Chapala Birders Newsletter, September 2, 2023 | | Sightings this Month
There were 135 species reported for the lake area in August. The complete list is shown at the end of this newsletter. Some interesting sightings:
- On the Caracol Trail a group of us saw the uncommon male Gray-collared Becard (see note below) and also photographed a female Rose-throated Becard.
- Noe Munoz reported Elegant Trogon and White-throated Thrush above Las Trojes.
- On the Mezcala Mountain we saw a pod of mixed warbler species (Red-faced, Hermit, Townsend's, Black-throated Gray) and a pod of Grace's Warblers.
- Nicola Cendron reports hearing Upland Sandpipers migrating overhead at night.
| | Featured Bird: Gray-collared Becard | | An adult male Gray-collared Becard photographed by Jalisco birder Julio Alvarez. | | - The Gray-collard Becard is an uncommon flycatcher found in Mexico and Central America as far south as Nicaragua.
- It is a small stocky bird with a flat-topped head and distinctive cap. The colors on the female and immatures are light-brown or beige and dark brown, instead of white and black.
- It has recently been observed in our area on the Caracol Trail and the Las Trojes-Chupinaya Trail.
- In Jalisco it is an altitudinal migrant meaning that it relocates to lower altitudes in winter.
- It feeds primarily on insects as well as berries and fruits in season.
- Few scientific studies of the life history of this species have been made.
| | Lake Chapala Hawk Migration | | A year ago we discovered that the mountains on the north side of the lake are a natural "leading line" for any hawks reluctant to fly across the lake. Also, that the Mezcala Mountain is a good viewing spot. The peak time for the fall hawk migration is expected to be October 1 to October 20. We plan to make 'small group' trips to Mezcala Mountain starting in the last week of September. Email John if you are interested. Here are few facts about the hawk migration: - Most hawks will be reluctant to fly across the lake (will there be thermals on the other side?), but Osprey and Peregrine Falcon are more likely to fly straight across.
- Hawks need to glide on rising thermals which depend on sunshine. So do not expect much activity before 10.00 am. Bird gliding speeds are limited, typically 40 to 60 kmh.
- Many of the hawks will be quite high, so you need good binocs, a good camera and good identification skills.
- Last year we recorded 11 Hawk species and 4 species of Falcon and Kite.
- Sharp-shinned Hawk and Broad-winged Hawk come through early, while Red-tailed Hawks will often come later.
| | 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 Friday September 8, 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 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. At 1.00 pm we will end up in Tapalpa to have lunch at a restaurant overlooking the square. Expect to 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. (We don't always have enough cars).
On Thursday September 14, we will meet at 8.00am 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 Mockingbird and hear the Happy Wren - if we are lucky. 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 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 existing to your left.
On Tuesday September 26, 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 3.30 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. (We don't always have enough cars). | | On August 7 we had a small group of five birders on Two Dams Road. The area was quite productive with 38 species observed, including Black-bellied Whistling Duck, Fulvous Whistling Duck, Wood Stork, Rusty-crowned Ground Sparrow, Stripe-headed Sparrow, Northern Jacana and a Gray-crowned Yellowthroat singling loudly from the top of a tree.
On August 17 we had 12 people at the top of Mezcala Mountain. The area has suffered from a recent brush-fire so the bird life is reduced, but we were rewarded with the sighting of a pod of early migrating warblers: Red-faced Warbler, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Townsend's Warbler and Hermit Warbler. | | Here are the 135 species sighted around Lake Chapala in August:
Ani, groove-billed Avocet, American (Ja) Becard, gray-collared Becard, rose-throated Bittern, American Blackbird, red-winged (Ch) Blackbird, yellow-headed (Ja) Bunting, varied Bushtit Caracara, crested Coot, American Cormorant, neotropic Cowbird, bronzed Cowbird, brown-headed Cuckoo, squirrel Dove, common ground Dove, Eurasian collared Dove, Inca Dove, white-tipped Dove, white-winged Duck, black-bellied whistling Duck, fulvous whistling Duck, Mexican Duck, ruddy Egret, cattle Egret, great Egret, snowy Elaenia, greenish Euphonia, elegant Finch, house Flycatcher, ash-throated Flycatcher, brown-crested Flycatcher, dusky-capped Flycatcher, gray silky Flycatcher, least (Sa) Flycatcher, Nutting's (Sa) Flycatcher, vermilion Flycatcher, western Gallinule, common Goldfinch, lesser Grackle, great-tailed Grassquit, blue-black (Pz) Grebe, least Grebe, pied-billed Grosbeak, black-headed Grosbeak, blue Gull, laughing Gull, ring-billed Hawk, Cooper's (Sa) Hawk, red-tailed Heron, black-crowned night Heron, great blue Heron, green Heron, tri-colored Hummingbird, berylline Hummingbird, broad-billed Hummingbird, rufous (Sc,Sa) Hummingbird, violet-crowned Ibis, white-faced Jacana, northern Killdeer Kingbird, Cassin's Kingbird, thick-billed Kingbird, tropical Kiskadee, great Kite, white-tailed (Jo) Mockingbird, blue Motmot, russet-crowned Nightjar, buff-collared Oriole, black-backed Oriole, black-vented Oriole, orchard Oriole, streak-backed Osprey (Sa) Owl, ferruginous pygmy Owl, great horned Parakeet, monk Pelican, American white Pewee, greater Pewee, western wood (Sa) Phalarope, Wilson's (Ja) Phoebe, black Phoebe, Say's Pigeon, rock Roadrunner, greater Roadrunner, lesser Robin, rufous-backed Sandpiper, least Sandpiper, spotted Sandpiper, upland Seedeater, cinnamon-rumped Shrike, loggerhead Sparrow, house Sparrow, rufous-crowned Sparrow, rusty-crowned ground Sparrow, stripe-headed Stilt, black-necked Stork, wood Swallow, barn Swallow, cliff Swallow, northern rough-winged Tanager, hepatic Tanager, western Teal, green-winged (Jo) Tern, Forster's (Sa) Tern, Royal (Ja) Thrasher, curve-billed Thrush, orange-billed nightingale Thrush, White-throated Towhee, canyon Trogon, elegant Tyrannulet, northern beardless Vireo, golden (Sa) Vulture, black Vulture, turkey Warbler, black-throated gray (Mz,Po) Warbler, crescent-chested (Av) Warbler, Grace's (Mz,Po) Warbler, hermit Warbler, MacGillivray's Warbler, red-faced (Mz) Warbler, rufous-capped Warbler, Townsend's Warbler, Wilson's Warbler, yellow Woodcreeper, white striped Woodpecker, golden-fronted Woodpecker, ladder-backed Wren, Bewick's Wren, canyon Wren, happy Wren, house (Ja) Wren, Sinaloa (Sa) Wren, spotted Yellowlegs, lesser (Ja) | | 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 Cu - Chapala Haciendas & UofG 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 & Mezcala Tr - Potrerillos & 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) of 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 once again 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.
There you will find our newsletters, illustrations of our birds and advice on buying binoculars, books and birding apps. | | | | | | |
