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.