Trip Report - Jaracuaro Bridge

Eleven of us met at the Jaracuaro Bridge on Monday evening: David and Karin (Patzcuaro), Glen and Tracy (Patzcuaro/Texas), Ed and Dottie (Texas), Mike (North Carolina), Ursula (Erongaricuaro), Francis (Arocutin), and Chuck and Georgia (Patzcuaro/Arocutin). We had an hour before a downpour sent us hither and yon.

Birds seen:

Great egret
Snowy egret
Little blue heron
Great blue heron
White-faced ibis
Northern jacana
Common moorhen
Mexican duck
Barn owl

Cassin's kingbird
Vermilion flycatcher
Black phoebe
Canyon towhee
Song sparrow
Common yellowthroat
Yellow-headed blackbird
Brown-headed cowbird

The endemic Black-polled yellowthroat, however, evaded us.

My friend Victor and I took a road trip yesterday to Cocucho, a village west of Paracho. Paracho is famous for its guitar-making. Cocucho is also near Parocutin, a famous volcano. (Just Google both of these places, and you'll no doubt find much information about this area of Michoacan.)

Cocucho is famous for its pottery, and I wanted to pick up a couple of pieces. In case you're interested, one of these pieces is going to Seattle for a local charity auction, the proceeds of which will support bird habitat.

Calle Hidalgo, the main street of Cocucho

As I venture into new places, I use the Guia Roji to guide me. This is an atlas of the roads of Mexico. Though smaller in size, it's much like a Rand McNally or DeLorme atlas in the US. The Guia Roji served its purpose for this trip until we left the main road by Paracho. So much road work is being done in Michoacan that the Guia Roji 2008 is no longer accurate. The federal government is investing in fine asphalt road to the villages, and I was pleased to find with few topes. Because few road signs had been erected yet, we had to ask directions on several occasions. No problem: everyone we met cheerfully directed us on our way.

Most Mexicans I've met fear owls, but these artisans made owl figures and knew the vocalizations of the Great-horned owl.

Naturally, I made my purchases from them.

Victor is now the owner of the large pot to the right of Fidelina and her mother.

Not yet finished items at Fidelina and Domingo's workshop.

Most of the time that I bird, I wonder where the raptors are. Today, however, I saw seven adult Red-tailed hawks, two American Kestrels, and two Sharpies. I didn't count the many Turkey vultures.

Birding San Miguel de Allende

We returned to San Miguel de Allende to pick up Chuck's new passport. If you haven't seen one, the new ones are beautiful with drawings of national landmarks. He particularly enjoyed the drawings of Mount Rushmore, Statue of Liberty, and cowboy ones.

Sunday was a glorious day, and we birded with Wayne + Susan, Linda + Saul, and Mike, who's also a herp/amphibian lover who'll be house/cat sitting for us next month. Keeping the hummingbird feeders full is also a task he'll do for us while we're north of the border. While we're away, I am keeping my fingers crossed that he'll find snakes, lizards, turtles, salamanders, and other non-birdy creatures. Stay tuned for that posting.

Here are the birds we saw at three stops (before repasting at Hecho en Mexico later on):
Great egret

Snowy egret

Black-crowned Night-heron (juvenile)

White-faced ibis
Green-winged teal
Mexican duck
Blue-winged teal
Ruddy duck
Turkey vulture
American kestrel
American coot
Killdeer
Spotted sandpiper
Rock pigeon
Mourning dove
White-winged dove
Inca dove
Groove-billed ani
White-throated swift
Broad-billed hummingbird

Can you find the hummingbird nest?

Violet-crowned hummingbird

Mystery hummingbird

Golden-fronted woodpecker

Ladder-backed woodpecker

Black phoebe

Vermilion flycatcher

Mystery myiarchus flycatcher

Great kiskadee

Cassin's kingbird

Northern Rough-winged swallow

Barn swallow

Ruby-crowned kinglet

Phainopepla

Cactus wren

Canyon wren (heard)

Bewick's wren

House wren

Curve-billed thrasher

Blue-gray gnatcatcher

Bushtit

Loggerhead shrike

Chihuahua raven

House sparrow

Cassin's vireo

House finch

Lesser goldfinch

Nashville warbler

Black-and-white warbler

Canyon towhee

Chipping sparrow

Black-chinned sparrow (lifer for me)

Black-headed grosbeak

Mystery bunting - female

Great-tailed grackle

Black-backed oriole

Scott's oriole

FOF or Arrival of First of Fall Migrants

Today (September 16) is Independence Day in Mexico, and I celebrated the day by birding a bit. My route took me to the road between Santa Clara del Cobre and Zirahuen. I'd been on the road once or twice but those trips didn't allow for stopping. I got a late start - 11:00 AM - so my expectations weren't high. Nonetheless, it was a good day in the field. The list of 34 species seen/heard is at the end of this note.

This Cooper's hawk started my day!

My first bird of the day was a juvenile Cooper's hawk sitting about 10 feet from the road in clear view. I wasn't going fast and managed to stop for several long minutes of binocular viewing head to toe and front to back. Other than Turkey vultures, I don't see many raptors here so this was a pleasant start to the day. Made me wonder if migration was underway....

About 3 miles from Santa Clara, there are several pullouts in the pine-oak forest. The hillside drops on one side of the road, allowing for closer views into the canopy. When I find spots like this, my neck is everso grateful.

By the end of the day, I marked two other birds as FOF - First of Fall migrants. In the Pacific Northwest and Alaska, spring is a time for rejoicing the return of birds for the breeding season. Sighting reports on AKBirding and Tweeters are often noted as "FOS" for First of Spring.

Today I rejoiced in the return of birds that visited and bred in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. Because I haven't been able to get my hands on data about the status and distribution of birds in the Lake Patzcuaro area, I am keeping my own records. My new acronym is FOF. Migration here is a reversal of how I experienced migration up north. Today was springtime in autumn.

The two additional FOF birds were:

Black-throated Gray Warbler (Dendroica nigrescens)

Sketch by Louis Agassiz Fuertes (1874-1927) American ornithologist and illustrator

Townsend's warbler (Dendroica townsendi)

Species seen/heard (not in taxonomic order):

Cooper's hawk (first bird seen

Turkey vulture

Loggerhead shrike

Lesser goldfinch

Mexican jay

Canyon towhee

Yellow-eyed junco

Vermillion flycatcher

Eastern bluebird

Cassin's kingbird

Rufous-capped brushfinch

Olive warbler

Acorn woodpecker

Slate-throated redstart

Berylline hummingbird

White-eared hummingbird

Magnificent hummingbird

Blue-throated hummingbird

Ruby-throated hummingbird

Allen's hummingbird (orange-red central throat spot seen, wings shorter than tail) - female

House sparrow

Chipping sparrow

Curve-bill thrasher

Collared x Rufous-sided towhee

Botteri's sparrow

Barn swallow

Bullock's oriole - female

Greater pewee

Black-throated Gray warbler

Inca dove

Rock dove

Great-tailed grackle

Northern flicker

Townsend's warbler (last bird of the day)

Trip Report - Arocutin Ejido Lands

After several days of rainy and chilly weather, we were treated to a gloriously sunny day for this half day trip into Arocutin's ejido lands.

Diana, Francis, Frank, Pam and Terry make their way to the cars

after spotting several Gray silky-flycatchers.

That Pam - she sure could get on a bird quickly.

One is never alone in this area, for the ejido lands are divided into separate lots and, at this time of year, are worked by the families of Arocutin. We encountered several friendly individuals as we made our way to the end of the road.

The end of the road. I mentioned how rainy it has been, didn't I?!

No doubt, serious birders would add more species by walking the road and starting a bit earlier.

Fifteen species were seen/heard on this trip:

Vermillion flycatcher

Curve-billed thrasher

Lesser goldfinch

Canyon towhee

White-collared seedeater

Barn swallow

Inca dove

Common raven

House finch

Blue grosbeak

Chipping sparrow

Bewick's wren

Berylline hummingbird

Grey silky-flycatcher

Number 15 was a mystery bird of the day: either a Black-chinned or Ruby-Throated hummingbird. Definitely not one of our usual suspects. Small size, black and straight bill, pale throat and chest, white outer tail feathers, gold-green irridescent back.

Birding El Charco (San Miguel de Allende)

My husband's need to renew his passport gave me the opportunity to bird San Miguel de Allende's botanical garden. El Charco del Ingenio (more popularly known as El Charco) is a short distance from SMA's Jardin in the center of town, and our hosts, Wayne and Susan Colony, treated me to a wonderful 100+ hectare natural treasure. Plus, I added birds to my Mexico list.

Watch for White-throated swifts in this canyon

On the eastern edge of El Charco is Parque Landeta, a different habitat

Birds for the day were (36 species):
American coot
Mexican mallard
Ruddy duck
Wilson's phalaropes (at least 16)
Great egret
Snowy egret
Cattle egret
Spotted sandpiper
Killdeer
White-throated swift
Barn swallow
Canyon towhee
Chihuahua raven
Great-tailed grackle
Loggerhead shrike
Verdin
House finch
Lesser goldfinch
Broad-billed hummingbird
Vermillion flycatcher
Black phoebe
Cassin's kingbird
Phainopepla
Great kiskadee
Inca dove
Mourning dove
White-winged dove
Cassin's kingbird
Golden-fronted woodpecker
Curve-billed thrasher
Canyon wren (h)
Cactus wren
Bewick's wren
Blue grosbeak
Chipping sparrow
Black-backed oriole - female

If you plan to visit El Charco del Ingenio, you'll want to pick up the hot-off-the-press book by Walter L. Meagher and Wayne Colony entitled "Wild & Wonderful, Nature Up Close in the Botanical Garden 'El Charco del Ingenio', San Miguel de Allende". For more information and where to purchase this fabulous book, go to: www.wildwonderfulnature.com

More Trips to Tacambaro

Visiting birders prompted more trips to the Tacambaro area where we were treated again to the "tierra caliente" climate. We welcomed the temperature change, even if this called for peeling off layers throughout the day. Joining me on these two trips were: Hal and Joanne Cohen, Diana Freidmann, Ramiro Sierra, Wayne and Susan Colony and Liz Lauer.

Wayne and Liz photographing butterflies

Two motmots were seen above and to the left of Wayne


Oh so many ferns at the balneario!

Walking the road at the balneario always produces a surprise or two

Susan is showing Liz that the Chachalaca just seen was a new species for her. Lifer!

Here are the birds seen/heard at Rio Corucha and the balneario Arroyo Frio

(not in taxonomic order):

Blue-black grassquit

Inca dove

Mourning dove

House finch

Barn swallow

Squirrel cuckoo

Golden-cheeked woodpecker

Greater pewee

White-collared seedeater

Greater roadrunner

Lesser roadrunner

Black phoebe

Vermillion flycatcher

Turkey vulture

Black vulture

Red-tailed hawk

Broad-billed hummingbird

Violet-crowned hummingbird

Rusty-crowned motmot

Great-tailed grackle

Rock dove

Red-throated becard

Grey-crowned yellowthroat

Collared towhee

Rufous-crowned sparrow

Rusty sparrow

Stripe-headed sparrow

Pileated flycatcher

Blue bunting

Lesser goldfinch

West Mexican chachalaca

Gray silky-flycatcher

Green kingfisher

Hooded siskin

Common yellowthroat (h)

Great kiskadee

Black-chested sparrow

Canyon wren

Groove-billed ani

Mystery birds:

-Dove or pigeon (it blew by me too fast for a good look - not Inca or Mourning)

-Small black and white colored bird (possible Black-and-white warbler)
-Sound heard in deep brush (we all referred to this bird as the turkey sounding bird)

-Probable Fan-tailed warbler (quick look at a bird with yellow belly, dark gray back, and tail with white spots on edge)

-Swifts likely Black or White-chinned swifts (not White-napped due to smaller size). Recordings haven't helped us confirm the species.

-Probable Rufous-capped warbler

Birds seen on the way to/from Tacambaro:

House sparrow

Curve-billed thrasher

Bronze cowbird

Common raven

Rest assured: we also look at dragon and damsel flies. Susan spotted one floating in the pool so she scooped it out of the water. We're still waiting for experts to identify it. I'll be posting more information about the odonata in the area...stay tuned

Next Field Trip - Ejido Lands of Arocutin

Green-tailed towhee

Queen of the Mal Pais, Francis Rodriguez, will lead us into the ejido lands of Arocutin on Thursday, September 11. (If you don't know of the Mal Pais, she'll share information as we spend the morning together.)

We’ll meet at 8:30 AM at the restaurant Campestre Aleman between Arocutin and Uricho on the west side of Lake Patzcuaro. As a special treat, I'll be stopping at the best brick oven bakery in Patzcuaro for fresh-from-the-oven bolillos and will bring butter and marmalade.

Lesser goldfinch

From Campestre Aleman, we’ll carpool along a dirt road, where we’ll bird for an hour or so. We’ll stop from time to time to see/hear what birds are around - warblers and other passerines are showing up for the fall and winter months.

If you’re not very mobile, this is a trip for you.

Let me know if you need directions to Campestre Aleman.

Barn owl

Afterwards, anyone is welcome to follow me by car to the bridge to Jaracuaro to see if the elusive Barn owl will show itself.

Friday August 29 Trip Plans

Mario's Road in the mountains above Erongaricuaro is the destination for this walk.

We'll meet in front of the Policia Federal (on the street behind the Pemex) in Patzcuaro at 9:00 AM and head to Zarzamora. If anyone in Eronga is planning to join us and needs a ride, let me know. If you're coming around the north end of the lake, let me know and I'll figure out a place to rendezvous in Eronga. Antep9@aol.com

See previous blurb for photos and information.

This is an easy uphill walk through a forest. My last visit to the area was a hike - this time we'll look for birds. Count on 2-3 hours in the woods.

We'll be on the lookout for this species: Pygmy nuthatch (Sitta pygmaea)

Afterwards those interested and hungry may join me for lunch at the pizza-baguette-torta restaurant on Eronga's square. The proprietors are Cristal and Mariano. She's one of the daughters of the owner of Campestre Aleman restaurant. The menu has lots to offer, the food is delicious and reasonably priced, and service is friendly and prompt.

Mario's Road - a new birding spot

Last week I came across a new spot that was crying to be birded. So, when Gail and Stephen, who were visiting from Pt. Reyes, California, asked me to take them hiking, I couldn't resist suggesting Mario's Road. We picked up Edna as we made our way up the mountain from Eronga (short for Erongaricuaro).

I know birds are lurking in this rich understory!

Most of the trees are being tapped for resin. Note the scarring.

Bird highlights for me were Pygmy nuthatches, Rusty-crowned Ground-sparrows, and vocalizing but not seen trogons. Although I kept my eyes peeled for the endemic woodcreeper, I didn't seen any.

Edna, Gail and Stephen with Lake Patzcuaro in the background.

Tacambaro Trip Report - Tuesday August 12, 2008

Yesterday it was Tzararacua near Uruapan. Today we visited Tacambaro, south of Patzcuaro in the Tierra Caliente. Wayne and Susan C. made the trip again from San Miguel de Allende and Bruce C. joined me for a rich day of birds, butterflies and dragon flies/damsel flies. Each of us added lifers to our lists, plus we simply enjoyed this hillside path/camino.

Neon skimmer - Libellula croceipennis

This dragonfly is found from Southwestern USA to Costa Rica

Photo by Wayne Colony

Birds seen/heard (not in taxonomic order):

Black vulture

Greater pewee

Golden-cheeked woodpecker

Blue-black grassquit

White-collared seedeater

Streaked-backed oriole

Stripe-headed sparrow

Yellow-winged cacique

Russet-crowned motmot

Black phoebe

Lesser goldfinch

Great kiskadee

Gray silky-flycatcher

Squirrel cuckoo (one of those unimpeded views a photographer would love - red eye and all - only Wayne had his nose focused on a butterfly elsewhere!)

Barn swallow

Inca dove

Violet-crowned hummingbird

Vermillion flycatcher

House finch

Black-headed siskin

Black-chested sparrow (lifer for me)

Lesser roadrunner

Blue bunting (another life)

Rusty-crowned ground-sparrow

Blue mockingbird

Grove-billed ani

Flycatchers - a Pileated and a few others - any flycatcher experts who want to help us focus on the finer aspects of these non-vocalizing birds?!

Wayne and Susan returned next day before heading back to San Miguel. They photographed at least 39 species of butterflies and reported Banded quail, a species I'd love to add to my life list!

Cascada de la Tzararacua - Report of Birds and Butterflies

As spectacular as this is, the falls to the right is even more magnificent!

This area is wowsers! Fifteen of us followed Bruce's lead to Ejido Jucutacato lands, the center piece of which is the Tzararacua waterfall. Welcomed were several new faces, including two Morelians. Wayne and Susan C. made another trip from San Miguel de Allende. And Erin's mother and aunt visited from the States.

Some of the last to leave Tzararacua, just as a heavy rain cloud moved in.

Butterflies seen:

White morpho - Morpho polyphemus polyphemus

Magnificent swallowtail - Papillo garamas garamas

Tailed orange - Pyrisitia proterpia

Juno - Dione juno

Variable cattleheart - Parides erithalion

Birds seen/heard were (not in taxonomic order):

Great-tailed grackle

Inca dove

Acorn woodpecker

Rufous-capped brushfinch

Curved-billed thrasher

Mexican duck

Bridled titmouse

Canyon wren

American dipper - adult and juvenile

Black vulture

Turkey vulture

White-naped swifts - we had brief looks at three swifts as they zigzagged in or out of the miniscule cracks in the rock face. Only one of us saw the white nape.

As we were getting ready to head up the many steps to the parking lot, one of the horse tenders mentioned that there are other species seen early in the morning and late afternoon. The Patzcuaro Birding Club will return again to study them more.

El Estribo - Friday, August 8, 2008

We were rained out the last time the Patzcuaro Birding Club tried to climb El Estribo, the highest vantage point with easy access near Patzcuaro. This time, Molly Diana and I, along with three doggies (Gypsy, Zira and Kiki), had a gloriously sunny day.
The following photos show the view from El Estribo from the east to the west.

It was a rufous or red kind of day. The majority of plants, mushrooms, and birds were colored the same. At the end, you'll find a list of birds seen during the hike. Many have rufous in their names.....

Can you identify this reddish plant?

We're on the downhill side of the hike, thank goodness!

As we headed up the hill, we encountered some mushroom or hongo hunters. Note the red-colored ones. The others are "amarillos".

Look closely and you'll find hongos among other goodies at the mercado in Patzcuaro.

Molly and I couldn't resist the temptation. At the end of our hike, we visited the mercado and bought some mushrooms for that evening's meal. I stir-fried mushroooms with chichen, broccoli, carrots, onions and peppers. Yummy, yummy. The following morning, I used the remainder of the mushrooms with scrambled eggs. Again, the meal was scrumptious.

Oh, I almost forgot about the birds. Here's what we encountered along the hike (not in taxonomic order):

Golden-fronted woodpecker

Canyon towhee

House sparrow

Canyon wren (heard)

Magnificent hummingbird

Black vulture (10 in a kettle)

Turkey vulture

Barn swallow

Bewick's wren

Sharp-shinned hawk

Lesser goldfinch

Orange-billed nightingale-thrush

Slate-throated redstart

Berylline hummingbird

Gray hawk

Acorn woodpecker

Rufous-sided towhee

Rufous-crowned brush-finch

Rufous-capped warbler

Ruby-crowned kinglet

Rufous-crowned sparrow

Yellow-eyed junco

Inca dove

House finch

Vermilion flycatcher