The Big Day

In a birder's 'big day', the aim is to see as many species as possible.  To hit up big numbers, you need an early start, good local knowledge and enough energy to keep going until sunset...

My route last Saturday took me round the best spots I know within biking distance of Tequisquiapan.

- Fuentezuelas Farmland (FF)
- Lago Pelicanos (LP)
- La Laja (LL)
- Presa Centenario (PC)

Here were the results:

American Wigeon (LP, PC), Mexican Duck (LP), Blue-winged Teal (PC, LL), Green-winged Teal (LP, LL, PC), Cinnamon Teal (LL), Northern Shoveler (LP, LL, PC), Northern Pintail (LP, LL), Redhead (PC), Canvasback (PC), Ring-necked Duck (PC), Lesser Scaup (PC), Ruddy Duck (PC)

Eared Grebe (PC)

American White Pelican (LP), Great Blue Heron (LP), Great Egret (LP), Snowy Egret (LP), Cattle Egret (FF), Black-crowned Night Heron (LP), White-faced Ibis (FF), Roseate Spoonbill (LP)

American White Pelicana

Turkey Vulture (FF), Red-tailed Hawk (FF), Sharp-shinned Hawk (FF), Northern Harrier (FF), Peregrine (FF), Merlin (PC), American Kestrel (FF), Crested Caracara (FF)

Common Moorhen (LL), American Coot (LP, PC, LL)

Killdeer (FF), American Avocet (LP), Greater Yellowlegs (LP), Lesser Yellowlegs (PC), Long-billed Dowitcher (PC), Black-necked Stilt (LL, PC), Least Sandpiper (PC), Spotted Sandpiper (LP, LL, PC)

White-winged Dove (PC), Inca Dove, Collared Dove (FF), Common Ground Dove (FF), Mourning Dove (FF), Rock Dove

Broad-billed Hummingbird, Ladderback, Golden-fronted Woodpecker (FF)

Black Phoebe (LP), Say's Phoebe (FF), Vermilion Flycatcher (FF), Cassin's Kingbird, Loggerhead Shrike, Northern Mockingbird

Chihuahuan Raven (FF), Northern Raven (LL),  Barn Swallow (LP), Violet-green Swallow (LP)

Cactus Wren (FF), Bewick's Wren, House Wren, Marsh Wren (LP)

Ruby-crowned Kinglet (LP), Blue-grey Gnatcatcher, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Common Yellowthroat (LP, FF)

Clay-colored Sparrow

Canyon Towhee, Chipping Sparrow (FF), Lark Sparrow (FF), Clay-colored Sparrow (FF), Grasshopper Sparrow (FF), Savannah Sparrow (FF), Lincoln's Sparrow (FF), House Sparrow, Blue Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting (LP)

Grasshopper Sparrow - can you spot him?

Eastern Meadowlark (FF), Great-tailed Grackle, Brown-headed Cowbird, Yellow-headed Blackbird, House Finch, Lesser Goldfinch.

Total: 83 species

Notable Absentees Abeille's Oriole, Hooded Oriole, Bronzed Cowbird, Red-winged Blackbird, Brewer's Blackbird, Varied Bunting, Phainopepla, Wilson's Warbler, American Robin, Clay-colored Robin, Violet-crowned Hummingbird, White-tailed Kite.