Drawwater

Bathing Lesser Goldinches, Tequisquiapan

Heart-warming!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-13814508

Rainy Season

The rains finally arrived in Tequisquiapan on Tuesday, and how!

After 6 months of blue skies, we have been treated to some fierce storms which have started to transform the place..

One of the results has been a softening of the ground at Parque La Pila, resulting in better feeding opportunities for the Egrets nesting there.

Great Egret, Tequisquiapan

A bit more 'urban birding' around the Park yielded some Barn Swallows (below), Starlings, Cassin's Kingbirds, Cattle Egrets, Black-crowned Night Heron, House Finches, House Sparrows, a party of Bushtits, Clay-coloured Robin, Golden-fronted Woodpecker and Great-tailed Grackles.

Barn Swallow, Tequisquiapan

Pena de Bernal

An afternoon visit to the Pueblo Magico of Bernal today.

Pena de Bernal - 3rd biggest Monolith in the World (1 - Gibraltar, 2 - Sugar Loaf Mountain, Rio)

Birds Present:

Vermilion Flycatcher,

Cassin's Kingbird,

Turkey Vulture,

Northern Raven,

Chihuahuan Raven,

Curve-billed Thrasher,

Black-eared Bushtit,

Abeille's Oriole,

Barn Swallow

Curve-billed Thrasher

Recently fledged Barn Swallows

Rio Escanela - Up the River

Rio Escanela

Walking up Rio Escanela to the spectacular Puente de Dios brought some more species of interest. The fabulously named Rufous-browed Peppershrike showed well for all, but refused to pose for any decent photos.

The many American Dippers were more obliging

Also along the river, we found Black Phoebes, Clay-coloured Robin, Black-headed Nightingale Thrush, Magnificent Hummingbird, Sulphur-bellied Flycatchers (just a summer visitor), many Canyon Wrens and overflying Turkey Vultures, Red-tailed Hawks and Northern Ravens.

Sierra Gorda - Rio Escanela Camping

I had a superb camping trip up to Rio Escanela in the Sierra Gorda last weekend with some friends. On the whole, there were a lot fewer birds than last time - when we visited in January, the vegetation was alive with mixed flocks of North American migrants (seehttp://hileybirding.blogspot.com/2011_01_01_archive.html).

This time round, breeding Mexican residents were the main attraction. One such bird was this Rufous-capped Warbler, probably on its way to feed its young with a beak full of insects..

From the same family, we also found a Crescent-chested Warbler and a Painted Redstart.

The large Wrens of Mexico form a very charismatic family. At the camp ground, I came across a noisy pair of Spotted Wrens..

And later on, in the undergrowth a skulking Spot-breasted Wren.

Orioles are one of the most beautiful groups of birds out here in Mexico. I was pleased to catch up with a pair of Audubon's Orioles chowing down on some cactus fruit...

There were also plenty of Orange-billed Nightingale Thrushes around the campsite early on.

Other species seen at the camp ground included Violet-green Swallow, Rough-winged Swallow, Mexican Jay, Long-billed Thrasher, Yellow-throated Euphonia, Lesser Goldfinch, Black-headed Grosbeak, Flame-coloured Tanager, Rusty Sparrow, Brown-headed Cowbird (parasitising Canyon Towhee) and White-eared Hummingbird.

Of interest in Tequis

4th June

A few Vaux's Swifts flew over the main plaza last weekend, my first Tequis record of this species.

6th June

For the second time, I watched a Barn Owl fly from the church and take a juvenile Grackle from the trees in the plaza. I guess there is a reasonable chance it is nesting in the church and using the roost for the majority of the nutritional requirements for itself and the young'uns!

San Joaquin

Whilst on a preliminary visit to this area ahead of a school camp, I couldn't help noticing the rich birdlife present. Notched up a few bonus lifers.

Aventura Park has a Hummingbird feeder, which was being frequented by some superb Blue-throated Hummingbrids.

Blue-throated Hummingbirds, San Joaquin

The archaeological site of Teroquilla (spelling?) close to San Joaquin was fascinating, and also held some good birds - Violaceous Trogon and Rufous-sided Towhee being the best.

The dramatic landscape of Maconi waterfall was good habitat for Common Raven, Turkey Vultures, Rough-winged Swallows and plenty of singing Canyon Wrens.

Then it was to the Maravillas Waterfalls, a wonderful wooded valley holding Acorn Peckers..

and bird of the day, a Black-headed Nightingale Thrush which showed for long enough to get a good view through the binocs. I wasn't quick enough to snap away at this rare bird, though.

Who rules the roost?

I wandered down to Parque La Pila this evening to see how well the birds had survived the Cheese and Wine Festival that ravaged the place last week. The Heronry, fortunately, looked still to be in full swing. Plenty of juvenile Black-crowned Night Herons, indicating a successful breeding period for this species.

Likewise plenty of Cattle Egrets in their breeding plumage

It wasn't a peaceful scene for too long, though. These young Night Herons are pretty nasty characters let me tell you, and a fight quickly broke out between one and Spikey, who thought that he ruled the roost.

The Great White Egrets were staying out of it at first...

But then their air squadrons launched some nasty missiles

Causing those caught underneath to take flight...

La Laja, Fuentesuelas

I went to La Laja at Fuentesuelas this evening. It's one of the few bodies of water which hasn't dried up in this area. Good job as well, because it is hosting some superb breeding waders, such as the elegant American Avocet.

There were plenty of Killdeers as well. These birds are much more common around Tequis.

And insects on the surface of the water provided rich pickings for a number of Swallows.

Plenty of Black-necked Stilts as well. These superb birds made great subjects in the evening light.

Overall, there is a much smaller variety of birds here than in the winter. There were many (300) Mexican Duck on the lake, with 1 Blue-winged Teal, 2 Ruddy Ducks and 30 American Coots. In the scrub, only Vermilion Flycatcher, Canyon Towhee, Phainopepla and a few others.

Not a single raptor either. In winter, a reasonable birding session brings up to 8 species.

Beardless

A few little walks around Tequisquiapan in the last few days have yielded some reasonable birds. The arid semi-desert to the east of the town holds species hard to find in the rest of Tequis, such as Common Ground Doves, Canyon Wrens and Verdins. A small party of the latter included this juvenile nibbling at the berries of an Organ Cactus.

The Cactus Wren is a common bird of Tequis. In a friend's garden, I found his lair.

Lair of Cactus Jack

I knew he wouldn't be far away... Here is the big fella, singing away.

In another friend's garden, I had breeding Clay-colored Robins. A notable record given that current distribution maps say they come no closer than the very north of Queretaro State.

Clay-colored Robins, Los Sabinos, Tequisquiapan

In the farmland close to Balneario La Vega, I had a few nice surprises, including Lesser Goldfinches and this male White-collared Seedeater..

Dr. House was singing away from the tree top.

House Finch, Tequisquiapan

Cassin's Kingbird

Bird of the week, though, is this little fellow. I pished him close enough to get a few nice shots in the undergrowth. This is the bizarrely named Northern Beardless Tyrannulet.

No beard on this guy, thats for sure

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