Another Anhinga

A late report from a birding trip two Sundays ago with Rosalinda Paez from Queretaro and JP Murphy from Ireland.  

We had a good walk around Presa Centenario - all the way from the dam to where the Rio San Juan joins the highway between San Nicolas and Bordo Blanco.  Plenty of raptors made for interesting viewing...as well as American Kestrel, Red-tailed Hawk and a stunning male Northern Harrier, we were treated to good views of this Turkey Vulture and more impressively, only my second ever Red-shouldered Hawk in Queretaro. 

Ugly Vulture

Red-shouldered Hawk

The best bird of the day, though, was surely this Anhinga.  Two in two weeks?  A mini-invasion perhaps, or more likely the same one as we saw at Presa Constitucion.  Here it is.  Same type of tree, same pose as the last one.

Anhinga...bird of the day

Another interesting sighting was two Neotropic Cormorant nests complete with youngsters.  The first breeding pairs I have seen here, although there must be others around.  This was pleasant news against the rather grim backdrop of a huge Water Hyacinth invasion, which is taking hold of the chain of reservoirs.  Fingers crossed that this weed is stopped somehow.

Other nice sightings around the Reservoir included prolonged views of Curve-billed Thrashers.

Curve-billed Thrasher

As well as a lot of Mexican Sister butterflies attracted to a pile of rotting Oranges..

Mexican Sister

 Good walk, good company, and a good time had by all.

Golden Eagle in Tequisquiapan, Queretaro

While climbing the Cerro Grande on Sunday with Valentina, Ernesto, and Russ and Carol from Texas, we encountered some great wildlife, with the undoubted highlight being views of a distant Golden Eagle from the top. 

Adult Golden Eagle

These majestic birds are rare across much of the range, and the same is the case in Queretaro.  We were all very lucky to witness one within walking distance of Tequisquiapan.

It soared into view whilst we were watching Red-tailed Hawks, Turkey Vultures and Ravens.  

Red-tailed Hawk

The birding is always good up the Cerro Grande - the habitats change with the altitude, bringing different bird species from down lower in Tequis.  Birds such as this Spotted Towhee illustrate this.   

Spotted Towhee

 We didn't explore the woods at the top (too tired after the hike up!), but a bit of pishing brought this Hermit Warbler close (note unstreaked flank), as well as some Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Orange-crowned Warblers and Yellow-rumped Warblers.

Hermit Warbler

 The Hummingbirds are different up at the Cerro as well.  Down in Tequisquiapan, we only see Violet-crowned and Broad-billed, whereas up here I've seen Lucifer, White-eared and Magnificent.  On Sunday, the migrant Rufous Hummingbird was added to that list (after much book consultation).

Other interesting birds that we saw were Scott's Oriole, Chipping Sparrow, Lark Sparrow, Clay-colored Sparrow, White-throated Swift, Say's Phoebe, Ash-throated Flycatcher and Ladderback Woodpecker.

Presa Centenario in the winter time

This year's rainy season has been particularly heavy, and the lakes around Queretaro are consequently full to the brim.  As a result, it hasn't been a great autumn/early winter period for migratory waders.  Down at Presa Centenario in Tequis, there were some large flocks of Wilson's Phalaropes in September/October (up to 800), and scatterings of Black-necked Stilts, Least Sandpipers and Long-billed Dowitchers.  Apart from that, however, there are only Spotted Sandpipers, the ever present Killdeers, and a few Wilson's Snipe.

Things are great on the Duck front, though.  A recent trip yielded the following species:

Shoveler (3000)

Pintail

Ruddy Duck (1000s!),

Mexican Duck,

Green-winged Teal,

Blue-winged Teal,

Cinnamon Teal (1)

American Wigeon,

Gadwall,

Redhead (4),

Canvasback (7),

Ring-necked Duck,

Lesser Scaup,

Bufflehead (2),

Fulvous-Whistling Duck (1)

Such numbers inevitable attract raptors, and there are at least 2 Peregrines resident.

Peregrine, Presa Centenario

American Kestrels, Red-tailed Hawks, Crested Caracaras, Turkey Vultures can also be found easily.

White-faced Ibis

On the edges of the Presa, Cattle Egrets and White-faced Ibis abound, interspersed by the occasional Great Egret, Snowy Egret and Great Blue Heron.  A Louisiana Heron was a real bonus back in October. A Marsh Wren occasionally sings as well.

The lakeside scrub is good for typical desert birds, such as Cactus Wren, Curve-billed Thrasher, Northern Mockingbird, Phainopepla, and many more.

MEGA - Anhinga at Presa de la Constitucion

First visit to Presa de la Constitucion near San Gil for a few months, and it was well worth it to find an ANHINGA. These Cormorant-like birds are fairly common in coastal areas of Mexico, but aren't generally found inland.  Definitely represents a very rare bird for the state of Queretaro, particularly the lower half of the state.

Anhinga

Extremely high water levels here meant that the only waders I found were a few Spotted Sandpipers and a Killdeer.  At this time last year, the shoreline was at least half a mile further in.

A few Neotropic Cormorants allowed for an interesting comparison with the Anhinga.  Both species were sharing the tree tops with a reasonable amount of Great Blue Herons, Great Egrets and a few Crested Caracaras.  On the water, small flocks of Mexican Ducks and Northern Pintails, and some Ring-billed Gulls.

The bushes and trees around the lake were full of critters.  Plenty of Yellow-rumped Warblers and at least 10 Common Yellowthroats.  Some pishing in the woods by Fiesta Americana brought in 2 Orange-crowned Warblers,  1 Wilson's Warbler, 1 Cassin's Vireo, 8 Blue-grey Gnatcatchers and at least 5 Ruby-crowned Kinglets.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Common Yellowthroat

Other birds - Bewick's Wren, Marsh Wren (2), Abeille's Oriole  (20+), Hooded Oriole, Curve-billed Thrasher, Blue Grosbeak.

It's a big old lake at the moment.  I'm sure a full walk around the perimeter  would yield a huge day list, and potential rarities.

Cardel and the River of Raptors

A late report from our trip to Cardel, Veracruz, in mid-September to observe the River of Raptors - one of the great spectacles of migration.  

Although conditions weren't great with Hurricanes battering both coasts of Mexico, we had a spell of an hour or two, when the river was in full flow.  Mid-September is the best time to see migrating Mississippi Kites (the massive movements of Turkey Vultures, Broad-winged and Swainson's Hawks come later).  In a short period, 4000 of these graceful raptors passed the famous roof of Cardel's tallest hotel.

Mississippi Kites

Ospreys were also on the move, passing by at a rate of one every 5 or so minutes.  We also got lucky by catching a gorgeous Swallow-tailed Kite shooting over the hotel..

Swallow-tailed Kite

As well as raptors, there were large migrating flocks of Dickcissel, Eastern Kingbird, Purple Martin, Barn Swallow, Bank Swallow, Cliff Swallow and many hundreds of Dragonflies.

In the afternoons, we spent some time around the beach and took a boat ride from La Antigua.  I photoed the Green Kingfisher and Neotropic Cormorant from the boat, and the Black Skimmers from our restaurant!

Green Kingfisher

Skimmers

Neotropic Cormorant

Proper birding around this part would yield many more species, but on a relaxed weekend we still managed the following: Brown Pelican, Laughing Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Royal Tern, Black Tern, Sandwich Tern, Forster's Tern, Willet, Black-necked Stilt, Semipalmated Plover, Turnstone, Sanderling, Magnificent Frigatebird, Yellow-crowned Night Heron, Snowy Egret, Cattle Egret, Great Egret, Black-crowned Night Heron, Roseate Spoonbill, Jacana, BB Whistling Duck, Social Flycatcher, Yellow-winged Tanager, Blue-grey Tanager, Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Groove-billed Ani, Roadside Hawk, White-tailed Hawk, Crested Caracara, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture....

Nashville Warbler - Los Sabinos

Just a quick update from the garden in Los Sabinios, Tequisquiapan, where a beautiful Nashville Warbler came to visit yesterday.  It is the latest of a string of nice birds that have been popping down in front of the bungalow, including Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Wilson's Warblers, Bewick's Wrens, House Wrens, Blue-grey Gnatcatchers, Audubon's Warblers, and Clay-colored Robins.

Nashville Warbler

Claustros, Tequisquiapan

Sadly a long time since the last post, but plenty of birding done in the meanwhile, and I'll try and catch up over the next few weeks.  To start, though, a little report from an evening walk around Los Claustros in Tequisquiapan.

The highlight undoubtedly this gorgeous Cassin's Vireo, pished in very close, and perching obligingly on some barbed wire.  I've only seen one before, so was pleased to catch up with this bird so close to Tequis. centre.

Now in the middle of winter, all of the warblers are in and here in good numbers.  Yellow-rumped (Audubon's) are everywhere and this year there seem to be plenty of Wilson's Warblers in Tequis.  Less common are Orange-crowned Warblers and Black-throated Grey Warblers, but we got all 4 pretty easily.

Black-throated Grey Warbler

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Also of interest on the walk was a huge American White Pelican circling around.  Many other common birds were found, including Ruby-crowned Kinglets, House Finches, Lesser Goldfinches, Inca and White-winged Doves, several Clay-colored Robins, and House, Bewicks and Cactus Wrens.

More news to follow.

Back at the Presa

Extremely high water levels at the Presa showed that this has been a good rainy season.  These levels bode well for the wildfowl that will arrive here in another month or so.  The lack of muddy edges, though, meant that there weren't a great deal of waders to be found.  Just Killdeers, Spotted Sandpipers and a bonus, this overflying Long-billed Curlew.

In the scrub it is too early for winter migrants, so the main focus was on common breeding birds such as Cactus Wren and Inca Doves.

Birding Texas - South Padre Island

The Birding Center at South Padre Island was a treasure trove of Texan specialities - all providing great views and including several lifers for me.  Things were hot on the heron front, with Great Blues and Louisiana Herons particularly visible, as well as Yellow-crowned Night Herons, Great and Snowy Egrets, Green Herons and numerous Least Bitterns.

Great Blue Heron

Louisiana Heron

Yellow-crowned Night Heron

Least Bittern

 These herons fed alongside numerous White Ibis, whilst in the vegetation scuttled a Clapper Rail.  I was expecting this skulker to be difficult to find, but it fed regularly in the open, even walking underneath us on the boardwalk at one stage.

Clapper Rail

On the areas of water, were some more bonuses.  An incredibly tame Pied-billed Grebe (one of 8), the abundant Black-bellied Whistling Duck and the localised Mottled Duck.

Pied-billed Grebe

Mottled Duck

Black-bellied Whistling Duck

 Lying off the coast, South Padre Island also had some sea-going specialities.  First, a tern bonanza including American Black Tern, Least Tern, Caspian Tern, Royal Tern and Sandwich Tern.

American Black Tern

Royal Tern

Also in the skies were Magnificent Frigatebirds and Brown Pelicans.

Not the best time of year for waders, but we still came across Willets, Killdeers, breeding Black-necked Stilts, a pair of American Oystercatchers and this oddly-behaving Wilson's Plover.

Wilson's Plover, what's he up to?

Birding Texas - Bentsen Rio Grande Valley State Park

I've had a week in McAllen, Texas, and the opportunity to take in a few Texan Gulf Coast specialities.  First stop was the Bentsen Rio Grande Valley State Park, which is part of the 'World Birding Center' chain of sites down here.  The place was really well run, with a great visitor center, plenty of birding trails and hides, and a number of feeding stations which, in winter, would be absolutely brimming with birds.

Although summer is arguably the worst time of year to visit here, we still came across a number of excellent birds.  Around the visitor center, for example, there were a number of parties of feeding Plain Chachalacas...

Plain Chachalaca

Surprisingly in the trees, we also saw many of the odd Black-bellied Whistling Ducks.  This one was only too happy to pose for a photo.

Sharing the trees with the ducks were birds such as Northern Cardinals, countless Golden-fronted Woodpeckers and Northern Mockingbirds, Green Jays, Olive Sparrows and Groove-billed Anis, 

Northern Cardinal

Green Jay

 In the undergrowth, we encountered Curve-billed and Long-billed Thrashers, Mourning, White-tipped, White-winged and Inca Doves, Ladderback Woodpeckers, an Altamira Oriole, and an interesting case of a Hooded Oriole (below) feeding a young Bronzed Cowbird.  The Cowbirds are notorious nest parasites, and in this instance, the Oriole believed the Cowbird was from its own brood.

Hooded Oriole 

 Under a bridge on the reserve, there were Cave Swallows, Purple Martins, Red-winged Blackbirds and a Black Phoebe, whilst on the wires were some more Gulf Coast Specialities - Scissor-tailed Flycatchers and Couch's Kingbirds.  On the visitor center feeding stations were Buff-bellied Hummingbirds.

Oh, hold on.  There's one more character that I've missed out....

Yep, that's right, Wily Coyote was in town.  Watch out Roadrunner.  

El Centenario in the summertime

The Summer survey at the Presa came right at the end of the dry season.  As a result of the long period of dry weather, there was very little water in the reservoir, and very few birds as well.  In fact, apart from a couple of adult Mexican Ducks, all that was present were about 6 breeding pairs of Killdeers.

A few weeks later, after some very heavy storms, though, and things were brightening up.  A lot of fresh water in the reservoir had attracted some decent birds.  Perhaps the best was this distant Roseate Spoonbill bombing over the water.  The same one that has been knocking around all winter, or perhaps a different individual?

On the water was a surprisingly good variety of ducks.  12 Northern Shoveler (non-breeders), as many Ruddy Ducks and Mexican Ducks and best of all, 2 adult Fulvous-Whistling Ducks.  On the wader front, there were 5 adult American Avocets in prime summer plumage and some Black-necked Stilts and Killdeers.

A Peregrine oversaw proceedings.

San Joaquin, Sierra Gorda

Been a bit slow on the blog posts recently - here's some photos from San Joaquin, a town in the south of the Sierra Gorda range, and just 90 minutes from Tequisquiapan.  As you climb into the mountains here, the habitat becomes more forested, and the bird life changes accordingly.

Below - American Robin, Crescent-Chested Warbler and juvenile Mexican Jay.

One good spot at San Joaquin is Aventura Park, where you can stay in cabanas, and walk around some of the tracks in the forest.  As well as the above, we saw Painted Redstarts, Audubon's Orioles, Yellow-eyed Juncos, White-eared hummers, Blue-throated Hummers, Canyon Towhees, Ruby-crowned Kinglets and many more..

We had a day at Grutas las Herrera.  Here, there were Rufous-crowned Sparrows, nesting House Wrens, nesting Pine Flycatcher, Eastern Wood-Pewees, Curve-billed Thrashers..