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EBird actually is aware of how one can push my buttons. I imply that in a great way: By robotically displaying one’s new 12 months checklist every January 1st, and evaluating it to 1’s final a number of 12 months lists, they at all times make me wish to hit the bottom operating with as many species in my first week as I can handle. And in my case, meaning heading as much as Lake Cuitzeo. (Besides within the unhappy 12 months of 2020, when Lake Cuitzeo had virtually totally dried up by January 1st.)
Most years, a day in January of significant birding round Lake Cuitzeo can provide me round 85 species. Just one different of my favourite websites can come shut. So up north I am going, at all times hoping for harvest of 12 months birds.
This previous January, nevertheless, my expertise was even higher. First, the lake’s always-variable water ranges turned out to be favorable for selecting up some additional species. And second, I had reinforcements: My pal Nacho, a botany professor at considered one of Morelia’s universities, went with me. 4 eyes are higher than two. And when two of these eyes are professionally skilled for wildlife monitoring, that’s definitely an enormous plus. Consequently, we managed to see an excellent 100 hen species in in the future — a document for each of us.
I ought to make clear that this was only a regular day of birding, no less than by my requirements. This was not professional-level aggressive birding, through which one travels 100 miles or extra by means of a dozen habitats. We didn’t begin earlier than daybreak, and we had been dwelling by a bit after 3:00 p.m. I may have simply birded extra aggressively, with extra driving, however selected to not.
Listed below are among the components that allowed us to move the century mark in a single morning:
- Winter: If you wish to rack up the species in central Mexico, it’s best to hen right here within the winter, when northern species have come down for his or her off season. For instance, of the 9 duck species we noticed, 7 are winter-only. The identical could be stated, to a lesser extent, for the shorebirds, New World sparrows, warblers, and lots of different households.
- Wetter: The size of my checklist is tremendously influenced by the presence or absence of water. My #2 species-rich website additionally features a good-sized physique of water.
- And higher… collectively: As I discussed above, having an additional pair of eyes actually made a distinction.
It additionally actually helps when the birds go for inclusion, and hand around in blended flocks. So trendy of them.
For instance, these could all technically be Blackbirds, however there are Crimson-winged and Yellow-headed Blackbirds and a Brown-headed Cowbird on this one photograph.
Dowitchers, Teals, and Wigeons, oh my!
Positive, the canine didn’t depend for our eBird checklist. However I have to say, these are some very tolerant Lengthy-billed Dowitchers!
We didn’t actually see that many uncommon species; we simply noticed extra of them. Actually, that’s what I like about birding in January. Even the commonest species nonetheless look like an occasion the primary time I see the within the 12 months. Nonetheless, there have been a couple of uncommon ones:
This Ring-necked Duck was the primary one I had ever seen on Lake Cuitzeo, or certainly, wherever in Michoacán.
A Willow Flycatcher is a dependable hen at decrease altitudes, however this was solely the second time I had seen one on the lake. (Be happy to right me if I bought this Empidonax ID mistaken. It undoubtedly occurs.)
The north shore of the lake is my solely spot within the state through which to reliably see Northern Cardinals. However, for some cause, they’re at all times in the midst of dense brush:
And, after all, there was an imposing Hook-billed Kite. However I’ve already written concerning the pleasure of seeing this magnificence.
Listed below are a couple of others, extra widespread however nonetheless beautiful:
This feminine Blue Grosbeak blended in properly together with her environment.
This Yellow-rumped (Audubon’s) Warbler checked us out within the morning mild.
An immature Northern Harrier appeared to have some type of hen in its claws. Which isn’t my concept of how one can see two birds without delay, really.
So there you’ve got it, 100 species in a single day. I’d like to have you ever remark beneath, mentioning your regular birding area, and what number of species you possibly can hope to see in a single day of “regular” birding. It will assist me to handle my expectations, ought to I ever be in the same area.
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