Trip Report - Oct 3-5, 2012 - Finally, a Clapper Rail!

Visiting birders Drew and son Andrew spent three days with Hugo and me.  Birding can often be a challenge for many of us but what if we were wheelchair bound and able to use only one hand..... That's Drew.  What a man, and what a son.  Here are the birds we saw/heard in various locations around Lake Patzcuaro and Tacambaro.

Russet-crowned Motmot at Arroyo Frio

Checking out the Clapper Rail

View from the bridge to Jaracuaro

Quesadillas in Erongaricuaro

Oct 3, 2012 - Bridge to Jaracuaro

Cassin's kingbird

Red-tailed hawk

Marsh wren

Little blue heron

Cattle egret

Barn owl

Great egret

Snowy egret
Tri-colored egret
Belted kingfisher
Black-necked stilt

White-faced ibis

Vermilion flycatcher

White-collared seedeater

Black-polled yellowthroat

Barn swallow

Cliff swallow

American coot

Cooper's hawk

Red-winged blackbird

Black phoebe

Turkey vulture

Oct 3, 2012 - Georgia's house in Arocutin

Berylline hummingbird

Magnificent hummingbird

Broad-billed hummingbird

Inca dove
Black vulture

Oct 3, 2012 - Erongaricuaro

House sparrow

Oct 3, 2012 - La Estacion outside of Erongaricuaro

Canyon towhee

Yellow-rumped warbler

Brown-backed solitaire (heard)

Common raven

Summer tanager

Berylline hummingbird
Buff-breasted flycatcher
Great-horned owl (heard)
Ladder-backed woodpecker
Curve-billed thrasher
Wilson's warbler
Bushtit
Slate-throated redstart
Greater pewee
Hermit warbler

Townsend's warbler

Black-throated gray warbler
Mexican chickadee
Gray silky-flycatcher

Oct 3, 2012 - Columpio outside of Zarzamora

Hermit warbler

Grace's warbler

Hepatic tanager

Common raven

Painted redstart
Red-faced warbler

Hybrid towhee (Collared x Spotted)

Oct 4, 2012 - Rio Corucha south of Tacambaro

Great-tailed grackle

Greater pewee

Stripe-headed sparrow
Banded quail - a large covey with numerous juveniles playing in the road
Groove-billed ani
Inca dove
Lesser roadrunner

Black vulture

Turkey vulture
Happy wren (heard)

Blue-black grassquit

Great kiskadee

Violet-crowned hummingbird

American kestrel

Northern rough-winged swallow

Blue-gray gnatcatcher

Golden-crowned emerald

Oct 4, 2012 - Arroyo Frio Balneario

Rufous-capped warbler
Squirrel cuckoo

Ferruginous pygmy-owl (a pair)

Black-and-white warbler
Summer tanager
Streak-backed oriole

Wilson's warbler

Thick-billed kingbird

Dusky hummingbird

Hooded oriole
Canyon wren (heard)
Spotted wren
Happy wren (heard)
Blue-gray gnatcatcher
Great kiskadee

White-throated robin

Russet-crowned motmot
Unidentified buteo

Sharp-eyed Hugo always spots something special

Oct 5, 2012 - Bridge to Jaracuaro

Clapper rail - my first sighting at Lake Patzcuaro, a lifer for Hugo

Wikimedia Photo

Northern waterthrush

Marsh wren

American coot

Tri-colored heron

Great blue heron

Snowy egret

Great egret

White-faced ibis

Barn owl (a pair)

White-collared seedeater

Killdeer

Bronzed cowbird

Vermilion flycatcher

Belted kingfisher

Blue mockingbird

Blue-winged teal

Common yellowthroat

Cooper's hawk

Turkey vulture

Song sparrow

Cliff swallow

Barn swallow

Common raven

Oct 5, 2012 - Columpio outside Zarzamora

Hermit warbler

Slate-throated redstart

Common raven

Mexican chickadee

Brown creeper

Broad-tailed hummingbird

Ruby-crowned kinglet

Hepatic tanager

Pine flycatcher

Cassin's vireo

Red-faced warbler

Yellow-eyed junco

Aztec Thrush near Patzcuaro

Aztec Thrush.....by the side of the road.  On May 12, 2012, five of us in two cars were heading from Patzcuaro to Zihuatanejo for some fun in the sun.  Imagine my surprise when we flushed three Aztec thrush by the side of the road not far from my house.  I would have immediately pulled over; however, we were on a very curvy section of the libre without space to stop. 

There were three serious birders among us.  Two in my vehicle and one in the vehicle behind.  No doubt about it - they were Aztec thrush.

Photo from Wikimedia Commons

Hugo reported seeing them a number of years ago above Erongaricuaro, and we've kept our eyes peeled for them.  Of course, seeing them fly off from the side of the road doesn't fulfill my desire to REALLY see them, so I am hoping to visit the area soon to try to relocate them.  Until then, they are BVD birds (i.e., better view desired).

Another Canyon Wren Nest.....

Under the roof of my patio heater.  This is the second time they've used the heater as a nesting site.  I didn't realize they'd nested there until I bought a new gas tank and was going to test the recently repaired starter.  Out came one of the parents.  Surprise!

I climbed the ladder, and, lo and behold, I found three freshly, and I mean freshly, hatched chicks.  That was on May 19. 

I photographed the nest again a week later on May 27.  Only two chicks were in the nest.  One was much smaller than the other. 

My last photograph was yesterday June 3.  Only one chick remained and it was ready to fledge.  In fact, it jumped from the heater onto my grassy yard, I had a dickens of a time getting it to stay in the nest area.  Finally I put it in a plastic jar without lid so it couldn't so easily escape, and I could return it to the nest so its parents could continue to feed it. 
Today, one day later, it's gone.  I hear them chittering in my yard so I know they're around. 

Next on my to-do list is to buy some chicken wire to enclose the top of the heater.  There's got to be a better place for them to nest. 

Trip Report - Tacambaro - March 2-4. 2012

For the weekend of March 2-4, Hazel and Ryon came over from Joco (short for Jocotepec, which is on the shore of Lake Chapala). They're the ones who instigated last year's trip to Colima.  See previous posting about that trip if you're interested in the birds of Colima. 
Sorry, there are no photos this time, just data re birds seen/heard (not in taxonomic order).  I was busy watching birds....oh so lazy......

For me, the best bird of the trip was found at the top of Cerro Burro.  A hybrid hummingbird:  Magnificient x Berylline.  I've been asked to head back to the mountain to try for a photo.  Watch for another post if I succeed, even with my point and shoot camera. 

Location - Rio Corucha:

Orange-crowned warbler
Wilson's warbler
Golden vireo
White-collared seedeater
Blue grosbeak
White-throated robin
Blue mockingbird
Vermilion flycatcher
Striped-headed sparrow
Lazuli bunting
Rufous-capped brushfinch
Ferruginous pygmy-owl
Violet-crowned hummingbird
Ash-throated flycatcher
Canyon wren
Groove-billed ani
Turkey vulture
Black vulture
Northern rough-winged swallow
Social flycatcher
Greater kiskadee
Western tanager
Thick-billed kingbird
Blue-gray gnatcatcher
Hooded oriole
Golden-crowned emerald
Happy wren
Tropical kingbird
Dusky-capped flycatcher
Hepatic tanager
Cassin's kingbird
White-napped swifts (somebody had cut a path to the top of the waterfall - this was my first opportunity to see the cascada, so now I know how to get there in the future when the plants are too overgrown to see the waterfall.)

Location - Arroyo Frio

Green kingfisher
Wilson's warbler
Blue-gray gnatcatcher
Canyon wren
Fan-tailed warbler
White-throated robin
Rufous-backed thrush
? empid
Inca dove
Turkey vulture
Black vulture
Happy wren
Nashville warbler
Berylline hummingbird

Location - Cerro Hueco:

Great-tailed grackle
Rufous-backed robin
Warbling vireo
Inca dove
Canyon towhee
Lincoln's sparrow
Black-headed grosbeak
Bullock's oriole
Rusty sparrow
Stripe-headed sparrow
Cassin's kingbird
Say's phoebe
Northern mockingbird

White-crowned sparrow (I didn't see or hear this bird.  I am not counting it on my list even tho' it would be a new Mexican bird for me....But Ryon insisted that's what he saw and he was insistent  about it since it's seen at Lake Chapala.)

American robin
Varied bunting
Blue-black grassquit (basic plumage)
Northern rough-winged sparrow
Berylline hummingbird
Black-headed siskin
Wilson's warbler
Eastern bluebird
Blue mockingbird
Northern raven
Chipping sparrow
House sparrow
House wren
House finch
Vermilion flycatcher
Nashville warbler
Blue gray gnatcatcher
American kestrel
Blue grosbeak
Bewick's wren
Lesser goldfinch
Bronze cowbird
Black-vented oriole
Hepatic tanager

Location - road to Tecurio

Squirrel cuckoo
Eastern bluebird
Lincoln's sparrow
Nashville warbler
Golden-cheeked woodpecker
Acorn woodpecker
Rusty sparrow
? empid  ?Least
Turkey vulture
Black vulture
Cassin's kingbird
White-tipped dove
Vermilion flycatcher
Great pewee
Yellow-rumped warbler

Location - Cerro Burro:

Red-tailed hawk
Horned lark
Chipping sparrow
American robin
American kestrel
Say's phoebe
Townsend's warbler
Hourse finch
Pine siskin
Elegant euphonia
Eastern bluebird
Western bluebird
Northern raven
American coot
Cassin's kingbird
Yellow-eyed junco
Northern harrier
Barn swallow
Canyon towhee
Hybrid towhee (Spotted x Collared)
Buff-breasted flycatcher
Lesser roadrunner
Slate-throated redstart
Steller's jay
Rufous-capped brush-finch
Social flycatcher
Lesser goldfinch
Red warbler
Ladder-backed woodpecker
White-eared hummingbird
Osprey
Hepatic tanager
Golden-browed warbler
Hutton's vireo
Ruby-crowned kinglet
Hermit warbler
Warbling vireo
Black-headed grosbeak
Hybrid hummingbird (Magnficent x Berylline) near top of Cerro Burro

Birding Morelia, Michoacan: Pico Azul

Until this past weekend, I had found only okay habitat and birding spots in and around Morelia.  Thanks to graduate ornithology students, Leonel and Eugenia, for taking me to Pico Azul, an absolutely wonderful bosque (forest) above Morelia.  Pico Azul is truly an amazing place due to mixed canopy, higher elevation (I was told about 2500 meters), native plants, habitat protection by the nearby village, decent roads, non-arduous hiking trails, and proximity to Morelia.  Oh, less I forget, the diversity of birds. 

Here's what we saw/heard during 4 hours early Saturday March 17 (St. Patrick's Day):

Note:  not in taxonomic order:

Bewick's wren
Inca dove
Blue mockingbird
Yellow-eyed junco
Orange-crowned warbler
Lesser goldfinch
Mountain trogon (4 different birds)
Brown creeper
Slate-throated redstart
Mexican chickadee
Dusky-capped flycatcher
Acorn woodpecker
Cooper's hawk
Ruby-crowned kinglet
Hepatic tanager
Black-headed grosbeak
Hooded grosbeak (only my second spotting of this bird)
Hermit thrush
Western bluebird
White-tipped dove
Greater pewee
Buff-breasted flycatcher
Hermit warbler
Yellow-rumped warbler
Chestnut-sided shrike-vireo
Cordilleran flycatcher
Bullock's oriole
Tufted flycatcher
Red-faced warbler
White-eared hummingbird
Mexican jay (or whatever our local species is now called)
Gray silky-flycatcher
Crescent-chested warbler
Townsend's warbler
Wilson's warbler
White-striped woodcreeper
Hutton's vireo
Plumbeous vireo
Olive warbler

We dipped on other species that Leonel and Eugenia have seen in the area, among them Red warbler, Green-striped brush-finch (they say its supercillium is yellow, not white), Rufous-crowned brush-finch, Gray-barred wren, Grace's warbler, and various owls. 

Until the next time..... 




Meanwhile check out some photos of the the habitat.





p.s.  If you want directions to this amazing birding spot, email me at antep12{at}gmail(dot)com.

A Tale of a Pied-billed Grebe

There I was on my sofa last night about to finish a good book when my dog Lucy started to bark and bark. 

Up the steps came Javier, Andreja and their youngsters Gaia and Lenart.  They were distraught about a bird Javier had found while canoeing in a marshy area along the lake.  Caught in a fishing net, the bird was exhausted.  Javier managed to get it untangled and decided that I was the only person who might be able to care for it.  Yep, evidence that I have the reputation of being the local bird lady.
They thought it a duck.  These photos will show that it was a juvenile Pied-billed grebe. 

After examining the bird for injuries (none noted), the next question was what to do.  I didn't really know, because I've never been that close to a baby PB grebe and it was about 9:00 PM.  Dark was the night with only a sliver of moon.  Even so, I thought about taking it to the lake.  That's when I dialed Dr. Fernando Villasenor Gomez, ornithologist and dean of the biology department at the Universidad de Michoacana in Morelia.  Thankfully he answered the phone and advised me to keep it in the box for the night and release it in the lake in the morning.

The only other rescue I've done was a hummingbird that was banging itself against my window at 10 PM.  I kept it in a covered box with a sugar water feeder, and it flew off in the morning.  In this case, I wasn't too sure how the grebe would fare.
Well, in the morning, Lucy and I found the grebe alive.  It was sitting in a bowl of water I'd put inside the box.  It seemed to me to be seeking its normal habitat.  So off we went to the lake. 

I took it out of the box and tried to delicately place it in the water.  Wowsers, with flapping wings and moving legs, it sunk in a flash and didn't surface, much to my concern.  I know they can dive and swim under water but I expected it to come up somewhere in sight.  The release was a let down.  A big part of me wanted colorful stars and balloons to explode above this marshy spot, an indication that all was well.  Not so. 

I hope it swam to safety while washing off all evidence of humanoid touches. 

This is the spot where I released the grebe.

As the family left my house, Gaia who was celebrating her 8th birthday told me that the grebe was the best gift Mother Nature could have given her.  Feliz cumpleanos Gaia.

Feb 7, 2012 Trip Report - West Side of Lake Patzcuaro

It's been awhile since I've posted a trip report.  It's about time.....

Two birders from the Pacific Northwest (Joe M. and Ann D. of Bellingham, Washington), wanted to see some birds before a meditation retreat at Casa Werma.  They met me at  the bridge to Jaracuaro and afterwards we stopped at my house to see hummers and orioles and then birded La Estacion near Erongaricuaro and Columpio near La Zarzamora.  

Birds seen/heard....if my count is correct, there should be 87 species:

Least grebe (a new species seen from the bridge)
Pied-billed grebe
Tricolored heron
Little blue heron
Snowy egret
Cattle egret
White-faced ibis
Green-winged teal
Mallard ( Mexican duck)
Cinnamon teal
Black vulture
Turkey vulture
Red-tailed hawk (we spotted both dark and light morphs)
American kestrel
Common moorhen
American coot
Black-necked stilt
Killdeer
Long-billed dowitcher
Least sandpiper
Mourning dove (large flocks, more than 100. None of us had seen this many doves at once.)
Inca dove
Barn owl
Broad-billed hummingbird
White-eared hummingbird
Berylline hummingbird
Blue-throated hummingbird
Magnificent hummingbird
Mountain trogon
Acorn woodpecker
Ladder-backed woodpecker
Pileated flycatcher (a new species for La Estacion)
Tufted flycatcher
Pine flycatcher
Black phoebe
Vermilion flycatcher
Cassin's kingbird
Roby-crowned kinglet
Gray silky-flycatcher
Marsh wren
Blue mockingbird (one was mimicking a chestnut-sided shrike-vireo after hearing my recording)
Esatern bluebird
Western bluebird (only the second sighting in this area for me)
Orange-billed nightingale-thrush
American robin
Blue-gray gnatcatcher
Bushtit
Mexican chickadee
Bridled titmouse
Common raven
House sparrow
House finch
Lesser goldfinch
Olive warbler
Orange-crowned warbler
Crescent-chested warbler
Yellow-rumped warbler
Black-throated gray warbler
Townsend's warbler
Hermit warbler
Common yellowthroat
Black-polled yellowthroat
Wilson's warbler
Red-faced warbler
Red warbler
Painted redstart
Slate-throated redstart
Rufous-capped warbler
Hepatic tanager
Cinnamon-bellied flowerpiercer
Hybrid towhee (Spotted x Collared)
Canyon towhee
Rusty sparrow
Chipping sparrow
Song sparrow
Lincoln's sparrow
Yellow-eyed junco
Black-headed grosbeak
Indigo bunting
Red-winged blackbird
Yellow-headed blackbird
Brown-headed cowbird
Hooded oriole
Bullock's oriole
Black-backed oriole
Black-vented oriole (photo below was taken at my feeder)

New Barn Owl Nesting Box

You know the joke about how many people it takes to....... well, here's a new twist:  How many people does it take to put up  a barn owl nesting box?  In this case, the answer is five (5) - two women, two men and a dog. 

Thanks to Glen N (Patzcuaro/Austin) we now have a new home for barn owls.  And thanks to Max, Hugo, Francis and Lucky Lucy the dog for helping me with this project.

As of January 23, there are still at least two barn owls living under the bridge to Jaracuaro.  I couldn't determine if the third one is still there. 

When the next brood of owlets are looking for a new home, there's one to be had nearby at Arocutin's commune.  Mil gracias for the commune's residents who readily agreed to let me place the nesting box on their property.  BTW, Max is a resident of the commune, is finishing a PhD, and is a very proud father of a less than month old daughter.   

We'll monitor the nesting box and let you know if/when barn owls use it.

Getting ready to hoist the heavy bugger up this tree.

And here we go, documented by the following photos

Hugo and Max did most of the hoisting.  I took photos and Francis took notes. 

Ms. Lucy supervised the entire process.

Climbing high, I was allowed to remove the ropes.  From this vantage point, I took the next photos .  What a view from the nesting box!  The smile on my face is an indication of how much fun it was, especially since I didn't have to hoist the bugger up the tree.

This photo shows where the box was placed in the tree.