 |
Chapala Birders Newsletter April 2, 2019
|
| 164 Species sighted last month around the Lake |
The Complete list of species seen around Lake Chapala last month is shown at the end of this newsletter.
This is the time of year when birds are chasing each other and carrying twigs to build their nests. Also, April is the month in which our winter visiting species take off for the north. Other species pass through here on their way north, such as the Dickcissel.
Interesting Sightings last month:
- John and Rosemary have been hearing Lesser Bearded Tyrannulets (tiny flycatchers) singing insistently at their house.
- Don Bell reported Yellow-breasted Chat and Orange-billed Nightingale Thrush at his house.
- John Roynon reported Calliope Hummingbird and Purple Gallinule.
- Jules Evens reported Summer Tanager, Wilson's Snipe and Western Grebe.
|
| Rusty-crowned Ground Sparrow |
Rusty-crowned Ground Sparrow. Photo by Mexican bird-photographer Raul Padilla.
The Rusty-crowned Ground Sparrow is an uncommon bird seen year-round in the hills above Ajijic.
- It is a shy bird skulking in the forest undergrowth, sometimes heard scratching in the leaves on the ground. Becomes less shy at this time of the year when pairs chase each other noisily.
- It is a Mexican endemic species found primarily in the foothills along the Transvolcanic Belt which runs across Mexico from Puerto Vallarta to Vera Cruz including Colima and Orizaba volcanoes.
- It raises its rufous cap when excited.
- It feeds on seeds, insects and insect larvae found on the ground, such as spiders, centipedes and ants.
|
Upcoming Trips and Bird Walks
|
Our bird walks are open to all those interested in birds, both beginners and experienced birders. Just bring binoculars. We always have knowledgeable birders on hand to identify the species. We will try to limit day trips to four vehicles, as larger convoys are less manageable. If you are being given a ride, please make a contribution to gas and tolls (perhaps 50-100 pesos for a half day outing, 150-200 for a day trip).
On Friday April 5, we will meet to carpool at Donas Donuts at 8.00 am leaving immediately for the Rio Verde Canyon (two hours drive north-east from Ajijic). We will access the canyon at a site which has hot water issuing from the rocks into pools. There is a site entrance fee of 150 pesos per person. Bring bathing suits, towels, refreshments and sandwiches. Expect to see lower altitude birds such as Gila Woodpecker, Squirrel Cuckoo, and Black Phoebe. We will get back about 5.00 p.m. If you plan to come please email chapalabirders@yahoo.com at least 48 hours ahead, and indicate if you can bring a car.
On Monday April 15, we will meet at 8.00 a.m. at La Cristina on the west side of Ajijic. We will see some shore birds, some birds in the tall trees and other birds in the scrub. At about 10.00 a.m. we will head to Fonda Dona Lola for breakfast and complete the bird list.
How to Get There: Drive about 2 mi (4km) west from Colon, look for signs for Hacienda La Cristina (near signs for Las Palmas, a bus stop and a vivero), turn down to the lake, and park close to the lake.
On Monday April 29, we will meet at 8.00 am to carpool at Donas Donuts leaving immediately for the Cajititlan Marsh (30 minutes drive). We expect to see a variety of marsh and lake birds such as Black-necked Stilt and American Avocet. 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 at least 48 hours ahead indicating whether or not you will have a car. (We don't always have enough cars).
|
Bird Walk and Trip Reports
|
On March 6, we had eleven birders out on the Allen Lloyd trail, managing to spot 45 species, which felt disappointingly low because we have had some good 'birdy' outings this spring. However, we saw good numbers of Great Kiskadee, Social Flycatcher, Lesser Goldfinch, Stripe-headed Sparrow, Blue Mockingbird, Chipping Sparrow, Inca Dove, Cinnamon-rumped Seedeater and Northern Rough-winged Swallow.
On March 15, we went round the Rosa Amarilla Loop with two car-loads of people where we recorded an impressive 63 species including Northern Shoveler, Nothern Harrier, Cooper's, Red-tailed and White-tailed Hawks, as well as 55 Wood Storks, 200 American White Pelican, 180 White-faced Ibis and 200 Ruddy Duck.
On March 25, there were 14 of us travelling the plateau of Sierra de Tapalpa. We observed Loggerhead Shrike, Sora, Marsh Wren, Striped Sparrow, Hepatic Tanager, Red-winged Blackbird, Cassin's Kingbird, American Pipit, Buff-breasted Flycatcher and Eastern Bluebird out of a total of 48 species.
|
Here are the 164 species sighted around Lake Chapala in March:
Ani, groove-billed
Avocet, American
Becard, rose-throated (Sa)
Bittern, American (Ra)
Bittern, lest (Sa)
Blackbird, red-winged (Dp)
Blackbird, yellow-headed
Bunting, Indigo
Bunting, painted
Bunting, varied
Caracara, crested
Chat, yellow-breasted (Ac)
Coot, American
Cormorant, neotropic
Cowbird, bronzed
Cowbird, brown-headed
Cuckoo, squirrel (Sa)
Dove, common ground
Dove, Eurasian collared
Dove, Inca
Dove, mourning
Dove, white-tipped
Dove, white-winged
Dowitcher, long-billed (Dp)
Duck, black-bellied whistling (Sa,Ca)
Duck, fulvous whistling (Xt)
Duck, Mexican
Duck, ruddy
Egret, cattle
Egret, great
Egret, snowy
Elaenia, greenish
Euphonia, elegant
Finch, house
Flycatcher, ash-throated (Sa)
Flycatcher, cordilleran (Ra)
Flycatcher, dusky-capped (Sa)
Flycatcher, least (Ac)
Flycatcher, Nutting's (Sa)
Flycatcher, social
Flycatcher, vermillion
Gadwall
Gallinule, common
Gallinule, purple (Dp,Sa)
Gnatcatcher, blue-gray
Goldfinch, lesser
Grackle, great-tailed
Grebe, least
Grebe, pied-billed
Grebe, western (Sa)
Grosbeak, black-headed
Grosbeak, blue
Gull, laughing (Dp)
Gull, ring-billed
Harrier, northern (Ra,Dm,Dp)
Hawk, Cooper's (Dm,Dp)
Hawk, red-tailed (Ra,Sa)
Hawk, sharp-shinned (Sa)
Hawk, white-tailed
Heron, black-crowned night
Heron, great blue
Heron, green
Heron, little blue
Heron, tri-colored
Hummingbird, berylline
Hummingbird, black-chinned (Ac)
Hummingbird, blue-throated (Ac)
Hummingbird, broad-billed
Hummingbird, calliope (Av)
Hummingbird, violet-crowned
Ibis, white-faced
Jacana, northern
Kestrel, American
Killdeer
Kingbird, Cassin's
Kingbird, thick-billed
Kingbird, tropical
Kingbird, western (Ac)
Kiskadee, great
Kite, white-tailed
Meadowlark, eastern (Ra)
Mockingbird, blue
Mockingbird, northern
Motmot, russet-crowned (Sa)
Nightjar, buff-collared
Oriole, black-backed
Oriole, black-vented
Oriole, Bullock's
Oriole, hooded
Oriole, orchard
Oriole, streak-backed
Osprey
Owl, ferruginous pygmy (Sa)
Parakeet, monk
Parrot, red-lored (Sa)
Pelican, American white
Pewee, greater
Phoebe, black
Pigeon, rock
Pintail, northern
Raven, common
Redstart, painted (Pz)
Robin, rufous-backed
Sandpiper, least
Sandpiper, spotted
Seedeater, cinnamon-rumped
Shoveler, northern
Shrike, loggerhead
Snipe, Wilson's (Sa)
Sora
Sparrow, chipping
Sparrow, house
Sparrow, lark
Sparrow, Lincoln's
Sparrow, rusty-crowned ground
Sparrow, savannah
Sparrow, song (Ac)
Sparrow, stripe-headed
Spoonbill, roseate (Dp,Ca,Ra)
Stilt, black-necked
Stork, wood
Swallow, barn
Swallow, cliff (Av0
Swallow, northern rough-winged
Swallow, tree
Tanager, hepatic
Tanager, summer (Jo,Sa)
Tanager, western
Tanager, blue-winged
Teal, cinnamon
Tern, Caspian
Tern, Forster's (Sa)
Thrasher, curve-billed
Thrush, orange-billed nightingale
Towhee, canyon
Tyrannulet, northern beardless (Av,Sa)
Vireo, Cassin's
Vireo, golden
Vireo, Hutton's (Sa)
Vireo, warbling
Vulture, black
Vulture, turkey
Warbler, black and white
Warbler, black-throated gray
Warbler, Lucy's (Sa)
Warbler, MacGillivray's
Warbler, Nashville
Warbler, orange-crowned
Warbler, rufous-capped
Warbler, Virginia's
Warbler, Wilson's
Warbler, yellow
Warbler, yellow-rumped
Warbler, yellow-throated
Waterthrush, northern (Sa)
Wigeon, American (Dp,Ra)
Woodpecker, golden-fronted
Woodpecker, ladder-backed
Wren, Bewick's
Wren, Canyon
Wren, happy (Sa)
Wren, marsh
Wren, spotted
Yellowthroat, common (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
La - La Cañada-Hidden Valley
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/Allen Lloyd Trail
Sc - San Juan Cosala
Sn - San Nicholas/Golf Club
Tz - Tizapan canyon
Te - San Juan Tecomatlan/Mezcala
Tr - Las Trojes/oak forest
Tu - Tuxcueca/San Luis Soyatlan
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.
A laminated folder "Quick Guide to the Birds of Lake Chapala" illustrating 150 local species can be purchased for $150 pesos at Diane Pearl Collecciones, Colon #1, in the center of Ajijic.
|
|
|
|
| |
