Along the Rio San Juan

An early morning stroll along the Rio San Juan yesterday morning was rewarded with 56 species in good numbers.

I had a good nuber of raptors hunting above and around the river (Red-shouldered Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk, American Kestrels, Crested Caracaras).

As usual, many, many warblers (70+ Yellow-rumped Warblers, and then a nice mixed flock including Black-and-white, Nashville, Orange-crowned and several Wilsons).

It was also good to pick up Greater Pewee, Blue Mockingbird, Great Kiskadee, many Black-backed Orioles, and good numbers of Woodpeckers (22 Golden-fronted, 1 Ladderback and 4 Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers).

Great Horned Owl in Fuentezuelas

Great Horned Owl

A lovely evening in the mountains behind Fuentezuelas yesterday - the highlight of which was this calling Great Horned Owl at dusk.  I've not seen many around Queretaro, but this could be a hotspot for this species.

In the same area, I had fleeting views of an Elegant Trogon, as well as the endemic Blue Mockingbird and several Northern Mockingbirds.  A Warbling Vireo was a nice addition, as well as a surprise Hermit Thrush (odd in this habitat away from forests).

A bit higher up, this area opens into grasslands interspersed with cacti.  Here, I found a few Brewer's Sparrows, as well as Vesper, Chipping, Clay-colored and Lark.

At dusk, there were also a few Lesser Nighthawk.

Curve-billed Thrasher

Warbling Vireo

Fancy a brew?

It was Sparrow-tastic on the outskirts of Tequis yesterday, where I found a nice bit of scrubland.

The pick - my first Brewer's Sparrows. But they certainly weren't alone.  Also knocking about in a short stretch were Grasshopper Sparrows, loads of Vesper Sparrows, Lark Sparrows and Clay-colored Sparrows.

Clay-colored Sparrow

Brewer's Sparrow

Vesper Sparrow

It was arguably even better a day before when I found a cheeky Pyrrhuloxia.  Only the second 'Desert Cardinal' I've seen, and certainly the first in this part of Queretaro.

Two Presas - Species List

Full list of species from Presas Centenario and Constitucion 16/09/12

Scoping waders with David from DUMAC at Presa Centenario

Trying to relocate the Hooded Merganser with Oscar from DUMAC

Killdeer,
Semipalmated Plover - 4 at Centenario
Baird's, Least, Western, Stilt, Spotted Sandpiper,
Lesser Yellowlegs, Greater Yellowlegs, Black-necked Stilt, American Avocet
Long-billed Curlew - juvenile at Centenario
Wilson's Phalarope

Wilson's Phalarope ball at Presa Centenario

 American Coot, Eared Grebe,
Northern Pintail, Northern Shoveler, Gadwall - 2 at Constituction, Blue-winged and Green-winged Teal,
Mexican Duck, Ruddy Duck, Black-bellied Whistling Duck, Hooded Merganser
Black Tern
Snowy, Great, Cattle Egrets,
Great Blue Heron, Tricolored Heron, White-faced Ibis,
American White Pelican, Neotropic Cormorant,
Peregrine Falcon, Crested Caracara, Turkey Vulture

Peregrine - the hunter

Northern Raven,
Northern Bobwhite - 2 at Constitucion,
Eastern Meadowlark, Horned Lark,
House, Lark, Savannah Sparrow,
House Finch, Lesser Goldfinch, Cactus Wren,
Phainopepla, Northern Mockingbird, Canyon Towhee, Abeille's Oriole,
Broad-billed and Violet-crowned Hummingbirds,
Green Kingfisher,
Brown-headed Cowbird, Great-tailed Grackle,
Cassin's Kingbird, Loggerhead Shrike, Starling,
Barn, Tree, Bank, Cliff Swallows

Tree Swallow

Inca, Mourning, White-winged, Common Ground Dove, Feral Pigeon,
Varied Bunting, Vermilion Flycatcher, Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Ladderback.

Back in Tequisquiapan

Been back in Tequisquiapan for a week now, and I've seen some familiar, as well as more unusual birds.

The wintering warblers have left now, so Tequis no longer resounds with the chirps of all of thise little characters. The garden is still abuzz, though, with Broad-billed and Violet-crowned Hummingbirds, singing Curve-billed Thrashers and Cactus Wrens and an abundance of White-collared Seedeaters, House Finches, House Sparrows and Inca Doves.

Male House Sparrow, Tequisquiapan

I had overflying Black-crowned Night Herons and Great Egrets. Later, very high, I had a White-throated Swift, first for Tequisquiapan. A migrant Willow Flycatcher was a superb bonus.

Next door, a Vermilion Flycatcher is feeding chicks in a tree right outside the house. She kept returning to the tree every 5 minutes with another grub, and without disturbing her, I managed to fire off a series of shots.

Female Vermilion Flycatcher with grubs

Vermilion Flycatcher chicks

U.F.O.

Yesterday evening, there were some strange objects flying over Tequisquiapan town centre. Alien spacecraft? No, rather 3 'hawking' Lesser Nighthawks. These Nightjar type birds are commonly found over towns in Mexico, hunting at dusk.

It's only the second time I've seen them here. What fantastic birds..

Tree of Plenty - Los Sabinos, Tequisquiapan

Whilst spending some time in my Spanish Teacher's garden, which is located in Los Sabinos Tequisquiapan, I enjoyed some of the best birding I've had yet in the area.

White-collared Seedeater, Los Sabinos TX

One tree in particular (I'll get back with the species) was in flower and held an enormous number of birds...

In just 40 minutes watching I had recorded the following species feeding in it:

Starling

Indigo Bunting

Golden-cheeked Woodpecker

White-collared Seedeater

House Finch

Bewick's Wren

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Audubon's Warbler

Black-throated Gray Warbler

Nashville Warbler

Lesser Goldfinch

Broad-billed Hummingbird

The Warblers in bold are birds I have seen in other parts of Mexico, but never in the Tequisquiapan area. They're pictured below. It might be that I have just by chance discovered an excellent birding spot (Los Sabinos is lush and has a lot of trees). However, having not seen these species before in Tequis, there is a fair chance that they are migrant birds..

Black-throated Gray Warbler, Tequisquiapan

Nashville Warbler, Tequisquiapan

Indigo Bunting, Tequisquiapan

Red-tailed Hawk

Had a brief walk around La Presa this morning to see if anything was about and, as usual, it came up trumps.

Seven species of Duck included: Shoveler (in ridiculous numbers >10000), Ruddy Duck (1000+), Pintail (300), Green-winged Teal, Blue-winged Teal, Mexican Duck (100) and best of all a drake Ring-necked Duck loafing around, a new bird for my Mexico list.

Also a LOT of Eared Grebes and American Coots. Waders included Lesser and Greater Yellowlegs, Black-necked Stilt, Spotted Sandpiper, Least Sandpipers (4) and several Killdeer.

Perhaps the highlight of the day was seeing a Red-tailed Hawk feasting on a dead Coot before heading into some nearby trees. Here's some shots of it.

Other birds of note:

American White Pelican (soaring flocks of 6 and 4)

Scott's Oriole (4 by La Palapa)

Black Phoebe (2 at dam)

Barn Swallow (20 - the biggest concentration since the birds departed. Guess they're on their way back)

Garden Birdwatch

I've found a place to work this afternoon in my house which overlooks a lot of the garden, including the Hummingbird feeder I put up yesterday. It's really shown the value of 'arsing', i.e. sitting in one place for an extended period.

Before long, this Broad-billed Hummer was enjoying a nectar treat.

Before long, a Violet-crowned was getting a bit of the action as well.

Even a Hooded Oriole swooped down on to the fence and had a quick drink.

Elsewhere in the garden were the usual House Finches, House Sparrows and Lincoln's Sparrows, as well as Bullock's Oriole, Vermilion Flycatcher, Cactus Wren, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler (pictured) and 2 overflying Chihuahuan Ravens.

Daylist and Details 15th January 2011

American White Pelican - 250 Lago Pelicanos
Great Blue Heron - 2 Lago Pelicanos
Snowy Egret
Great Egret - 2 L.P.
Cattle Egret
White-faced Ibis - flocks of up to 600
Gadwall - VICTORIA bordo
Green-winged Teal - 30 L.P.
American Wigeon - 6 L.P.
Northern Shoveler
Mexican Duck - 2 L.P.
Ruddy Duck - 10 L.P.
American Coot
American Kestrel - common
Peregrine - 1
Red-tailed Hawk
Black-shouldered Kite - pair L.P.
Turkey Vulture
Crested Caracara - 12 L.P.
Lesser Yellowlegs - 4
Spotted Sandpiper
Killdeer
Violet-crowned Hummingbird - garden
Broad-billed Hummingbird - garden
Golden-fronted Woodpecker
Common Ground Dove - 6 Farmland
Mourning Dove
White-winged Dove
Inca Dove
Feral Pigeon
Black-and-white Warbler - L.P.
Wilson's Warbler - L.P.
Audubon's Warbler
Orange-crowned Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Brewer's Blackbird
Red-winged Blackbird
Yellow-headed Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Bronzed Cowbird
Great-tailed Grackle
Bullock's Oriole
House Sparrow
Vesper Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow
Lark Sparrow
Clay-coloured Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Eastern Meadowlark - 5 L.P.
Grey Flycatcher
Vermilion Flycatcher
Say's Phoebe
Cassin's Kingbird
Loggerhead Shrike
House Finch
Blue Grosbeak
Canyon Towhee
Blue-Grey Gnatcatcher
Curve-billed Thrasher
Chihuahuan Raven - 2 over Tequis.
Northern Mockingbird
American Pipit - L.P.

Cactus Wren - Garden

Hooded Oriole - 2 Garden

66s.p.

Sparrow Central

I was out birding a bit of semi-desert scrub land by the train tracks above Tequisquiapan this evening. There were plenty of birds typical of this habitat: Loggerhead Shrikes, Cassin's Kingbirds and Inca Doves for example.

What caught the eye, though, were the large flocks of Sparrows. Lark Sparrows and Clay-coloured Sparrows are common as muck at the moment, but I got my bins on an unfamiliar Sparrow as well. Fortunately I was able to get a record shot, and identify it as a Vesper Sparrow at home.

The prominent white eye-ring was the most useful feature.

The colours on this Lark Sparrow were nice in the fading evening light.

Club de Golf

Had a little walk along the river by Club de Golf this afternoon. A scorching hot day, but it still threw up some good birds. There are plenty of House Wrens in Club de Golf now, and I managed to add a new Wren to my list. On the wall of one of the houses scurried a Wallcreeper like bird. It had a bright white throat and a rufous belly, making it a Canyon Wren, a classic bird of arid country.

I had some Clay-coloured Sparrows in the shrub and, later on, a Vermillion Flycatcher perched up for a photo. Never tire of these colourful guys.

At the river, Yellow-rumped Warblers and Golden-fronted Woodpeckers crashed through the canopy, and a couple of Black Phoebe's were fly catching just above the water.

Vallarta next up.

The Big Boys in Town

A glorious day today, following a week of spectacular lightning storms that kept all of Tequis awake and replenished the dwindling water levels at La Presa.

A week on from when I last visited, and the avifauna has changed again. This is a staging post, there's no doubt about it. At this time of year, most of the birds seen on one visit will have long gone by the time you next come. In their place can be something totally different. Today, for example, Baird's and Least Sandpipers down to a 'bair' handful most of the way around the lake, and instead, the shoreline covered with Spotted Sandpipers and Lesser Yellowlegs.

The Phalaropes appear to be a constant presence, but their numbers are climbing. Today, over 2500, including a raft which allowed particularly close approach.

In the centre of the lake very few Blue-winged Teals and Mexican Ducks, no Pintails and certainly no Fulvous Whistlers (that was a rare stroke of luck). Shovelers, though, have taken over, from dam to swamp, and shallows to deeps. On the far edge, 65 Eared Grebes had gathered together with the odd Yankee Coot and Ruddy Duck, claiming one of the few

unoccupied patches of water.

After a couple of miles without seeing any new birds, my luck changed for the better. First, a huge bird cruised over. Looked like a Grey Heron on steroids. It was the big boy, though, a fine adult Great Blue Heron, winter visitor in these parts.

I then reached wader central. A few Bairds and Spottys crept around low, but it was the long-legged Waders that grabbed the attention. Black-necked Stilts dominant and interspersed with impossibly elegant American Avocets. Stilt Sandpipers made to look small by 60+ Lesser Yellowlegs, and then the Leser Yellowlegs themselves dwarfed by their big brother, a Greater Yellowlegs. Hard to tell apart individually, but the difference in size dramatic when seen close together.

Thought I'd be able to walk all the way round the Res, but a particularly angry muddy river cut me off. Had to turn round. Never mind. On my way back, a large wader took flight that was hundreds of miles from where it should have been. The Willet's striking underwing pattern is unmistakeable. A great bird this far inland, I grabbed a few record shots. Here's the big fella in flight with L.Y. Legs and B.S.

I focussed a bit more on the scrub on my way back. Just as well. I was quickly into Verms, Loggerheads, a few Bullock's Orioles and the noisy Cactus Wrens. A few tiny birds flitting through the scrub were new to me, though. Grabbed a few shots, good enough to confirm my third lifer of the morning, Blue-Grey Gnatcatcher.