Presa de la Constitucion, San Gil, Queretaro

An evening walk around a very full Presa de la Constitucion with Paul Bentinck last Thursday was fairly productive despite the water levels being too high for any waders.

It's a great spot for Herons, and we locked onto several Great Blue Herons and a Green Heron as well as all 3 Egrets and about 50 Black-crowned Night Herons (mainly juveniles).  The Herons tend to congregate in the marshy area of the Presa near the Fiesta Americana hotel.  Also in this area we found a Northern Jacana, some hunting White-tailed Kites and an Osprey, whilst in the rushes were some Common Yellowthroats.

Many of the wintering warblers have arrived in Queretaro now, and we saw and heard lots of Yellow-rumped Warblers and Wilson's Warblers, as well as a migrating Yellow Warbler.  A flock of Groove-billed Anis entertained us, and other highlights included a stunning male Hooded Oriole (as well as several Black-backed) and a Great Kiskadee (rare in this part of Mexico).

Broad-billed Hummingbird.  We also connected with the endemic Violet-crowned

Laguna de Servin October 2015

Excellent morning's birding with Valentina and Paul Bentinck (who motivated me to Blog again!) yesterday up the road to Laguna de Servin in the pine-oak covered mountains near Amealco.

Some great sparrows in the open country on the way up - Striped, Savannah (pictured), Vesper and Clay-colored.  Also some nice groups of Horned Larks (pictured), as well as Blue Grosbeaks, American Kestrels and a Sharp-shinned Hawk.

Horned Lark

Savannah Sparrow

The real highlight was getting into some mixed Warbler flocks - the best one of which included Townsends, Hermits, Slate-throated Whitestards, Painted Redstarts, Crecent-Chested, Wilson's, Orange-crowned and a cracking Red Warbler (as well as Bushtits, Hermit Thrush, Gray Silkies and a Broad-winged Hawk circling lazily overhead). 

Further up, we got into a big group of Woodpeckers, including 6 Acorn and 4 Hairy.  They were associating loosely with some Elegant Euphonias, Plumbeous Vireos and a Flame-colored Tanager. 

Red Warbler

Townsend's Warbler

A cracking day out - 53 species in total - was finished off with nice views of Olive Warblers  and Greater Pewee.

Wilson's Phalarope - Mexico

In response to requests from regular readers, here is a picture of part of the huge flock of Wilson's Phalaropes currently 'staging' at Presa El Centenario.  This migrant wader passes through central Mexico in huge numbers on its way to winter off the coasts of South America...

Don't forget, check www.queretarobirding.com or contact jontyhiley@hotmail.com for more information and guided tours.

Migration Time

Queretaro enters its best period of the year for birding....

Each recent trip I've been on has resulted in great birds.

Despite extremely high water levels, muddy patches are  throwing up good waders.  Many Baird's and Least Sandpipers around, with some Western Sandpipers, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Long-billed Dowitchers and the  more common stuff.  Oh yeah, and about 3000 Wilson's Phalaropes still at El Centenario.

El Centenario was Hummingbird crazy last weekend.  As well as Violet-crowned and dozens of Broad-billed, there were half a dozen Black-chinned and some probably Ruby-throateds as well buzzing around.  Great stuff!

Constitucion holds a dozen Laughing Gulls, 2 Ring-billed Gulls, and best of all a Royal Tern, absolute mega inland...

Things got interesting at the Rio San Juan in Tequis, with lots of Western Wood Peewees and a DICKCISSEL, which is normally a coastal migrant in central Mexico.  What's next??

Remember - check out www.queretarobirding.com, or get in touch with me at jontyhiley@hotmail.com for more information or guided tours.

Desert Birding

Below are some of the better photos I took this morning from the desert near Vizarron.  Lots of Rock Wrens present and 2 Greater Roadrunners (pictured).  Other highlights included my first Black-throated Sparrow, several Canyon Wrens, Blue-throated Hummingbirds, American Robins, Hepatic Tanagers, and many more.  The full list is up on eBird.

Presa Centenario - Waders Building

High water levels at El Centenario at the moment and some marvellous waders.  A little look around the far end on Wednesday evening and I found some huge flocks of Wilson's Phalaropes (2000+), as well as lots of Black-necked Stilts and American Avocets and 15 Baird's Sandpipers.

Also present here were 2 Fulvous Whistling Ducks and 1 Bank Swallow in with hundreds of Barn Swallows.

Bentsen State Park and Cimarron Club - Texas

I'm up across the border in Mission, Texas, at the moment and took the opportunity to see some excellent wildlife this morning.  The Lower Rio Grande Valley has a lot of specialist species which, although common in Mexico, are difficult/impossible to find in the rest of the U.S.   Such species include Green Jay (pictured below), Olive Sparrow, Altamira Oriole, Clay-colored Robin and Plain Chachalaca.