A bike ride around the receded shoreline this evening showed how special this place is. A lot of the Shovelers remain - though surely not for much longer with the onset of the nearctic spring. In amongst them were Black-necked Grebes, some in splendid summer plumage. The Ruddy Ducks were looking the business as well, and I also picked up some Least Grebes and Mexican Ducks.
Most of the interest was on the shoreline, though. The receding water has left some good wader scrapes, and with spring migration about to hit full flow, La Presa should throw up some interesting shore birds. There were over 200 Least Sandpipers here today.
Least Sandpipers, Tequisquiapan
Also present Black-necked Stilts, Spotted Sandpipers and some extremely territorial Killdeers. A distant patch of water held what looked like some interesting large waders, but a river of sludge cut me off.
I maintained vigilance on the bike ride back home and was rewarded by a tiny plover scuttling along the water edge. I knew straight away this was a new bird for me here in Mexico. Most of it's features shouted out Snowy Plover - but I was put off by the odd yellow legs, a feature of the much rarer Piping Plover. Further analysis of my photos, though, showed that this bird had been walking in some pretty disgusting green sludge - problem solved.
Very chuffed with Snowy Plover, though. They have a wide global range (known as Kentish Plover in the Old World), but it's always great to get a new bird on the Tequis. and Mexico list.
Snowy Plover, Tequisquiapan
May return here with the Scope soon to scrutinise the waders a bit more closely..
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