three full vehicles of birders out at Villa Corona and Lake Atotonilco. The lake level is still far from full, but we did see our target birds - Western Grebe and Roseate Spoonbill. We saw 64 species in total including Aztec Rail, Wood Stork, White-tailed Hawk, Marsh Wren, Common Yellowthroat, and Little Blue Heron.
On December 28 seven birders attended the Bird Walk in Cristiania Park in Chapala, including two visitors, Nicola Cedron from 'DF', and Carlo Cuevas from Jocotepec. We saw 56 species, including two impressive male painted buntings, Rose-throated Becard, American Redstart, Marsh Wren, Common Yellowthroat, Greater Pewee and Cordilleran Flycatcher.
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December Sightings List
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Here are the 171 species observed in December around Lake Chapala:
Ani, groove-billed
Avocet, American
Becard, rose-throated (Ch)
Bittern, American (Dm)
Blackbird, Brewer's
Blackbird, red-winged
Blackbird, yellow-headed
Bunting, indigo
Bunting, painted (Ch)
Bunting, varied
Bushtit
Canvasback (Ra)
Caracara, crested
Chat, yellow-breasted
Coot, American
Cormorant, neotropic
Cowbird, bronzed
Cowbird, brown-headed
Dove, common ground (Ps)
Dove, Eurasian collared
Dove, Inca
Dove, mourning (Ca)
Dove, white-winged
Dowitcher, long-billed
Duck, fulvous whistling (Rp,Ps)
Duck, Mexican
Duck, ring-necked (Ps)
Duck, ruddy
Egret, cattle
Egret, great
Egret, snowy
Euphonia, elegant (At)
Finch, house
Flycatcher, ash-throated
Flycatcher, cordilleran
Flycatcher, dusky-capped
Flycatcher, gray silky
Flycatcher, Nuttings
Flycatcher, social
Flycatcher, vermilion
Flycatcher, white-throated (Ca)
Gadwall (Rp,Ca)
Gallinule, common
Gnatcatcher, blue-gray
Goldfinch, lesser
Goose, snow (Dm)
Grackle, great-tailed
Grebe, Clark's (Ca)
Grebe, eared (Ps)
Grebe, least
Grebe, pied-billed
Grosbeak, black-headed
Grosbeak, blue
Gull, laughing
Gull, ring-billed
Hawk, Cooper's (Dm)
Hawk, gray (Ps,Ca)
Hawk, red-tailed
Hawk, sharp-shinned
Heron, black-crowned night
Heron, great blue
Heron, green
Heron, little blue (Ps,Ca)
Heron, tri-colored
Hummingbird, beryline (Sc)
Hummingbird, broad-billed
Hummingbird, ruby-throated (Ch)
Hummingbird, rufous (At)
Hummingbird, violet-crowned
Ibis, white-faced
Jacana, northern
Kestrel, American
Killdeer
Kingbird, Cassin's
Kingbird, thick-billed
Kingbird, tropical
Kingbird, western
Kingfisher, belted (Xt,Ra)
Kiskadee, great
Kite, white-tailed
Meadowlark, eastern (Dm,Ra)
Mockingbird, blue
Mockingbird, northern
Nighthawk, lesser (Ps)
Oriole, black-backed (Dm,Ps)
Oriole, black-vented
Oriole, Bullock's
Oriole, hooded
Oriole, orchard
Oriole, streak-backed
Osprey (Sc,Ra,Dm)
Owl, barn (Ch)
Owl, great horned (Aj)
Parakeet, monk
Pelican, American white
Pelican, brown (Ca)
Pewee, greater
Pewee, western wood
Phoebe, black
Phoebe, Say's
Pigeon, rock
Pintail, northern
Rail, Aztec (Rp,Jo)
Raven, common
Redstart, American (Ch)
Robin, rufous-backed
Sandpiper, least
Sandpiper, spotted
Sapsucker, yellow-bellied (Jo)
Seedeater, white-collared
Shoveler, northern
Shrike, loggerhead
Snipe, Wilson's (Dm)
Solitaire, brown-backed (At)
Sora
Sparrow, chipping
Sparrow, house
Sparrow, lark
Sparrow, Lincoln's
Sparrow, rusty-crowned ground (At)
Sparrow, Savannah
Sparrow, song
Sparrow, stripe-headed
Sparrow, white-crowned
Stilt, black-necked
Stork, wood (Ra)
Swallow, barn
Swallow, northern rough-winged
Swallow, tree
Swallow, violet-green
Swift, white-throated (At)
Tanager, western
Teal, blue-winged
Teal, cinnamon
Teal, green-winged
Tern, Caspian
Tern, Forster's (Sc)
Thrasher, curve-billed
Thrush, orange-billed nightingale (At)
Towhee, canyon
Towhee, green-tailed (Ca)
Vireo, Bell's (Dm)
Vireo, black-capped (At)
Vireo, Cassin's
Vireo, golden (Aj)
Vireo, plumbeous (Ca)
Vireo, warbling (Ac)
Vulture, black
Vulture, turkey
Warbler, black and white
Warbler, black-throated gray
Warbler, Lucy's (At)
Warbler, MacGillivray's (At)
Warbler, Nashville
Warbler, orange-crowned
Warbler, rufous-capped (At)
Warbler, Virginia's
Warbler, Wilson's
Warbler, yellow
Warbler, yellow-rumped
Wigeon, American
Willet
Woodpecker, golden-fronted
Woodpecker, ladder-backed
Wren, Bewick's
Wren, canyon
Wren, house (Rp,Dm)
Wren, marsh (Ca,Rp,Ch)
Wren, spotted
Yellowlegs, greater (Sc,Rp,Ch)
Yellowthroat, common (Rp,Ch,Ca)
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
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