Wednesday, June 5, 2024

Newsletter

Chapala Birders Newsletter, June 2, 2024

Sightings last Month


There were 124 species reported for the lake area in May. The complete list is shown at the end of this newsletter.


Uncommon observations in May:

  • Nicola Cendron observed Sanderling, Stilt Sandpiper and Semipalmated Plover at Chapala.
  • Tom Bravo reported Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher in Ajijic.

Featured Bird: Rock Pigeon

This photo shows the original colors of this species, which is found in the wild nesting on cliffs in the middle east.

It has been used in battle to carry messages back to base, as it has excellent 'homing' abilities when trained, and also senses magnetic fields.

  • The Rock Pigeon has been domesticated by pigeon fanciers for more than 5,000 years. Over this period various color variations have emerged. It can now be found on every continent.
  • It likes human developments, and is often seen in public plazas, and on churches.
  • It breeds at any time of the year, up to 6 times per year. Pairs are monogamous and mate for life. Incubation of the eggs requires 18 days, Fledging of the young occurs in another 30 days.
  • Adult pigeons produce "crop milk" which is a liquid fed to the young chicks (squabs) for the first few days of life.
  • Adults forage on the ground for seeds and grain. They are flexible, eating human food if available.
  • Adults and young are common prey of hawks, owls and raccoons.

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 June 14, we will meet at 8.00 a.m. at La Cristina on the west side of Ajijic. We will see some shore birds and birds in the tall trees along the street. At about 10.00 am we will head to Fonda Doña Lola restaurant for breakfast and complete the bird list.

How to Get There: Drive about 2 mi (4km) west from Colon, look for signs for Hacienda La Cristina (near a bus stop and signs for Las Palmas), turn down to the lake, and park close to the lake.


On Monday June 24, 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.

Bird Walk & Trip Reports

On May 6, we had five birders out at Puerta Nueva where we observed 40 species including Loggerhead Shrike, Black-vented Oriole, Streak-backed Oriole, Blue Mockingbird, Russet-crowned Motmot and a Social Flycatcher actively building a nest.


On May 24, we went to the Sierra de Tapalpa with a group of seven birders. Our list included Orange-billed Nightingale Thrush, Elegant Euphonia, Red-winged Blackbird, Eastern Bluebird, Gray-silky Flycatcher and Acorn Woodpecker.

Monthly Sightings List

Here are the 124 species observed around Lake Chapala in May:


Ani, groove-billed

Avocet, American

Blackbird, yellow-headed

Bunting, indigo

Bunting, varied

Bushtit

Caracara, crested

Chat, yellow-breasted

Coot, American

Cormorant, neotropic

Cowbird, bronzed

Cowbird, brown-headed

Cuckoo, squirrel

Dove, common ground

Dove, Eurasian collared

Dove, Inca

Dove, mourning

Dove, white-tipped

Dove, white-winged

Dowitcher, long-billed

Duck, black-bellied whistling

Duck, Mexican

Duck, ruddy

Egret, great

Egret, snowy

Egret, western cattle

Elaenia, greenish

Finch, house

Flycatcher, brown-crested

Flycatcher, dusky

Flycatcher, dusky-capped

Flycatcher, Nutting's

Flycatcher, social

Flycatcher, sulphur-bellied

Flycatcher, vermilion

Gallinule, common

Goldfinch, lesser

Grackle, great-tailed

Grebe, pied-billed

Grosbeak, black-headed

Grosbeak, blue

Gull, laughing

Gull, ring-billed

Hawk, Cooper's

Hawk, red-tailed

Heron, black-crowned night

Heron, great blue

Heron, little blue

Heron, tri-colored

Hummingbird, berylline

Hummingbird, broad-billed

Hummingbird, violet-crowned

Ibis, white-faced

Jacana, northern

Killdeer

Kingbird, Cassin's

Kingbird, thick-billed

Kingbird, tropical

Kingbird, western

Kiskadee, great

Kite, white-tailed

Mockingbird, blue

Mockingbird, northern

Motmot, russet-crowned

Nightjar, buff-collared

Oriole, black-backed

Oriole, black-vented

Oriole, streak-backed

Owl, ferruginous pygmy

Owl, great horned

Parakeet, monk

Parrot, lilac-crowned

Pelican, American white

Pelican, brown

Pewee, greater

Pewee, western wood

Pigeon, rock (Dove/Feral)

Pipit, American

Plover, semipalmated

Robin, rufous-backed

Sanderling

Sandpiper, least

Sandpiper, spotted

Sandpiper, stilt

Seedeater, cinnamon-rumped

Shoveler, northern

Shrike, loggerhead

Sparrow, house

Sparrow, lark

Sparrow, rufous-crowned

Sparrow, rusty-crowned ground

Sparrow, savannah

Sparrow, stripe-headed

Stilt, black-necked

Swallow, barn

Swallow, cliff

Swallow, northern rough-winged

Tanager, western

Teal, blue-winged

Tern, Caspian

Tern, Forster's

Thrasher, curve-billed

Thrush, hermit

Thrush, orange-billed nightingale

Towhee, canyon

Tyrannulet, northern beardless

Vireo, golden

Vireo, warbling

Vulture, black

Vulture, turkey

Warbler, MacGillivray's

Warbler, rufous-capped

Warbler, Wilson's

Warbler, yellow

Warbler, yellow-rumped

Wigeon, American

Woodpecker, golden-fronted

Wren, Bewick's

Wren, cactus

Wren, canyon

Wren, happy

Wren, marsh

Wren, Sinaloa

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

Cs - Chapala Haciendas & Las Brisas

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

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) from 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 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 on bird walks.


We like to hear of bird sightings at: chapalabirders@yahoo.com.


Check our website: ChapalaBirders.org

There you will find our newsletters, illustrations of our birds and advice on buying binoculars, books and birding apps.