Trip Report - Jaracuaro Bridge

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

Birds seen:

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

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

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

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

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

Calle Hidalgo, the main street of Cocucho

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

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

Naturally, I made my purchases from them.

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

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

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

Birding San Miguel de Allende

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

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

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

Snowy egret

Black-crowned Night-heron (juvenile)

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

Can you find the hummingbird nest?

Violet-crowned hummingbird

Mystery hummingbird

Golden-fronted woodpecker

Ladder-backed woodpecker

Black phoebe

Vermilion flycatcher

Mystery myiarchus flycatcher

Great kiskadee

Cassin's kingbird

Northern Rough-winged swallow

Barn swallow

Ruby-crowned kinglet

Phainopepla

Cactus wren

Canyon wren (heard)

Bewick's wren

House wren

Curve-billed thrasher

Blue-gray gnatcatcher

Bushtit

Loggerhead shrike

Chihuahua raven

House sparrow

Cassin's vireo

House finch

Lesser goldfinch

Nashville warbler

Black-and-white warbler

Canyon towhee

Chipping sparrow

Black-chinned sparrow (lifer for me)

Black-headed grosbeak

Mystery bunting - female

Great-tailed grackle

Black-backed oriole

Scott's oriole

FOF or Arrival of First of Fall Migrants

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

This Cooper's hawk started my day!

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

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

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

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

The two additional FOF birds were:

Black-throated Gray Warbler (Dendroica nigrescens)

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

Townsend's warbler (Dendroica townsendi)

Species seen/heard (not in taxonomic order):

Cooper's hawk (first bird seen

Turkey vulture

Loggerhead shrike

Lesser goldfinch

Mexican jay

Canyon towhee

Yellow-eyed junco

Vermillion flycatcher

Eastern bluebird

Cassin's kingbird

Rufous-capped brushfinch

Olive warbler

Acorn woodpecker

Slate-throated redstart

Berylline hummingbird

White-eared hummingbird

Magnificent hummingbird

Blue-throated hummingbird

Ruby-throated hummingbird

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

House sparrow

Chipping sparrow

Curve-bill thrasher

Collared x Rufous-sided towhee

Botteri's sparrow

Barn swallow

Bullock's oriole - female

Greater pewee

Black-throated Gray warbler

Inca dove

Rock dove

Great-tailed grackle

Northern flicker

Townsend's warbler (last bird of the day)

Trip Report - Arocutin Ejido Lands

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

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

after spotting several Gray silky-flycatchers.

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

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

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

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

Fifteen species were seen/heard on this trip:

Vermillion flycatcher

Curve-billed thrasher

Lesser goldfinch

Canyon towhee

White-collared seedeater

Barn swallow

Inca dove

Common raven

House finch

Blue grosbeak

Chipping sparrow

Bewick's wren

Berylline hummingbird

Grey silky-flycatcher

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

Birding El Charco (San Miguel de Allende)

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

Watch for White-throated swifts in this canyon

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

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

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

More Trips to Tacambaro

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

Wayne and Liz photographing butterflies

Two motmots were seen above and to the left of Wayne


Oh so many ferns at the balneario!

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

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

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

(not in taxonomic order):

Blue-black grassquit

Inca dove

Mourning dove

House finch

Barn swallow

Squirrel cuckoo

Golden-cheeked woodpecker

Greater pewee

White-collared seedeater

Greater roadrunner

Lesser roadrunner

Black phoebe

Vermillion flycatcher

Turkey vulture

Black vulture

Red-tailed hawk

Broad-billed hummingbird

Violet-crowned hummingbird

Rusty-crowned motmot

Great-tailed grackle

Rock dove

Red-throated becard

Grey-crowned yellowthroat

Collared towhee

Rufous-crowned sparrow

Rusty sparrow

Stripe-headed sparrow

Pileated flycatcher

Blue bunting

Lesser goldfinch

West Mexican chachalaca

Gray silky-flycatcher

Green kingfisher

Hooded siskin

Common yellowthroat (h)

Great kiskadee

Black-chested sparrow

Canyon wren

Groove-billed ani

Mystery birds:

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

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

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

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

-Probable Rufous-capped warbler

Birds seen on the way to/from Tacambaro:

House sparrow

Curve-billed thrasher

Bronze cowbird

Common raven

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