Sunday, October 31, 2010

Club de Golf

Had a little walk along the river by Club de Golf this afternoon. A scorching hot day, but it still threw up some good birds. There are plenty of House Wrens in Club de Golf now, and I managed to add a new Wren to my list. On the wall of one of the houses scurried a Wallcreeper like bird. It had a bright white throat and a rufous belly, making it a Canyon Wren, a classic bird of arid country.

I had some Clay-coloured Sparrows in the shrub and, later on, a Vermillion Flycatcher perched up for a photo. Never tire of these colourful guys.


At the river, Yellow-rumped Warblers and Golden-fronted Woodpeckers crashed through the canopy, and a couple of Black Phoebe's were fly catching just above the water.

Vallarta next up.

Friday, October 29, 2010

San Blas Prospects

I´m hoping to get in a few days birding at San Blas next week, one of the premier wetland spots in the Americas. Stumbled across this site of photos from the area..

http://www.jczinn.com/North%20America/San%20Blas,%20Mexico/Birds/naindex.html

Watch the slideshow. I hope I catch up with some of that lot!

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Skunk and Nighthawk

There was a most unwelcome addition to my mammal list last night as, whilst riding my bike along the Club de Golf road, I disturbed a Skunk on the roadside. The little git ran in front of me, tail raised and leaving its trademark stink. I wasn't too happy. It was pungent, let me tell you. So pungent, that, as I rode past the same spot this morning, I could still smell it.

A slightly more pleasant sighting was a Lesser Nighthawk, winter visitor to these parts, hawking for insects over Tequis. town centre.

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Magia del Pasado, Queretaro


I returned to the Magia del Pasado gardens in Queretaro late on Sunday morning. Unfortunately, the place was slightly busier, and consequently the birds were not as showy. There was still plenty on offer, though. This Broad-billed Hummer finally stayed still for me.



In the conifers, I was quickly in to a few Ruby-crowned Kinglets. Yellow-rumped Warblers were everywhere. I must have counted around 30 across the park. An elusive little blighter high in the canopy was less easy to identify, but I eventually got good enough views to confirm that it was a Nashville Warbler. This Wilson's Warbler was a little more amenable.


By the water fountain, a Summer Tanager and an Oriole took a quick drink with some House Sparrows. Unfortunately, the Oriole took off before I could get proper views of it through the bins. I was luckier later on when a House Wren dashed around the bushes.

Birding in these lush gardens makes a pleasant change from the semi-desert of Tequisquiapan. Off to Puerto Vallarta on Sunday night. It should be an amazing birding experience - jungle, mangroves, coast, mountains, you name it!


Sunday, October 24, 2010

Head on Harrier

Just before walking down to the local 'Miscelanea' this evening, I decided, on a hunch, to take my camera with me. I thought it was going to pay off big time, when a Northern Harrier switched its attention from quartering the fields to banking straight over my head. The shot below isn't cropped - I could literally have reached up and touched it. Unfortunately not quite in focus, but a good experience nevertheless.

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Gardens of El Museo de Magi del Pasado, Queretaro

A school trip took me into the centre of Queretaro yesterday, and whilst the kids took the tour of the Museum, I took twenty minutes to explore the gorgeous surrounding gardens. Without bins, I thought I´d be struggling to pick much up, but a bit of tactical pishing brought me close views of some quality species.

Firstly, a Goldcrest like bird flitted around a conifer. As it came to the edge of the tree, the white wing bar and plain face confirmed it as a Ruby-crowned Kinglet. Bonus! Nearby, a female Summer Tanager flicked through the upper levels of canopy, and then a gorgeous yellow warbler with black cap and bright supercilium alighted on a nearby branch. Wilson´s Warbler. Three lifers in the space of a few minutes.

There were plenty of other birds around, including Grackles, American Robin, Yellow rumped Warblers, Cassin´s Kingbirds, Vermillion Flycatchers and Golden-fronted Woodpeckers. There were certainly things I didn´t pick up as well. A more leisurely visit back here with optics would surely yield more.

Monday, October 18, 2010

La Presa comes up trumps again

I was up early yesterday, keen to get in a big morning of birding having decided against another Veracruz visit. The mornings are cold and misty now, and La Presa was particularly eerie when I arrived there at 8 a.m.
Yankee Coots and Blue-winged Teals ghosted across the shallows.



Barn Swallows hunkered down. No insects to hunt in these conditions. It wasn't too dissimilar to Lac du Der in October actually. The difference here, though, was that I knew the Sun would be pumping down some serious heat within a few hours.

It duly obliged, creating a glorious scene of morning mist rising from the Reservoir against a stunning mountainous backdrop.


As the mist cleared, the dots on the reservoir materialised into Shovelers by the thousand, Ruddy Ducks, Eared Grebes, Mexican Ducks and Wilson's Phalaropes.

This morning was all about critters and raptors, though. The arrival of this years winter visitors has brought with it the prospect of lifers. The Res, as is its wont, didn't disappoint. Lark Sparrows were abundant, but within their large flocks were several smaller sparrows. One perched up long enough for me to get the camera on it. Sibley informed me I was looking at Clay-coloured Sparrows.

Further down, a couple of small passerines hopped along the waters edge, tails bobbing in the manner of Wagtails. I knew straight away that these were American Pipits, lifer number 2.

Well pleased with the first hours work I stopped for a birders breakfast of bread roll and water. A male and female Peregrine chased each other over the water to entertain me as I ate - the first of 6 species of raptor I picked up.

The first post-lunch lifer came in the form of a Savannah Sparrow perched up in a corn field, another widespread winter visitor to these parts. I saw 4 more throughout the morning.


At the back of the reservoir were some flooded fields, holding 30 Cattle Egrets and a similar number of Kildeer. I was more interested in what took off above them, though - a fine Crested Caracara. Before long I realised I was in raptor central. The Caracara first flushed an American Kestrel and then disturbed a White-tailed Kite from a distant bare tree. Then all of a sudden there were 3 new raptors in the sky - 2 Turkey Vultures circling with a Red-tailed Hawk
The flurry of bird of prey activity didn't distract me from the scrub, though. I was picking out Gnatcatchers and Y.R. Warblers by the dozen. A clicking from a nearby clump of reeds really aroused my attention, though. I knew something was in there but it wasn't showing. There was only one thing for it. I got in there myself, and soon found myself face to face with a tiny Marsh Wren. Good views of a difficult to see bird.

As the path ran out ahead of me I realised it was time to head back. Eyes to the skies I added Lesser Yellowlegs, Pintail, Cactus Wren and Golden-fronted Woodpecker to the daylist. The morning still held one more surprise, though. This fine Northern Mockingbird alighted on a nearby thorn bush to become the 5th lifer of the day.



The birding gods were certainly smiling on me. I hope they continue to do so for my half term visit to Vallarta in a few weeks!







Sunday, October 17, 2010

El Sauz Yomp

Had a fine evening yomp around the Hinterland at sunset yesterday. What a stunning place.


Bird-wise it wasn't bad either. The onset of October has brought a noticeable number of winter visitors into Queretaro. Yellow-rumped Warblers seem to be everywhere (and have indeed joined my garden list) and I've noticed more and more American Kestrels. I was just getting close to this one when a male Peregrine buzzed it.


Kestrels, Peregrines, I could have been in rainy England! Things got even more nostalgic when I saw the familiar shape of a large raptor quartering the farmland.



White patch at the base of the tail.. this was a ring-sting all right! Over on this side of the pond, we call it the Northern Harrier let me tell you. Its the same species that graces our coasts in winter back in blighty though.

It was a superb weekend for raptors, as you'll find out reading tomorrow's blog!

The usual critters were knocking about as well. King-pin, Loggerhead, G.F.W. etc.. The final highlight, though, caught me surprise. I was enjoying the sunset when a loud whoosh boomed through the air. I looked up, and this is what I saw..



Just a few thousand Red-winged Blackbirds. What a good do.

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Birding and Biking Mexican Style

Having neglected it for a few weeks, I decided a post-work birding trip to La Presa was in order. I took the bike, believing I could cover a bit more ground. I also ambitiously had my scope and tripod. It made for a right scene - riding a dodgy bike over rough ground with shirt off, bins and camera round neck and huge telescope over shoulder. The very definition of poor play! I soon realised I was going nowhere fast, so launched some big scans.

Straight away I was into some classic birds of the reservoir. American Coots, Killdeers, Spotted Sandpipers and a dozen Baird's Sandpipers. 30 Grackles fed on the gunk around the edge of the reservoir. I'd expect nothing less.

A little further round I came across a few very elegant waders. Even pictured against a dying sun, they don't provide too difficult an I.D. Challenge.



In the middle of the Reservoir were rafts like you've never seen before. Shovelers by the thousand. I attempted to count and put the figure at around 7000. In places, they were so thick that I couldn't see the water on which they were swimming.

Realising I wasn't getting very far, I decided it was time for a rethink of strategy. I chowed down a muffin and some water (classic birding snack!) and proceeded to ditch the bike for a while and concentrate on the passerines in the lakeside scrub.

Great shout! Within minutes I was into Bronzed Cowbirds, Grackles, Verm Flycatchers, Cassin's Kingbirds, Blue-Grey Gnatcatchers, Lark Sparrows (ever increasing in number as we enter winter) and House Sparrows.

A distant flitter caught my attention. Closer investigation brought me views of a small group of Warblers. Nice - some winter visitors, but what species? This bright adult gave me a pretty good idea.

The next view confirmed it was my first Yellow-rumped Warbler.



A couple of these critters reached Ireland last week causing quite a stir. Here, they were in there intended wintering location. The records from across the Atlantic, the 10 I saw here, and another 2 I picked up in the town centre suggest that these birds have been on the move pretty recently!

I rode the bike to a friends for dinner. Not having had chance to go home first, I was suffering the after effects of a session in the field (birders breath, stubble and nose). However, on the plus side I still had my binocs with me. So when a small Woodpecker landed on the trunk of a tree outside the house in the last throes of light I was able to get on to it and confirm my second lifer of the day - a fine male Ladder-backed Woodpecker.

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Raptor 51

Went out for a jog around the El Sauz hinterland this evening. Just before I went out, I was faced with a classic birders' dilemna. Should I take the camera or not? Taking it would hinder my run, but if I left it I was sure to miss an excellent photo op.

Made the wrong decision! Shortly into the run, I picked up a small falcon on top of a telegraph post. The route took us right by it, and as I reached the pole, the falcon stayed right there, basking in some glorious evening Sun. I knew that I was looking at career raptor number 51, a fine male American Kestrel, winter visitor in these parts. I was glad, of course, that views were good enough to confirm a lifer, but was cursing that I'd left my camera behind - it would have made a lovely shot.

Birds were everywhere this evening actually. Cassin's Kingbirds squaked away from every tree, and there were large numbers of White-winged and Mourning Doves dashing around the place. Over Club de Golf at about 5 p.m. I noted a nice passage of 200 Barn Swallows.

Back at home, I had the scant consolation of being able to take a pic of this Curve-billed Thrasher on his favourite perch.

Hoping the Yankee Kes will remain in the Hinterland all winter.


Saturday, October 9, 2010

Demon Bird

I was driving back from Queretaro a few evenings ago, through an agricultural part of the state. All of a sudden, a portion of the sky turned black. A huge flock of birds, reminiscent of the fantastic Starling displays we see back in England. I couldn't make out the details of any individual birds, but the behaviour and habitat told me all I needed to know. I was looking at about 20,000 Red-winged Blackbirds - nemesis of farmers, due to their ability to rapidly destroy whole fields of crops. I wasn't moaning, though..another bird to my Mexico list.

In other news, if anyone needed any confirmation that the Great-tailed Grackle is the most disgusting bird in the World, check out this picture I took...


The bird was trying to tuck into some kind of snail. It picked it up with its beak, tossed it in the air, rotating its head 180 degrees in the process, and then proceeded to catch the snail and devour it. Possessed? Possibly. An excellent demonstration of avian intelligence? Certainly.

Thursday, October 7, 2010

Mammal List

Not a lot of birding done recently, but I have managed to add some interesting mammals to my Mexico list. Running back to Club de Golf late at night has thrown up some real characters.

First, a 'Tlacuache', a Mexican opossum, which basically resembles a large rat.

Then, last week, a nasty chap dashed across the road in front of me. With a black and white face and a striped tail..this was a Racoon alright. Not pleasant.

The Sierra Gorda in the north of Queretaro holds Jaguars and Black Bears, as well as over 300 species of birds. A trip there is in the offing in the near future, thats for sure.

Monday, October 4, 2010

Dungeness hat trick

Heading to Dungeness you never know whats in store. Arguably one of the best sites in the UK for birding, offering a combination of passerine and seawatching opportunities in a great setting.

Arriving at first light by the seawatching hide I quickly ingratiated myself with some hardcore birders from the observatory. My skua ID is not yet up to scratch so I hunkered down and shamelessly dovetailed the experts.

Within an hour we racked up RN grebe, RT Diver, Gannet, Eider, C Scoter, GC Grebe and a distant Arctic Skua. Nice going in good weather conditions, contrary to the foul, sodden experience Jonty and I had earlier in the year.

No hunkering down in a rancid shed for us, we were out and proud, sat atop the shingle hill for all to see. Quite quickly, PC Plod got onto us though. A couple of tough guys from the power station came over, fully tooled up with "some sort of machine gun". This created some birding comedy gold as Plod started quizzing us on bird knowledge to check we weren't terrorists.

"Oh yeah, what are you looking at this morning?"
"Is that rare?"
"How did you find out it was here?"
"How do you recognise them then?"

Total mirth. As if 10 guys in wax jackets with £5k optical equipment, bad facial hair, wild eyes and no social skills were capable of crimes against the nation..........on second thoughts, maybe Plod was onto something?

Back to the seawatching and a small skua bombed in from the East. The group elders quickly speculating Long-Tailed, which was soon confirmed when this little beauty started chasing terns alongside an Arctic, giving great size and colour comparisons. Nice - first lifer of the day.

Quite content, I quickly bashed around the observatory, finding a couple of Ouzels and bagging a nice Hobby overhead.

A quick bacon barm, a cup of rank coffee and it was off in search of Buff-Breasted Sandpiper. Reported the day before down the road I was pretty confident of bagging my second lifer.

I pulled over, jumped out and got straight onto these "mini-Ruffs". I quite enjoyed the thought of Jonty seeing these bad boys at the same time over in Mexico on the correct migration path.


Just as I set-up my camera, someone starting going hyper about a Barred Warbler "on the reserve". Unbelievable, a chance of a third lifer in the day!

Back in the car, a quick flapjack in the reserve shop and some clodding to the far side of the reserve. I joined the waiting pack of twitchers and before long the juvenile Barred popped out to eat some blackberries. Pretty unmistakeable next to Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps, this was a great bird to add to my list. With the rain starting to come down, fading light and plenty of twigs in the way I just managed to pap him before heading home in fine fettle.












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