Black-bellied Plover at Constitucion

A lot more water in Presa de las Constitucion today after some recent heavy rains.  The result was that a lot of the wader scrapes and vegetation around the edges are now submerged.  There were still some really good birds around, though.  The highlight was undoubtedly 2 Black-bellied Plovers.  Black-bellied Plovers (or Grey Plovers) are a winter visitor to coasts in this part of the World, and inland records are rare.  

Black-bellied Plover, Presa de la Constitucion, Queretaro

 Other waders included a first Wilson's Snipe and a first Long-billed Dowitcher of the winter, as well as several Spotted Sandpipers, Least Sandpipers, Greater Yellowlegs and Baird's Sandpipers.

Herons were a highlight here as usual.    As well as Great Egrets, Cattle Egrets, Snowy Egrets, Black-crowned Night Herons and Great Blue Herons, numbers of American White Pelican are building up.  There were 15 here today.

American White Pelican, Presa de la Constitucion, Queretaro

Black-crowned Night Heron

On the duck front, numbers of Shoveler, Pintail, Blue-winged and Green-winged Teal seem to be building up.  Also present were a pair of Ruddy Ducks, and a Ring-necked Duck.

I watched a Peregrine fly off with a Feral Pigeon, before scrapping briefly with this quartering Northern Harrier.

Northern Harrier

 Other interesting birds were several Savannah, Lark and Clay-coloured Sparrows, a pair of Northern Bobwhites, a House Wren, an Eastern Meadowlark, 2 Blue Grosbeaks and over 100 Horned Larks.

Savannah Sparrow

La Laja, Fuentesuelas

I checked out Fuentesuelas on Thursday night, primarily to see if there were any waders around ahead of the visit from DUMAC.  I found, however, that the water level here was very high, thus making it difficult to access, and meaning that there were few exposed banks for waders to feed on.  Nevertheless, there were a good array of impressive birds here.  

Female Ruddy Duck and duckling

Of particular note were late breeding waterbirds.  Recently fledged Ruddy Ducks, American Coots, Moorhens and Eared Grebes were unexpected.  There is, however, a lot of cover and vegetation here which does suit these species.  There were also approximately 1,000 non-breeding ducks present as well, including Blue-winged and Green-winged Teal, Mexican Duck and Northern Shoveler.  This spot is also fairly reliable for Cinnamon Teal and might attract one or two as the winter wears on.

On the wader front, there were approximately 500 Wilson's Phalaropes feeding in very tight groups in each corner of the lake.  Also, the ever-present Killdeers, and a handful of Yellowlegs sp., and Black-necked Stilts on the far shore.

Raptors included Crested Caracara and Northern Harrier, and passerines included Vermilion Flycatchers, Blue Grosbeaks and Lesser Goldfinch.

Male Vermilion Flycatcher, Fuentesuelas