A lot more water in Presa de las Constitucion today after some recent heavy rains. The result was that a lot of the wader scrapes and vegetation around the edges are now submerged. There were still some really good birds around, though. The highlight was undoubtedly 2 Black-bellied Plovers. Black-bellied Plovers (or Grey Plovers) are a winter visitor to coasts in this part of the World, and inland records are rare.
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| Black-bellied Plover, Presa de la Constitucion, Queretaro |
Other waders included a first
Wilson's Snipe and a first
Long-billed Dowitcher of the winter, as well as several Spotted Sandpipers, Least Sandpipers, Greater Yellowlegs and Baird's Sandpipers.
Herons were a highlight here as usual. As well as Great Egrets, Cattle Egrets, Snowy Egrets, Black-crowned Night Herons and Great Blue Herons, numbers of
American White Pelican are building up. There were 15 here today.
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| American White Pelican, Presa de la Constitucion, Queretaro |
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| Black-crowned Night Heron |
On the duck front, numbers of Shoveler, Pintail, Blue-winged and Green-winged Teal seem to be building up. Also present were a pair of Ruddy Ducks, and a
Ring-necked Duck.
I watched a Peregrine fly off with a Feral Pigeon, before scrapping briefly with this quartering
Northern Harrier.
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| Northern Harrier |
Other interesting birds were several Savannah, Lark and Clay-coloured Sparrows, a pair of
Northern Bobwhites, a House Wren, an Eastern Meadowlark, 2 Blue Grosbeaks and over 100 Horned Larks.
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| Savannah Sparrow |
The last time I'd seen this species was in September. Now I had 5 more individuals. This was verging on the ridiculous, or should I say 'Verdin' on the ridiculous...?
I picked up some other species, more typical of the arid scrub. Roving parties of Black-eared Bushtits were a nice bonus. Also, singing and displaying Phainopeplas and Cactus Wrens were everywhere. Abeille's Orioles and Vermilion Flycatchers were also conspicuous today. 
