Newsletter

Chapala Birders Newsletter, November 2, 2024 Sightings last Month There were 173 species reported for the lake area in October. The complete list is shown at the end of this newsletter. Date of Christmas Bird Counts This year the Chistmas Bird Count for the Ajijic Area and the Potluck Celebration Supper will take place on Monday December 16. Most of the 'counting' will be done between 8.00 am and 12.00 am. The potluck supper will be at 6.00 pm at John's home as usual. Please reserve this date in your calendar. The Christmas Bird count for the 'Dike Area' at the east end of the lake will be held on Wednesday December 18. This is a full day affair, being more than one hour's drive from Ajijic. Lake Chapala Hawk Watch - Results - 2024 At the end of October, the Hook-billed Kites and Swainson's Hawks were still coming through. It seems we should keep monitoring the flow of raptors for a little while longer. Featured Bird: Hook-billed Kite A male dark-morph Hook-billed Kite as seen on migration. It is a secretive bird, often sitting in the upper canopy of the jungle. Notice the paddle-shaped wings angled forward so that the leading edge of the primaries line up ahead of the bill. It has a boldly striped tail, and a floppy style of flying. The Hook-billed Kite is a medium-sized, 18 in. long (46 cm) tropical raptor occurring from northern Mexico to southern Brazil. A new small population exists in the Rio Grande valley in Texas. It eats Tree Snails almost entirely, for which it has a parrot-like bill. The population density of the Kites is found to correspond to the population density of the tree snails. Occasionally it will eat lizards and frogs. Both sexes share the building of the see-through pile of sticks that form the nest, as well as incubating for 35 days and subsequent feeding for 40 days before the young fledge. Mexican populations are primarily resident, but some migration has been observed through Belize. The migration patterns are not yet well understood. It seems some of our Mexican birds winter somewhere in Central America. Upcoming Bird Walks and Trips 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. Note that we will try to limit most car trips to three vehicles and 14 people because larger convoys are hard to manage when trying to stop on country roads to look at the birds. If you are being given a ride, we suggest you make a contribution to your driver for gas and tolls (perhaps $150 pesos for a half day outing, $300 pesos for a day trip). On Thursday November 7, we will meet at 8.00 am at the trail head to hike a mile up the Allen Lloyd Trail which has lots of underbrush in which birds love to hide. Expect to see Blue Mockingbird and hear the Happy Wren. At about 10.00 we will head to Cafe Negro restaurant for breakfast and complete the bird list. How to get to the trail head: Drive up the Libramiento a half mile (1km) from the traffic light at Walmart, then turn left (carefully) as you would for the new hospital (Ribera Medical Center), double back and drive up the left side of the hospital, keep going uphill another half mile, and park on the only street to your left. On Monday November 18, we will meet a 8.00 am at the "Sculpture" (at the only traffic light in La Floresta, south-east corner, opposite Restaurant Pranzo),leaving immediately for Las Trojes (one hour away), to hike the Horizontal Oak Forest Trail. We hike to the edge of the hidden valley (3-hours hiking uphill, 2-hours back). Don't expect very many birds, but the hike is very pleasant and we may see the Red-faced Warbler. We will be back about 4.00 pm. Bring refreshments and sandwiches for lunch at noon at the top. If you plan on going, please email John at chapalabirders@yahoo.com at least 2 days ahead indicating if you can bring a vehicle and can take others or you would like to be a passenger. (We do not always have enough cars.) On Monday November 25, we will meet at 8.00 a.m. at La Cristina on the west side of Ajijic. We will see some shore birds and birds in the tall trees along the street. At about 10.00 am we will head to Fonda Doña Lola restaurant 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 a bus stop and signs for Las Palmas), turn down to the lake, and park close to the lake. Bird Walk & Trip Reports On October 8, there were eight of us on top of Mezcala Mountain. We did manage to see 39 species, lots of warblers, but very few hawks that day: Osprey, Red-tailed Hawk and Sharp-shinned Hawk, as well as 99 migrating Turkey Vultures. On October 17, we again had eight people on Mezcala Mountain. Only 29 species, less warblers but more hawks: Swainson's Hawk, Gray Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk and American Kestrel. On October 21, we went to Rosa Amarilla on the south shore with five birders managing to spot 35 species including Say's Phoebe, Common Raven, Happy Wren, White-tailed Hawk, Crested Caracara and Chihuahuan Meadowlark. On October 31, a popular trip, we had 18 birders at Villa Corona, where the water level was back up to a reasonable level after almost drying up after the previous three years of drought. We identified 66 species including Common Yellowthroat, Cinnamon-rumped Seedeater, Ruddy Duck, Fulvous Whistling Duck, Northern Harrier, Clark's Grebe and Roseate Spoonbill. Monthly Sightings List Here are the 173 species observed around Lake Chapala in October: Ani, groove-billed Becard, rose-throated Blackbird, yellow-headed Bobwhite, northern (Ch) Bunting, blue Bunting, indigo (Mz) Bunting, painted (Ac) Bunting, varied Bushtit (Mz) Caracara, crested Chat, yellow-breasted (Ch) Coot, American Cormorant, neotropic Cowbird, bronzed Cowbird, brown-headed Cuckoo, squirrel Dove, common ground (Mz) Dove, Eurasian collared Dove, Inca Dove, mourning (At) Dove, white-tipped Dove, white-winged Duck, black-bellied whistling (Sa) Duck, fulvous whistling Duck, Mexican Duck, ruddy Egret, great Egret, snowy Egret, western cattle Elaenia, greenish (Mz) Falcon, peregrine (Mz) Finch, house Flycatcher, buff-breasted (Mz) Flycatcher, dusky Flycatcher, dusky-capped Flycatcher, gray Flycatcher, gray silky (Mz) Flycatcher, Hammond's (Mz) Flycatcher, least Flycatcher, Nutting's (Mz) Flycatcher, olive-sided (Mz) Flycatcher, social Flycatcher, vermilion Flycatcher, western Gallinule, common Gnatcatcher, blue-gray Goldfinch, lesser Grackle, great-tailed Grebe, least Grosbeak, black-headed Gull, laughing Gull, ring-billed Harrier, northern (Mz) Hawk, broad-winged (Sa,Mz) Hawk, common black (Mz) Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, gray Hawk, red-shouldered (Mz) Hawk, red-tailed Hawk, sharp-shinned Hawk, Swainson's (Mz) Hawk, white-tailed (Ra) Heron, black-crowned night Heron, great blue Heron, green Heron, tri-colored Hummingbird, berylline Hummingbird, broad-billed Hummingbird, broad-tailed Hummingbird, ruby-throated (Mz) Hummingbird, rufous (Mz) Hummingbird, violet-crowned Hummingbird, white-eared (Ct) Ibis, white-faced Jacana, northern Kestrel, American Killdeer Kingbird, Cassin's Kingbird, thick-billed Kingbird, tropical Kingbird, western Kingfisher, belted Kinglet, ruby-crowned (Ch) Kiskadee, great Kite, hook-billed (Mz) Kite, Mississippi (Mz) Meadowlark, Chihuahuan (Ra) Merlin (Ch,Mz) Mockingbird, blue Mockingbird, northern Motmot, russet-crowned Nightjar, buff-collared Oriole, black-backed Oriole, black-vented Oriole, Bullock's Oriole, hooded Oriole, orchard Oriole, streak-backed Osprey Owl, ferruginous pygmy Owl, great horned Parakeet, monk parrow, rusty-crowned ground Pelican, American white Pewee, greater Pewee, western wood Phoebe, black Phoebe, Say's (Ra) Pigeon, rock Raven, common Redstart, painted (Mz) Roadrunner, lesser Robin, American (Mz) Robin, rufous-backed Sandpiper, least Sandpiper, spotted Seedeater, cinnamon-rumped Shrike, loggerhead Sora Sparrow, Botteri's (Sa) Sparrow, chipping Sparrow, house Sparrow, lark Sparrow, Lincoln's Sparrow, rufous-crowned (Mz) Sparrow, stripe-headed Stilt, black-necked Swallow, barn Swallow, cliff Swallow, northern rough-winged Swallow, violet-green Swift, Vaux's (Mz) Swift, white-throated (Mz) Tanager, flame-colored (Ct) Tanager, hepatic (Mz) Tanager, summer (Sa,Mz) Tanager, western Teal, blue-winged Tern, black (Sa) Tern, Caspian Tern, Forster's Thrasher, curve-billed Thrush, orange-billed nightingale Towhee, canyon Tyrannulet, northern beardless Vireo, Bell's Vireo, Cassin's Vireo, golden Vireo, plumbeous Vireo, warbling Vulture, black Vulture, turkey Warbler, black and white Warbler, black-throated gray Warbler, Grace's (Mz) Warbler, hermit Warbler, MacGillivray's Warbler, Nashville Warbler, orange-crowned Warbler, rufous-capped Warbler, Townsend's Warbler, Wilson's Warbler, yellow Warbler, yellow-rumped Woodcreeper, white-striped (Ct) Woodpecker, golden-fronted Woodpecker, ladder-backed Wren, Bewick's Wren, canyon Wren, happy Wren, northern house Wren, Sinaloa (Mz) Wren, spotted Sighting Location codes:  Ac - Ajijic: La Cristina & El Bajio At - Trails above Ajijic Av - Ajijic village Ca - Lake Cajititlan & marsh Ch - Chapala Ct - Caracol Trail & Int'l School Cs - Chapala Haciendas & Las Brisas Cv - Cerro Viejo Dm - Dike: Jamay to Malteraña Dp - Dike: Maltaraña to La Palma Hv - Hidden Valley oak forest Ja - Jamay La - La Cañada & Hidden Valley Jo - Jocotepec Ld - Lerma & Duero rivers Mz - Mezcala Oc - Ocotlan Pe - Petatan area Ps - Pumping Station & Santa Cruz Pt - San Pedro Tesistan Pz - San Pedro Itzican/Poncitlan 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 Tr - Las Trojes & Chupinaya Tu - Tuxcueca & San Luis Soyatlan Xt - Ixtlahuacan & Las Campanillas What is the "Lake Chapala Area"?  We define it as the whole area of the lake plus all land within 15km (or 7 miles) from the edge of the lake. Lake Chapala Birders is an informal group of bird observers led by John and Rosemary Keeling. Illustrated color folders showing our common birds are available for $200 pesos at Diane Pearl's Gallery, 11 am to 4 pm, Santa Margarita #23, at the east end of Riberas del Pilar. Also available from John Keeling on bird walks. We like to hear of bird sightings at: chapalabirders@yahoo.com. Check our website: ChapalaBirders.org There you will find our newsletters, illustrations of our birds and advice on buying binoculars, books and birding apps.

Newsletter

Chapala Birders Newsletter, October 2, 2024 Sightings last Month There were 153 species reported for the lake area in September. The complete list is shown at the end of this newsletter. Interesting sightings include: Dickcissels migrating north at Fisherman's Point near the old Train Station. Mississippi Kite at Mezcala Mountain (see article below). October Big Day eBird is promoting 'October Big Day' on Saturday October 12. To take part you should go birding as many hours as you can, and report your sightings to eBird. Traditionally a 'Big Day' is a serious team effort to find and report as many species as possible between midnight and midnight. For the rest of the world, October 12 is being celebrated as 'World Migratory Bird Day', whose theme this year is "Protect Insects, Protect Birds." Mississipi Kite - New for Lake Chapala This bird is only 13 inches long, pale gray, with black wing-tips and tail (different from the White-tailed Kite that we have here which has a white head and large black patch on the shoulder.) It summers in the Great Plains and winters in northern Argentina. It's migration route follows the east coast of Mexico and it is very unusual here. Hawk Watch at Mezcala Mountain Hawk Watch in Full Swing In September we have seen the following species (with date first seen): Cooper's Hawk (Sep. 2) White-tailed Kite (Sep. 5) Osprey (Sep. 5) Turkey Vulture (Sep. 8) Zone-tailed Hawk (Sep. 8) Peregrine Falcon (Sep. 8) American Kestrel (Sep. 8) Sharp-shinned Hawk (Sep. 22) Broad-winged Hawk (Sep. 29) Northern Harrier (Sep. 29) Mississippi Kite (Sep. 30) Text Link Featured Bird: Broad-winged Hawk A Broad-winged Hawk as seen on migration. The primary field marks are the conspicuous white band on the tail, and the black line on the trailing edge of the wing. Like most hawks, they do not fly over water. The Broad-winged Hawk is small. Its body is only 14 inches long. Most of the population summers in the north-eastern U.S. and migrates to Colombia and western Brazil for the winter. They are the most common hawk at eastern U.S. Hawk Watch sites. Traveling in flocks, they pass through central Mexico in the first two weeks of October. While migrating they depend on thermals to provide lift so they can glide most of the way, at an average rate of 50 miles per day. Usually, they hide in the forest canopy, hunting from perches, chasing after small animals such as mice, lizards and also small birds. They are the prey of larger hawks such as Red-tailed Hawks, Bald Eagles and Great Horned Owls. Upcoming Bird Walks and Trips 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. Note that we will try to limit most car trips to three vehicles and 14 people because larger convoys are hard to manage when trying to stop on country roads to look at the birds. If you are being given a ride, we suggest you make a contribution to your driver for gas and tolls (perhaps $150 pesos for a half day outing, $300 pesos for a day trip). HAWK WATCH: On Tuesday October 8, we will meet at 8.00 am at the 'Sculpture' at the only traffic light in La Floresta (south-east corner, opposite Restaurant Pranzo) leaving immediately for Mezcala Mountain (60 minutes drive). We will park and then walk the one-mile (1.5 km) trail to the observation point. Bring snacks and sandwiches for lunch. We will return to Ajijic by 3.00 pm. Other pick-up points can be arranged between Ajijic and Mezcala. If you plan on going, you must email John at chapalabirders@yahoo.com at least 2 days ahead indicating if you can bring a vehicle and can take passengers, or you would like to be a passenger. High-clearance, all wheel drive vehicles with off-road tires are recommended for the ascent. HAWK WATCH: On Thursday October 17, we will meet at 8.00 am at the 'Sculpture' at the only traffic light in La Floresta, leaving immediately for Mezcala Mountain (60 minutes drive). We will walk the one-mile (1.5 km) trail to the observation point. Bring snacks and sandwiches for lunch. We will return to Ajijic by 3.00 pm. If you plan on going, you must email John at chapalabirders@yahoo.com at least 2 days ahead indicating if you can bring a vehicle and can take passengers, or you would like to be a passenger. On Monday October 21, we will meet at 8.00 am at the 'Sculpture' (at the only traffic light in La Floresta, (south-east corner), leaving immediately for the Rosa Amarilla Loop (60 minutes drive). Expect to see a variety of grassland birds and possibly a White-tailed Hawk. Bring refreshments for the morning and sandwiches for the 12.30 lunch stop. We will be back about 4.00 pm. You must reserve - email John at chapalabirders@yahoo.com at least 2 days ahead indicating if you can bring a vehicle and can take others, or you would like to be a passenger. On Thursday October 31, we will meet at 8.00 am at the 'Sculpture (at the only traffic light in La Floresta, south-east corner, opposite Restaurant Pranzo), departing immediately for Villa Corona on Lake Atotonilco (60 minutes drive). We expect to see various shore birds such as White-faced Ibis and Roseate Spoonbill. Bring your own mid-morning refreshments. There will be a break for snacking at 11.00 am. We will be back in Ajijic by about 1.30 pm. You must reserve - email John at least 2 days ahead of time, saying if you can bring a vehicle and can take passengers, or you would like to be a passenger. Bird Walk & Trip Reports On September 6, a group of ten of us hiked the Allen LLoyd Triail. We identified 32 species including Golden Vireo, Lesser Roadrunner, Squirrel Cuckoo, Sinaloa Wren and Rusty-crowned Ground Sparrow. On September 12, eleven people took part in the trip to the mountain town of Tapalpa. We saw Painted Redstart, Slate-throated Redstart, Transvolcanic Jay, Eastern Bluebird, Elegant Euphonia and Yellow-eyed Junco, out of 45 species. On September 24, we took a car-load of keen birders to the Mezcala Mountain look-out point as part of our Hawk Watch. We got 42 species including warblers on migration, such as Red-faced Warbler and Hermit Warbler, also Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper's Hawk and Osprey. On September 26, six observers went back to Mezcala Mountain on a more cloudy day, managing to count 26 species including American Kestrel, Zone-tailed Hawk, Peregrine Falcon, Graces's Warbler, Rufous Hummingbird and Black-chinned Hummingbird. Monthly Sightings List Here are the 153 species observed around Lake Chapala in September: Ani, groove-billed Avocet, American Bittern, least Blackbird, red-winged Blackbird, yellow-headed Bunting, varied Bushtit Caracara, crested Coot, American Cormorant, neotropic Cowbird, bronzed Cowbird, brown-headed Cuckoo, squirrel Cuckoo, yellow-billed Dickcissel (Ch) Dove, Eurasian collared Dove, Inca Dove, mourning Dove, white-tipped Dove, white-winged Duck, black-bellied whistling Duck, fulvous whistling Duck, Mexican Duck, Muscovy Egret, great Egret, snowy Egret, western cattle Elaenia, greenish Euphonia, elegant Falcon, peregrine Finch, house Flycatcher, ash-throated Flycatcher, buff-breasted Flycatcher, dusky-capped Flycatcher, gray silky Flycatcher, Hammond's (Mz) Flycatcher, least Flycatcher, Nutting's (Mz) Flycatcher, olive-sided Flycatcher, social Flycatcher, vermilion Flycatcher, western Gallinule, common Gnatcatcher, blue-gray Goldfinch, lesser Grackle, great-tailed Grassquit, blue-black Grosbeak, blue Gull, laughing Gull, ring-billed Harrier, northern Hawk, broad-winged Hawk, common black Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, red-tailed Hawk, sharp-shinned Hawk, short-tailed Hawk, zone-tailed Heron, black-crowned night Heron, great blue Heron, little blue Heron, tri-colored Hummingbird, berylline Hummingbird, black-chinned Hummingbird, broad-billed Hummingbird, broad-tailed (Mz) Hummingbird, ruby-throated Hummingbird, rufous Ibis, white-faced Jacana, northern Kestrel, American Killdeer Kingbird, Cassin's Kingbird, thick-billed Kingbird, tropical Kiskadee, great Kite, Mississippi Kite, white-tailed Mockingbird, blue Mockingbird, northern Motmot, russet-crowned Nightjar, buff-collared Oriole, black-backed Oriole, black-vented Oriole, Bullock's Oriole, orchard Oriole, streak-backed Osprey Owl, ferruginous pygmy Owl, great horned Parakeet, monk Pelican, American white Pelican, brown (Ch) Pewee, greater Pewee, western wood Pigeon, rock Raven, common Redstart, painted Roadrunner, greater (Mz) Roadrunner, lesser (Sa) Seedeater, cinnamon-rumped Shrike, loggerhead Sora Sparrow, Botteri's (Mz) Sparrow, house Sparrow, lark Sparrow, rufous-crowned (Mz) Sparrow, rusty (Sa) Sparrow, rusty-crowned ground Sparrow, stripe-headed Stilt, black-necked Stork, wood Swallow, bank (Ch) Swallow, cliff Swallow, northern rough-winged Swallow, violet-green Swift, Vaux's (Mz) Tanager, hepatic Tanager, western Tern, Forster's Thrasher, curve-billed Thrush, orange-billed nightingale Towhee, canyon Tyrannulet, northern beardless Vireo, Bell's (Ch) Vireo, Cassin's Vireo, golden Vireo, warbling Vulture, black Vulture, turkey Warbler, black and white Warbler, black-throated gray Warbler, Grace's Warbler, MacGillivray's Warbler, Nashville Warbler, orange-crowned Warbler, red-faced Warbler, rufous-capped Warbler, Townsend's Warbler, Wilson's Warbler, yellow Willet Woodpecker, acorn Woodpecker, golden-fronted Woodpecker, ladder-backed Wren, Bewick's Wren, canyon Wren, happy Wren, house Wren, Sinaloa Wren, spotted Yellowlegs, greater Yellowthroat, common Sighting Location codes:  Ac - Ajijic: La Cristina & El Bajio At - Trails above Ajijic Av - Ajijic village Ca - Lake Cajititlan & marsh Ch - Chapala Ct - Caracol Trail & Int'l School Cs - Chapala Haciendas & Las Brisas Cv - Cerro Viejo Dm - Dike: Jamay to Malteraña Dp - Dike: Maltaraña to La Palma Hv - Hidden Valley oak forest Ja - Jamay La - La Cañada & Hidden Valley Jo - Jocotepec Ld - Lerma & Duero rivers Mz - Mezcala Oc - Ocotlan Pe - Petatan area Ps - Pumping Station & Santa Cruz Pt - San Pedro Tesistan Pz - San Pedro Itzican/Poncitlan 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 Tr - Las Trojes & Chupinaya Tu - Tuxcueca & San Luis Soyatlan Xt - Ixtlahuacan & Las Campanillas What is the "Lake Chapala Area"?  We define it as the whole area of the lake plus all land within 15km (or 7 miles) from the edge of the lake. Lake Chapala Birders is an informal group of bird observers led by John and Rosemary Keeling. Illustrated color folders showing our common birds are available for $200 pesos at Diane Pearl's Gallery, 11 am to 4 pm, Santa Margarita #23, at the east end of Riberas del Pilar. Also available from John Keeling on bird walks. We like to hear of bird sightings at: chapalabirders@yahoo.com. Check our website: ChapalaBirders.org There you will find our newsletters, illustrations of our birds and advice on buying binoculars, books and birding apps.