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Lots of the migrant birds are starting to return to Mexico. None of these birds are rarities, and would never be considered a species to get all twitter-pated about. The real shock came, when at the last minute, I realized that they were not Greater Egrets , nor the smaller Snowy Egrets , but Cattle Egrets – Bubulcus ibis.
Still, the outing did not produce any new species for the year, or enough good photos for a post here. Instead, I have chosen to write about an idea I’ve had percolating for a while: to tell you what the most common species are down here. Cattle Egrets are very common outside of the most urbanized areas.
This species loves to sing while high up in pine trees. There was the Botteri’s Sparrow giving a larger Canyon Towhee a piece of its mind, on my way into town: The reservoir itself was underwhelming, only offering me a collection of white Egrets (Cattle, Snowy and Great) and a single Great Blue Heron. Brown-backed Solitaire.
Those infinitely patient saints who read all my ramblings know that over the past year I have been obsessed with the gradual disappearance of Mexico’s second-largest lake, Lake Cuitzeo, just north of my home city of Morelia. The good news is that this summer central Mexico is experiencing its best rains since 2018.
I am only responding to my subjective impression of a single species’ appearance here; specifically, that of the Bronzed Cowbird. Especially when I compare it with the other cowbird present in central Mexico, the Brown-headed Cowbird. In contrast, the Brown-headed Cowbird is a same-continent invasive species.
The very first thing we notice about this large member of the Galliformes is that there is a wild version and a domestic version, and although the two are rather different, they are both given the same species name, Meleagris gallopavo. This is not entirely unknown among domestic animals, but many domesticates have no living wild version.
So on January 1st, or as close to it as I can get, I always head a half hour north to the one site of mine that offers more species than any other: Lago de Cuitzeo (Cuitzeo Lake). This lake is always good for some 50-60 species, even during the three months or so of summer when no migratory species can be expected.
There was a large raft of hundreds of American Coot , an American White Pelican and lots of duck species. We then checked the Presa El Nogalito for one bird species in particular. And foraging they did, about 200 specimens of the species we were after: Sandhill Cranes. The birds warmed us too.
And now, in my long-term home of Michoacán, Mexico, we have experienced a one-year drought unlike anything I have seen in my 30 years here. There were plenty of other birds in the area, with 72 species around the reservoir for the day. It was odd to see a high-quality species like a Least Bittern next to an entirely domestic duck.
Cattle fields surrounded the small town, the cows forming dark silhouettes against the rapidly graying skies. We felt in high spirits after a gorgeous afternoon in the grassland, tallying up over 20 species of birds, including three lifers for me. Add another species to the daily list!
Designated in 1967 (36 years after Idaho’s), the Mountain Bluebird can be found all year round in Nevada, though in general its range shift southward for the winter months; in the summer, this species can be found as far north as Alaska. Across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, Partners in Flight estimates that there are 4.6
Mosquitoes bite humans and animals with no regard to species, and they bring along a number of illnesses. Occurring mostly in southern regions, close to the Gulf of Mexico, SLE is mosquito-borne. The disease can attack domestic pets, such as dogs and cats, as well as livestock, such as horses, chickens, and cattle.
Following passage of the United States Endangered Species Preservation Act of 1966, the California Condor ( Gymnogyps californianus ) was among the first 75 species listed for protection, the so-called “Class of 1967”. Reintroduction efforts expanded to Arizona in 1996, and later, to the Baja California peninsula in Mexico.
9 beats from 8 countries (Australia, USA, UK, Serbia, Costa Rica, China, Trinidad and Tobago and Mexico), shared 138 checklists for 703 species. The year list to date is 1015 species and 7 have been added to the life list ( 4059 ) from Costa Rica, China and Trinidad and Tobago. 201 Cattle Egret – Bubulcus ibis.
Making the quiz even more diabolical was the fact that two species of parrot do frequent Queens – we have a large population of Monk Parakeets and a small and seldom seen flock of Mitred Parakeets. Most folks chose the former as the most likely bird while some folks, thinking they knew the avifauna of Queens well, chose the latter.
During July, 11 beats birded 11 countries (USA, UK, Australia, Spain, New Zealand, Costa Rica, Japan, UAE, Mexico, China and Saudi Arabia) and submitted 82 checklists. They accounted for 562 species at this sluggish time of year. Cattle Egret – Bubulcus ibis. These are the numbers. Alphabetic Taxonomic. Lago de Cuitzeo.
beats have still managed to share 82 checklists and accounted for 737 species. Our two newest contributors have shared from Mexico and China, bringing the countries birded this month (also including; Costa Rica, Greece, Serbia, USA, UK, India, UAE and New Zealand) to 10. Cattle Egret – Bubulcus ibis. Laguna Lagarto Lodge.
December’s beats found 609 birds after submitting 116 checklists from 8 countries (USA, UK, Costa Rica, China, Mexico, Serbia and Australia). The year list ends on a provisional 1803 species from 1608 checklists submitted by 12 beats from 16 countries. Most species-prolific was Patrick in Costa Rica, followed by Paul from Mexico.
My birding list for November totals 15 species. Thank goodness that the rest of the beats have been busily birding,that’s what they like to do… 9 of them submitted 114 checklists via eBird and amassed 525 species from 7 (China, Australia, Mexico, Costa Rica, UK, Serbia and USA) countries during November.
At approximately 7:00 AM MT, we will begin our drive north, leaving our beloved La Paz, Mexico after 7 great years. Then it is off to Guerro Negro, the half-way point in our Mexico portion of the drive north. As far as my year’s list, this last weekend netted me 6 more species, putting me at 127 species.
7 countries (Costa Rica, China, USA, UK, Mexico, New Zealand and Serbia) were birded by 11 beats during October. They submitted 124 checklists for 671 species of bird. In particular 272 species were noted from 14 checklists submitted on October 17th, eBird’s October Big Day. 646 Cattle Egret – Bubulcus ibis.
9 beats submitted 140 checklists from 7 countries (USA, UK, Costa Rica, Serbia, Australia, Mexico and Trinidad and Tobago) during October to account for 585 species. 184 Cattle Egret – Bubulcus ibis. 184 Cattle Egret – Bubulcus ibis. 1 Little Tinamou – Crypturellus soui. 6 Brant – Branta bernicla.
8 of them sent 153 lists, noting 645 species of bird across 7 countries (Mexico, UK, USA, Serbia, Australia, Costa Rica, Colombia). It has not resulted in extraordinary numbers of sightings personally, but the beats have been busy on their respective patches and have sent me their lists to collate. The year list finishes at 1628.
Our brave beats have been putting themselves at risk for your vicarious listing pleasure and 10 of them submitted 151 checklists for 692 species, 2 of which made it onto the life list. Checklists came in from 7 countries (USA, UK, Serbia, China, Mexico, Costa Rica and Australia) and brought the year list for 2021 so far to 1143.
December’s numbers looked like this; 10 beats visited 11 countries (Bahrain, New Zealand, USA, UK, Costa Rica, China, Mexico, Australia Nigeria, Uganda and Serbia) during December. They contributed 150 lists accounting for 1032 species and more than 36,000 individual birds. Cattle Egret – Bubulcus ibis. 02 Dec 2019.
This shows the top birders, by species or checklists submitted. The year has started well with 10 new birds from India, China, Hawaii, Mexico and Costa Rica. 12 beats birded 10 countries (Costa Rica, USA, Brazil, China, India, Serbia, UK, Australia, New Zealand and Mexico), submitting 187 lists and spotting 902 birds.
In publishing the most current thinking, eBird have become the month’s biggest contributor to the life list, expanding it by 7 brand new species and pushing it to 3774. 7 species were added to the life list in the time-honoured fashion of actually identifying the birds in the field. Cattle Egret – Bubulcus ibis.
One was to piggyback on Patrick O’Donnell’s interesting article about winter warblers in Costa Rica, since his list is quite different from my list for central Mexico. (I But these Cattle Egrets didn’t seem to mind. But if hypothetical birders did stay in the city, what could they see? It was really very early.
11 beats collaborated to enter 163 checklists from 8 countries (UK, USA, Costa Rica, Australia, Serbia, China, Mexico and Trinidad and Tobago). They noted 719 species between them. 217 Cattle Egret – Bubulcus ibis. 217 Cattle Egret – Bubulcus ibis. 3 Fulvous Whistling-Duck – Dendrocygna bicolor.
Submissions for February have been received from Austria, Australia, UK, Japan, Costa Rica, Serbia, Mexico, USA, The Bahamas and Lichtenstein. La Paz, Mexico. La Paz, Mexico. La Paz, Mexico. La Paz, Mexico. Cattle Egret – Bubulcus ibis. La Paz, Mexico. 07 Feb 2017. Western Australia.
9 beats, birded 9 countries this month; Belize , Guatamala , Costa Rica, UK, Iran, USA, Greece, Australia and Mexico. They submitted 144 checklists, noting 628 species adding 72 to the year’s running total bringing it to 1890. La Paz, Mexico. La Paz, Mexico. La Paz, Mexico. La Paz, Mexico.
Thus; As at April 30 th 2017, the collaborative year total stands at 1432 , with 895 species noted this month from 164 shared checklists. 9 beats contributed their sightings (this knocks last April’s efforts of 116 lists for 672 species into a cocked hat and claws back some ground on the 30th April 2016 running total of 1707).
Whatever it was, Corey was found at his keyboard 2 hours later, covered in blood and snot and sporting a cut lip, having announced that he and Mike would rescue the failing list by taking personal responsibility for adding 300 species. Cattle Egret – Bubulcus ibis. Their Ugandan contribution reached 258 before contact was lost.
During October, 7 countries (Costa Rica, Australia, USA, India, Hong Kong, UK, Serbia) were birded by 11 beats who shared 135 checklists and noted 697 species. Elephant Butte Dam area, New Mexico. Hwy 469, near Tucumcari New Mexico. Cattle Tyrant – Machetornis rixosa. Cattle Egret – Bubulcus ibis.
8 beats shared 126 checklists accounting for 704 species. They birded 6 countries; USA, UK, Costa Rica, Serbia, Australia, and Mexico. Cattle Egret – Bubulcus ibis. Cattle Tyrant – Machetornis rixosa. Elephant Butte Dam area, New Mexico. Hwy 469, near Tucumcari New Mexico. 01 Jan 2018.
In reverse order, the medals were awarded for “most species seen in a country”, to Australia with 420, USA got the silver, scoring 556 while the runaway winner was Costa Rica with 646 species. Cattle Egret – Bubulcus ibis. Cattle Tyrant – Machetornis rixosa. Elephant Butte Dam area, New Mexico.
Contributions this month have come from; Costa Rica, USA, Australia, Mexico, Serbia, South Africa, UK, Botswana, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia and Iran. All birds are equal on this list; parking lot birds or pelagic species, breeders or fly-overs, all will be accorded the same status and each shall be worth 1 credit on the list.
Last year they shared over 1200 checklists and managed to achieve a stunning total of 2647 species from 32 countries. Last year’s magnificent total of 2647 species is the target to beat, but other results could prove interesting. 1499 species were seen in the eastern hemisphere in 2016. La Paz, Mexico. 01 Jan 2017.
Submissions from July were shared from Serbia, UK, Brazil, Mexico, USA and Saudi Arabia, bring the total as at July 31st to 1858. All birds are equal on this list; parking lot birds or pelagic species, breeders or fly-overs, all will be accorded the same status and each shall be worth 1 credit on the list. La Paz, Mexico.
All birds are equal on this list; parking lot birds or pelagic species, breeders or fly-overs, all will be accorded the same status and each shall be worth 1 credit on the list. La Paz, Mexico. Cattle Egret – Bubulcus ibis. La Paz, Mexico. La Paz, Mexico. UNAM Botanical Gdns, Mexico. Western Australia.
During last month, beat lists have been shared from Mexico, Australia, Nigeria, Costa Rica, Russia, UK, Canada and USA. All birds are equal on this list; parking lot birds or pelagic species, breeders or fly-overs, all will be accorded the same status and each shall be worth 1 credit on the list. La Paz, Mexico. La Paz, Mexico.
Despite recording 370 species during the month, the list total has advanced by just 45. Just to confuse things a little, only 14 new species were recorded since June 1 st. Cattle Tyrant – Machetornis rixosa. La Paz, Mexico. La Paz, Mexico. La Paz, Mexico. La Paz, Mexico. La Paz, Mexico.
All birds are equal on this list; parking lot birds or pelagic species, breeders or fly-overs, all will be accorded the same status and each shall be worth 1 credit on the list. Cattle Tyrant – Machetornis rixosa. La Paz, Mexico. Cattle Egret – Bubulcus ibis. La Paz, Mexico. UNAM Botanical Gdns, Mexico.
All birds are equal on this list; parking lot birds or pelagic species, breeders or fly-overs, all will be accorded the same status and each shall be worth 1 credit on the list. Cattle Egret – Bubulcus ibis. UNAM Botanical Gdns, Mexico. UNAM Botanical Gdns, Mexico. UNAM Botanical Gdns, Mexico. 01 Jan 2016.
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