Chapala Birders July Newsletter

100 Species Sighted in June

Chapala Birders Newsletter July 2, 2016 100 Species Seen in June The complete list of sightings is shown at the end of this newsletter. Interesting sightings last month included: An adult Bronzed Cowbird was observed mid-month entering a hanging nest of a Streak-backed Oriole, presumably checking it out with a view to laying eggs. A juvenile Bronzed Cowbird was observed at the end of the month assiduously following an adult Streak-backed Oriole foster parent for food. The pine-oak woods above San Pedro Itzican continue to yield interesting sightings - in June both Gray-capped Yellowthroat in the oaks, and Eastern Bluebird in the pines. While bush-wacking a trail up the side of the Tepalo Arroyo, John Keeling saw a Buff-collared Nightjar doing the broken wing trick to divert attention, and looking down at the wet leafy soil covering saw a four inch depression with two fresh buff-colored downy chicks. Black-tailed Gnatcatcher as seen at San Pedro Itzican in June. Note the distinctive white patches on the underside of the tail. This small uncommon bird is seen here at higher altitudes in scrub and bushy areas year-round. Upcoming Trips and Bird Walks 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, July 12 we will meet at Donas Donuts at 8.00 am to carpool, leaving immediately for the Sierra de Tapalpa (90 minutes away). We will bird from 9.00 till 12.30 and have lunch in the town of Tapalpa. There will be higher altitude birds such as Acorn Woodpecker - and if we are lucky Trans-volcanic Jay and Yellow-eyed Junco. We will be back about 5.00 pm. If you plan on going, please email John at chapalabirders@yahoo.com ahead of time saying whether you can bring a vehicle, to help in carpool planning. On Wednesday July 27 we will meet at the Allan Lloyd Trail at 8.00 am. We will bird this mile-long bushy trail until 10.15, when we will go for breakfast at Sunrise Restaurant and complete the bird list. Expect to see Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Stripe-headed Sparrow and possibly a Squirrel Cuckoo and Orange-billed Nightingale Thrush. How to Get There: Drive up the Libramiento a half mile and park on north side of the road opposite Birds of Paradise Condominium. The trail runs on the west side of that condominium. Local Monk Parakeet Population Expanding The Monk Parakeets which were first seen at the Lake about five years ago are multiplying rapidly. There are three condo nests in a eucalyptus near the Ajijic pier, one nest near the Real de Chapala hotel, and more than a dozen nests in poplar trees in Fraccionamiento Nuevo Chapala. The population is considerably more than one hundred. These birds used to be exported around the world from their native Argentina. Now they are found nesting in the parks of every temperate city from Barcelona to Miami. This is the only parrot species in the world that actually builds a nest. The others employ hollows and cavities in trees for nesting purposes. Bird Walk & Trip Reports On June 12 a group seven of us travelled to the Rosa Amarilla Loop on the plateau above the south side of the lake. We saw White-faced Ibis, Red-winged Blackbird, Lesser Goldfinch, Northern Mockingbird, Ruddy Duck, and Crested Caracara out of a total of 55 species. The trip to Tapalpa was rained out and has been rescheduled for this month. June Sightings List Here are the 100 species sighted around Lake Chapala in June: Ani, groove-billed Blackbird, red-winged (Ra) Bluebird, eastern (Ra,Pz) Bobwhite, northern (Ca,Xt) Bunting, varied (Sc) Bushtit (Pz) Caracara, crested (Ra) Coot, American Cormorant, neotropic Cowbird, bronzed Cowbird, brown-headed Cuckoo, squirrel Dove, common ground Dove, Eurasian-collared Dove, Inca Dove, mourning (Ch) Dove, white-tipped Dove, white-winged Duck, black-bellied whistling (Xt) Duck, fulvous-whistling (C a) Duck, Mexican Duck, ruddy (Ra) Egret, cattle Egret, great Egret, snowy Elaenia, greenish (At) Euphonia, elegant (At,Pz) Finch, house Flycatcher, dusky-capped (At) Flycatcher, social Flycatcher, vermillion Gallinule, common Gnatcatcher, black-tailed (Pz,Ra,At) Goldfinch, lesser Grackle, great-tailed Grebe, least (Ca,Ra) Grebe, pied-billed (Ra) Grosbeak, black-headed (Pz) Grosbeak, blue Hawk, red-tailed Heron, black-crowned night Heron, great-blue (Ra) Heron, green Hummingbird, berylline Hummingbird, broad-billed Hummingbird, sparkling-tailed (Av) 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) Mockingbird, blue Mockingbird, blue Mockingbird, northern (Ra) Motmot, russet-crowned (At) Nightjar, buff-collared (At) Oriole, black-backed Oriole, black-vented Oriole, streak-backed Osprey (Ra,Pz) Owl, barn (Ch) Owl, great-horned (Av) Parakeet, monk Pelican, American white Pewee, greater (At) Pewee, western wood (At,Pz) Pigeon, rock Raven, common Robin, rufous-backed Seedeater, white-collared Shrike, loggerhead Sparrow, Botteri's (Ra) Sparrow, chipping (At) Sparrow, house Sparrow, rusty-crowned ground Sparrow, stripe-headed Stilt, black-necked Stork, wood (Ra) Swallow, barn Swallow, northern rough-winged Thrasher, curve-billed Thrush, orange-billed nightingale Towhee, canyon Vireo, golden (At) Vulture, black Vulture, turkey (Ra) Warbler, rufous-capped Woodpecker, golden-fronted Woodpecker, ladder-backed Wren Bewick's Wren canyon Wren, Sinaloa (At,Pz) Wren, spotted Yellowthroat, common (Ca) Yellowthroat, gray-crowned (Sp) 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 Lake Chapala Birders is an informal group of bird observers led by John and Rosemary Keeling. Don't hesitate to contact us if you are seeking information about birding in the area. We also like to hear about sightings of birds or nests at: chapalabirders@yahoo.com or 376.766.1801. Check out the website: chapalabirders.org