Chapala Birders Newsletter, January 2, 2021 | | 174 Species Seen in December | | The complete list appears at the end of this newsletter. Highlights this month include: - Four new species for the Lake Chapala area - a quite extraordinary happening - see section below.
- Jules Evens saw a Black-chinned Hummingbird at his feeders in San Antonio Tlayacapan.
- Nicola Cendron spotted a Long-billed Curlew on the dike during the Christmas Bird Count.
- We went to the mountain above Mazamitla during the month and were amazed to see the fields and pine trees full of Pine Siskins (similar to female House Fiches, but with hints of yellow). It turns out that we are seeing the "biggest Pine Siskin irruption on record". Because pine cone seeds are in short supply in Canadian forests this winter, these birds are traveling way south for food.
Other notes from the month: - It wasn't easy putting together several small teams for the Christmas Bird Count while lacking some of our regular leaders, but with last-minutes appeals to friends and visitors, we did it.
- We have decided to re-start our monthly birdwalks with small groups, masks and social distancing - see details below.
| | Four New Species for our Area | | All of these new species were sighted by Nicola Cendron during our two Christmas Bird Counts: - Rufous-capped Brushfinch on the Caracol Trail. This is a higher altitude bird which we normally see on the Sierra del Tigre at Concepción de Buenos Aires.
- Aztec Thrush on the Caracol Trail. This is an unusual, irruptive Mexican species.
- Olive Warbler, on the Caracol Trail. This is another species that we sometimes see at Concepción, two thousand feet above the lake.
- Swainson's Hawk (3 individuals) on the Dike at the east end of the lake. They were circling above a fire set to clear reeds for plowing a newly dried-up part of the lake. We believe they were looking to catch small animals escaping from the fire.
| | Christmas Bird Count Results | | We fielded five small teams for the Ajijic area CBC on December 15. and just one team for the Dike area CBC on December 17.
In the Ajijic Circle we counted 9,462 birds of 128 species, and in the Dike circle 26,134 birds of 91 species. Combining the results, we saw 150 species. Once again we sent one team to hike to the top of the mountain. That team was unusually productive of new species.
We have looked closely at the results for each species, and once again we are unable to perceive any particular trends in the data for the last 15 years. | | Featured Bird: Aztec Thrush | | | | - The Aztec Thrush is an uncommon Mexican endemic species almost the size of an American Robin found in higher-altitude pine-oak forests of the Sierra Madre and Central Volcanic Belt. It is irruptive, moving in search of berries.
- It is typically seen on the ground like other thrushes, often in small flocks. It is known to spend long periods sitting quite still and thus can be easily missed.
- It eats insects on the forest floor but is particularly fond of berries when available.
- The nest is a cup of grass and moss placed in the upper levels of trees. Both parents feed the hatchlings.
| | We are proposing to start holding birdwalks again, but we will not go for breakfast at the end of each walk. Maximum attendance will be ten people. You must reserve a space by email at least 48 hours ahead of each birdwalk.
On Tuesday January 12, we will meet at 8.15 am at the entrance to Cristiania Park in Chapala. We should see an interesting selection of species in the park trees and on the shore of the lake. We will bird for about two hours. Wear face masks and practice social distancing. Reserve by email. 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 January 21, we will meet at 8.15 a.m. at La Cristina on the west side of Ajijic. We will see some shore birds and some birds in the tall trees along the street. We will bird for about two hours. Wear face masks and practice social distancing. Reserve by email. 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 Tuesday January 26, 8.30 am we will hold a birdwalk for people living in or near the Racquet Club. The meeting place and birding locations will be based on suggestions from those who want to attend. Please reserve by email with your suggestions. Face masks and social distancing will apply.
On Thursday January 28, 8.30 am we will hold a birdwalk for people living in or near Vista del Lago. The meeting place and birding locations will be based on suggestions from those who want to attend. Please reserve by email with your suggestions. Face masks and social distancing will apply. | | Here are the 174 species sighted around Lake Chapala in November: Ani, groove-billed Avocet, American (Dp) Becard, rose-throated (Xt) Bittern, least (Ps) Blackbird, yellow-headed Brushfinch, rufous-capped (Ct) Bunting, indigo (Av) Bunting, lazuli (Sc) Bunting, painted (Xt) Bunting, varied Bushtit Caracara, crested Chat, yellow-breasted Coot, American Cormorant, neotropic Cowbird, bronzed Cowbird, brown-headed Cuckoo, squirrel (Xt) Curlew, ling-billed Dove, common ground dove, Eurasian collared Dove, Inca Dove, mourning Dove, white-tipped Dove, white-winged Dowitcher, long-billed (Dp) Duck, Mexican Duck, ruddy Egret, cattle Egret, great Egret, snowy Elaenia, greenish (Ct) Euphonia, elegant (Xt) Falcon, peregrine Finch, house Flycatcher, ash-throated Flycatcher, dusky-capped Flycatcher, gray silky Flycatcher, Hammond's Flycatcher, social Flycatcher, vermilion Gadwall (Ch) Gallinule, common Gallinule, purple (Dp Gnatcatcher, blue-gray Goldfinch, lesser Grackle, great-tailed Grebe, eared (Ps) Grebe, least Grebe, pied-billed Grosbeak, black-headed Grosbeak, blue Gull, ring-billed Harrier, northern (Dp) Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, gray Hawk, red-tailed Hawk, Swainson's (Dp) Heron, Black-crowned night Heron, great blue Heron, green Heron, little blue Heron, tri-colored Hummingbird, berylline Hummingbird, black-chinned (Sa) Hummingbird, broad-billed Hummingbird, violet-crowned Hummingbird, white-eared (Ct) Ibis, white-faced Jacana, northern Kestrel, American Killdeer Kingbird, Cassin's Kingbird, thick-billed Kingbird, tropical Kingfisher, belted (Ca) Kinglet, ruby-crowned Kiskadee, great Kite, white-tailed Mockingbird, blue Mockingbird, northern Motmot, russet-crowned (Ac) Nighthawk, lesser (Ps) Oriole, black-backed Oriole, black-vented Oriole, Bullock's Oriole, hooded Oriole, streak-backed Osprey (Jo,Ch) Owl, great-horned Parakeet, monk Pelican, American white Pewee, greater Phoebe, black (Dp) Phoebe, eastern (Dp) Phoebe, Say's (Dp) Pigeon, rock Pintail, northern Raven, common Redstart, American (Ct) Redstart, painted (Ct) Robin, American (Ct) Robin, rufous-backed Sandpiper, least Sandpiper, spotted Sandpiper, stilt (Dp) Sapsucker, yellow-bellied (Ct) Seedeater, cinnamon-rumped Shoveler, northern Shrike, loggerhead Siskin, pine (Ch) Snipe, Wilson's (Oc) Solitaire, brown-backed Sora Sparrow, clay-colored Sparrow, house Sparrow, lark Sparrow, Lincoln's Sparrow, rusty-crowned ground Sparrow, stripe-headed Sparrow, white-crowned Spoonbill, roseate (Ps) Stilt, black-necked Swallow, barn Swallow, northern rough-winged Swallow, tree Swallow, violet-green Tanager, hepatic Tanager, summer Tanager, western Teal, blue-winged Teal, cinnamon Teal green-winged Tern, Caspian Tern, Forster's Thrasher, curve-billed Thrush, Aztec (Ct) Thrush, hermit (Ct) Thrush, orange-billed nightingale Towhee, canyon Towhee, green-tailed (Sc) Tyrannulet, northern beardless Violetear, Mexican Vireo, Cassin's Vireo, Hutton's Vulture, black Vulture, turkey Warbler, black and white Warbler, black-throated gray Warbler, hermit Warbler, Lucy's (Jo) Warbler, MacGillivray's Warbler, Nashville Warbler, olive (Ct) Warbler, orange-crowned Warbler, red-faced (Ct) Warbler, rufous-capped Warbler, Townsend's (Ct) Warbler, Virginia's (Sc) Warbler, Wilson's Warbler, yellow Warbler, yellow-rumped Waterthrush, northern (Dp) Woodpecker, acorn (Ct) Woodpecker, golden-fronted Woodpecker, ladder-backed Wren, Bewick's Wren, canyon Wren, happy (Ct) Wren, house (Ct) Wren, marsh 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 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 Oc - Ocotlan 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.
Check our website: ChapalaBirders.org | | | | | | |
