Chapala Birders Newsletter, August 2, 2024 | | | Sightings last Month
There were 114 species reported for the lake area in July. The complete list is shown at the end of this newsletter.
Less common observations in July:
- More than 100 Wood Storks were seen at Lake Cajititlan.
- Once again, Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher was seen on the lakeshore.
| | Featured Bird: Golden Eagle | | | -- Note the lighter color of the collar feathers. This is a distinguishing feature. -- The Golden Eagle can equal the speed of a Peregrine Falcon in a 'stoop' dive. -- Normal prey consists small mammals such as rabbits, hares and ground squirrels. Reptiles, birds and larger animals are sometimes attacked. | | - The Golden Eagle is known for its large size (six foot wingspan) and great strength. It nests on inaccessible cliffs and depends on a large home territory which it protects aggressively from other eagles.
- Mexico has declared it a threatened species. Of only 171 known breeding pairs, four are in Jalisco. It nests in the extreme north-east of our state. Nesting was considered successful in 2022 when one fledgling left a nest and this year when 2 fledglings left a nest.
- These eagles mate for life. One to three eggs are normally laid. Incubation takes 41 days and chicks average 70 days in the nest.
- Threats include wind-turbine impact, shooting by farmers and lead poisoning from eating shot prey,
| | 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 Wednesday August 7, 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. At about 10.00 we 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 Friday August 16, 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 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. | | | On July 11, we had twelve birders out to hike the Allen LLoyd Trail. We observed 30 species including Squirrel Cuckoo, Western Wood Pewee, Greater Pewee, Black-vented Oriole, Orange-billed Nightingale Thrush and Rusty-crowned Ground Sparrow.
On July 22, we had two car-loads of people to complete the ascent of Mezcala Mountain. We managed to see Peregrine falcon, Greenish Elaenia, Hepatic Tanager, Blue Grosbeak, Ladder-backed Woodpecker and Bushtit for a total of 24 species. | | | Here are the 114 species observed around Lake Chapala in July:
Ani, groove-billed Avocet, American Bittern, least (Rp,Ca) Blackbird, yellow-headed (Ca) Bobwhite, northern Bushtit (Mz) Caracara, crested Chat, yellow-breasted Coot, American Cormorant, neotropic Cowbird, bronzed Cowbird, brown-headed Cuckoo, squirrel Dove, Eurasian collared Dove, Inca Dove, mourning Dove, white-tipped Dove, white-winged Duck, black-bellied whistling Duck, fulvous whistling Duck, Mexican Egret, great Egret, snowy Egret, western cattle Elaenia, greenish Euphonia, elegant Falcon, peregrine (Mz) Finch, house Flycatcher, buff-breasted Flycatcher, dusky-capped Flycatcher, Nutting's Flycatcher, social Flycatcher, sulphur-bellied (Rp) Flycatcher, vermilion Gallinule, common Goldfinch, lesser Grackle, great-tailed Grassquit, blue-black 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, green Heron, little blue Heron, tri-colored Hummingbird, berylline Hummingbird, broad-billed Hummingbird, violet-crowned Hummingbird, white-eared Ibis, white-faced Jacana, northern Killdeer Kingbird, Cassin's Kingbird, thick-billed Kingbird, tropical Kiskadee, great Kite, white-tailed Mockingbird, blue Mockingbird, northern Motmot, russet-crowned Nightjar, buff-collared Oriole, black-backed Oriole, black-vented Oriole, streak-backed Osprey Owl, ferruginous pygmy(Rp) Owl, great horned (Av) Parakeet, monk Pelican, American white Pelican, brown Pewee, greater Pigeon, rock (Dove/Feral) Raven, common Roadrunner, greater Robin, rufous-backed Sandpiper, least Sandpiper, spotted Seedeater, cinnamon-rumped Shrike, loggerhead Sparrow, Botteri's Sparrow, chipping Sparrow, house Sparrow, rusty-crowned ground Sparrow, striped (Ra) Sparrow, stripe-headed (Mz) Stilt, black-necked Stork, wood (Ca) Swallow, barn Swallow, cliff Swallow, northern rough-winged Tanager, hepatic Tern, Caspian Tern, Forster's Thrasher, curve-billed Thrush, orange-billed nightingale Towhee, canyon Vireo, golden Vulture, black Vulture, turkey Warbler, rufous-capped Warbler, yellow Woodpecker, golden-fronted Woodpecker, ladder-backed Wren, Bewick's Wren, canyon Wren, happy Wren, Sinaloa Wren, spotted Yellowlegs, greater | |  | | 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 - 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. | | | | |
