Patzcuaro Birder

New Barn Owl Nesting Box

2012-02-01T00:28:00.000-06:00

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.

My New Water Feature (mi cascada nueva)

2011-12-13T22:00:00.000-06:00

A water feature is a sure bet to attract birds. I finally have a water feature or, as it is called here, a small cascada. Hooray!

The rainy season ended in October, and the countryside is turning brown. Nows the time for my water feature to bring in the birds. And it sure is.

I looked out my kitchen window yesterday around 11 a.m. and spotted the following species splashing about:

Rufous-backed robin
Nashville warbler
Wilson's warbler
Yellow-rumped warbler
Orange-crowned warbler
Black-and-white warbler
Black-throated gray warbler
Townsend's warbler
Lincoln's sparrow

I also heard the following in nearby trees and shrubs:

Blue mockingbird
Orange-billed nightingale thrush
Berylline hummingbird
Broad-billed hummingbird
Canyon towhee

All are commonly seen this time of year. I'm not sad that there wasn't a rarity in the bunch, because I know one day I'll look out and will spot something unusual. I just know it.

As you can see, I need to surround the cascada with appropriate plants. But that means I must dig up the dirt, screen out the rocks, and amend the dirt with oak-leaf compost. Not an easy job but one I'll tackle before rainy season starts in May.

Oh, I almost forgot to mention this little nocturnal creature. It's called a tlacuache in Mexico; an oppossum of yet to be determined species. S/he likes having water handy as well.

Photo Quiz: Guess this bird......answer found after the third photo....

2011-10-05T02:02:00.001-05:00

Okay, so did you guess correctly?

This juvenile Gray silky-flycatcher (Ptilogonys cinereus) spent some time outside my kitchen window, enough time for me to snap these photos.

Another Trip to Colima Area, March 2011

2011-08-24T18:20:00.001-05:00

Hazel and Ryon are birders living in Jocotepec on Lake Chapala and Winnipeg, Canada. I really enjoy birding with them and especially appreciate their significant financial contribution that allowed Hugo to participate in last year's Long Bird (Ontario) Bird Obervatory program for Latin American birders.

They met me and Hugo in Colima for a 3-day birding trip from March 14-16, 2011. We chose not to bird Ciudad Guzman but concentrated our efforts at Volcan de Fuego (all the way to the microwave towers), the road to Laguna La Maria, and Agua Dulce, which is northwest of Colima on the road to Minatitlan. We stayed at a B+B in Comala.

All locations were very dry, tinder box dry, as you can see in these photos.

Although we missed Long-tailed wood-partridge, Crested guan and any nightjars, we saw many other birds, especially some new woodpeckers. I even added some birds (marked below with *) to my life list!

Birds seen/heard:

Great blue heron

Cattle egret
White ibis
White-faced ibis
Black vulture
Turkey vulture
White-tailed kite
Sharp-shinned hawk
Gray hawk
Crested caracara
American kestrel
West Mexican chachalaca
Banded quail
American coot
Rock pigeon
Inca dove
White-tipped dove
Lilac-crowned parrot:

Photo by Dave Bezaire and Susi Havens-Bezaire from Wikimedia Commons

Squirrel cuckoo
Groove-billed ani
*Colima pygmy-owl (heard)
Ferruginous pygmy-owl
Golden-crowned emerald
Broad-billed hummingbird
Cinnamon hummingbird
Violet-crowned hummingbird
Berylline hummingbird
Broad-tailed hummingbird
Allen's hummingbird
Mountain trogon (heard)
Elegant trogon
Acorn woodpecker
Golden-cheeked woodpecker
Golden-fronted woodpecker
Yellow-bellied sapsucker
Ladder-backed woodpecker
*Smoky-brown woodpecker:

Photo by Michael Woodruff from Wikimedia Commons

Gray-crowned woodpecker
Linneated or pale-billed woodpecker (bad light prevented positive ID for me but Hugo got a better look and added it to his list as a Pale-billed)
*Ivory-billed :

Photo by Dominic Sherony from Wikimedia Commons

Tufted flycatcher
Greater pewee
Pacific-slope flycatcher
Cordilleran flycatcher
Vermilion flycatcher
Dusky-capped flycatcher
Brown-crested flycatcher
Great kiskadee
Social flycatcher
Tropical kingbird
Cassin's kingbird
Gray-collared becard
Rose-throated becard
*Masked tityra:

Photo from Wikimedia Commons

Tree swallow

Barn swallow
Ruby-crowned kinglet
Spotted wren
Happy wren
*Sinaloa wren
Northern mockingbird
Curve-billed thrasher
Blue mockingbird
Brown-backed solitaire
Swainson's thrush
White-throated robin
Rufous-backed robin
American robin
Blue-gray gnatcatcher
Mexican chickadee
Bridled titmouse
Loggerhead shrike
Common raven
Dwarf vireo
Plumbeous vireo
Cassin's vireo
Hutton's vireo
Golden vireo
House finch
Lesser goldfinch
Orange-crowned warbler
Nashville warbler
Tropical parula
Yellow-rumped warbler
Black-throated gray warbler
Black-throated green warbler
Townsend's warbler
Black-and-white warbler
American redstart
MacGillivray's warbler
Wilson's warbler
Red-faced warbler
Painted redstart
Slate-throated redstart
Yellow-breasted chat
Summer tanager
Western tanager
*Scrub euphonia
Elegant euphonia
Olive sparrow
Canyon towhee
Stripe-headed sparrow
Chipping sparrow
Lark sparrow
Black-headed grosbeak
Blue grosbeak
Lazuli bunting
Indigo bunting
Varied bunting
Great-tailed grackle
Bronzed cowbird
Brown-headed cowbird
Streak-backed oriole
Bullock's oriole
Yellow-winged cacique

Lunch stop with Dwarf vireo nearby

Broad-billed Hummingbird Nest

2011-08-13T23:31:00.000-05:00

By happenstance, I discovered a Broad-billed hummingbird nest in the yard. It did not take long for an egg, then a second egg, followed by one hatching, then the other. Before 3 weeks had passed, both birds fledged. Check out the following photos.......

The nest:

One day after hatching:

A week later:

A few days later:

The first born was always larger and the first to fledge:

There is a second bird in the nest:

I was nearby when the first bird fledged. The second bird fledged the next day:

Life Birds: Hooded Grosbeak + Green-striped brushfinch

2011-08-13T23:29:00.000-05:00

I have a list of birds yet to be seen here in the Central Highlands of Mexico. Compared to when we moved here two years ago, this list has gotten shorter and shorter as I have ticked off species after species. It's a rare day for me to find a new bird, a lifer.

Last week, Hugo and I took some birders from Canada to the Santa Juana area. Soon after getting good looks at a stunning male Mountain trogon, we heard and then spotted a Northern pygmy-owl. As we each peered into the spotting scope to get close up looks at the owl, one of the visitors noticed another bird a little above the owl. Imagine my shock when I trained my binocs on this other bird - a male Hooded grosbeak! It's a species I've been waiting to see.

Wait, wait, it gets better.....the female was nearby, affording all of us perfect views of both.

After congratulating one another, I turned toward the car and spotted a bird scratching at the edge of the dirt road - a Green-striped brushfinch. I've only seen this species once before and that was several years ago. Unfortunately, the bird didn't stay in the open long, and we had to work the brush awhile before everyone got good looks at this secretive bird. A lifer for the others on the trip.

Photo from Wikimedia Commons - Dominic Sherony, photographer

It was a good day, and now I'll have to revise my life list.

Another Hummer Nest

2011-08-13T23:27:00.000-05:00

It's been difficult to work in my yard this spring.

A Broad-billed hummer laid two eggs and fledged two young from a nest over one of my raised beds.

Another is on the opposite side of my house and is on eggs. Luckily I can watch the action with my spotting scope from the living room.

Can you find the nest in the following photo?

Hike/bird trip to Columpio Sunday Aug 13

2011-08-13T23:23:00.001-05:00

Bird of the day: Mexican jay

(photo from Wikimedia Commons; photographer, Alan Vernon)

Eleven of us headed to an area by Zarzamora (above Erongaricuaro) to a place we call Columpio. The outing was billed as a bi-lingual hike/walk/bird trip so there was a mix of interest among us. One interest we hadn't considered until we got there: hongos or mushrooms. It's that time of year.

Here's what we saw/heard (not in taxonomic order):

Painted redstart
White-breasted nuthatch
Hepatic tanager
Crescent-chested warbler
Ruby-crowned kinglet
Mexican jay
Yellow-eyed junco
Pine flycatcher
Acorn woodpecker
Hairy woodpecker
Bewick's wren
American robin
Red warbler
Barn swallow
Gray silky-flycatcher
Brown-backed solitaire
White-tipped dove
Hybrid towhee (spotted x collared)
Brown creeper
Blue-throated hummingbird
Olive warbler
Mexican chickadee
Northern raven
Rufous-capped warbler

Juvenile Mountain Trogon

2011-08-01T10:30:00.000-05:00

Earlier this month, Stan and Darnelle came over from the Lake Chapala area to bird with us. They reported seeing a male Sparkling-tailed woodstar at a feeder in Zirahuen.

At Columpio, they added a number of new birds to their life and Mexico lists. The most interesting bird of the day was one that we couldn't immediately identify. Thanks to several individuals on the Mexico-birding yahoogroup, we've concluded that it's a juvenile Mountain trogon. I must admit that I wished it to be an Eared quetzal.....

Life bird: Sparkling-tailed woodstar

2011-07-04T11:40:00.000-05:00

Wowsers. I walked out my French doors and glanced at one of the feeders....to spot a new hummingbird species. Sparkling-tailed woodstar!!

It's an endemic to central Mexico; however, it has been a secret to me. It wasn't very shy and stayed at the feeder long enough for me to run back into the house for the camera and take several shots.

Number 393 for my Mexico list and 111 for my yard list.

Female woodstars (photos by Vince Gravel)

Male in flight (photo by Alex Gordon)

Male in flight (photo by Vince Gravel)

Hugo caught it out of the corner of his eye today, so he added it to his list as well.

Many thanks to Vince Garvel and Alex Gordon for use of the photos.

Check out Vince's blog: http://www.birdsofmexico.blogspot.com/. At the bottom, there's a place to click for the rest of his collection of amazing photos.

May 2011 Birding Trip Report

2011-06-23T11:45:00.001-05:00

Note: I'll add photos to this entry soon. Until then, here's a recent trip report.

Oh, and in case you've been wondering about my not posting many entries this past year: No, I've not moved on to another pastime - I still live to bird. It's simply a matter of other pressing matters taking up my time this past year - divorce, my mother's failing health, more work to finish my house, visiting friends, etc.

Last month, Hugo guided a visiting birder - George M. from Ontario. I was invited to tag along for the last day and a half. Both Hugo and George got lifers. Although not a lifer, I got a great look at a bird on my BVD list - that stands for Better View Desired bird. Fan-tailed warbler, seen at Arroyo Frio near Pedernales.

We dipped on swifts at the waterfalls south of Uruapan so we headed to Tacambaro, always a treasure trove of birds.

Some changes at Rio Corucha: they've bulldozed a wider road higher up the mountainside. It looks like they're building an alberca (pool) up there or so we were told by some of the blackberry farmers. The trickle of water that used to make its way down the dirt road on the other side of the river is no more. Thus, no butterflies. :-(

The area still produced Banded quail, Black-chested sparrow, Lesser roadrunner, and Golden-crowned emerald. No West Mexican chachalacas - it's been more than a year since we've spotted them in the area.

And no, we didn't spot the mystery raptor, which both Hugo and I say is a Solitary eagle. One day we'll see it again and have a good camera to record the sighting.

Birds seen/heard (150 species):

Great egret

Snowy egret
Cattle egret
White-faced ibis
Mallard
Lesser scaup
Black vulture
Turkey vulture
Sharp-shinned hawk
Red-tailed hawk
Banded quail
Common moorhen
Northern jacana
Black-necked stilt
Killdeer
Greater yellowlegs
Spotted sandpiper
Least sandpiper
Rock pigeon
Mourning dove
Inca dove
White-tipped dove
Squirrel cuckoo
Groove-billed ani
Lesser roadrunner
Northern pygmy-owl
Ferruginous pygmy-owl
White-naped swift
White-throated swift
Golden-crowned emerald
Broad-billed hummingbird
White-eared hummingbird
Violet-crowned hummingbird
Berylline hummingbird
Blue-throated hummingbird
Magnificent hummingbird
Plain-capped starthroat
Mountain trogon
Elegant trogon
Belted kingfisher
Green kingfisher
Russet-crowned motmot
Acorn woodpecker
Golden-cheeked woodpecker
Yellow-bellied sapsucker
Ladder-backed woodpecker
Hairy woodpecker
Northern flicker
White-striped woodcreeper
Greenish elaenia
Pileated flycatcher
Tufted flycatcher
Olive-sided flycatcher
Greater pewee
Pine flycatcher
Cordilleran flycatcher
Buff-breasted flycatcher
Black phoebe
Vermilion flycatcher
Dusky-capped flycatcher
Ash-throated flycatcher
Nutting's flycatcher
Great-crested flycatcher
Brown-crested flycatcher
Great kiskadee
Social flycatcher
Sulphur-bellied flycatcher
Cassin's kingbird
Thick-billed kingbird
Rose-throated becard
Northern rough-winged swallow
Barn swallow
Gray silky-flycatcher
Gray-barred wren
Spotted wren
Canyon wren
Happy wren
Bewick's wren
Marsh wren
Curve-billed thrasher
Blue mockingbird
Easter bluebird
Orange-billed nightingale-thrush
Russet nightingale-thrush
Hermit thrush
White-throated thrush
Rufous-backed robin
American robin
Bushtit
Mexican chickadee
Bridled titmouse
White-breasted nuthatch
Brown creeper
Steller's jay
Mexican jay
Common raven
House sparrow
Plumbeous vireo
Hutton's vireo
Warbling vireo
Golden vireo
Chestnut-sided shrike-vireo
House finch
Lesser goldfinch
Olive warbler
Orange-crowned warbler
Nashville warbler
Crescent-chested warbler
Yellow warbler
Yellow-rumped warbler
Black-throated gray warbler
Townsend's warbler
Common yellowthroat
Black-polled yellowthroat
Gray-crowned yellowthroat
Wilson's warbler
Red warbler
Painted redstart
Slate-throated redstart
Fan-tailed warbler
Rufous-capped warbler
Golden-browed warbler
Hepatic tanager
Summer tanager
Western tanager
Elegant euphonia
Blue-black grassquit
White-collared seedeater
Cinnamon-bellied flowerpiercer
Rufous-capped brush-finch
Green-striped brush-finch
Rusty-crowned ground-sparrow
Hybrid towhee (Collared x Rufous-sided)
Canyon towhee
Black-chested sparrow
Stripe-headed sparrow
Rusty sparrow
Chipping sparrow
Song sparrow
Yellow-eyed junco
Black-headed grosbeak
Blue grosbeak
Red-winged blackbird
Western meadolark
Great-tailed grackle
Bronzed cowbird
Streak-backed oriole
Black-vented oriole
Scott's oriole
Yellow-winged cacique

New Nesting Boxes

2011-06-07T20:59:00.008-05:00

On a recent trip to/from the States, I picked up two pre-made nesting boxes - on sale no less.

They were rather plain so I asked my neighbor Francis if she'd beautify them with some of her artwork. She and husband Roldofo Rodriguez make much sought after art - large and small chests, shadow boxes, crosses, benches, and hummingbird earrings are just some of the articles they make.

Here are the finished boxes.......

Detail of the box in the side yard.

Note: the banner, birds and flower heads are raised from the box; the flower stems and leaves are painted onto the box.

It's installed in cozy corner where I can watch it from inside the house.

This one is in the front yard.

A wren - I am hoping for a Spotted wren - moved in within a couple hours of installation!

Of course, there's always a pair of birds who want a different home. Canyon wrens recently fledged a brood from the space under the umbrella of this patio heater.

Orange-billed nightingale-thrush x 3

2011-05-15T16:23:00.007-05:00

I had three events involving Orange-billed nightingale-thrushes in short order yesterday.

The first was on the cover of ABA's North American Birds quarterly journal, vol 64: no 4, 2011, that arrived in my monthly mail packet from Seattle. No, I didn't go to South Dakota last year to add this species to my ABA list. I've got them in my yard here on the shores of Lake Patzcuaro.

The next happening was a flutter of excitement out my kitchen window. I'm not sure what was going on. Two birds flew onto my window ledge and were flapping at each other, while making all sorts of racket. I thought they were fighting. One was an adult Orange-billed, the other was a juvenile. See photo above.

The adult flew away to a nearby tree, then flew off into my neighbor's garden. The juvenile sat on my window sill for some time, allowing me to get this photo before it, too, flew off.

The third is a norm at this time of year: Orange-billed nightingale-thrushes in my yard sing constantly. They start at the crack of dawn and don't stop until dark. And I mean they sing throughout the day. Mind you, they are not easy to see - they tend to sit still and you have to be lucky to catch some movement to locate them. Yet, once heard, you will not forget their song.
Check out www.xeno-canto.org for recordings of this species.

Jazz and Jizz

2011-03-31T01:29:00.006-05:00

Jazz Tival 2011 happened in Morelia late last week, and I joined friends for the closing concert by Bobby Watson.

Here's a little known secret about me: I took 27 credits of African-American music at the University of Minnesota in the 70s. My life was greatly influenced by professors Geneva H. Southall and Reginald T. Buckner. Another teacher at that time was Percy Hughes, my mail carrier and very gifted saxophonist, who knocked on my door one day to ask why I, a white girl, was listening to all those spirituals and Kansas City swing (answer: homework assignment). Of course, I should also mention my father, George Birkett, who played trombone at Precidio. By listening to his extensive jazz record collection, my appreciation of jazz was launched.

Bobby Watson has quite a history. He's a saxophonist, composer, producer, and educator. Oh, let's not forget his association with Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers. (Here's another secret about me: I spent an afternoon at Horace Silver's home where he fed me and a friend tuna fish on melba toast and played the piano for several hours. But, that's another story.)

Saturday was a lovely, warm evening, and the concert was held in the courtyard of the Casa de Cultura. Several thousand people were in the crowd. The musicians came on stage, the music started, and, lo and behold, fireworks burst overhead. It just doesn't get much better than this.

Except that I caught sight of a bird flying over the domed building.

That's where 'jizz' comes into the picture. In a split second or two, I knew it was an owl. My mind very rapidly went from pigeon to owl, ruling out nighthawk along the way.

Jizz - what is it? To me, it's the overall impression of a bird. That impression runs the gamut of shape, posture, flight style, size, color, location, habitat, time of day, etc. And that summation of information helps narrow my options, especially when I get only a brief glimpse of a bird....at night. Based on what I saw, I could conclude that I saw an owl; I couldn't tell you what genus (although I highly suspect it was a barn owl).

Jazz and Jizz - what a combination of two loves of my life. What a night it was.

Serious Birding for 3+ Days

2010-09-06T15:02:00.019-05:00

Okay, I give up.....Google has a bug in it today, and I've tried and tried to re-order the following photos and to eliminate a few duplicate photos to the point that I am not going to waste anymore time. The gist of our birding is found after the photos. When I get more photos from Liz, Sid, Jerry and Pat, I'll post them separately.

Swallow-tail butterfly larva

A bat under the eaves of my house

Male black-polled yellowthroat

Black-chested sparrow

Birding at La Estacion near Erongaricuaro

Behind the concession stand at Arroyo Frio
south of Tacambaro

Black-chested sparrow at Tacambaro

Yes, La Espiga bakery. What a way to start the day!

Maestro at La Espiga bakery

Prowling the bushes for Red warblers near Zarzamora

Sid just ticked off another bird on his life list!

Lunch break in Erongaricuaro on market day

Friends Liz and Sid visited from Tucson last week along their friends from Spokane, Pat and Jerry. Hugo was able to join us for two days before he headed to Long Point Bird Observatory.

We visited the bridge to Jaracuaro, La Estacion, Columpio near Zarzamora, and various favorite spots in the Tacamabaro area. Watching three hummingbird feeders at my house also kept us busy. No Rufous, Allen's or Calliope's have made an appearance yet this season.

With six pairs of eyes belonging to six serious birders, I was hoping for something rare to show up. No luck, however. No swifts, no unusual flycatchers, no new warblers.... the one bird that was a potential lifer - a largish owl - briefly caught my eye before delving deep in a tree on the other side of Rio Corucha. Hugo saw it, too, but not enough for either of us to identify it.

Liz and Jerry have promised photos of birds, bats, dragonflies, insects butterflies, moths, etc. I will post them when the CD arrives.

Species seen/heard (101):

Great egret

Little blue heron

Snowy egret

Cattle egretWhite-faced ibis

Black vulture

Turkey vulture

White-tailed ite

Cooper's haw

White-tailed hawk

Red-tailed hawk (dark morph)

Northern Jacana

Black-necked stilt

Killdeer

Inca dove

White-tipped dove

Groove-billed ani

Lesser roadrunner

Barn owl

Unidentified owl

Golden-crowned emerald

Violet-crowned hummingbird

Berylline hummingbird

Magnificient hummingbird

Russet-crowned motmot

Acorn woodpecker

Golden-cheeked woodpecker

Hairy woodpecker

Northern flicker

White-striped woodcreeper

Pileated flycatcher

Greater pewee

Pine flycatcher

Black phoebe

Vermilion flycatcher

Great kiskadee

Social flycatcher

Cassin's kingbird

Thick-billed kingbird

Rose-throated becard

Northern rough-winged swallow

Cliff swallow

Barn swallow

Gray silky-flycatcher

Spotted wren

Canyon wren

Happy wren

Bewick's wren

House wren

Curve-billed thrasher

Blue mockingbird

Eastern bluebird

Brown-backed solitaire

Orange-billed nightingale-thrush

Russet nightingale-thrush

White-throated thrush

American robin

Blue-gray gnatcatcher

Bushtit

Mexican chickadee

Bridled titmouse

White-breasted nuthatch

Brown creeper

Mexican jay

Common raven

House sparrow
Warbling vireo

Golden vireo

House finch

Black-headed siskin

Lesser goldfinch

Olive warbler

Crescent-chested warbler

Hermit warbler

Black-and-white warbler

Louisiana waterthrush

Black-polled yellowthroat

Gray-crowned yellowthroat

Red-faced warbler

Red warbler

Painted redstart

Slate-throated redstart

Rufous-capped warbler

Yellow-breasted chat

Hepatic tanager

Blue-black grassquit

White-collared seedeater

Rufous-capped brush-finch

Hybrid towhee (Collared + Spotted)

Canyon towhee

Black-chested sparrow

Stripe-headed sparrow

Rufous-crowned sparrow

Rusty sparrow

Striped sparrow

Song sparrow

Yellow-eyed junco

Back-headed grosbeak

Great-tailed grackle

Bronzed cowbird-juvenile

Streak-backed oriole

Yellow-winged cacique

It pays to be on your toes: a new bird seen

2010-07-11T22:37:00.004-05:00

On a whim a few of us spent last Sunday at one of my favorite birding spots - El Columpio. As we opened the car door, we heard a Mountain trogon. Saw it too. Not bad for a start.

Lots of birds around. If I could put my hands on the list at the moment, I'd let you know all of them.

The best sighting of the day, at least for me, was a new bird. I'd been watching for a Red warbler, saw one, and followed it into a tree. Well, imagine my surpise when I had two birds in my binoculars at the time. A Red warbler and something new for me.

I immediately got Hugo onto it, and it was new for him, too. Warbler-like, kinda brownish with a blue-gray facial spot. Hmmm.

Well, we didn't have to wait long for the answer to the quandry: a juvenile Red warbler. No doubt about it when an adult REWA came in to feed it. Whoa, what a treat.

I tried to find a photo of a juvenile REWA on the Internet without success. This photo is from "Warblers of the Americas, an identification guide" by Curson, Quinn, and Beadle, 1994, the only reference book in my library with a drawing of the bird. Mind you, our bird wasn't so red. It was more brownish than this drawing shows. And the facial spot was definitely more blue-gray. Hard to say how much the lighting played with the colors.

Regardless, it was a good bird to see. And, I wish I had a good digital camera to record the moment. Algun dia (one day, as they say hereabouts).

Good birding to you.

Exciting News about Hugo, our local bird guide

2010-04-28T10:13:00.009-05:00

Many of you know that I have been working this past year with Victor "Hugo" Valencia, a local birder from Erongaricuaro. He is an exceptional birder, and I couldn't have a better partner if the field. (see June 8, 2009 entry for more information about Hugo)

We recently received news that he has been selected one of three individuals from Latin America to receive free training from Long Point Bird Observatory in Ontario. His program begins mid-August and ends early Novemember. While in Ontario, he will receive advanced training in bird banding and data management techniques and other field techniques related to bird research and conservation. Since Mexico is recognized as being an important wintering area for Canadian songbirds in Latin America, this training has practical benefits to Canadian researchers and conservationists. This program is also supported by the government of Canada, in particular Environment Canada's Canadian Wildlife Service. Both Hugo and I hope his training will enhance the field work being done by Dra. Laura and Dr. Fernando Villasenor Gomez at the Universidad de Michoacana in Morelia.

While all of his air travel costs, course training, and all living expenses in Canada are covered, he will need financial assistance to support his wife Lupe and two young daughters (Mariana 5 yrs) and Lucia (5 months) in his absence, and to pay for his visa. Moreover, it would be nice to send him north with a bit of pocket money.

I will underwrite some of his expenses but, more importantly, Hugo wants to do as much as he can to pay for his training. This is a poor area of Mexico and there are not many full time jobs. If you are reading this blog and live in the area, perhaps you have some work on the back burner that Hugo could do. He's a master tile-setter, has a certificate to repair refrigerators and air-conditioners (he can fix most appliances!), has a green thumb, does interior and exterior painting, and is able to handle most plumbing and electrical work. There is no job big or small that he will turn down. Oh, I almost forgot - he's fluent in English, so he can act as a translator for you.

This is a chance of a life-time for him. Some of you have added life birds to your list or have experienced many rare sightings in the field due to his skills. If you have birded with him, no doubt you will agree that no one sees or hears birds as soon as he can! He's a patient and exceptional teacher as well. If you don't have a job for him but you are willing to donate funds on his behalf, please write to me privately {antep10[at]aol[dot]com}. I have set up an account for deposits on his behalf. Nothing is too little or too big.

Let's congratulate and support a local birder!

The Challenges to Gardening Hereabouts

2010-04-15T21:06:00.004-05:00

As I planted one of my raised beds about 7 weeks ago, I heard a repeated chittering nearby. Yep, an adult hummer was letting me know I was invading her territory. This Broad-billed hummer had built a nest and had two eggs awaiting her attention. I let her be for the most part, and she fledged two youngsters. Now, my Oregon sweet peas and Chinese peapods are about to blossom, and I am looking forward to eating them. (FYI, these edibles are NOT available hereabouts.)

Then last week, Hugo pointed out another hummer nest. This one a Broad-tailed. Lucky for me, I can monitor the progress with my spotting scope planted in the living room. She seems comfortably brooding two eggs. Hopefully, she too will fledge her youngsters.

Difficult to spot this nest, isn't it?

Soon to be youngsters

Here's how I monitor the nest.

Nesting Barn Owls (Tyto alba)

2010-03-20T18:11:00.009-05:00

Photo by Nunes D'Acosta, Brazil. Check out his website at www.brasilaves.com.br

Thank you, Nunes, for permission to use your photo!

Here's the thing: I get to learn something about birds nearly everyday. This time my lesson was about barn owls.

I knew there were barn owls (Tyto alba) under the bridge to Jaracuaro, thanks to my good friends Wayne and Susan Colony, formerly of San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, and now living in the Tucson, Arizona, area. As many times as I have birded the bridge, the owls never made their presence known until Wayne and Susan mentioned the owls to me.

Last month, Bruce and I went to the bridge to check out the owls. It's not an easy access, for one must duck under a barbed wire fence, manage to traverse a steep rocky slope, and climb some stones to get under the bridge to where one might peer into the dark ledges of the underside of the bridge to where the owls might be. Of course, there's also the garbage one must step through to get to the vantage point and the very active bee hive one must avoid to reach the best spot to see the owls. I am wary of the hive, for I have been stung twice now.....the last time my arm swelled twice normal size and hurt for several days.

The bridge to Jaracuaro.

A climb up the right side offers a view into the left side where the second set of owlets are.

Along the way, we flushed two owls. No problema, I thought. We focused our binocs on the ledge and, lo and behold, spotted some owlets. We stayed a moment to count them - three babies no more than a day old. How cool can that be?!

We returned the next day to photograph them. Only this time, we flushed one adult and could not find the owlets. I was frantic, and Bruce was left holding a camera with nothing to shoot. I started to scan the area in case the family moved from one part of the bridge structure to another. Eventually, on the other side of the water channel, I spotted an adult. She didn't move, and I wasn't sure what she was doing. Was she hiding the owlets?

Puzzlement set in. Was she hiding the owlets? Had they been moved? If so, how could that be, given their sharp talons and beaks? Mostly I worried about the owlets we had seen - they were freshly hatched and so very vulnerable.

I emailed a couple of experts, and Jamie Acker from Bainbridge Island, Washington, suggested that I make sure there wasn't another nest under the bridge. Duh! It hadn't occurred to me. But sure enough, the next time I visited, I was able to count three adults.

Thus, I can admit to having learned some lessons about barn owls over the last couple of weeks:

I have come to believe that the set of three owlets perished, probably due to our having flushed the adults.
I know there are three adult barn owls living under the bridge: two females and one male.
I have also discovered that the second female hatched two owlets and they are doing just fine. They are white, fuzzy balls very similar to those in Nunes' photo.

The new family is living in the dark area at the top of the columns.

Bats, not birds

2010-01-10T22:45:00.017-06:00

I hadn't really thought about bats since we moved from Seattle. There we installed a bat house on our home. We have also installed one here in Arocutin, and it is being used as evidenced by the bat poop beneath.

While birding recently, Hugo and I stopped at one of our favorite spots - the Santa Juana road. At this location, we've often been thrilled by Mountain trogons, Red warblers, Hairy woodpeckers, Mexican jays, and Gray-barred wrens. This time we were met by destruction: numerous trees had been removed, probably by illegal timber harvesters. This assessment according to our local forestry advocate, Jose Luis.

Among the debris, we spotted a lonely bat hanging on the remains of a small branch - a Hoary bat. Lasiurus cinerus. In Spanish, it is known as Murcielago nevado.

Murcielago. Murcielago. For me a difficult word to pronounce. Nonetheless, it is a good word to know, and it is good to know about these creatures.

According to a poster I saw recently at the Rosenthal's furniture facture (http://www.mfa.eronga.com/), the following bats are found in Mexico, in addition to the Hoary bat:

Lasiurus cinerus - Lesser long-nosed bat:

Leptonycteris curasoae - Hairy-legged vampire

Diphylla ecaudata - Ghost-faced bat

Mormoops megalophylla - Funnel-eared bat

Natalus stramineus - Free-tailed bat:

Tadarida brasiliensis - Great false vampire bat

Vampyrum spectrum - Sharp-nosed or Long-nosed bat:

Rhynchonycteris naso - Fringe-lipped bat

Trachops cirrhosus - Fishing bulldog bat

Tonatia evotis - Golden bat

Uroderma bilobatum - White-lined tentmaking bat

Corynorhinus townsendii - Townsend's big-eared bat:

Artibeus jamaicensis - Jamaican fruit bat

Sturnira lilium - Yellow-shouldered bat

Glassophaga soricina - American leaf-nosed bat

Antrozous pallidus - Pallid bat

Carollia perspicillata - Seba's short-tailed bat

Thyroptera tricolor - Spix's disk-winged bat

Confirmed Hook-billed Kite Sighting!!

2009-11-20T12:16:00.006-06:00

On November 4, a Hook-billed kite was seen by four of us. According to local ornithologists, this species has not been seen away from Michoacan's coast and is a very rare record. Given the elevation, habitat and diet of the bird, it shouldn't be here in the central volcanic area.

We were making our way up the mountain from Erongaricuaro to Zarzamora when we spotted a soaring dark raptor with a white tail band. Luckily one of our photographers was able to snap some shots.

Many thanks to Mark Stackhouse of Westwings and Dr. Fernando Villasenor Gomez of the University of Michoacan in Morelia for confirming the identification of this bird. And many thanks to Michael Morrison for the photography.

Observers were Victor Hugo Valencia, Robert Whitlatch and Michael Morrison (both of Boise, ID) and yours truly.

Los Azufres National Park

2009-10-01T21:53:00.011-05:00

Years ago my husband and I drove through the mountainous pine forests a bit west of the Monarch butterfly sanctuaries. Although my Mexican friends told me about this geothermal park, nothing was written in any of the guide books at that time. Our curiosity prompted us to explore...and so we did. Los Azufres was lovely, especially sitting in a steaming hotspring for several hours, and I've been wanting to return ever since.

Thanks to a prompting by Mike Judd, three of us left Patzcuaro early September 17. We drove through Morelia's morning traffic snarl, took the autopista east and exited at the Los Azufres sign. We made a few stops (in the town of Jerahuaro) before climbing into the mountains. The woods were eerily silent, and we weren't able to coax a single trogon in. Nor anything else.

Near the crest and just before a CFE power plant, we managed to find La Gachupina, a presa (dam) that is also an ecological park. We spent most of our time combing this area.

The most amazing bird of the day, as least for me, was a very vocal Green violet-ear. It was territorial and vocalized non-stop. Amazing views, and I kept thinking "Too bad Bob from Boise isn't here with his camera."

We also studied a woodpecker for quite awhile. It's bill was very small, like a Downy's. According to Howell and Webb, Downy's are not a Mexican species. Unfortunately, by the time we retrieved our cameras, we were not able to relocate the bird to photograph it. Thus, we reluctantly listed it as a Hairy.

Hearing the rumblings of our bellies, we sought lunch at Adelita's. The meal was good, another eating establishment to remember for future trips.

Rather than turn back to the Autopista, we decided to make a loop by driving towards Ciudad Hidalgo and then through Mil Cumbres on Hwy 15. Of course, we stopped at El Fresno's El Clarin restuarant just in case there were any swifts in the area. We got lucky: White-throated swifts swirled above. Plus, we enjoyed cold beverages and botanas.

The loop from Patzcuaro to Los Azufres and continuing through Mil Cumbres and back to Patzcuaro is an nice day trip.

Birds seen/heard in order of appearance:

Western meadowlark (singing as we exited the autopista)

Rusty sparrow

Hepatic tanager

House sparrow

Common raven

Barn swallow

Wilson's warbler

Northern rough-winged swallow

Chipping sparrow

Canyon towhee

Black-headed grosbeak

Towhee species
Eastern bluebird

Yellow-eyed junco

Cassin's kingbird

Yellow-rumped warbler

Western sandpipers (11 of them)

Spotted sandpiper

House finch

Cinnamon-bellied flowerpiercer

Green violet-ear

Allen's - Rufous hummingbird

Red warbler

Olive warbler

Brown creeper

Black-throated gray warbler

Hepatic tanager

Common raven

Hairy woodpecker (with a very small bill....very similar to a Downy's bill)

Empid flycatcher (pine?)

Ruby-crowned kinglet

Russet or Ruddy-capped nightingale-thrush (didn't fly/didn't see the underwings, no vocals)

Northern pygmy-owl

White-throated swift

Brood parasitism with Groove-billed ani

2009-10-01T19:20:00.019-05:00

The juvenile ani just after being fed by a Banded wren

It's true. The more time I spend in the field, the more I see and learn.

In late August, Mike Judd twisted my arm ever so gently to take his wife Cheri and two visiting birders to some of my favorite spots. The visitors turned out to be the executive committee of the Transylvania County Bird Club (Brevard, North Carolina) - Michele and Marvin Barg.

Mike, Marvin, Michele and Cheri

Company of the non-bird type at La Estacion

While birding Rio Corucha, just south of Tacambaro, on August 24, we saw a Banded wren slinking along the side of the road. Even though h/she wove in and out of the brush, we had good looks at the bird. Calling nearby was a large, blackish juvenile bird: a baby Groove-billed ani. Imagine my shock when the wren deposited food into the mouth of the ani. It was one of those moments when my mind kept reviewing all the field marks of both birds and I couldn't stop the words coming from my mouth...."Look at that wren. What the heck is that baby? Oh my, there it goes feeding that monster. Did you guys see that?" Mike says it was more fun watching me get excited than seeing the birds....but what can you expect from a social worker and herp lover.

In my life, I have seen plenty of Brown-headed cowbirds being fed by much smaller birds - one time even by a Bushtit! This observation equally shocked me and remains vivid in my memory. It was definitely a puzzling WOW experience.

Later that night I read through all of my books, searched the Web and sent notes to mentors (for example, Dr. Dennis Paulson in Seattle, Dr. Fernando Villasenor Gomez in Morelia, Rene Sada and Adrian Ganem Sada in Monterrey) and posted a notice on Mexico-birding@yahoogroups.com. Tim Brush, University of Texas - Pan American, responded to the post saying he agreed with Dr. Paulson that this was an unusual sighting. All of my sources said there was no evidence of brood parasitism with Groove-billed anis, and I should report it.

So, this blog entry is one of many reports I will be making.

Cold beverages at Arroyo Frio

Marvin and I

Birds seen over two days and in numerous spots:

Great egret

Little blue heron

Snowy egret

Cattle egret

White-faced ibis

Black vulture

Turkey vulture

Common moorhen

Northern jacana

Inca dove

Squirrel cuckoo

Groove-bill ani

An adult Groove-billed ani

Northern pygmy-owl

Black or White-naped swift (no vocalization!)

Golden-crowned emerald

White-eared hummingbird

Violet-crowned hummingbird

Berylline hummingbird

Mountain trogon (3)

Green kingfisher
Russet-crowned motmot -

One day I hope to buy a decent camera!

Acorn woodpecker

Golden-cheeked woodpecker

Northern flicker

Northern beardless-tyrannulet

Tufted flycatcher

Greater pewee

Black phoebe

Vermilion flycatcher

Great kiskadee

Social flycatcher

Cassin's kingbird

Violet-green swallow

Barn swallow

Spotted wren

Canyon wren

Happy wren

Banded wren

Blue mockingbird

White-throated thrush

Mexican chickadee

White-breasted nuthatch

Brown creeper

Mexican jay

Common raven

House sparrow

House finch

Black-headed siskin

Lesser goldfinch

Olive warbler

Hermit warbler

Red warbler

Slate-throated redstart

Rufous-capped warbler

Hepatic tanager

Blue-black grassquit

White-collared seedeater

Rufous-capped brush-finch

Rusty-crowned ground-sparrow

Hybrid towhee (Collared x Spotted)
Canyon towhee

Black-chested sparrow

Stripe-headed sparrow

Rusty sparrow

Chipping sparrow

Yellow-eyed junco

Black-headed grosbeak

Blue grosbeak

Great-tailed grackle

Streak-backed oriole

Yellow-winged cacique

Birding Bonanza with Les

2009-09-21T16:10:00.012-05:00

Les studying sparrows at Rio Corucha (south of Tacambaro)

Another mighty tasty burger at Martin's on the south side of Patzcuaro

Les S. from Churinztio, a lovely little town a half day's drive from here, visited us for 3.5 days. Hugo and I met his bus in Zacapu early Monday Aug 24 and delivered him back in time for a midday bus headed home on Aug 27. Hotel Jardin in Erongaricuaro was his resting place when we weren't birding. Believe me when I say he hardly wrinkled the sheets - we saw 144 species!

Here's a new spot in Pedernales

BTW, in Zacapu, they still make ice cream in the traditional way - without vegetable oil that leaves an awful coat on one's palate - ick! I'd willingly drive to Zacapu, and bird along the way, to eat great ice cream in more than 31 flavors there. Just a tip for the foodies out there.....

Les and Hugo in the Tierra Caliente

Here's what we saw during our 3.5 days in the field:

Pied-billed grebe

Great egret

Tricolored heron

Little blue heron

Snowy egret

Cattle egret

Green heron

Black-crowned night-heron

White-faced ibis

Mallard (Mexican duck)

Ruddy duck

Black vulture

Turkey vulture

Cooper's hawk

Zone-tailed hawk (juvenile)

Red-tailed hawk

American kestrel

Peregrine falcon

Banded quail

Common moorhen

American coot

Northern jacana

Killdeer

Spotted sandpiper

Rock dove

Mourning dove

Inca dove

White-winged dove

Squirrel cuckoo

Groove-billed ani

Barn owl

Great horned owl

Black or White-chinned swift (in flight without vocalization)

Golden-crowned emerald

An Esmeralda mexicana, in Spanish

Broad-billed hummingbird

White-eared hummingbird

Violet-crowned hummingbird

Berylline hummingbird

Blue-throated hummingbird

Magnificent hummingbird

Black-chinned hummingbird

Calliope hummingbird

Broad-tailed hummingbird

Rufous hummingbird

Allen's hummingbird

Mountain trogon

Elegant trogon

Russet-crowned motmot

Acorn woodpecker

Golden-checked woodpecker

Golden-fronted woodpecker

Hairy woodpecker

Northern flicker
White-striped woodcreeper

Greenish elaenia

Pileated flycatcher

Tfted flycatcher

Greater pewee

Buff-breasted flycatcher

Black phoebe

Vermilion flycatcher

Great kiskadee

Social flycatcher

Cassin's kingbird

Thick-billed kingbird

Violet-green swallow

Northern rough-winged swallow

Cliff swallow

Barn swallow

Gray silky-flycatcher

American dipper

Gray-barred wren

Spotted wren

Canyon wren

Happy wren

Banded wren

Bewick's wren

House wren

Curve-billed thrasher

Blue mockingbird

Eastern bluebird

Brown-backed solitaire

Orange-billed nightingale-thrush

Ruddy-capped nightingale-thrush

Swainson's thrush

White-throated thrush

American robin

Blue-gray gnatcatcher

Bushtit

Mexican chickadee

Bridled titmouse

White-breasted nuthatch

Brown creeper

Loggerhead shrike

Mexican jay

Common raven

House sparrow

Plumbeous vireo

Golden vireo

House finch

Red crossbill

Lesser goldfinch

Olive warbler

Crescent-chested warbler

Yellow warbler

Grace's warbler

Black-and-white warbler

Louisiana waterthrush

Common yellowthroat

Gray-crowned yellowthroat

Red-faced warbler

Red warbler

Painted redstart

Slate-throated redstart

Rufous-capped warbler

Yellow-breasted chat

Hepatic tanager

Elegant euphonia

Blue-black grassquit

White-collared seedeater

Rufous-capped brush-finch

Rusty-crowned ground-sparrow

Collared x spotted towhee hybrid

Canyon towhee

Black-chested sparrow

Stripe-headed sparrow

Rusty sparrow

Striped sparrow

Chipping sparrow

Song sparrow

Yellow-eyed junco

Black-headed grosbeak

Blue bunting

Blue grosbeak

Varied bunting

Red-winged blackbird

Yellow-headed blackbird

Great-tailed grackle

Brown-headed cowbird

Streak-backed oriole

Bullock's oriole

Yellow-winged cacique

Another creature seen up close....and part of the trail we walked through.....

Success in Uruapan

2009-08-15T21:10:00.014-05:00

The first sight of the waterfalls

Today Mike Judd and I birded La Tzararacua, the waterfalls located 10 km south of Uruapan. (I have mentioned this location previously, and you can look at that posting for additional information and photos.) Until today I wasn't able to get good enough looks to identify any of the swifts. Today I was lucky! More than two dozen White-naped swifts were found huddled and flying around the waterfalls.

After making our way down the stair-filled path to the main waterfalls to where American dippers were again easily espied, we hiked beyond the falls to the opposite side of the valley. Just short of a smaller waterfall known as Tzararacuita, several Grace's warblers entertained us.

That's me!

And me again...with both the big Sibley's and Howell & Webb in my back pocket.

It was a beautiful day - no rain, pleasant weather, few people in the park, no biting insects, cold beers, and afterwards a sumptious meal in town. I added two birds to my life list: White-naped swifts and Greenish elaenia. All birds seen today are listed at the end of this posting.

White-naped swifts were huddled on both sides of the upper falls

Mike photographing American dippers

We counted three dippers - two adults and one juvenile

Cold beers were thirst-quenching after climbing the stairs back to the car

As I mentioned, we ventured into el centro de Uruapan for lunch. OH MY GAWD, OUR MEAL WAS HEAVENLY. In fact, the best meal I've had in Mexico.

We both had Chile Costeno (not the English n), which was stuffed with shrimp, squash flower, onion and other goodies served on a tomato-flavored rice pilaf and surrounded by a puree of frijoles decorated with a zigzag of crema. Savored with a slightly chilled chardonnay, we thought we'd died and went to heaven. Then there was dessert, which we shared: flamed bananas with brandy and kahlua with a large dollup of vanilla ice cream. Our waiters (Carlos and Sergio) couldn't have been more professional. Price tag for the main course was $85 pesos and dessert was $40 pesos. According to Carlos who speaks English, the chef is exceptional. When pressed, Carlos couldn't recommend one dish more than another.

Neither of us can wait to return. Mind you, Uruapan isn't much to look at, and I probably wouldn't return unless to the cascadas (waterfalls) or the national park, but I will make a trip solely to eat at this restaurant.

The restaurant is located on the second floor of Hotel Plaza Uruapan, Ocampo no. 64, Central Uruapan. http://www.hotelplazauruapan.com.mx/.

So, any of you who think birding is dull, rest assured there is another side. We visit interesting places, see gorgeous birds, and eat sumptious meals as often as we can.

Bird seen (not in taxonomic order):
Inca dove
White-throated robin
Great-tailed grackle
Acorn woodpecker
Green heron
Spotted wren
Canyon wren

Bridled titmouse
Squirrel cuckoo
Spotted sandpiper
American dipper (Spanish name: mirlo-aquatico americano)
White-naped swift (Spanish name: vencejo nuquiblanco)

Photo by Bruce Cox, Patzcuaro

Rose-throated becard
Brown-backed solitaire
Lesser goldfinch
Greenish elaneia
Grace's warbler

Black vulture
Berylline hummingbird

San Miguel Audubon Comes to Patzcuaro!

2009-08-01T00:40:00.013-05:00

View of Lake Patzcuaro from Yacatacas in Tzintzuntzan

The following is a summary entitled "Audubon Goes to Patzcuaro" by Carol Wheeler

In case you haven't heard, all Audubon trips are wonderful. The most recent one, to Patzcuaro and environs in July, was no exception. Participants included: Twenty lucky bird lovers, two skilled, devoted, bird guides, one all-knowing guide to the Purhepechan ruins, and startlingly, dozens and dozens of birds who came along for the ride as it were, including: the elegant euphonia, the gray silk flycatcher and even the turkey vulture, for example.

Amenities were rife. Not only was the hotel splendid--Casa Encantada may be the best bed-and-breakfast in Patzcuaro--certainly it has sumptuous breakfasts, spacious rooms and charming folk decor everywhere. But so was the transportation--commodious six-passenger vans that took us not only to Patzcuaro and back, but everywhere we went once we got there, and the food, which ranged from a gourmet dinner at Patzcuaro's best restaurant to perfect bag lunches for our visit to the ruins in Tzintzuntzan. This was birding for anyone eager to spot feathered creatures in the utmost comfort.

Our bird guide, former Alaskan Georgia Conti, was not only an experienced naturalist--she was also impressively high-tech, equipped with an i-touch that sang the calls of Michoacan's birds on request, to entice the birds to fly closer. Her co-bird leader Hugo (otherwise known as Victor Hugo Valencia Alberto), who grew up in the area, used his scope to make sure we all saw what he saw. Both Georgia and Hugo cared a lot about that. Hugo had learned birding right there in Erongaricuaro (a little village) from his father, a railroadman. The tracks his father had been in charge of were one of our birding sites, so he knew them well. In use no longer, those tracks were perfect for birding--no mud and a smooth, flat path all around us, all bordered by woods, hills, and the shells of houses the railroad workers lived in. But even that paled beside the next day's site: a waterside platform where the birds came to us, no walking required on our part. (They were also visiting tall trees, horse pastures, fence posts, and a lake.)

We Audubon travelers were in luck. In the course of our trip, Georgia and Hugo showed us most of the distinctive birds of Michoacan, including our guide Georgia's choice for most characteristic song, the brown-backed solitaire, along with the berylline hummingbird, the painted redstart, the black-polled yellowthroat, the hybrid towhee, the elegant trogon and many, many others.

Our ruins guide, another transplanted American called Didi Rose, was incredibly knowledgeable about the Purhepechan culture (the ruins we visited are known as Yacata, meaning pile of rocks, but were once the seat of the monarchs of Purhepecha, above the village of Tzintzuntzan, which was at one time the capital city of Michoacan). The ruins themselves are being sorted out by the Mexican government, walls rebulit, grassy areas cleaned up. She also led us through a beautiful ex-convento fringed by a placid, serene garden, also being restored by the government. Just outside was the famous Tzintzuntzan market--no egrets, no ravens, not even a cinnamon-bellied flowerpiercer (we'd seen those already), but yet quite a popular site for our group, this time searching for comals, straw cradles and flowered blouses.

Yes, we didn't only look for and at birds. We shopped and we partied; we visited museums and markets, and we got caught in the rain (but only in the briefest, pleasantest way, because if our cars weren't waiting, our hotel was just down the street). Often we combined several activities, as when we visited the home of Georgia and her husband, a modern aerie in the sky high above rolling farmland, with a privileged view of the world, plus several hummingbird feeders hanging from the patio roof, filled with the constant comings and goings of dozens of hummingbirds, close enough (almost) to touch (though if you tried, you might well fall off into that farmland, way way down below). Or when we spotted birds on our way to the art potter Nicholas Fabian's studio in his home in Santa Fe de la Laguna, a tiny, rustic Michoacan town. Fabian's work impressed us all; many of us bought pieces--one or a few--and then saw them later in town for three times the price. Always a nice surprise.

Not a surprise, totally expected but very nice nevertheless was the beautiful way Linda Whynman, Audubon's president, and her husband Saul ran the trip. They even thought to bring extra binoculars for those of us less well-equipped than we should be. And of course they provided the perfect place to talk over our daily sighting--the daily cocktail party.

Audubon is hoping to take off on another trip to Patzcuaro in the fall. And another, first-time, trip is scheduled for Mexico City's botanical gardens in October. If you become an Audubon member (go to our web site, audubonmex.org) you'll be one of the first to hear about our plans.

Birds seen (not in taxonomic order):

House sparrow
Rock dove
Canyon towhee
Cassin’s kingbird
Great-tailed grackle
Curve-billed thrasher
Orange-billed nightingale-thrush
Blue mockingbird
White-throated thrush
Chipping sparrow
Barn swallow
Slate-throated redstart
Painted redstart
Berylline hummingbird
White-collared seedeater
Cattle egret
Common raven
Cinnamon-bellied flowerpiercer
Acorn woodpecker
Spotted wren
Bushtit
Rufous-capped brushfinch
Hybrid towhee (Collared towhee x Spotted towhee)
Cooper’s hawk
House finch
Rusty sparrow
Pine flycatcher
Rufous-capped warbler
Bewick’s wren
Canyon wren
Turkey vulture
Blue-throated hummingbird
Elegant trogon
Brown-backed solitaire
Eastern bluebird
Elegant euphonia

Elegant euphonia, male

Bullock’s oriole

Black-backed oriole
Red-tail hawk (both dark and light morph)
Gray silky-flycatcher
Black vulture
Great egret
Northern jacana
Song sparrow
Black-polled yellowthroat
Cliff swallow
White-faced ibis
Little blue heron
Red-winged blackbird
Snowy egret
Bronzed cowbird
Vermilion flycatcher
Blue grosbeak
Mexican mallard

Great kiskadee
Yellow warbler
Orchard oriole
Black-backed oriole
Great egret
American coot
Common moorhen
Snowy egret
Black phoebe
Rufous-backed robin
Curve-billed thrasher
Elegant euphonia (male and female)
Lesser goldfinch
Golden-fronted woodpecker
Vermilion flycatcher
Killdeer
Song sparrow
Cassin’s kingbird
House sparrow
House finch
Inca dove
Cattle egret
Barn swallow
Canyon towhee
Brown-headed cowbird
Bronzed cowbird
Canyon wren
Gray silk-flycatcher
Mexican mallard
?? vireo
Yellow-headed blackbird
Magnificent hummingbirds
Berylline hummingbird
Broad-billed hummingbird

Hugo Valencia, Linda Whynman, and me

Mike Judd loves herpes as well as birds

Birds of Michoacan

2009-07-21T11:28:00.010-05:00

I was recently given a gift: a digital version of "La Biodiversidad en Michoacan Estudio de Estado", which includes a chapter and list of the birds of Michoacan. This gift was from Dra. Laura Villasenor Gomez and Dr. Fernando Villasenor, who are siblings and ornithologists at the University of Michoacan in Morelia. Muchisimo gracias!!

The appendices (anexos in Spanish) are incredibly useful:

a list the birds of Michoacan
lists of species that are threatened (16 species), in danger of extinction (11 species), are under protection (49 species), and are extinct (only 1 species, the Imperial woodpecker)
lists of endemic (43), semi-endemic (35), and quasi-endemic species (16).

I have transcribed the data into a spreadsheet. If you'd like to have any of these lists, email me at antep9[at]aol[dot]com. Meanwhile, I am trying to learn how to upload an Excel file to this blog....if you can help, let me know!

Bolillos, birds, bugs, and beauty in Tacambaro-Pedernales

2009-07-17T14:58:00.013-05:00

Monday's outing was fabulous, and I cannot wax more eloguently than Bruce Cox who summarized the day in the following words (see photos at the end):

"A spectacular day, yesterday. Whether an ardent "birder" or simply a day-venturer, many of you may not yet know about one of the best kept secrets of Patzcuaro and central Michoacan: day trips with Georgia Conti and her co-leader Hugo.

Begun early, the day's first stop was a local bakery not far from Don Chucho's for steaming bolillos. We couldn't wait to savor with a crunch-crunch any longer than the bakery's street-front where Georgia offered butter and jams from the back or her SUV. Then off to the south and Tocambaro where we visited utterly wonderful and spectacular sites that offered us a number of area birds. The second site, a bit past Tocambaro and hidden in a box canyon, waterfalls streaming, was a balneario/restaurant where serveral of us, for the first time, repeatedly saw a Russet-crowned Motmot. Tasty tortas, cervezas, and chips... and lively discussions brought a wonderful trip to a finale........ no wait, more birds, another Motmot.......... and a raven seen from the highway back to Patzcuaro. Other feathers identified were: Happy wren, Blue-black, Sulphur-bellied flycatcher, Rusty-crowne ground-sparrow, juvenile Eastern bluebirds, and a Hepatic tanager.

Note: several of the most jubilant venturers had never been birding before..... and living and traveling in this area will never be the same for them. I think."

Birds of the day:

Hepatic tanager
Eastern bluebird
Barn swallow
White-breasted nuthatch
House finch
Acorn woodpecker
Olive warbler
Chipping sparrow
Grace's warbler
American robin
Black vulture
Blue mockingbird
Vermilion flycatcher
Blue-black grassquit
Golden vireo
Happy wren
Bronzed cowbird
Sulphur-bellied flycatcher
Russet-crowned motmot
Rufous-backed robin
Magnificent hummingbird
Berylline hummingbird
Black-vented oriole
Rock dove
House sparrow
Curve-billed thrasher
Canyon wren
White-throated thrush
Great kiskadee
Rusty-crowned ground-sparrow
Great-tailed grackle
Groove-billed ani
Blue-gray gnatcatcher
Cassin's kingbird
Inca dove
Common raven

La Estacion, the old train station near Erongaricuaro

2009-07-08T23:23:00.011-05:00

In March, Hugo introduced me to La Estacion, the old train station near Eronga. His father worked for the railroad for 30 years, so he has spent much time here. His father passed away a few years ago, and there is a special place in Hugo's heart for La Estacion. It is also an especially good place for birds. Each time we visit the area, we find Elegant trogon, an exciting species no doubt for most birders. We also add a new species to our list with each visit. For example, today we watched a family of Slate-throated redstarts. Although not a new species, we were able to watch the adults busily feeding youngsters and teaching them to forage. This was the first time I saw baby redstarts. Without the adults nearby and without the tell-tale fanning of their tails, it would have been a trying time for me to identify the juveniles.

After the photos, you will find a list of all birds we've seen these past months.

Here is a list of species seen at La Estacion since March:

Turkey vulture
Sharp-shinned hawk
Cooper's hawk
Common black-hawk
Red-tailed hawk (dark morph)
Mourning dove
Inca dove
White-tipped dove
Whip-poor-will
Broad-billed hummingbird
White-eared hummingbird
Berylline hummingbird
Blue-throated hummingbird
Elegant trogon
Acorn woodpecker
Golden-fronted woodpecker
Ladder-back woodpecker
Hairy woodpecker
White-striped woodcreeper
Tufted flycatcher
Greater pewee
Hammond's flycatcher
Gray flycatcher
Dusky flycatcher
Cordilleran flycatcher
Vermilion flycatcher
Dusky-capped flycatcher
Great kiskadee
Cassin's kingbird
Rose-throated becard
Violet-green swallow
Northern rough-winged swallow
Barn swallow
Ruby-crowned kinglet
Gray silky-flycatcher
Spotted wren
Canyon wren
Bewick's wren
Curve-billed thrasher
Blue mockingbird
Eastern bluebird
Brown-backed solitaire
Orange-billed nightingale-thrush
Hermit thrush
White-throated thrush
American robin
Blue-gray gnatcatcher
Bushtit
Mexican chickadee
Mexican jay
Common raven
House sparrow
Warbling vireo
Chestnut-sided shrike-vireo
House finch
Lesser goldfinch
Orange-crowned warbler
Nashville warbler
Yellow warbler
Yellow-rumped warbler
Black-throated gray warbler
Black-and-white warbler
MacGillivray's warbler
Wilson's warbler
Painted redstart
Slate-throated redstart
Rufous-capped warbler
Yellow-breasted chat
Hepatic tanager
Summer tanager
Western tanager
Elegant euphonia
White-collared seedeater
Cinnamon-bellied flowerpiercer
Rufous-capped brush-finch
Spotted towhee
Hybrid towhee (Collared x Spotted)
Canyon towhee
Stripe-headed sparrow
Rufous-crowned sparrow
Rusty sparrow
Chipping sparrow
Lincoln's sparrow
Black-headed grosbeak
Blue grosbeak
Bronzed cowbird
Bullock's oriole (Abeille's)
Black-vented oriole

My friend Bob from Boise

2009-06-16T11:13:00.015-05:00

Robert Whitlatch

A couple years ago I met Robert Whitlatch. He contacted me while I was working in Anchorage, Alaska. Yet again another birdingpal connection. Bob is a birder. He is also a writer and a photographer.

I encourage you to check out the following sites:

http://www.blue-sage-moon.blogspot.com/

Since our meeting in Alaska, we have stayed in touch and have become good friends. We have also done some birding together. In fact, we met up in Seattle on election night, where we celebrated the Obama victory together. Oh yeah! He also visited us in Patzcuaro March 11-18.

And boy did we bird - every day from sunrise to sunset. At the end of this posting is a list of the birds seen.

There's nothing like one of Martin's hamburgers after a day's birding - yummy, yummy!

Back in Boise, where his head was still swirling with all he saw and experienced in Patzcuaro, he wrote a story. That story was shared with friends, one of whom passed it along to someone else and, well, his story is being published in the New Jersey Audubon's spring newsletter. His love of birding has also been noticed by his employer, Alaska Airlines, and they too have included an article in their in-house publication.

Birds seen:

Exit to Zamora (from GDL-Mexico City tollroad):

Great-tailed grackle
House finch
House sparrow
Lesser goldfinch
Varied bunting
Blue bunting
Canyon towhee
Bullock’s oriole
Orchard oriole
Yellow-rumped warbler
Groove-billed ani
Blue grosbeak
Indigo bunting
Rufous-backed thrush
Nashville warbler
Wilson’s warbler
MacGillivray’s warbler
Blue-gray gnatcatcher
White-collared seedeater

Blue-black grassquit
Turkey vulture

Golden-fronted woodpecker
Inca dove
Streak-backed oriole
Common yellowthroat
Cattle egret
Great kiskadee

Further down the road toward Zamora:

Logger-head shrike
White-tailed

Lake Camecuaro:
Western meadowlark
American kestral
Great egret
Cassin’s kingbird
Bushtit
Canyon wrenBullock’s oriole
Rose-throated becard
Muscovy duck
Vermilion flycatcher
Black phoebe
Cordilleran flycatcher
Hermit thrush
Bewick’s wren
American coot
Eastern bluebird

La Colonia (village on way to Zarzamora – above Eronga):
Striped sparrow
Barn swallow
Brown-headed cowbird
Chipping sparrow
Bullock’s oriole (Abeille's)

Old Road from Zarzamora to Erongaricuaro, including Porton Negro area:
Red crossbill
Buff-breasted flycatcher
Greater peewee
Black-headed grosbeak
Collard-spotted towhee (hybrid)
Blue mockingbird
Lincoln’s sparrow
Acorn woodpecker
Elegant trogon
Painted redstart
Grace’s warbler
Olive warbler
Northern flicker
Black-headed siskin
Pine flycatcher
Mexican chickadee
Black-and-white warbler
Yellow warbler
Black phoebe

Columpio (dip in the road beyond Zarzamora):
Yellow-eyed junco
Slate-throated redstart
Crescent-chested warbler
Brown creeper
Townsend’s warbler
Pygmy nuthatch
Blue-throated hummingbird
Mt. pygmy-owl
Cinnamon-bellied flowerpiercer (female)

Ojo de Agua (Tzintzuntzan):
Green heron
Common moorhen
Northern jacana
Spotted sandpiper
Northern waterthrush
Song sparrow
Canyon wren
Common yellowthroat
Black-and-white warbler
Yellow warbler
Black phoebe
Painted redstart
Sora
Bronze cowbird
Snowy egret
White-faced ibis
Black-polled yellowthroat
Cassin’s kingbird
Curve-billed thrasher
Cassin’s vireo

Rio Corucha and Arroyo Frio (south of Tacambaro):
Black vulture
Yellow-winged cacique
Squirrel cuckoo
Stripe-headed sparrow
Thick-billed kingbird
Tropical kingbird
Gray-crowned yellowthroat
Warbling vireo
Orange-billed nightingale-thrush
White-throated robin
Western tanager
Macgillivray’s warbler
Cassin’s flycatcher
Golden-fronted woodpecker
Curve-billed thrasher
Cassin’s Vireo
*Solitary eagle vs. Common black-hawk (I will post separately re this encounter)

Highway between Opongeo and Cerro Burro, near Santa Juana:

Mexican jay
Hairy woodpecker
Mountain trogon
Calliope hummingbird

Cerro Burro:
Horned lark
Pine siskin
Red warbler
Olive-sided flycatcher
Magnificent hummingbird
Steller’s jay
American pipit
Hepatic tanager
White-eared hummingbird
Broad-billed hummingbird
Violet-crowned hummingbird
Calliope hummingbird
Eastern bluebird
Chipping sparrow
House finch
Yellow-eyed junco
Violet-green swallow

American robin

Northern rough-winged swallow
Barn swallow
Turkey vulture
Cassin's kingbird
Golden-browed warbler
Slate-throated redstart
Mex chickadee
Ruby-crowned kinglet
Black-headed grosbeak
Hermit warbler
Black vulture
Red-tailed hawk
Buff-breasted flycatcher
Greater peewee
Collared-spotted towhee (hybrid)

Lake Cuitzeo (north of Morelia):
Lesser scaup
Blue-winged teal
Clark’s grebe
American coot
Ruddy duck
Northern shoveler
Cinnamon teal
Black-necked stilt
American avocet
White pelican
Little blue heron

San Miguel de Allende:
Crested caracara
Northern mockingbird
Cactus wren
Green-winged teal
Mexican duck
Lark sparrow
Black-chinned sparrow
Gray flycatcher
Scott’s Oriole

Laura Kaltenstein's Artwork

2009-06-16T00:16:00.012-05:00

Earlier this year, Laura Kaltenstein visited from Sitka, Alaska. In the wintertime, many Alaskans escape the harshness of northern weather (if my memory serves me correctly, it tends to rain sideways in Sitka).
This year, she chose to visit Mexico's Central Highlands for a number of reasons: to practice and improve her Spanish, visit the nearby Monarch butterfly sanctuary, and bird the central highlands. Together we birded around Erongaricuaro, Arocutin, and Tacambaro. We also spent several days birding Lake Camecuaro and Colima (see previous postings).
Unbeknownst to me, Laura is an accomplished artist. Her specialities are beadwork and linoleum block prints.

Here are some photos of her bird-related work. You can also find examples of her beadwork. Check out her website: http://www.lauraalaskaart.blogspot.com/.

Some examples of her beadwork:

Lapel pins

Purses

Super Dulce Birding in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon

2009-06-15T00:50:00.009-05:00
Hugo and I drove from Patzcuaro to Monterrey to spend the weekend birding with Adrian Ganem Sada and Rene Sada. These guys are "super dulce" birders!

Many, many thanks to them for their hospitality, incredible birding skills, not laughing at me for frequently performing the lifer dance, and mentoring and including Hugo into the Mexican birding circle.

I would also like to thank Jesus Fernando Cerra Luna for giving me permission to add some of his photos. He is a Super Mega Dulce photographer whose website is http://www.birdsandpictures.com/. My dream is to one day introduce him to the birds in our area. Come on down, Fernando.
Dwarfed by the canyon walls

We drove from Cola de Caballo to Los Lorios with a lunch stop at nearly 11,000 feet for higher elevation birds and a breath-taking view of the valley below. Today we birded La Estanzuela State Park.
Lunch stops don't get much better than this
No birding day is complete without elote smothered with mayonaise and chili

Species seen or heard:

Thicket tinamou (heard)
Turkey vulture
Black vulture
Gray hawk
Short-tailed hawk
Zone-tailed hawk
Red-tailed hawk
American kestrel
Plain chachalaca
Rock pigeon
Band-tailed pigeon
Mourning dove
White-winged dove
Common ground-dove (heard)
Inca dove
White-tipped dove (heard)
Maroon-fronted parrot

Yellow-billed cuckoo (heard)
Ferruginous pygmy-owl
White-throated swift
Broad-billed hummingbird
Buff-bellied hummingbird
Blue-throated hummingbird
Black-chinned hummingbird
Broad-tailed hummingbird
Elegant trogon
Green kingfisher
Blue-crowned motmot
Acorn woodpecker
Golden-fronted woodpecker
Ladder-backed woodpecker
Hairy woodpecker
Golden-olive woodpecker (heard)
Cordilleran flycatcher
Say's phoebe
Great kiskadee
Sulphur-bellied flycatcher
Cassin's kingbird
Gray-collared becard
Violet-green swallow
Barn swallow
Gray silky-flycatcher
Canyon wren
Spot-breasted wren
Carolina wren
House wren (brown-throated)
Long-billed thrasher
Curve-billed thrasher
Western bluebird
Brown-backed solitaire
Russet nightingale-thrush
Clay-colored robin
American robin
Blue-gray gnatcatcher
Mexican chickadee
Bridled titmouse
Black-crested titmouse
Pygmy nuthatch
Green jay
Brown jay
Mexican jay
Common raven
White-eyed vireo
Yellow-green vireo
House finch
Pine siskin
Lesser goldfinch
Olive warbler
Colima warbler
Tropical parula
Painted redstart

Golden-crowned warbler (performing a wounded-bird display that we all agreed was the bird experience of the trip)

Hepatic tanager
Flame-colored tanager
Photo by Wayne Colony, San Miguel de Allende

Yellow-faced grassquit
Rufous-capped brush-finch
Olive sparrow
Spotted towhee
Chipping sparrow
Yellow-eyed junco
Crimson-collared grosbeak
Northern cardinal
Blue bunting
Blue grosbeak
Varied bunting
Great-tailed grackle
Bronzed cowbird
Hooded oriole
Audubon's oriole

Introducing Victor Hugo Valencia - Bird Guide Extraordinaire

2009-06-08T21:00:00.008-05:00

Victor Hugo Valencia

I have mentioned, and will be mentioning more often, Victor Hugo Valencia. I didn't meet him through birding; he came to us because we needed a good tile setter and several people recommended him to us. When he toured our house and discussed our needs, he interjected the conversation to ask me if I liked birds. At the time, I thought this an odd thing to ask and assumed someone had told him that if he simply talked about birds, he'd get the job. After all, everyone around here knows that I am nuts about birds and birding.

Well, for Hugo, birds are also his passion. He came to work the next day with binoculars in hand as well as a National Geographic field guide, both unusual items for residents of this area. During lunch hours, he often can be found with one of my many bird books.

He has become my birding pal and co-guide of the Patzcuaro Bird Guides. His skills are quite exceptional, especially his knowledge of local birding locations, command of the English language, and birding by ear. Moreover, there are few who can match his ability to find a bird.

In his own words, here is his introduction:

Hi, my name is Victor Hugo Valencia Alberto, but most people know me by Hugo. I am from the small town of Erongaricuaro, Michoacan, Mexico. In Purhepecha language, Erongaricuaro means "place for waiting." I married Lupe who is also from Eronga. We have a beautiful little girl named Mariana. She is four years old. Now my wife is expecting our second child.

I love my family so much. I am teaching Mariana about birds, like my father used to do with me. He used to take me fishing and camping in the mountains when I was young. This is why I love Mother Nature and am curious about birds. Having this opportunity to be a bird guide is a dream come true. I feel so lucky to meet the great persons Georgia and Chuck Conti. She has become my teacher. I want to thank her very much for helping me and showing me more about birds.

Well, this is my history. We will be so happy to take you out birding and have a good time.

Hugo doing what comes natural: helping someone get on a bird.
Photo taken at a recent outing of the Patzcuaro Bird Club.

Birding Colima's Two Volcanos

2009-06-04T18:38:00.010-05:00
During the first week of February, I accompanied Laura Kaltenstein of Sitka, Alaska, to the volcanic region of Colima. We visited a number of sites listed in Howell's guidebook and, thanks to Wayne and Susan Colony of San Miguel de Allende, we thoroughly enjoyed Agua Dulce.

Plumes erupted fairly often during our three-day stay

Such beauty! It aches to be climbed.

Laura is in this hedge, really

We didn't have to move far to see birds at Agua Dulce.

As dusk arrived, we drove toward the village of Agua Dulce simply to check it out. On our way back down the hill, we spotted a nightjar along the road. Our look at the bird was curtailed when a car approached. Luckily, Laura was a sport and didn't mind going a ways further and turning around to try to relocate the bird. We did find the bird and had ample time to study it until another car disturbed us. Back in my car, we drove a bit and turned around for another try. We spotted the bird again and had really good looks at it. That's when we discovered that we'd been looking at two different species, not the same bird: a paurauque and buff-collared nightjar. What a double treat for us!

136 species seen:
Least grebe
American white pelican
Neotropic cormorant
Great blue heron
Great egret
Little blue heron
Snowy egret
Black-crowned night-heron
White-faced ibis
Blue-winged teal
Cinnamon teal
Black vulture
Turkey vulture
Osprey
Sharp-shinned hawk
Gray hawk
Short-tailed hawk
White-tailed hawk
Red-tailed hawk
American kestrel
Peregrine falcon
Crested guan (what a racket they make!)
Long-tailed wood-partridge (another lifer for me)
Common moorhen
American coot
Spotted sandpiper
Caspian tern
Inca dove
Thick-billed parrot
Lilac-crowned parrot
Squirrel cuckoo
Groove-billed ani
Paurauque
Buff-collared nightjar
Green violet-ear
Broad-billed hummingbird
White-eared hummingbird
Cinnamon hummingbird
Violet-crowned hummingbird
Berylline hummingbird
Magnificent hummingbird
Citreoline trogon
Mountain trogon
Yellow-bellied sapsucker
Ladder-backed woodpecker
Hairy woodpecker
Gray-crowned woodpecker
Tufted flycatcher
Greater pewee
Least flycatcher
Hammond'd flycatcher
Cordilleran flycatcher
Buff-breasted flycatcher
Black phoebe
Vermilion flycatcher
Dusky-capped flycatcher
Great kiskadee
Social flycatcher
Tropical flycatcher
Cassin's kingbird
Rose-throated becard
Violet-green swallow
Northern rough-winged swallow
Ruby-crowned kinglet
Gray silky-flycatcher
Gray-barred wren
Spotted wren
Canyon wren
Happy wren (finally I got to see this bird - a loud one at that)
Bewick's wren
House wren
Blue mockingbird
Eastern bluebird
Brown-backed solitaire
Swainson's thrush
Rufous-backed robin
Blue-gray gnatcatcher
Bushtit
Mexican chickadee
Pygmy nuthatch
White-breasted nuthatch
Loggerhead shrike
White-throated magpie-jay
Mexican jay
Common raven
House sparrow
Dwarf vireo
Cassin's vireo
Hutton's vireo
Warbling vireo
Golden vireo
House finch
Pine siskin
Lesser goldfinch
Olive warbler
Orange-crowned warbler
Nashville warbler
Crescent-chested warbler
Tropical parula
Yellow warbler
Yellow-rumped warbler
Black-throated gray warbler
Townsend's warbler
Hermit warbler
Black-and-white warbler
Northern waterthrush
Common yellowthroat
Wilson's warbler
Red warbler
Painted redstart
Slate-throated redstart
Rufous-capped warbler
Golden-browed warbler
Yellow-breasted chat
Hepatic tanager
Summer tanager
Red-headed tanager
Rusty-crowned ground-sparrow
Collared towhee
Stripe-headed sparrow
Chipping sparrow
Lark sparrow
Lincoln's sparrow
Yellow-eyed junco
Black-headed grosbeak
Blue bunting
Blue grosbeak
Lazuli bunting
Indigo bunting
Varied bunting
Painted bunting
Yellow-headed blackbird
Great-tailed grackle
Streak-backed oriole
Bullock's oriole
Yellow-winged cacique

Common Loon at Umecuaro

2009-06-02T14:08:00.008-05:00
On December 7, 2008, while coming to the end of a day hike with friends, I spotted a Common loon in basic plumage on Umecuaro's reservoir. (Seeing the bird made us a bit homesick, for three of us hail originally from Alaska and the Pacific Northwest where this species is, well, common.)
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
According to Howell and Webb, this species is not commonly found on Mexico's inland lakes.

I reported the sighting to Dr. Laura Villasenor Gomez and Dr. Fernando Villasenor, sister and brother ornithologists at the Morelia University, who were quite excited about the sighting. And, I also reported it to the American Bird Association, but it was not included in its publication of unusual sightings for Mexico.

Umecuaro is little known among the expat population in the Morelia-Patzcuaro area. It's a lovely area, one that is very popular on weekends when Mexican families spend the day picnicking. If you can find the kartadromo sign on the highway between Morelia and Patzcuaro, Umecuaro is a couple villages south. Follow the signs for the ashram and you cannot miss the reservoir.
Trails follow alongside a cascading stream

Other trails wind through pine-oak forests
The grounds of the ashram are well maintained and secluded

Dorothy and Al were here.....

2009-06-01T21:38:00.008-05:00

Thanks to a couple of birders among a tour who had come to the area to see Monarch butterflies, Victor Hugo and I had the opportunity to re-visit Cerro Burro and the Tacambaro area (all are south of Patzcuaro): Dorothy Parker from Missouri and Al Mickey from Winnepeg. A marvelous day was had in the field and all of us saw life birds, including a Golden-browed warbler.

Photo courtesy of Charlie Moores at 10,000 Birds.com

Birds seen:
Black vulture
Turkey vulture
Sharp-shinned hawk
Banded quail

Photo courtesy of Wayne Colony, who first mentioned seeing these quail at Rio Corucha

Rock pigeon
Mourning dove
Inca dove
White-tipped dove
Squirrel cuckoo
Groove-billed ani
Lesser roadrunner (high in a tree, no less)
White-eared hummingbird
Violet-crowned hummingbird
Magnificent hummingbird
Blue-throated hummingbird
Acorn woodpecker
Golden-cheeked woodpecker (nesting)
Ladder-backed woodpecker
Pileated flycatcher
Greater pewee
Vermilion flycatcher
Bright-rumped attila (my lifer on this trip)
Social flycatcher
Cassin's kingbird
Thick-billed kingbird
Northern rough-winged swallow
Barn swallow
Eastern bluebird
Rufous-backed robin
Amercian robin
Blue-gray gnatcatcher
White-breasted nuthatch
Brown creeper
Mexican jay
House sparrow
Plumbeous vireo
House finch
Pine siskin
Lesser goldfinch
Yellow-rumped warbler
Black-and-white warbler
Lousianna waterthrush
Common yellowthroat
Wilson's warbler
Red warbler
Painted redstart
Rufous-capped warbler
Hepatic tanager
White-collared seedeater
Hybrid towhee (Collared and Spotted)
Canyon towhee
Stripe-headed sparrow
Chipping sparrow
Lincoln's sparrow
Yellow-eyed junco
Blue grosbeak
Indigo bunting
Varied bunting
Western meadowlark
Great-tailed grackle
Streak-backed oriole
Orchard oriole

RV Birders

2009-06-01T21:09:00.009-05:00
RV birders? What the heck!

It never occurred to me that there would be carvans of people traveling around Mexico to see birds. However, after I thought about it awhile, I realized that my birding friend Sam Woods leads birding by bike trips for Seattle Audubon Society so why not RV birding.

In any case in January, I was contacted by two separate RV groups. The first, led by Bert Frenz, visited Patzcuaro January 22 and 23. Soon thereafter, the second group from Quebec arrived and Victor Hugo and I spent a lovely day with Rachel and Jacques Pepin.

I believe both groups found me via BirdingPal.org. It's a great way to connect with birders around the world.

You may want to check out Bert's detailed account of their adventures on: http://www.bafrenz.com/birds/Belize09/MEX2009-C4.htm

He talks about a hybrid towhee found in this area: a hybridization of a Collared towhee and Spotted towhee. Most often we find the hybrid; only occasionally do we find either of these towhees as pure breeds. Here is a photo of the hybrid, thanks to Bob Whitlatch of Boise:

Although Bert has visited Tacambaro on previous RV tours of Mexico, I introduced him to Arroyo Frio and Rio Corucha, both south of Tacambaro:

I also took him to Cerro Burro, a spot he often has passed but never explored.....the hybrid towhee is often located before heading uphill.

Updating my blog......

2009-05-19T13:06:00.002-05:00
We moved into our new house December 15 and are still without Internet. There are nearby Cyber Cafes; however, they do not have enough juice to upload photos. Just because I´ve been silent on this blog, that does not mean I have ignored the birds. In fact, I have been doing lots of birding - here, Colima, and San Diego (pelagic and local species were added to my ABA list). Please stay tuned. I will be going to Patzcuaro fairly often and will be posting a backlog of information and photos.

Broad-billed Hummingbird Nest

2009-05-16T11:41:00.009-05:00
On the ides of March, Sergio, who is helping build our house, discovered a hummingbird nest in the undeveloped land next to ours. First, there was one egg, then another, followed by one hatchling, then a second. Two weeks later both birds fledged. Check out the following photos:

Sorry, my camera finally died and I wasn't able to photograph their progress until several days later. Big changes in their growth occurred in just a few days...

The bird with bill pointing to the right was the first to fledge:

Maiden flight:

Trip Report - Jaracuaro Bridge

2008-10-07T19:57:00.006-05:00
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.

2008-10-05T22:56:00.009-05:00

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

2008-09-29T22:42:00.009-05:00
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

2008-09-16T19:48:00.015-05:00

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

2008-09-11T23:30:00.013-05:00

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)

2008-09-06T22:22:00.013-05:00

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

2008-09-06T21:54:00.020-05:00
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

2008-09-04T23:01:00.006-05:00

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

2008-08-27T13:31:00.005-05:00

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

2008-08-20T23:35:00.012-05:00

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

2008-08-15T00:45:00.007-05:00
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

2008-08-13T23:22:00.009-05:00

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

2008-08-09T19:36:00.016-05:00
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

More Birding in Tacambaro Area

2008-08-09T19:18:00.007-05:00
Tim, a visiting birder - geographer from bonny Scotland, wanted to see more birds, so Diana and I took him south to Tacambaro.

All of us had great birding experiences and life birds. Here's what we saw:
Black vulture
Turkey vulture
West Mexican chachalaca (hard to believe, but a lifer for me)
Mourning dove
Inca dove
Grove-billed ani
Golden-crowned emerald (lifer for me!)
Violet-crowned hummingbird
Golden-cheeked woodpecker
Northern-beardless tyrannulet (second lifer of the day for me)
Greenish elaenia (yet another lifer)
Greater pewee
Vermilion flycatcher
Cassin's kingbird
Barn swallow
Gray silky-flycatcher
Canyon wren
Curve-billed thrasher
Blue mockingbird
House finch
Lesser goldfinch
Louisiana waterthrush (I need this lifer for my ABA list)
Rufous-capped warbler
Blue-black grassquit
White-collared seedeater
Stripe-headed sparrow
Great-tailed grackle
Bullock's oriole

Total species seen: 28 (sorry, no swifts this time!)
Birding isn't all hard work. Bebidas frias can be purchased at the balneario.

UK birders-geographers wanted to see birds

2008-08-09T18:50:00.008-05:00

Ah, such a view from Zarzamora!
Visiting geographers from the UK were in Patzcuaro recently. They contacted me through www.birdingpal.org. On their free day, Tim, Adam, and Derek joined me for a full day of birding at Rancho Madrono, Zarzamora, and the bridge to Jaracuaro. I couldn't have asked for better company, and I hope they return some day in the not so distant future. As we enjoyed beers and tequila at the end of the day, Derek admitted that we far exceeded his 30 species goal for the day. Piece of cake, I thought. Following is a list of what we saw or heard:

Great egret
Tricolored egret
Little blue heron
Snowy egret
Cattle egret
Cattle egret
White-faced ibis
Mallard
Turkey vulture
Common moorhen
American coot
Northern jacana
Black-necked stilt
Mourning dove
Inca dove
Whip-por-will (heard)
Magnificent hummingbird
Elegant trogon (heard)
Acorn woodpecker
Northern flicker
Tufted flycatcher
Greater pewee
Pine flycatcher
Black phoebe
Vermilion flycatcher
Cassin's kingbird
Barn swallow
Ruby-crowned kinglet
Gray-barred wren
Spotted wren
Bewick's wren
House wren
Curve-billed thrasher
Eastern bluebird
American robin
Bushtit
Mexican chickadee
White-breasted nuthatch
Brown creeper
Mexican jay
Common raven
House sparrow (a pair mated at least 8 times during our lunch stop)
Plumbeous vireo
House finch
Lesser goldfinch
Olive warbler
Crescent-chested warbler
Common yellowthroat
Black-polled yellowthroat
Painted redstart
Slate-throated redstart (Tim's favorite bird experience of the day)
Rufous-capped warbler
Hepatic tanager
White-collared seedeater
Canyon towhee
Song sparrow
Yellow-eyed junco
Black-headed grosbeak
Red-winged blackbird
Great-tail grackle
Bronzed cowbird
Bullock's oriole

Total species: 60 seen, 2 heard

Plants galore but no birds

2008-08-06T19:41:00.005-05:00

Who knows where the birds were when the Patzcuaro Birding Club recently visited Finca Tusa in Zirahuen. They sure weren't showing themselves on this particular day. Thank goodness Sue Sill is back in town, and she joined us on this hike. Here we're studying the finer details of a plant, adding much to the pleasure of Molly and Diana.

We also had a close up look at the Acorn woodpecker's granary tree.

Field trip - Cascada de la Tzararacua

2008-08-03T20:06:00.017-05:00

Cascada de la Tzaráracua - (Uruapan area)
Monday August 11, 2008
9:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Many of us have visited Parque Nacional Eduardo Ruiz in Uruapan. But, how many of us have discovered where the river goes that begins in the park? Fulfill that query by joining the Patzcuaro Birding Club’s next field trip. Downstream just a few miles south of Uruapan, the river gushes as if from nowhere into a spectacular canyon setting. Our destination is ten kilometers south of Uruapan where the Rio Cupatitzio falls 30 meters into two pools. Many thanks to Bruce Cox for suggesting and agreeing to lead us on this field trip!

Again, we will carpool from Patzcuaro. Meeting time is 9:00 AM at the Policia Federal office located behind the Pemex Station by the muelle (at the bottom of Av. Lazaro Cardenas, the tree-lined street that goes up the hill to el Centro). It will be a safe place to leave vehicles. For those unfamiliar with Patzcuaro, let me know if you need more information about this meeting place. Antep9@aol.com. Note: There are several Pemex stations in Patzcuaro.

Please RSVP by email so I can monitor how many drivers versus riders there will be.

There are two ways to reach the falls. One is to walk the trail both ways. The other way is a horse ride....(sorry, I don't know what the charge is for a horse ride)
Bring a picnic lunch or buy something tasty from the on-site eatery:

Our goal for the day is to identify the swifts found along the cascading waters:

Baby birds are said to bring good luck

2008-07-30T22:48:00.007-05:00

A parent Bewick's wren heading in to feed the brood

Oh, aren't they a cute brood?!
By the way, they fledged two days later. It's hard to believe they could be ready.

The house we are building in Arocutin, a small village on the west side of Lake Patzcuaro, has two active nests right now. Each has four baby birds. One nest is a Bewick's wren; the other is a Barn swallow. I sure wish Barn swallows were as tidy as Violet-green swallows. The latter use fecal sacs!

Fledgings are everywhere

2008-07-29T22:33:00.004-05:00

In case you've every wondered what a juvenile Yellow-eyed junco looks like, here's one. I had to search and search in the Tucson area to add this species to my ABA (American Birding Association) list, and only found one. Yet, they are in my yard each and every day here in Patzcuaro.

What's this bird doing here now?

2008-07-25T01:11:00.005-05:00

Photo by Michael Hobbs, Marymoor Park, Washington State

When Susan C. (compiler of San Miguel de Allende's bird checklist) and I were watching hummingbirds at my feeders last Sunday (July 20), we were startled to see a small drag yellow-green bird flitting around the quince tree and into the birdbath. An Orange-crowned warbler! Her husband Wayne was focused on photographing hummingbirds and didn't get a shot of the warbler, so I thank my friend and also Seattle Audubon Society Master Birder Michael for sharing this photo with me.
Another OCWA was seen in Veracruz the same weekend.

Upcoming Birding Events - July 28 & 31, 2008

2008-07-23T11:01:00.004-05:00
1. Birding La Finca Tusa Zirahuen
Monday July 28, 2008

Molly Hoopes, a botanical illustrator who studies and paints plants in the Lake Patzcuaro area, will lead us on a bird walk near Lake Zirahuen. Recently, several of us visited her property. You’ll find information and photos from this trip at http://birdpatzcuaro.blogspot.com/. Be sure to check out our bird list for the day, as well as the photo of the Acorn woodpecker’s granary tree. This outing involves walking/hiking and may require climbing through some barbed wire fences. Bring binoculars, but leave your scope at home - you won’t want to lug it around. Bring nourishments (water and snacks).

We’ll leave Patzcuaro at 9:00 AM, and we’ll be back in Patzcuaro by 2:00 PM, mas o menos.

Again, let’s try to carpool as much as possible, so please let me know if you are willing to drive or want a ride. Antep9@aol.com. The point of departure will be the street in front of the Policia Federal by the Pemex Station in Patzcuaro. It will be a safe place to leave vehicles while we’re in Zirahuen. If you need directions to this location, let me know. If you’re in Zirahuen, Santa Clara or another village in the vicinity and need directions to Molly’s property, let me know. Antep9@aol.com

2. Hummingbird Study
Thursday July 31, 4:00 – 6:30 PM

I’m hosting another humming bird study for those of you who couldn’t make the last one and any who want to come again. Location is Corazon de Durazno, about 3 miles south of Patzcuaro on the highway that goes to Santa Clara del Cobre. I’m in Casa 28, which is at the very bottom of the hill. It’s a single story house next to the water treatment facility. Refreshments will be served. Ample parking is available.

Check http://birdpatzcuaro.blogspot.com/ as well as my archive for more information and photos from the initial hummingbird study. Photographers will like this event. You can get close to the birds without disturbing them.

Please pass the word! Novices and experts are welcome. These events are free and open to the public.

Hummingbirds in Flight - Photos

2008-07-23T10:17:00.008-05:00

Wayne and Susan C, from San Miguel de Allende, spent three days in our area with the Patzcuaro Birding Club. Susan compiled the bird checklist for SMA (about 200 species), and Wayne co-authored a book on San Miguel's botanical garden El Charco del Ingenio www.laneta.apc.org/charco with another San Miguel retiree, Walter Meagher, a trained botanist (who also has published in Spanish an inventory of vascular plants growing naturally in El Charco - at last count, 565 sp).

I thank them for spending several hours at my residence. These are Wayne's photos (species names are below each photo):
Berylline hummingbird
Blue-throated hummingbird
Magnificent hummingbird
Magnificent hummingbird
Magnificent hummingbird

Birding Tacambaro Area

2008-07-14T21:21:00.005-05:00
Sunday turned out to be one of those days, a day following several rainy days. Having said this, as we left Patzcuaro, we almost decided to turn around and head to the Morelia area. The fog was thick and it was misty.

As we entered Tacambaro, lo and behold, the day got better and better. It's definitely a different eco-zone than Patzcuaro.

I am not going to reiterate where we went and what we saw - go to http://birdpatzcuaro.blogspot.com/. There you'll find more information and photos.

Many, many thanks to Tracy and Glen for getting me out and about this past month and for prompting me to activate this blogspot.

It was a grand day; I had 4 lifers and several great birding experiences, including a Rose-throated becard nest, an adult Grooved-bill ani with almost tail-less juvenile, nesting Golden-cheeked woodpeckers, and zigzagging swifts.

Sad to say, we were totally pleased with what we'd seen by mid-afternoon and didn't progress further to Pedernales. We left the destination for various swifts, as described in Howell's book, for another day. The Patzcuaro Birding Club plans to return to the area real soon.

A Shake Down, Almost

2008-07-14T21:03:00.004-05:00
Several of us, including a new club member Linda, birded Ojo de Agua on the north edge of Tzintzuntzan. Most of the usual suspects were seen.

For me, two bird experiences were particularly special: watching a juvenile Golden-fronted woodpecker do those wing flappings that newly-fledged birds do and having a clear view of a Social flycatcher nest with two busy adults. The other special experience came when a van load of international conference attendees happened to stop by and were awarded with a peak through my spotting scope. A good look at a bird in a spotting scope is - well a life changing experience for many individuals, and I'm pretty sure several of them will never look at a bird in the same way they did previously.

As I made my way back to Patzcuaro, I was stopped in Tzurumutaro by a supposed policeman who claimed I'd made an "infraction" and asked me to pay a 500 peso ($50 USD) fine on the spot. I pretended to not speak/understand Spanish, and he finally waved me on. He went another direction. That's when I noticed something funny about the car. He didn't get into a police car - he got into a taxi. So, I followed him into Patzcuaro. I scribbled his taxi number down and promptly visited the Policia Federal and Ministerio Publico to report his misconduct and attempted thievery.

The police called the taxi company (yes, he was a taxi driver impersonating a police officer - he'd even pinned a fake badge to his shirt) to ask the driver to come to the station. You should have seen this guy's eyes when he arrived and saw me sitting there! A few minutes later, he was also chagrined, or even worse, to see the owner of the taxi company arrive.

In the end, my request for resolution was a 500 peso payment to the local public health clinic and a warning that I never wanted to hear/see that he was bribing others. I left with the police still talking to him about the fake badge....

Hopefully, he will have learned a lesson and won't try to fleece others. I also hope his three children become ornithologists.

Weather

2008-07-14T20:49:00.006-05:00
Weather can play such a factor when planning a field trip. It's the rainy season, after all, and it lasts from late May until sometime in October. Mas o menos, as they say here. On most days, the rain comes late afternoon. With lightning and loud thunder. It can also rain for a day or two. When that happens, it seems my Internet service is non-existent.

For a day or two thereafter, it will be wonderfully sunny, warm, and very green (verdant).
As you can see from the following photos, it's a challenge to predict when to schedule a birding field trip. This particular storm moved from Puacuaro to Arocutin. The heavens opened 30 minutes later, missing us to the west.

Hummers in the 'Hood

2008-07-12T13:55:00.011-05:00

Can there be many experiences so magical as a close-up look at a hummingbird?My feeders are always teeming. Today was no different.Here's a White-eared hummerthat be-stilled my heart.

Here's how close I was.

Patzcuaro Birding Club - Upcoming Field Trips

2008-07-12T13:01:00.003-05:00
1. Tzintzuntzan – Monday July 14, 2008

Ojo de Agua, a small pocket park on the north boundary of Tzintzuntzan, is our destination for this half-day trip. With access to the lake, agricultural fields on both sides, tall and expansive trees, berry bushes, and a riparian area, we are bound to see a variety of birds. There’s no hiking involved – you might even bring a folding chair.

Departure from Patzcuaro is 9:00 AM. If anyone is interested in carpooling, let me know if you are willing to drive or want a ride, and I’ll try to organize this. Antep9@aol.com. Others who are coming from different localities should time their arrival to Ojo de Agua for 9:30-9:45 AM. We’ll bird this spot for a couple of hours, weather dependent. Bring binoculars. This is a great spot for spotting scopes.

If anyone is interested in Blue grosbeaks, I saw them last week on the road to the ruins near Ihuatzio. I also saw Horned larks in a newly plowed field by Las Cuevas. We could look for them after birding Ojo de Agua.

Directions to Ojo de Agua: From Patzcuaro, make your way to Tzintzuntzan. Continue through town, past the square and then the turn to the embarcadero, as if you were heading to Quiroga. Near the north side of Tzintzuntzan, watch for the median to end and turn left into the park.

From Quiroga: You’ll find Ojo de Agua on the right side of the road as you enter Tzintzuntzan.

2. Bird trip to Rancho Madroño – Target Birds are Trogons!
Saturday July 19, 2008

For this excursion, we will visit Rancho Madroño in the oak, pine and madrone forested hills above Erongaricuaro, Michoacan. The bumpy dirt road to the Rancho is 5 kilometers long. Rancho Madroño is an organic farm that uses permaculture methods to restore and enhance habitat for native plants, birds and wildlife. The Rancho is off the grid with solar panels to provide minimal electricity and rain catchment systems provide the water. Other systems include composting toilets, solar hot water heating, plant propagation, adobe block making, food and test gardens, and many kilometers of trails ideal for bird watching. A natural building workshop will be held in October to teach cob and straw bale construction.

Some species we’re likely to see/hear at the Rancho (not in taxonomic order):

Common raven
Sharp-shinned hawk
American Robin
White-throated thrush
Pine siskin
Yellow-eyed junco
Pine flycatcher
Mexican whip-poor-will
Mexican jay
Hepatic tanager
White-breasted nuthatch
Violet-green swallows
Trogons (Mountain and Elegant – we could hope for Eared quetzal!)

Please note that access to Rancho Madroño is only by permission and prior arrangement.

A 50 peso per person donation is requested to support bird habitat at Rancho Madroño. After birding, our host will guide anyone wishing a tour of the permaculture activities. There is an additional 50 peso donation suggested for the tour.

Because the trogons are most active in the early morning (7:00 – 9:00 AM), we will meet at the Plaza in Erongaricuaro at 6:30 AM. Sorry about such an early start, but the plan is to carpool from the Plaza to the ranch so we can arrive around 7:00 AM. Our host will have hot water and tea ready for us.

We’ll walk the trails through the forest and/or bird from his patio. Less ambulatory individuals will see plenty of birds from his patio. We’ll return to Erongaricuaro’s Plaza before noon.

Depending on the interest, we might venture north along the lake to Opongeo for a fish lunch. Or, three women make IMO the best quesadillas right there on Eronga’s Plaza. Delicious, freshly made, and at ten (10) pesos each, they’re an unbelievable meal.

Please send me a note if you are interested in this trip – I’d like to give our host an idea of how large our group will be. Antep9@aol.com. Bring binoculars and a spotting scope, if available.

Hummingbird Study

2008-07-10T23:33:00.005-05:00

Looking at the feeders (above and below)

Glen having a closer look

I have two hummingbird feeders. At any given time, there are at least two dozen hummers buzzing around. Because of the volume, I fill my feeders at least threet times a day.

Today's outing of the Patzcuaro Birding Club was a study of hummingbirds, a request made by several individuals who have trouble telling one hummer from another. Joining me were: Tracy and Glen (of La Jacaranda), Diana (I know her as yellowhibiscus), and Bruce (I sure wish I had an oak tree like he had in San Antonio).

We were entertained by seven (7) species:

Green violet-ear
Broad-billed
White-eared
Violet-crowned (yes!! Seeing this species is not an every day occurrence)
Berylline
Blue-throated
Magnificent

I'll be offering this event again, because the folks who asked me to do this were out of town. If you're in Patzcuaro and what to see hummers, let me know.

Rained Out - El Estribo Bird Trip

2008-07-10T23:27:00.002-05:00
We were told there was a rainy season here. Being Seatteites, we thought we were prepared. Yesterday (July 9, 2008) taught us a new lesson. At El Estribo, a wonderful vantage point to view Patzcuaro and the Lake, Chuck (my husband) and I met three other birders for what was to be a climb from the gazebo to the top of the hill. While introducing ourselves, we watched the rain come our way. Within a few minutes, a downpour determined our next step: no bird outing.

The only bird seen and heard was a Cassin's kingbird.

Bridge to Jaracuaro - a return visit

2008-07-10T22:59:00.005-05:00
Tracy, of La Jacaranda, asked me about the swallows seen at the bridge between Arocutin and Jaracuaro. Although I was 99.99% sure they were Cliff swallows and not Cave, I decided to double check (Saturday, July 5, after birding Zirahuen).

On my way, I spotted a raptor being stooped by a smaller bird by San Pareo. Luckily, I was able to pull off the road, put on warning lights, grab my binocs, and jump out of the car in time to clearly see both birds: a White-tailed hawk being stooped by a Cassin's kingbird. Clear light and close proximity, I was able to see upper and lower sides of the hawk. So cool. The Cassin's was nothing in comparison!

On I went to the bridge, where I got out my big Sibley's and National Geo and really studied the swallows. Still not convinced, I hopped over the side and made my way through all the basura (trash) to where I could see the nests underneath. Clearly, we have Cliff swallows nesting here.

Made my way back to the roadway, where I was harassed by a 20-something girl. Mind you, I am not fluent in Spanish, but do okay in most circumstances even though it sometimes takes me a bit to understand what is being said/asked of me. This time the message was clear: Dame dinero para refrescos. Give me money for soft drinks. She was aggressive, even after I showed her I had no money in my pockets. Although I tried to continue to bird the bridge, I was a bit unnerved by her continued presence, continued requests for money, and the 20-something fellow who joined her. That's when I packed up my scope and left. Unfortunately, I didn't realize that I'd left my big Sibley's on the side of the bridge until I made it all the way that to Patzcuaro. By the time, my husband and I returned, the villagers and my book were gone.

The silver lining will be that this girl or one of her young relatives will study my book and become an ornithologist. We can all hope so.

Scouting Zirahuen for Upcoming Bird Trip

2008-07-10T22:46:00.004-05:00
I don't like to schedule a field trip without having seen the place, so I thank Molly (botanical illustrator extradinaire) for taking us on a half day hike in, around, and through property owned by Molly, Dan, Jenn, and Randall. Details of our wonderful experience, including photographs, are posted on http://birdpatzcuaro.blogspot.com/ under "Birding Lake Zirahuen".

Addendum to Eastside of Lake Patzcuaro Trip Report

2008-07-10T22:29:00.003-05:00

As I left Ojo de Agua, I decided to cruise a few new roads. I drove to the ruins at Ihuatzio, where I saw Blue grosbeaks and an immature Red-tailed hawk. I also stopped at Las Cuevas, where I saw three Horned larks in a newly plowed field.

East side of Lake Patzcuaro

2008-07-10T21:40:00.006-05:00

I hadn't birded Tzintzunzan in a couple of months, ever since Lawrence, a very good birder and one of my favorite local birding buddies, left for Vancouver, BC. So, I made my way to Ojo de Agua. It's a pocket park on the north side of the village, and it's a special birding spot. Not only does it have water front access, it also has riparian habitat.

Eager as I was to have a quiet time at Ojo de Agua, as I rounded the corner and neared the entrance to the park, I was dismayed to see a large tent on site with a raised stage and a 5-piece band with speakers, each nearly as large as my vehicle ('05 Ford Escape). Ojo de Agua is typically crowded on weekends, but I thought I was safe to bird it on a Thursday. Who celebrates a boda (wedding) on a Thursday?!

Nonetheless, the birds weren't fazed by the commotion. Joined by a young Mexican girl (8-10 years of age from Zamora) who learned very quickly how to work my Leica scope, the following is a list of what we saw - all were lifers for her:

Double-crested cormorant
Great egret
Snowy egret
Cattle egret
White-faced ibis
Mallard
Turkey vulture
Common moorhen
American coot
Northern jacana
Killdeer
Mourning dove
Inca dove
White-eared hummingbird
Berylline hummingbird
Golden-fronted woodpecker
Greater pewee
Black phoebe
Vermillion flycatcher
Social flycatcher
Cassin's kingbird
Barn swallow
Canyon wren (heard)
Bewick's wren
Curved-billed thrasher
Blue mockingbird
Orange-billed nightingale-thrush
Rufous-backed robin
House sparrow (last month's ABA online photo quiz featured a female)
House finch
Lesser goldfinch
Yellow warbler
Common yellowthroat
Painted redstart
Hepatic tanager
White-collared seedeater
Canyon towhee
Song sparrow
Black-headed grosbeak
Red-winged blackbird
Great-tailed grackle
Bullock's oriole - bullockii and abeillei
Scott's oriole

Trogons in the Hills

2008-07-10T20:53:00.005-05:00

6:00 AM (July 3, 2008) comes early in Patzcuaro. It's dark and cold at this time of the morning. It's also eerie, with streets virtually empty except for a few sleepy-eyed individuals and an occasional combi (public transport).

I picked up Michelle, Erin, and Andrew at the traffic circle on Lazaro Cardenas and headed toward Erongaricuaro. We'd been invited onto private property up in the hills, and our purpose was to check it out for an upcoming bird trip. Well, that was one purpose. Secretly, I longed to see at least one, if not two, species of trogons.

As we arrived, the sky was just beginning to lighten. Thankful it wasn't raining - after all, it's that time of year. We were met on the patio by Brian, the owner of Rancho Madroño, and Maria, who is becoming quite knowledgable about the birds seen there - go Maria!
Greetings and introductions ensued. In the midst of this fun chatter, an unfamiliar noise finally registered in my head, and I asked "What's making that noise?" Always, the birder, I felt bad for interrupting the conversation, but, well, it was a bird.

We turned and, lo and behold, a trogon as sitting on a branch not 20 feet from us. It was making such a racket, and I was beside myself for not having my binoculars handy. I kept saying "Be still my heart, be still my heart." Or something along those lines.
By the time I got binocs in hand, the bird had flown. Was I watching where it went? No! Did I realize I wasn't fully awake and in serious birding mode? No! Someone had a brief glimpse of the bird but it moved further back into the forest never to be seen again that day.

Brian and Maria toured us around the property. Rancho Madroño is an organic farm that uses permaculture methods to restore and enhance habitat for native plants, birds and wildlife. The Rancho is off the grid with solar panels to provide minimal electricity and rain catchment systems provide the water. Other systems include composting toilets, solar hot water heating, plant propagation, adobe block making, food and test gardens, and many kilometers of trails ideal for bird watching.

Along the way, we saw the following birds (not in taxonomic order):

Common raven
Yellow-eyed junco
Pine flycatcher
American robin
Accipiters (a pair) - they must have been sharpies but we never got good looks. Brian says they're always around.
Orange-billed nightingale thrush
Black-headed grosbeak
White-throated thrush
Pine siskin
Violet-green swallows (nesting in tiles on shed. Oh so cute, but a cat likes to sit atop the tiles waiting for a snack....)
Acorn woodpecker
Mexican whip-poor-will (heard)
Hepatic tanager
Hummers - unidentified
Trogon - unidentified. I've listened to lots of recordings but none are of the alarm call. Unfortunately, I never saw the upper side of the tail nor did I have a chance to study the barring on the under side. As I've thought of this bird since then, I keep coming back to Mt. trogon but I cannot declare it. Brian found a dead trogon on his property - it's an Elegant trogon. I got to inspect it closely. I suspect both species are here...

Patzcuaro Birding Club's First Outing

2008-07-09T18:36:00.005-05:00

On Thursday, June 26, 2008, thirteen individuals met me at the bridge between Arocutin and Jaracuaro, one of my favorite birding spots. The height of the bridge allows for uninhibited viewing of the marshy area and canals that flow to Lake Patzcuaro. Novices to expert birders always find interesting birds to observe, including the endemic Black-polled yellowthroat.

Regularly scheduled birding events are planned in the Patzcuaro, Michoacan area. These birding events will explore a wide variety of locations, such as Patzcuaro, Morelia, Zirahuen, Tacambaro, Uruapan, Quiroga, and Erongacuaro-Yotatiro-Zarzamora. They are free and open to the public. Anyone who lives nearby or plans to visit is encouraged to join me and the Patzcuaro Birding Club.

Birds seen at the bridge were:
Pied-billed grebe
Tricolored heron
Little blue heron
Great egret
Snowy egret
Cattle egret
Least bittern - juvenile
White-faced ibis
Mallard
Ruddy duck
Turkey vulture
Northern harrier
Common moorhen
Northern jacana
Mourning dove
Broad-billed hummingbird
Black phoebe
Vermillion flycatcher
Cassin's kingbird
Northern rough-winged swallow
Cliff swallow - nesting under the bridge
Barn swallow
Curved-bill thrasher
House sparrow
House finch
Lesser goldfinch
Common yellowthroat
Black-polled yellowthroat (endemic)
White-collared seedeater
Song sparrow
Great-tailed grackle
Bronzed cowbird