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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Two New Species for the Lake
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We saw 160 species last month - a very large list for April. This was aided by lots of birding trips and top-notch visiting birders. The complete list of sightings is shown at the end of this email.
The big news is that we have added two species to the Lake Chapala list.
The first species is the Mexican Whip-poor-will which was observed by Raul Padilla, a visiting birder from the city of Pachuca. He camped out on the ridge of Chupinaya, 2,000 feet above Ajijic, and these birds were calling all night. We have not encountered them at lake level This species sleeps during the day, and flies at night to catch insects.
The second species is the Bald Eagle. Nicola Cendron, a visiting birder from Mexico City, observed one flying over the El Volantin dam. This eagle has been seen further north in the neighboring states of Nayarit and Zacatecas, but not this far south before. These eagles breed primarily in Canada and winter primarily in the US. They are fish eating birds, but when fish are not available they will eat crabs, coots, ducks, or jackrabbits - dead or alive.
Other interesting sightings in April were:
- Greenish Elaenias on the trails above Ajijic.
- An estimated 3,000 American white pelicans at Petatan
- An estimated 65,000 yellow-headed blackbirds at evening assembly at the malecon at San Antonio Tlayacapan
- A Black-tailed Gnatcatcher above San Pedro Itzican
- Squirrel Cuckoos and Rufous-Crowned Motmots have started calling from the hills
- Wilson's Phalaropes have been passing through on migration
- A group of migrating Dickcissels was seen at Lake Cajititlan
- The American White Pelicans departed on April 23. As usual, a few have stayed behind
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Bald Eagle
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Photo of a Bald Eagle as sighted at the end of April on the Rosa Amarilla loop, flying over the El Volantin dam.
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Global Big Day
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A final reminder, on Saturday, May 6, every birder in the world is encouraged to get outside and count as many bird species as they can find in one day. These sightings should be entered in the eBird database.
The aim is to get people out to enjoy the birds, and to get more people into using eBird for recording their sightings.
Most birders will be aware that a "Big Day" typically involves a team of birders in one car hitting as many bird hot-spots as possible in a 24-hour period. On May 6 you do not have to form a team, but it's an idea!
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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 Tuesday May 8 we will meet at 8.00 a.m. to hike the Allen Lloyd Trail which follows a long arroyo with lots of underbrush in which birds love to hide. At 10.00 we will head to Sunrise restaurant for breakfast and complete the birdlist.
To Get There: Take the libramiento northwards from Walmart. After the first curve, look for the culvert just before "Birds of Paradise" condominium. Park on the north side of the road close to the culvert.
On Friday May 27, we will meet at 8.00 a.m. in Riberas del Pilar to follow the shoreline observing marsh, lake and scrub birds. At about 10.00 we will head to Mom's restaurant for breakfast.
How to get there: Take the carretera to Riberas; half way along, turn down to the lake at the Seven Eleven store; park close to the lake.
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Bird Walk & Trip Reports
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On April 8, we had eight keen birders out at Lake Cajititlan. Though the water quality is not good we managed to record 57 species including American Avocet, Black-bellied Whistling Duck, White-tailed Kite, Sora, Marsh Wren and Common Yellowthroat.
On April 18, the trek to Las Trojes attraacted just two people, However, but we saw and heard 44 species which is unexpectedly high for the dry oak forest. We heard Acorn Woodpecker, Brown-backed Solitaire and Elegant Trogon, and saw Hepatic Tanager, Squirrel Cuckoo, Hermit Thrush, Happy Wren, as well as dozens of Gray Silky Flycatchers,
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April Sightings List
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Here are the 160 species observed in April around Lake Chapala:
Ani, groove-billed
Avocet, American (Ca, Ra)
Becard, rose-throated
Bittern, American
Blackbird, Brewer's (Ra)
Blackbird, red-winged
Blackbird, yellow-headed
Bluebird, eastern (Ra)
Bobwhite, northern (Ca)
Bunting, indigo
Bunting, lazuli
Bunting, varied
Bushtit
Caracara, crested
Chat, yellow-breasted
Coot, American
Cormorant, neotropic
Cowbird, bronzed
Cowbird, brown-headed
Cuckoo, squirrel (At)
Dickcissel (Ca)
Dove, common ground
Dove, Eurasian collared
Dove, Inca
Dove, white-tipped
Dove, white-winged
Dowitcher, long-billed
Duck, black-bellied whistling (Ca)
Duck, fulvous whistling (Sa)
Duck, Mexican
Duck, ruddy
Eagle, bald (Ra)
Egret, cattle
Egret, great
Egret, snowy
Elaenia, greenish (At)
Euphonia, elegant
Finch, house
Flycatcher, cordilleran
Flycatcher, dusky-capped
Flycatcher, gray-silky
Flycatcher, least
Flycatcher, social
Flycatcher, vermillion
Flycatcher, willow (Pz)
Gallinule, common
Gallinule, purple (Sa)
Gnatcatcher, black-tailed (Pz)
Goldfinch, lesser
Grackle, great-tailed
Grebe, least
Grebe, pied-billed
Grosbeak, black-headed
Grosbeak, blue
Gull, laughing
Gull, ring-billed
Hawk, Cooper's (Tr)
Hawk, red-tailed
Hawk, sharp-shinned (Av)
Heron, black-crowned night
Heron, great blue
Heron, green
Heron, tri-colored
Hummingbird, berylline
Hummingbird, broad-billed
Ibis, white-faced
Jacana, northern
Kestrel, American
Killdeer,
Kingbird, Cassin's
Kingbird, thick-billed
Kingbird, tropical
Kiskadee, great
Kite, white-tailed
Meadowlark, eastern (Ra)
Mockingbird, blue
Mockingbird, northern
Nightjar, buff-collared (Av)
Oriole, black-backed
Oriole, black-vented
Oriole, hooded
Oriole, streak-backed
Osprey (Ra)
Owl, great horned
Parakeet, monk
Parula, tropical (Pt)
Pelican, American white
Pewee, greater
Phalarope, Wilson's (Ra,Ca))
Phoebe, black
Phoebe, Say's
Pigeon, rock
Pipit, American
Rail, Aztec (Sa)
Raven, common
Redstart, American
Roadrunner, greater
Roadrunner, lesser
Robin, rufous-backed
Sandpiper, least
Sandpiper, spotted
Seedeater, white-collared
Shoveler, northern
Shrike, loggerhead
Snipe, Wilson's (Sa)
Solitaire, brown-backed (Tr)
Sora
Sparrow, chipping
Sparrow, clay-colored
Sparrow, house
Sparrow, lark
Sparrow, Lincoln's
Sparrow, rusty-crowned ground
Sparrow, savannah
Sparrow, stripe-headed
Spoonbill, roseate (Dp)
Stilt, black-necked
Stork, wood (Ra)
Swallow, barn
Swallow, cliff
Swallow, northern rough-winged
Tanager, hepatic
Tanager, western
Teal, blue-winged
Teal, cinnamon
Tern, Caspian (Ra)
Thrasher, curve-billed
Thrush, hermit (Pz,Tr))
Thrush, orange-billed nightingale
Towhee, canyon
Trogon, elegant (Tr)
Vireo, Cassin's
Vireo, golden
Vireo, plumbeous
Vireo, warbling
Vulture, black
Vulture, turkey
Warbler, black and white
Warbler, black-throated gray
Warbler, MacGillivray's
Warbler, Nashville
Warbler, orange crowned
Warbler, Townsend's
Warbler, Virginia's
Warbler, Wilson's
Warbler, yellow-rumped
Warbler, yellow-throated
Whip-poor-will, Mexican (At)
Woodcreeper, white striped (Av)
Woodpecker, acorn (Tr)
Woodpecker, golden-fronted
Woodpecker, ladder-backed
Wren, Bewick's
Wren, canyon
Wren, happy (Tr)
Wren, house
Wren, marsh
Wren, spotted
Yellowlegs, greater (Ra)
Yellowthroat, common
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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