Chapala Birders Newsletter, August 2, 2021 | |
Two New Species Once again, visiting birders from Guadalajara have been sighting new species on our mountain trails. This month Efraín Aguillar photographed a Mottled Owl on the Caracol Trail to the Oak Forest. This bird is a relatively common, medium-sized, night-hunting, tropical owl found on both coasts of Mexico and as far south as Ecuador.
Also, Noé Muñoz-Padilla photographed a Bright-rumped Atilla on the Chupinaya Trail above Las Trojes. This tropical species normally occurs closer to the coast. It is found regularly on the west coast of Mexico, in the Yucatan and as far south as Honduras. It is a large, uncommon flycatcher with cinnamon wings and tail, buff belly, streaked face and throat, and a yellow rump.
Unusual Sightings this Month
There were 108 species reported in July. The complete list is shown at the end of this newsletter. Interesting sightings included: - Rufous-capped Brushfinch was seen by Efraín Aguillar on the Caracol Trail.
- Gray-collared Becard and Elegant Trogon were seen by Noe Muñoz-Padilla on the Chupinaya Trail from Los Trojes.
- John and Rosemary had a pair of Sulphur-bellied Flycatchers feeding on the nuts of a Royal Palm tree for the last week of July.
| | Featured Bird: Bronzed Cowbird | | A male Bronzed Cowbird with raised ruff, in display posture. | | - Bronzed Cowbirds are common from the southern U.S. to Panama. They are originally from Central America and are still moving northwards in the U.S.
- Females and young are dull black or dull brown.
- In winter they congregate in large flocks, often at cow barns. In summer they spread out to breed in fields and forests.
- They are best known as "obligate brood parasites", never building nests, but laying eggs in the nests of other birds. Over 100 species are known to have been unwilling hosts.
- A female is able to lay eggs at the rate of one a day for several weeks. Sometimes the female may peck a hole in existing eggs in a host nest.
- The chick grows quicker than host species chicks and dominates the nest when the host parents come with food. In May-June you may spot a pair of little wrens rushing to feed a big dark bird three times their size.
| | August is the month for chiggers. These "too small to see" insects wait in patches of tall wet grass ready to jump to any warm-blooded creature passing by. Typically, they get to your skin at the ankle and then ascend until blocked, by a tight belt for instance, and then bite. The resulting welts can be itchy for two weeks. Best use insect repellent or tape the bottoms of your pant legs. | | We are proposing to gradually get back to normal with larger groups, but masks will be worn in public in compliance with regulations.
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. You must reserve a place by email ( chapalabirders@yahoo.com) at least 2 days ahead of each bird-walk or bird trip. Please note that we will try to limit car trips to four vehicles 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 $50-100 pesos for a half day outing, $150-200 pesos for a day trip).
On Thursday August 12, we will meet at 8.15 at the "Sculpture" (at the only traffic light in La Floresta, south side near Restaurant Pranzo), 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 3.00 pm. You must reserve - email John at chapalabirders@yahoo.com at least 2 days ahead saying if you can bring a vehicle or whether you are looking for a ride.
On Monday July 23, we will meet at 8.15 at the "Sculpture" (at the only traffic light in La Floresta, south side, near 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 or whether you are looking for a ride. | | On July 13, eight people joined us to go birding at the El Bajio road in west Ajijic. We observed a very satisfactory 37 species including Gray-silky Flycatcher, Rufous-backed Robin, Beryline Hummingbird, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Crested Caracara and Golden Vireo.
On July 22, there were eleven birders out to check out the Pumping Station area. We found Loggerhead Shrike, Monk Parakeet, Blue-black Grassquit, Killdeer, Northern Jacana, Black-bellied Whistling Duck and Social Flycatcher out of a total of 38 species. | | Here are the 108 species sighted around Lake Chapala in July:
Ani, groove-billed Atilla, bright-rumped (Tr) Avocet, American (Ch) Becard, gray-collared (Tr) Becard, rose-throated (Sa) Bobwhite, northern (Ca) Brushfinch, rufous-capped (Cv) Bushtit Caracara, crested Coot, American Cormorant, neotropic Cowbird, bronzed Cuckoo, squirrel Dove, common ground (Ca) Dove, Eurasian collared Dove, Inca Dove, white-tipped Dove, white-winged Duck, black-bellied whistling (Ca) Duck, fulvous whistling (Ca) Duck, Mexican Egret, cattle Egret, great Egret, snowy Elaenia, greenish (Ct) Euphonia, elegant Finch, house Flycatcher, brown-crested (Ct) Flycatcher, cordilleran Flycatcher, dusky-capped Flycatcher, gray silky Flycatcher, Nutting's (Ct,Lt) Flycatcher, social Flycatcher, vermilion Gallinule, common Goldfinch, lesser Grackle, great-tailed Grassquit, blue-black Grosbeak, black-headed Grosbeak, blue Gull, laughing (Ch) Hawk, red-tailed Heron, black-crowned night Heron, tri-colored Hummingbird, berylline Hummingbird, broad-billed Hummingbird, Rivoli's (Ct) Hummingbird, violet-crowned Hummingbird, white-eared (Ct,Xt) Ibis, white-faced Jacana, northern Killdeer Kingbird, Cassin's Kingbird, thick-billed (Ct,Av) Kingbird, tropical Kiskadee, great Mockingbird, blue Motmot, russet-crowned Mountain-gem, blue-throated (At) Oriole, black-backed Oriole, black-vented Oriole, streak-backed Osprey (Ps) Owl, great horned Owl, mottled (Tr) Owl, spotted Parakeet, monk Pelican, American white Pewee, western wood Pigeon, rock Raven, common (Sc) Roadrunner, greater (Ct) Robin, rufous-backed Seedeater, cinnamon-rumped Shrike, loggerhead Solitaire, brown-backed (Ct,Cv) Sparrow, house Sparrow, rusty-crowned ground Sparrow, stripe-headed Spoonbill, roseate (Ca) Stilt, black-necked Stork, wood (Ca) Swallow, barn Swallow, cliff Swallow, northern rough-winged Tanager, flame-colored (Ct,Tr) Tanager, hepatic Thrasher, curve-billed Thrush, orange-billed nightingale Thrush, White-throated (Tr) Towhee, canyon Trogon, elegant (Ct,Cv) Tyrannulet, northern beardless Vireo, golden Vireo, plumbeous (Tr) Vulture, black Vulture, turkey Warbler, rufous-capped (Ct) Warbler, yellow Woodpecker, golden-fronted Woodpecker, ladder-backed Wren, Bewick's Wren, canyon Wren, happy Wren, house (Ct) Wren, Sinaloa (Ct) Wren, spotted 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 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 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 / Chupinaya 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.
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