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.