Chapala Birders Newsletter, March 2, 2025 | | | Sightings last Month
There were 210 species reported for the lake area in February. The complete list is shown at the end of this newsletter. Interesting sightings included the following:
- Yellow-bellied Sapsucker was seen by Duncan Poole at the San Antonio malecon.
- Tom Bravo reported a Gray Flycatcher at the same location.
- Jules Evens and a group of others heard Mexican Whip-poor-will and six owl species in the early morning on the Caracol Trail.
When do our Migrants Fly North?
In our part of Mexico, the migratory song birds start getting itchy feet in the middle of March and have all disappeared by mid-April. Their departures are carefully timed to arrive on their breeding grounds in the U.S., Canada and the Arctic exactly when the ice is out and the first flowers and insects are appearing so that they can compete for the best mates and best nesting sites. | | Featured Bird: White-throated Thrush | | - A White-throated Thrush. Observe the black and white stripes on the neck and a white crescent beneath the neck. Sexes are similar. South of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec (the narrowest part of Mexico) this species has a black back and yellow eyering.
| | - The White-throated Thrush occurs from Mexico to Colombia. There are many subspecies, each inhabiting its own mountain range and each exhibiting different color tones.
- It is seen only occasionally in our hills, though it is more common closer to the coast.
- It does not migrate, but it exhibits altitude migration, meaning that it tends to move to lower altitudes in colder weather.
- It feeds on insects and worms, as well as fruits and berries in the non-breeding season.
- The nest is made of grasses and moss held together by mud, either in the fork of a tree or on the ground.
- The female lays 2-4 eggs, incubating them for two weeks. Both parents feed the young for another two weeks until they fledge.
| | 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 Monday March 10, we will meet at 8.00 am at the 'Sculpture (at the only traffic light in La Floresta, south-east corner, opposite 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. You must reserve - email John at least 2 days ahead of time, saying if you can bring a vehicle and can take passengers, or you would like to be a passenger.
On Monday March 17, 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 Thursday March 27, we will meet at 8.00 am at the 'Sculpture' (at the only traffic light in La Floresta, south-east corner, opposite Restaurant Pranzo) and leave immediately for Mezcala Mountain (60 minutes drive). We will park and then walk the one-mile (1.5 km) trail along the top. Bring refreshments for the 11.00 am snack break. Expect to get back to Ajijic by 1.00 pm. Other pick-up points can be arranged between Ajijic and Mezcala. If you plan on going, you must email John Keeling at chapalabirders@yahoo.com at least 2 days ahead indicating if you can bring a vehicle and can take passengers, or you would like to be a passenger. High-clearance, all wheel drive vehicles with off-road tires are recommended for the ascent. | | | On February 6, we had 12 birders on the Allen Lloyd Trail, managing to spot 34 species including Greenish Elaenia, Virginia's Warbler, MacGillivray's Warbler, Blue Mockingbird, Warbling Vireo and Squirrel Cuckoo.
On February 20, we had a group of 10 people on the Rosa Amarrilla Loop. We observed Osprey, White-tailed Hawk, Black Phoebe, Canvasback, Ruddy Duck, Brewer's Blackbird, Chihuahan Meadowlark, and Stripe-headed Sparrow.
On February 26, with fifteen observers, we recorded 55 species at Cristiania Park in Chapala, including Rufous-backed Robin, Cassin's Kingbird, Cinnamon-rumped Seedeater, White-faced Ibis, Monk Parakeet and Groove-billed Ani. | | | Here are the 210 species observed around Lake Chapala in February:
Ani, groove-billed Avocet, American Becard, gray-collared Becard, rose-throated Bittern, American Blackbird, Brewer's Blackbird, red-winged Blackbird, yellow-headed Bunting, indigo Bunting, lazuli Bunting, painted Bunting, varied Bushtit Canvasback 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 Dowitcher, long-billed Duck, black-bellied whistling Duck, fulvous whistling Duck, Mexican Duck, ruddy Egret, great Egret, snowy Egret, western cattle Elaenia, greenish (Sa) Euphonia, elegant Finch, house Flycatcher, ash-throated Flycatcher, brown-crested Flycatcher, dusky Flycatcher, dusky-capped Flycatcher, gray Flycatcher, Hammond's Flycatcher, least Flycatcher, Nutting's (Sa) Flycatcher, social Flycatcher, tufted (Sa) Flycatcher, vermilion Flycatcher, western Gadwall Gallinule, common Gnatcatcher, black-capped Gnatcatcher, blue-gray Goldfinch, lesser Grackle, great-tailed Grebe, pied-billed Grosbeak, black-headed Grosbeak, blue Gull, laughing Gull, ring-billed Harrier, northern Hawk, Cooper's (Sa) Hawk, gray Hawk, red-tailed Hawk, sharp-shinned (Sa) Hawk, short-tailed Hawk, white-tailed Hawk, zone-tailed Heron, black-crowned night Heron, great blue Heron, green Heron, little blue Heron, tri-colored Hummingbird, berylline Hummingbird, black-chinned Hummingbird, broad-billed Hummingbird, broad-tailed Hummingbird, Rivoli's Hummingbird, ruby-throated Hummingbird, violet-crowned Hummingbird, white-eared Ibis, white-faced Jacana, northern Kestrel, American Killdeer Kingbird, Cassin's Kingbird, thick-billed Kingbird, tropical Kingbird, western Kingfisher, belted Kinglet, ruby-crowned Kiskadee, great Kite, white-tailed Meadowlark, Chihuahuan (Ra) Mockingbird, blue Mockingbird, northern Mountain-gem, blue-throated Nighthawk, lesser Nightjar, buff-collared Oriole, black-backed Oriole, black-vented Oriole, Bullock's Oriole, hooded Oriole, orchard Oriole, streak-backed Osprey Owl, elf (Ct) Owl, ferruginous pygmy (Ct) Owl, great horned (Ct) Owl, mottled (Ct) Owl, mountain pygmy (Ct) Owl, western screech (Ct) Parakeet, monk (Ch) Parrotlet, Mexican Pelican, American white Pewee, greater Phoebe, black (Ra) Phoebe, Say's Pigeon, rock Pintail, northern Raven, common Redstart, American Redstart, painted Redstart, slate-throated (Sa) Robin, American Robin, rufous-backed Sandpiper, least Sandpiper, spotted Sapsucker, yellow-bellied (Sa) Scaup, lesser Seedeater, cinnamon-rumped Shoveler, northern Shrike, loggerhead Snipe, Wilson's Solitaire, brown-backed (Ct) Sora Sparrow, chipping Sparrow, clay-colored Sparrow, grasshopper (Sa) Sparrow, house Sparrow, lark Sparrow, Lincoln's Sparrow, rusty-crowned ground Sparrow, savannah Sparrow, stripe-headed Stilt, black-necked Stork, wood Swallow, barn Swallow, northern rough-winged Swallow, tree Swallow, violet-green Swift, Vaux's (Sa) Tanager, flame-colored Tanager, hepatic Tanager, summer Tanager, western Teal, blue-winged Teal, cinnamon Teal, green-winged Tern, black Tern, Caspian Tern, Forster's Thrasher, curve-billed Thrush, hermit Thrush, orange-billed nightingale Towhee, canyon Towhee, green-tailed (Sc) Towhee, spotted (Ct) Tyrannulet, northern beardless Violetear, Mexican (Ct) Vireo, Bell's Vireo, black capped Vireo, Cassin's Vireo, golden Vireo, Hutton's Vireo, plumbeous Vireo, warbling Vulture, black Vulture, turkey Warbler, black and white Warbler, black-throated gray Warbler, hermit Warbler, Lucy's Warbler, MacGillivray's Warbler, Nashville Warbler, orange-crowned Warbler, red-faced Warbler, rufous-capped Warbler, Townsend's Warbler, Virginia's Warbler, Wilson's Warbler, yellow Warbler, yellow-rumped Waterthrush, Louisiana (Sa) Waterthrush, northern (Sa) Whip-poor-will, Mexican (Ct) Wigeon, American (Ct) Willet Woodpecker, golden-fronted Woodpecker, ladder-backed Wren, Bewick's Wren, canyon Wren, happy Wren, marsh Wren, northern house Wren, Sinaloa Wren, spotted Yellowlegs, greater Yellowthroat, common 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 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. | | |
|
|
