Chapala Birders Newsletter, September 2, 2021 | |
Sightings this Month
There were 93 species reported in August. The complete list is shown at the end of this newsletter.
Interesting sightings included:
- A Gray-crowned Yellowthroat was seen singing on tall weeds at Lake Cajititlan Marsh - apparently it had not read the reference books which say it is not found in marshes.
- Wood Storks have been breeding beside Presa El Volantin and Lake Cajititlan. They are becoming a major presence in those two spots. Ten years ago this species was rarely seen here.
| | Featured Bird: Gray-collared Becard | | A male Gray-collared Becard photographed by Jalisco birder Julio Alvarez. | | - Gray-collared Becards are uncommon Central American birds found from Mexico to Nicaragua.
- Seen in semi-arid woodlands and pine-oak forests.
- They are only rarely seen in our area. However, they were seen in April and July on the north face of Chupinaya.
- They are sparrow-sized flycatchers typically seen in the upper half of tall trees.
- The females have rich red-brown wings and creamy bodies.
- Considered non-migratory, they will move downhill to warmer areas in the winter.
- Like other flycatchers they eat insects and grubs as well as fruits and berries in season.
| | August is the month we receive notice of changes in the official bird list of the American Ornithological Society (AOS). This year there is some shuffling of the taxonomic sequence and there is one name change for our area:
The non-migratory Sedge Wrens occurring in the trans-volcanic belt and in southern Mexico are now lumped with the Grass Wren which is an established species found from Mexico to Argentina. We have seen this species (as Sedge Wrens) in wet clump-grass fields at Concepción de Buenos Aires in the Sierra del Tigre on the south side of Lake Chapala. Now we will call them Grass Wrens. | | 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. Please note that we will 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 Wednesday September 8, 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 and on the shore of the lake. Wear face masks and practice social distancing. At about 10.00 those of us who are vaccinated will go to 'La Palapa de Don Juan' 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, near the Park entrance.
On Tuesday September 14, we will meet at 8.15 at the "Sculpture" (at the only traffic light in La Floresta, south west corner, opposite Restaurant Pranzo), leaving immediately for the Lake Cajititlan Marsh (30 minutes drive). Wear face masks and practice social distancing. We expect to see a variety of marsh and lake birds such as Wood Stork, Black-necked Stilt, Snowy Egret, and perhaps American Avocet. You must reserve - email John at chapalabirders@yahoo.com at least 2 days ahead saying if you are bringing a vehicle and can take others, or whether you are looking for a ride.
On Monday September 27, will meet at 8.15 at the trail head to hike a mile or more up the Allen Lloyd Trail which has lots of underbrush in which birds love to hide. Expect to see Blue Mockingbrid and hear the Happy Wren - if we are lucky. At about 10.00 those of us who are vaccinated 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 from the traffic light at Walmart, and park on the north side of the road next to the new hospital across from the Radisson Blu / El Dorado Condominium towers. | | On August 12, we had six birders join us on the Rosa Amarilla Loop, which is one of our favorite routes. We saw 44 species including the expected Botteri's Sparrow, Redwing Blackbird, Squirrel Cuckoo, Ruddy Duck, Roseate Spoonbill, American White Pelican and Blue Mockingbird.
On August 23, there were twelve keen birders at Villa Corona on Lake Atotonilco. We identified Black-bellied and Fulvous Whistling Ducks, as well as Loggerhead Shrike, Black-necked Stilt, White-faced Ibis and Clark's Grebe out of total of 40 species. | | Here are the 93 species sighted around Lake Chapala in August:
Ani, groove-billed Blackbird, red-winged (Ra) Blackbird, yellow-headed (Ca) Bobwhite, northern (Ca) Caracara, crested Coot, American Cormorant, neotropic Cowbird, bronzed Cuckoo, squirrel (Ra) Dove, Eurasian collared Dove, Inca Dove, mourning Dove, white-tipped Duck, black-bellied whistling Duck, fulvous whistling Duck, Mexican Duck, ruddy Egret, cattle Egret, great Egret, snowy Finch, house Flycatcher, dusky-capped Flycatcher, social Flycatcher, sulphur-bellied (At) Flycatcher, vermilion Gallinule, common Goldfinch, lesser Grackle, great-tailed Grassquit, blue-black (Ca) Grosbeak, blue Gull, laughing Heron, black-crowned night Heron, great blue Heron, green Heron, little blue Heron, tri-colored Hummingbird, berylline Hummingbird, broad-billed Hummingbird, Rivoli's Hummingbird, violet-crowned Ibis, white-faced Jacana, northern Killdeer Kingbird, Cassin's Kingbird, thick-billed Kingbird, tropical Kingbird, western Kiskadee, great Kite, white-tailed (Rp) Meadowlark, eastern (Ra) Mockingbird, blue Mockingbird, northern (Ra) Motmot, russet-crowned Oriole, black-backed Oriole, black-vented Oriole, streak-backed Osprey Owl, feruginous pygmy Owl, great horned Parakeet, monk Pelican, American white Pewee, western wood Pigeon, rock Robin, rufous-backed Sandpiper, spotted Seedeater, cinnamon-rumped Shrike, loggerhead Sparrow, Botteri's Sparrow, house Sparrow, rusty-crowned ground Sparrow, stripe-headed Spoonbill, roseate (Ra) Stilt, black-necked Stork, wood (Ra,Ca) Swallow, barn Swallow, cliff Swallow, northern rough-winged Tanager, western Thrasher, curve-billed Thrush, orange-billed nightingale Towhee, canyon Tyrannulet, northern beardless Vireo, golden Vulture, black Vulture, turkey Warbler, rufous-capped (Ct) Woodpecker, golden-fronted Woodpecker, ladder-backed Wren, Bewick's Wren, canyon Wren, happy Wren, spotted Yellowthroat, gray-crowned | | 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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