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Chapala Birders Newsletter November 2, 2017
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| 120 Species Sighted Last Month |
The complete list of October sightings is shown at the end of this newsletter.
Interesting sightings last month:
- Local birder Helen Sanchez sent us a photo of a Northern Cardinal which she took recently at Lake Cajititlan. This species has not been seen here before - we are wondering whether it might have been a cage-escape.
- John Keeling saw a Painted Redstart in the Tempisque arroyo. We expect to see this species on migration at higher altitude above Las Trojes. It is unexpected to see it so close to lake level.
- At the Pumping Station we saw Eastern Phoebe and Say's Phoebe. Both are unusual visitors.
Another New Species for the Lake Chapala List
John was birding this month in the oak woods above the lakeside village of San Pedro Itzican, when a Louisiana Waterthrush popped out of the bushes looking for insects under leaves in a large water puddle on the trail. It was apparently on migration from the US to central America. We have not previously seen this species in the Lake Chapala region.
Mark your calendar for the Christmas Bird Count:
The Ajijic Christmas Bird Count will be held on Friday December 15, and the Count at the east end of the lake (50 miles away) will be on Monday December 18. Everyone is invited to take part. Registration details will appear in our December 2nd Newsletter.
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Louisiana Waterthrush photo by Mexican birder Raul Padilla.
Species details:
- The Louisiana Waterthrush looks like a small thrush, but is actually part of the warbler family. It breeds in the Eastern US, and winters from September to March in Central America from Mexico to Colombia as well as in the West Indies. If we see it here it is likely to be on migration.
- It is known for its tail-wagging, hopping around creeks or puddles, lifting up leaves and eating anything that moves underneath.
- Its preferred breeding habitat is close to running water, but in winter is found on wet trails, parks and gardens not far from streams.
- It eats primarily small water-based animals such as larvae of dragon flies and mayflies, small crustaciens, tiny fish as well as snails, seeds, beetles and ants.
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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 Friday November 10 we will meet at 8.15 am at the entrance to La Cristianía Park in Chapala. We should see an interesting selection of species in the tall trees and on the shore of the lake. At about 10.30 we will go to Las Delicias for breakfast and complete the bird list.
How to Get There: From Ajijic go to the traffic light at the main street of Chapala (Av. Madero), cross straight over and keep going straight for five blocks, turn left at the T intersection and park on the right.
On Friday November 17, we will meet at 8.00 am to carpool at Donas, leaving immediately for the Rosa Amarilla Loop, on the plateau above the south side of the lake (60 minutes drive). Expect to see higher altitude and pasture birds such as Eastern Meadowlark, Redwing Blackbird and if we are lucky a Roadrunner. Bring refreshments for the morning and sandwiches for the 12.30 lunch stop. We will be back about 3.00 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 Monday November 27 we will meet at 8.00 am to carpool at Donas Donuts, leaving immediately for Lake Cajititlan (30 minutes drive). We will see a variety of marsh and lake birds. At about 10.15 we will go Las Delicias restaurant in Chapala for breakfast and complete the bird list. If you plan on going, email John: Chapalabirders@yahoo.com ahead of time indicating whether or not you will have a car.
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| Should you be Putting your Sightings on eBird? |
If you like to observe and identify birds, and occasionaly make lists, then you should consider recording your lists on eBird. It is a world-wide database of bird sightings that keeps track of your lists and allows you to see your life list, your state list, etc. It also allows you to see what other people have seen. For instance, you can ask for a map of all reports of Crested Caracara in your area in the last month.
To sign up, you supply your name and a password at ebird.org, and start entering data, giving the location and times of your sightings. eBird has a mobile app for recording in the field, and a large help section on the website with "Frequently Asked Questions".
The database is particularly valuable for scientists to study trends such as the spreading or decline of species due to droughts, climate change, and other factors, which is important for guiding environmental policies. |
On October 13 we had 17 people out for the hike up the Allen Lloyd Trail. We observed Gray Hawk, American Kestrel, Common Raven, Stripe-headed Sparrow, Western Tanager and Black and White Warbler, out of total of 28 species.
On October 18 seven people made it out for the hike up the Las Trojes 'Horizontal Oak Forest Trail'. Again we sighted 28 species including Red-tailed and Sharp-shinned Hawks, Blue Grosbeak, Mountain Trogon (heard), Cassin's Vireo, and at the highest point we saw Painted Redstart, Red-faced Warbler and Buff-collared Nightjar. This last bird was disturbed from it's sleep on the ground, flew up in a clumsy manner, and settled horizontally on a tree branch.
On October 27 eleven keen birders travelled to the Sierra de Tapalpa where we identified 38 species including White-eared and Rufous Hummingbirds, Gray-silky flycatcher, Eastern Bluebird, Hepatic Tanager, Olive Warbler, White-tailed Hawk and Acorn Woodpecker.
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Here are the 120 species sighted around Lake Chapala in September:
Ani, groove-billed
Becard, rose-throated (Ps)
Blackbird, yellow-headed
Caracara, crested
Coot American
Cormorant, neotropic
Cowbird bronzed
Cowbird, brown-headed
Cuckoo, squirrel (At)
Dove, common ground (Tr)
Dove, Eurasian collared
Dove, Inca
Dove, white-tipped
Dove, white-winged
Duck, Mexican
Egret, cattle
Egret, great
Egret, snowy
Elaenia, greenish (At, Sn)
Euphonia, elegant
Finch, house
Flycatcher, buff-breasted(Tr)
Flycatcher, cordilleran
Flycatcher, dusky-capped
Flycatcher, gray silky (Av)
Flycatcher, social
Flycatcher, vermilion
Gallinule, common
Gnatcatcher, blue-gray
Goldfinch, lesser
Grackle, great-tailed
Grebe, pied-billed
Grosbeak, black-headed (Tr)
Grosbeak, blue
Gull, laughing
Gull, ring-billed
Hawk, Cooper's
Hawk, gray (Sa)
Hawk, red-tailed
Hawk, sharp-shinned
Heron, black-crowned night
Heron, great blue
Heron, green
Heron, tri-colored (Ch)
Hummingbird, berylline
Hummingbird, broad-billed
Hummingbird, Rivoli's (magnificent) (Tr)
Hummingbird, ruby-throated (Tr)
Hummingbird, rufous
Hummingbird, violet-crowned
Ibis, white-faced
Jacana, northern
Kestrel, American
Killdeer
Kingbird, Cassin's
Kingbird, thick-billed
Kingbird, tropical
Kingbird, western (Sa,Ac)
Kiskadee, great
Kite, white-tailed
Mockingbird, blue
Mockingbird, northern
Nightjar, buff-collared
Oriole, hooded
Oriole, orchard (Ca)
Oriole, streak-backed
Osprey
Owl, great-horned (Av)
Parakeet, monk
Pelican, American white
Pewee, greater (Tr)
Pewee, western wood
Phoebe, eastern (Ps)
Phoebe, Say's (Ps)
Pigeon, rock
Raven, common
Redstart, American (Pz)
Redstart, painted (At)
Robin, rufous-backed
Sandpiper, spotted
Shrike, loggerhead
Solitaire, brown-backed (Tr)
Sora
Sparrow, house
Sparrow, lark
Sparrow, Lincoln's
Sparrow, stripe-headed
Swallow, barn
Swallow, cliff
Swallow, northern rough-winged
Tanager, hepatic (Tr)
Tanager, western
Teal, blue-winged
Tern, Caspian
Tern, Forster's
Thrasher, curve-billed
Thrush, orange-billed nightingale
Towhee, canyon
Trogon, mountain (Tr)
Tyrannulet, northern beardless (Sa)
Vireo, Bell's (Tr)
Vireo, Cassin's
Vireo, golden (At)
Vulture, black
Vulture, turkey
Warbler, black and white
Warbler, back-throated gray
Warbler, hermit (tr)
Warbler, Nashville
Warbler, red-faced (Tr)
Warbler, rufous-capped
Warbler, Townsend's
Warbler, yellow-rumped
Waterthrush, Louisiana (Pz)
Woodpecker, golden-fronted
Woodpecker, ladder-backed
Wren, Bewick's
Wren, canyon
Wren, house (Tr)
Wren, spotted
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/Rio la Pasion
Te - San Juan Tecomatlan/Mezcala
Tr - Las Trojes/oak forest
Tu - Tuxcueca/South Shore area
Xt - Ixtlahuacan/Las Campanillas
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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
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