Carta Semanal

Las ultimas dos semanas, estuve en Yucatan. Visite muchos lugares interesantes, por ejemplo las zonas arqueologicas de Ux Mal, Calakmul, Chichen Itza, Tulum y Coba. Tambien fui a las ciudades de Campeche, Merida, Playa del Carmen y Cancun.

Durante el viaje, vi una gran variedad de aves, que abarcaba especialidades regionales.

En las siguientes paginas, hay muchas fotos para que las disfrutes.

To put you on...

Reddish Egret, Celestun

Yucatan, Half-way through

Apologies for the lack of posts recently.

I'm half way through a two-week trip to the Yucatan peninsula, one of the birding hotspots of Mexico. So far visited some superb spots, including the mangroves of Celestun, the salt lagoons of Progresso and the Mayan ruins of Uxmal and Calakmul. Needless to say, these places have thrown up some great birds.

Highlights so far have included such specialities as Turqoisep-crowned Motmot, Keel-billed Toucan, Crane Hawk, Collared Forest Falcon, a whopping 11 species of Heron (including Boat-billed and Bare-throated Tiger) and more than 100 other different species.

I will be updating the blog with lots of detailed reports and pictures at the beginning of May.

Spring List Additions

Yesterday marked a nice turning point in Central London with the full arrival of Spring expanding my lists incrementally.

The highlight of my cycle down the Thames was a Wheatear by the Wandsworth Waste Recycling centre - great to add this species so close to my postcode.

The river is now overrun with singing male Blackcap and the Grey Wagtail pair are back at their usual spot.

An afternoon beer on the balcony yielded a Francis Bentley mews first of a Swallow passing overhead. This was closely followed by an unidentified bird, probably some kind of wader on passage, with my money on Avocet but this was so unusual and without the binos remains unconfirmed.

A pair of Collared Dove have also taken up residence just over the wall and appear to have a nest. Collared Dove is not a common bird around Clapham and these were my first in SW4.

Recent News

The 'tree of plenty' (see http://hileybirding.blogspot.com/2011/04/tree-of-plenty-los-sabinos.html) is a Silk Oak Grevillea robusta and has been rightly described as a 'bird-watchers delight'. Certainly, the list of birds that I have seen in one specimen in Los Sabinos has been pretty impressive..

This tiny Nashville Warbler part of a list that includes various Thrushes, Orioles, Tanagers, Woodpeckers, Buntings and Hummingbirds.

Meanwhile, a male Abeille's Oriole, a regular garden visitor has become somewhat of a pest. He has started tapping the window for hours on end. In the olden days, this was taken as a bad sign...it was thought that this behaviour preceded the imminent death of someone in the household.

It is more likely, though, that this fella is seeing a reflection in our window and 'attacking' it in a show of territoriality.

U.F.O.

Yesterday evening, there were some strange objects flying over Tequisquiapan town centre. Alien spacecraft? No, rather 3 'hawking' Lesser Nighthawks. These Nightjar type birds are commonly found over towns in Mexico, hunting at dusk.

It's only the second time I've seen them here. What fantastic birds..

Tree of Plenty - Great Birds, Bad Photos

My Spanish teacher's garden continues to push its claim for 'Tequisquiapan's Best Birding Spot'. Every visit throws up a few new species. Yesterday was no different, chucking up 3 species that I haven't seen before in Tequis. First up, a tiny character with a fantastic name - a Northern Beardless Tyrannulet probing through the bushes.

Then, a spectacular bird in the tree top. I fired off a few shots of this species that I had seen previously in Colima and Xalapa...a Flame-coloured Tanager.

Flame-coloured Tanager - Tequis MEGA

It was a real surprise to find this bird here. Existing thought on their range puts them no closer than the Sierra Gorda in the very north of this state.

Next up a Clay-coloured Robin.

This bird is supposed to have a similar range as the Tanager. What are they doing in Tequis? Vagrancy unlikely, given their sedentary nature. More likely, an overlook in previous range estimates due to poor observer coverage in this country.

V

Carta Semanal April 2011

A new feature for the blog, a weekly report in Spanish to encourage more local readers...

Novedades para el blog, un reporte semanal en español para motivar a más lectores locales.

Desde que la Presa se secó, yo he visitado unos lugares differentes. Hay una presa 4km al este de Tequisquiapan. Ahi, hay mucho más agua, y consecuentemente, hay muchas más aves. En el agua hay muchos patos, por ejemplo el Pato zambulidor grande (200), la Cuchara común (400) y la Focha americana (60).

En el litoral del agua, yo he visto los playeros y las garzas. Las mejores aves han sido los Archibebes (Chico y Grande) y un Falaropo Tricolor -un migrante.

En los árboles cerca de la Presa, vi unos grupos interesantes de Chipes, que incluyen 4 especies differentes. Pronto, ellos van a estar en los Estados Unidos. Porque es primavera, las aves más comunes están cantando, y en los meses de abril y mayo, estas aves son mucho más fáciles de ver (por ejemplo el Capulinero negro y la Maltrace désertica)

Yo espero que ustedes se diviertan con el blog.

Hasta pronto, Jonty

Laundry Time

Pegging the washing out is not a chore anyone particularly enjoys.

However, try telling that to this Broad-billed Hummingbird!

Attracted by the nearby feeder I've put out, he played around on the washing line for a bit, before having a drink and then retiring to the chain fence...

The Tequisquiapan Rounds

An interesting day today. Plenty of migrants around and some singing resident birds, which are a lot easier to see now than at any time since last summer. There's some dry woodland close to Presa Este, and I stumbled into some great mixed flocks. There were at least 6 Black-throated Gray Warblers in the woods, also a number of Audubon's (Yellow-rumped) Warblers and 3 Nashville Warblers. These birds were joined by the obligatory Blue-Grey Gnatcatchers and Ruby-crowned Kinglets.

Variety was provided by this bird below..

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...?

Bird of the day, though had to be this cheeky character. A Hermit Thrush, flushed from the undergrowth. I fired off a quick record shot.

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.

On the water of Presa Este were similar numbers of Ruddy Ducks and Shovelers as seen on my last visit. They don't call Ruddy Ducks 'stiff-tails' for nothing..

A post lunch walk around La Laja (Fuentesuelas Lagoon) turned up good variety of ducks and waders. Also present Crested Caracara, Black-shouldered Kite and a new (but not glam) bird to my Tequis list...Common Moorhen!

The pic below shows some great variety...Stilts, L.B.Dowitchers, Legs, and many Least Sand.

Below are some close-ups. Can you name all 3? First and last are easy, and anyone who has paid attention to recent postings will get the middle!

Assorted Waders, Fuentesuelas Lagoon, La Laja, Tequis.

Tree of Plenty - Los Sabinos, Tequisquiapan

Whilst spending some time in my Spanish Teacher's garden, which is located in Los Sabinos Tequisquiapan, I enjoyed some of the best birding I've had yet in the area.

White-collared Seedeater, Los Sabinos TX

One tree in particular (I'll get back with the species) was in flower and held an enormous number of birds...

In just 40 minutes watching I had recorded the following species feeding in it:

Starling

Indigo Bunting

Golden-cheeked Woodpecker

White-collared Seedeater

House Finch

Bewick's Wren

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Audubon's Warbler

Black-throated Gray Warbler

Nashville Warbler

Lesser Goldfinch

Broad-billed Hummingbird

The Warblers in bold are birds I have seen in other parts of Mexico, but never in the Tequisquiapan area. They're pictured below. It might be that I have just by chance discovered an excellent birding spot (Los Sabinos is lush and has a lot of trees). However, having not seen these species before in Tequis, there is a fair chance that they are migrant birds..

Black-throated Gray Warbler, Tequisquiapan

Nashville Warbler, Tequisquiapan

Indigo Bunting, Tequisquiapan

Yellowlegs I.D.

Differentiating the two species of Yellowlegs in the field isn't always an easy proposition. Both Greater and Lesser have a similar plumage, proportions and behaviour.

At Presa Este, I had the two species side by side, and this made things a lot easier.

The picture below highlights the size difference between the two birds (Greater on right)

Lesser, as you can see is a significantly smaller bird. But when you come across an individual bird, the size feature is difficult to ascertain. Other features are sometimes more reliable. The bill is often a good starting point. Lesser Yellowlegs's bill is straight, 'sharp-pointed', and all dark, as seen below.

Lesser Yellowlegs, Presa Este

On the other hand, Greater has a bill which is slightly upturned (almost Greenshank like), blunt tipped, and with a pale grey base during the nonbreeding season.

Greater Yellowlegs, Presa Este

Another useful feature can be the extent of barring on the flanks of the birds. Compare the Lesser Yellowlegs above with this Greater below. Greater often has considerably more barring...

Greater Yellowlegs, Barco

This feature again depends on the time of year during which you see the birds. The Greater legs at Presa Este, for example, does not show this feature, as it hasn't reached breeding plumage yet.

As with many species of birds, call is the most reliable way to distinguish the two species. Greater gives three or four loud shrill notes, whereas Lesser gives a much softer double whistle.

Final Post (Part 5) and homeward bound - BRING ON 2013 brother's tour.

Some of Israel's commoner birds are quite fantastic. I have a personal preference for the male Spanish Sparrow he's probably my favourite spadge.

Little Green Bee Eater's are awesome - this chap posed in the fading light - one of my favourite shots from the trip.

Some early breeding Bulbuls had raised this rancid little character!

Resident Great Spotted Eagle overhead high but distinctive. A few pairs breed around the outskirts of the town.

An evening Western Reef Egret on the beach market a great Western Pal tick for me. 

A Green Sandpiper zipped past - more wader migration going down than you could shake a stick at.

Crested Lark

And final birding of the week - a male and female Little Crake right at dusk (apologies for the quality but it was pretty dark and no tripod!). This cost me a few mosquito bites as I hunkered down surrounded by Sedge and Savi's Warblers in the sewage ponds. 

Bonanza of Birding (Israel Part 4)

More raptor migration with LLB and SB going over in their hundreds by now - while a low flying Long Legged gave me some chances for action shots.

A distant Sparrowhawk followed by Marsh Harrier and then another Steppe Eagle thermalling with Steppe Buzzard for size comparison. 

Probably the best thing about Eilat birding is the proximity of all the birds. Stepping out of the hotel into the nearest gardens at 3 o'clock in the afternoon I filled my boots in about half an hour. 

Flocks of migrant Yellow Wag (mostly black headed race). Water Pipit and Isabelline Wheatear + probably 50 each of Chiffchaff and Lesser Whitethroat. 

I bumped into a couple of Finnish birders who said they'd had a Cyprus Warbler earlier. I couldn't locate but dropped into a nice Rueppel's - self found good warbler was nice. I almost paralysed myself with warbler neck as I papped him high up in the trees feeding with some blackcap and lesser whites.

Israel Mecca Visit (Part 3) Eilat gets better....

More around the ringing station. A nice Scop's Owl - they get about 20-30 through each year. Apparently there's been a few problems in Israel with Ring Necked Parakeets stealing nest boxes. Striated Scop's winter in the nearby Wadis but they'd gone by the time we arrived.

Nice Savi's Warbler in the hand.

Israel Mega - BLACK BUSH ROBIN caused quite a stir with a mega twitch soon in action for its release. 

Raptor Migration - raptor list - too early for Levant and Honey B. Just 5 minutes outside of the resort in the Eilat mountains there is a constant steam overhead in the morning. WIth a tail wind they get forced lower and often can be seen zipping past hotel balconies. We were a bit unlucky as the birds were generally quite high, but still quite a spectacle and good to practice ID skills.

Steppe Eagle
Imperial Eagle
Short Toed Eagle
Black Kite
Steppe Buzzard
Long Legged Buzzard
Marsh Harrier
Sparrowhawk
Lesser Kes
Kestrel

Steppe Eagle - has long "arms"

Loads of Black Kites going through.

Occasional groups of Black Stork,

Israel birding always has an element of danger to it! 

Jumping into the nearest Wadi we came across a few pair Sand Partridges - the male has some awesome colouring on its side.