Chapala Birders Newsletter, January 2, 2022 | | Sightings this Month
There were 197 species reported for the lake area in December. The complete list is shown at the end of this newsletter. Unusual sightings included the following: - Mountain Trogon seen by John Roynon on the Tepalo waterfall trail.
- Short-tailed Hawk identified by Carlo Cuevas on the Rosa Amarilla Loop. This species is new to the Lake Chapala List.
- Mexican Violetear seen by Jules Evens on the International School Road.
- Gray-collared Becard and Olive Warbler seen by Nicola Cendron on the Caracol Trail.
| | Christmas Bird Count Report
For The Ajijic CBC conducted on December 15, we fielded 24 observers in seven teams. We had the largest ever number of species (156 species) because we had an extra team on the mountain, but unfortunately, we had the lowest ever quantity of birds (5,219 birds). We don't know whether this low number is a trend or not, or why it occurred. We had two teams on the mountain, one on the Chupinaya trail from Las Trojes, the other on the Caracol trail from the goat farm. They reported twenty higher altitude species including Red-faced Warbler, Painted Redstart, Gray-collared Becard, Rose-throated Becard, Hammond's Flycatcher, Nutting's Flycatcher, Mountain Pygmy Owl, Rusty Sparrow and Olive Warbler. We want to thank all of our 24 participants for their help in conducting the survey.
The Dike CBC at the east end of the lake was held on December 17 with six participants operating as one team. They observed 97 species and a total of 17,938 birds. As usual the most abundant bird was Yellow-headed Blackbird (13,000) followed by White-faced Ibis (1,990). | | Featured Bird: Great Egret | | A Great Egret with fish photographed by Jules Evens at the lake last month. Note how the eye is rotated to look at the fish. | | - The Great Egret stands 3 feet (one meter) tall, typically seen standing in shallow water stalking fish.
- With four sub-species, it is found in most temperate and tropical countries of the world, currently expanding its range northwards to Canada, England and Finland.
- It nests in colonies in tall trees around the lake. The nest is made of twigs and plant material which the male starts to build while still searching for a partner. The female lays 3 to 5 eggs and both sexes share in incubation duties for 3 weeks and feeding of the young for 6 weeks.
- Young egrets are aggressive and may kill weaker nestlings.
- Their diet is principally fish, but when necessary they will eat frogs, crayfish, small reptiles, mice and insects.
| | 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 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). Government protocols for masks and social distancing will apply. When traveling by car, masks will be worn. When in interior spaces such as restaurants we ask that all participants shall be fully vaccinated.
On Friday January 7, we will meet at 8.00 am at the "Sculpture" (at the only traffic light in La Floresta, south west corner, opposite Restaurant Pranzo) and also at 8.15 am at the Pemex at the intersection of the Chapala-Guadalajara highway, leaving immediately for the Lake Cajititlan Marsh (30 minutes drive). We expect to see a variety of marsh and lake birds such as Black-necked Stilt, Snowy Egret, and perhaps American Avocet.There will be a break for snacking at 11.00 am. Expect to be back in Ajijic by 1.00 pm. 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. Remember, we do not always have enough vehicles.
On Wednesday January 12, we will meet at 8.15 am at the Old Train Station in Chapala, leaving immediately to bird the Pumping Station, east of Chapala. Expect to see a good variety of land and shore birds in a variety of habitats. We will bird until 10.30am. You must reserve - email John at least 2 days ahead of time and please indicate if you can bring a vehicle and can take others, or if you would like to be a passenger. Remember, we do not always have enough vehicles.The old train station is on the Lakeshore Road just east of Cristiania Park in Chapala.
On Wednesday January 19, we will meet at 8.00 am 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 depending on lakeshore traffic. You must reserve - email John at least 2 days ahead of time, saying if you can bring a vehicle and can take others, or whether you are looking for a ride. Remember, we do not always have enough vehicles.
On Tuesday January 25, we will meet at 8.00 am at the "Sculpture" (at the only traffic light in La Floresta, south side near Restaurant Pranzo), leaving immediately for the Sierra de Tapalpa (90 minutes away). We will bird from 9.30 till 12.30. We expect to see higher altitude birds such as Acorn Woodpecker and Slate-throated Redstart and if we are lucky Trans-volcanic Jay. Bring your own refreshments for the morning and sandwiches for the 12.30 lunch stop. Expect to be back about 4.00 pm. You must reserve - email John at chapalabirders@yahoo.com at least 2 days ahead indicating that you can bring a vehicle and can take others, or you would like to be a passenger. Remember, we do not always have enough vehicles. | | On December 6, a party of nine keen birders patrolled La Floresta and the San Antonio malecon managing to spot 45 species including Rufous-backed Robin, Crested Caracara, Monk Parakeet, Blue Mockingbird, Social Flycatcher and Tricolored Heron.
On December 9, we had a small group to hike the Oak Forest trail from Las Trojes. We identified 37 species along the way, including Hepatic Tanager, Brown-backed Solitaire, Berylline Hummingbird, Greenish Elaenia and Red-faced Warbler.
On December 28, there were 13 participants in the trip round the Rosa Amarilla Circuit. We were surprised to find 74 species. These included Eastern Meadowlark, Red-winged Blackbird, Osprey, White-tailed Hawk, Nutting's Flycatcher, Varied Bunting and an unusual Short-tailed Hawk spotted by Carlo Cuevas. | | Here are the 197 species sighted around Lake Chapala in December:
Ani, groove-billed Avocet, American (Ra,Dp) Becard, gray-collared (Ct) Becard, rose-throated (Xt) Blackbird, red-winged (Ra) Blackbird, yellow-headed Bobwhite, northern (Ct) Brushfinch, rufous-capped (Ct) Bunting, indigo (Ct) Bunting, lazuli (Ct) Bunting, painted (Rp) Bunting, varied (Ac,Tr) Bushtit Canvasback (Dp) Caracara, crested Chat, yellow-breasted (Ct) Coot, American Cormorant, neotropic Cowbird, bronzed Cowbird, brown-headed Cuckoo, squirrel (Ct) Dove, common ground (Dp) Dove, Eurasian collared Dove, Inca Dove, mourning (Sc,Ct) Dove, white-tipped Dove, white-winged Dowitcher, long-billed Duck, black-bellied whistling (Ca) Duck, fulvous whistling (Ps,Dm) Duck, Mexican Duck, ruddy (Ra,Ca) Egret, cattle Egret, great Egret, snowy Elaenia, greenish (Tr,Ct) Falcon, peregrine Finch, house Flycatcher, ash-throated (Tr,Dm) Flycatcher, buff-breasted (Sc) Flycatcher, cordilleran Flycatcher, dusky (Ct) Flycatcher, dusky-capped Flycatcher, gray (Sa) Flycatcher, gray silky (Sc,Ac) Flycatcher, Hammond's (Ct) Flycatcher, least (Tr) Flycatcher, Nutting's (Ra,Tr) Flycatcher, social Flycatcher, vermilion Gadwall (Dp) Gallinule, common Gallinule, purple (Rp) Gnatcatcher, black-capped (Sa) Gnatcatcher, blue-gray Goldfinch, lesser Grackle, great-tailed Grebe, least (Dp) Grebe, pied-billed (Ra,Dm) Grosbeak, black-headed Grosbeak, blue (Lt) Gull, laughing Gull, ring-billed Harrier, northern (Dp) Hawk, Cooper's (Dp,Ct) Hawk, gray (Tr) Hawk, red-tailed Hawk, sharp-shinned (Ca,Dp) Hawk, short-tailed (Ra) Hawk, white-tailed (Ra) Heron, black-crowned night Heron, great blue Heron, green Heron, little blue (Ps,Dp) Heron, tri-colored Hummingbird, berylline Hummingbird, black-chinned (Ct) Hummingbird, broad-billed Hummingbird, ruby-throated (Ct) Hummingbird, rufous Hummingbird, violet-crowned Hummingbird, white-eared (Ct,Tr) Ibis, white-faced Jacana, northern Kestrel, American Killdeer Kingbird, Cassin's Kingbird, thick-billed Kingbird, tropical Kingbird, western (Rp,Tr) Kingfisher, belted Kinglet, ruby-crowned (Gt,Tr) Kiskadee, great Kite, white-tailed (Lt,Ca) Meadowlark, eastern (Ra) Merlin (Ct) Mockingbird, blue Mockingbird, northern Motmot, russet-crowned (Ac) Nighthawk, lesser Oriole, black-backed Oriole, black-vented Oriole, Bullock's Oriole, hooded Oriole, orchard ( Oriole, streak-backed Osprey Owl, ferruginous pygmy (Rp) Owl, great horned (At,Sc) Owl, mountain pygmy (Tr) Parakeet, monk Pelican, American white Pewee, greater Phoebe, black (Dm) Pigeon, rock Pintail, northern Raven, common Redstart, American (Dm,Rp) Redstart, painted (Tr) Robin, rufous-backed Sandpiper, least Sandpiper, spotted Scaup, lesser (Ps) Seedeater, cinnamon-rumped Shrike, loggerhead Solitaire, brown-backed (Ct,Tr) Sora Sparrow, chipping (Tr) Sparrow, clay-colored Sparrow, house Sparrow, lark Sparrow, Lincoln's (Ra) Sparrow, rusty (Ct) Sparrow, rusty-crowned ground (Ac) Sparrow, savannah (Rp,Dm) Sparrow, stripe-headed Spoonbill, roseate (Ps) Stilt, black-necked (Ra,Ps) Swallow, barn Swallow, northern rough-winged Swallow, tree Swallow, violet-green (Ra) Tanager, hepatic Tanager, summer (Av) Tanager, western Teal, blue-winged Teal, cinnamon (Ra) Teal, green-winged (Dm,Ps) Tern, Caspian Tern, Forster's (Sc,Dp) Thrasher, curve-billed Thrush, hermit (Ct) Thrush, orange-billed nightingale (Sa) Towhee, canyon Trogon, mountain (At) Tyrannulet, northern beardless Violetear, Mexican (Ct) Vireo, black capped (Sa) Vireo, Cassin's (Tr) Vireo, golden (Tr) Vireo, plumbeous (Sc,Ct) Vireo, warbling (Sa,Tr) Vulture, black Vulture, turkey Warbler, black and white Warbler, black-throated gray Warbler, crescent-chested (Ct) Warbler, golden-crowned Warbler, hermit (Ct) Warbler, Lucy's (Av,Sa) Warbler, MacGillivray's (Ct) Warbler, Nashville Warbler, olive (Ct) Warbler, orange-crowned (Tr,Ct) Warbler, red-faced (Tr,Ct) Warbler, rufous-capped Warbler, Townsend's (Sc,Tr) Warbler, Virginia's (Rp) Warbler, Wilson's Warbler, yellow (Rp) Warbler, yellow-rumped Waterthrush, northern (Dp) Wigeon, American (Ra) Woodpecker, acorn (Tr,Ct) Woodpecker, golden-fronted Woodpecker, ladder-backed Wren, Bewick's Wren, canyon Wren, happy (Sa,Sc) Wren, house (Rp,Dm) Wren, marsh (Ps,Dp) Wren, Sinaloa (Ct) Wren, spotted Yellowlegs, greater (Dp) Yellowlegs, lesser (Dp,Ra) Yellowthroat, common (Dm) Yellowthroat, gray-crowned (Ct) | | 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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