Newsletter

120 Species in August; Upcoming trips for September.

͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌    ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­

View this email in your browser Chapala Birders Newsletter September, 2025 eBird News & Sightings Last Month eBird Community News 3rd Annual Lake Chapala Hawk Watch on Mezcala Mountain In 2023 birding friends from Guadalajara discovered a Hawk Migration Route along the mountains on the north side of Lake Chapala. Mezcala Mountain provides the best viewing spot to see this. Each year we visit Mezcala Mountain frequently in September and October, with an open invitation to our Guadalajara birders to visit on weekends. To inspire you to join us, last September we saw Coopers Hawk, White-tailed Kite, Osprey, Turkey Vulture, Zone-tailed Hawk, Peregrine Falcon, American Kestrel, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Broad-winged Hawk, Northern Harrier, and Mississippi Kite. It gets even better in October! For the 2024 hawk migration we counted over 3600 hawks! Birding Ethics Are you familiar with the ethics of birding? If not, now is a great time to learn! Birding Ethics from eBird. Sightings This Past August submitted by Duncan Poole There were 120 species reported for the lake area in Aug. The complete list is shown at the end of this newsletter. Interesting sightings included the following: 2 Red Warblers, sighted by Affonso Lange, Aug 2, on Cerro Viejo 1 Black Headed Siskin, sighted by Affonso Lange, Aug 2, on Cerro Viejo Feature Bird: Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl  (Glaucidium brasilianum) [FEPO] submitted by Jules Evens. Photo credit: Mugs McConnell This tiny owl with its fierce gaze is always a treat to see, but more often heard lakeside. The call is a repetitive series of "toots" with each bout usually of10-20 notes in rapid succession, sounding somewhat like a loud dripping faucet. Each series is repeated after a short pause. There are other vocalizations, but the tooting is the most common, by far. Volume varies and is somewhat ventriloqual proving difficult to locate. It's most active in the twilight hours, but we've seen them out-and-about even at midday, so visual sightings are possible. It's quite common at lower elevations around Lake Chapala, but rarely encountered above 1800-meters (5900 ft) elevation. In fact, it is the most common small owl in the "lowland" American tropics. At higher elevations, in the oak forests, Northern "Mountain" Pygmy-Owl (Glaucidium gnoma) [NOPO] tends to replace its smaller cousin. Although similar in size and proportion, the FEPO differs from the NOPO with a rufous cast to its plumage, reddish tail evenly barred with black, and narrow streaks on the crown rather than spots. Both species have yellow eyes, a characteristic of owls that hunt in daylight. Each has distinctive "eye spots" on the back of the head. The diet is diverse—insects, reptiles, small birds, mammals—mostly by perch-to-prey strikes. Insects are probably the primary food source, but hummingbirds may also be a favored prey item. Usually seen perched at mid-elevation in trees with tail down, although flicked upward when calling or cocked up when agitated. When flushed, the flight is "woodpecker-like," often diving down then flapping-and-gliding away. Roosting owls, perceived as predators, are often "mobbed" by smaller birds especially hummingbirds, kinglets, vireos, and warblers. The owl may then swivel its head displaying the large "eyespots" and appear larger and more threatening. It is considered a permanent, non-migratory resident throughout most of its range(southern US to southern South America), although more northerly birds may be partially migratory in winter. Presumed monogamous as is often the case with relatively sedentary birds. Pygmy-Owls are cavity nesters laying 3-4 eggs (range 2-7). Only the female broods (23-28 days); the male provisions the nest. Checks fledge at 21-29 days, remain dependent on adults for 6-8 weeks, then abruptly disperse, moving less than 1 km the first day. To hear the Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl calls, click here and the "Listen" button on the right. Maybe you'll hear them in your area! Let us know if you do! Tip #1 for Birding Ethics - If you want to see birds, you've got to hear them. As we walk down a road or trail in search of birds, we will usually hear them long before we see them. Too much conversation within the group will often scare the birds away before you see them. Try to limit unrelated conversations for the snack breaks. For more ethics of birding, visit the e-bird site here. Birding Ethics. Upcoming Bird Walks & Trips Our bird-walks are open to all those interested in birds, both beginners & experienced birders. We always have knowledgeable birders on hand to identify the species. Note that we will try to limit most car trips to 3-4 vehicles and 12-16 people. Larger convoys are hard to manage. If you are being given a ride, you are expected make a contribution to your driver for gas and tolls ($200 pesos for shorter trips, $400 pesos for a day longer trips). 1st SUNDAY OF THE MONTH: September 7th there will be a birding outing along the Allen Lloyd Trail. Meet up with team leader Thomas Bravo at 8am. Expect to see Blue Mockingbird, Happy Wren, and maybe a Russet-crowned Motmot. Please confirm your attendance at least 2 days in advance by sending an email to thmsbrv@gmail.com How to get to the trail head: Drive up the Libramiento a half mil (1 km) from the traffic light at Walmart, then turn left (carefully) as you would for the hospital (Ribera Medical Center). Double back and drive up the left side of the hospital. Keep going uphill another half mile, and park on the only street to your left. Here is a pindrop. On Tuesday September 9th, meet team leader Cheshta Buckley at 8.00 am at the "Sculpture" (see pindrop - its at the only traffic light in La Floresta). We will depart  immediately for the Sierra de Tapalpa (90 minutes away). We will bird from 9.30 till 12:30. We expect to see higher altitude birds such as Acorn Woodpecker and Slate-throated Redstart, and if we are lucky Trans-volcanic Jay. Bring your own snacks and refreshments for the morning. At 1:00 pm we will have lunch in Tapalpa at a restaurant overlooking the square. Expect to be back about 4:00 pm. You must reserve with Cheshta at cheshta@mac.com at least 2 days in advance, indicating if you can bring a vehicle and can take others, or you would like to be a passenger. (We don't always have enough cars.) Each passenger pays the driver $400 pesos to cover gas /tolls. HAWK WATCH: On Friday September 19th, meet team leader Thomas Bravo at 8:00am at the "Sculpture" (see pindrop - its at the only traffic light in La Floresta). We will depart immediately for Mezcala Mountain (MM), in search of migratory birds, especially raptors - hawks. It is about a 30 minute drive to the base of the mountain and another 30 minutes up a rough mountain road to the parking area. Optional bird walk up the knoll trail, about a mile round trip, or a more stationary hawk watch can be done from the parking area and surroundings. We will begin the return between 11am -12 noon (hawk dependent). Recommend you bring a snack, drink, repellent, sunscreen and possibly a SMALL! collapsible chair. You must reserve at least 2 days in advance. We have room for 1-2 more high clearance 4/4WD vehicles for a maximum of 3. 12 total participants. Email Thomas at thmsbrv@gmail.com and indicate whether you can bring a car or you would like to be a passenger.  Each passenger pays the driver $200 pesos to cover gas and tolls. Bird Trip Summaries for August submitted by August Trip Leaders On Sunday, August 3rd, 11 keen birders had a cloudy morning on the Allen Lloyd trail with team leaders Kate and Carl Anderson. They saw 39 species in all. There was a cacaphony of song going up the trail, including the Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush and Sinaloa Wren. This had to be one of the best Russet-crowned Motmot mornings there. It started with a perched Motmot and ended with one at what appeared to be a nest site. Other sightings included the Social Flycatcher, Groove-billed Ani, Streak-backed Oriole with an active nest, and Squirrel Cuckoo. Here is the full checklist of birds observed.   On Wednesday, August 13th, 11 birders joined team leader Cheshta Buckley at El Bajio in West Aijic. They had great views of the Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl and fleeting views of Russet-crowned Motmots. Both of these species could be heard at different locations but it took some effort to actually get eyes on them. The first returning White Pelicans were also sighted today. For a full list of species seen, go here. On Tuesday, August 26th, 11 enthusiastic birders enjoyed a beautiful day with team leader Robert McConnell at the Rosa Amarilla loop on the other side of Lake Chapala. They saw a total of 46 species. Rosa Amarilla Loop offers a variety of habitat making for a wide range of birds to enjoy. The highlights included 4 White-tailed hawks, Cooper's Hawk, Meadowlarks, many Blue Grosbeaks, plus a Rufous Hummingbird. Down along the water were Wood Storks, Pied-Billed Grebes, a variety of Herons and many Egrets. A good day was had by all. See the full list and images. Monthly Sightings List submitted by Duncan Poole Here are the 120 species observed around Lake Chapala in August (in Taxonomic order): 1    Black-bellied Whistling-Duck 2    Fulvous Whistling-Duck 3    Mexican Duck 4    Northern Bobwhite 5    Rock Pigeon 6    Eurasian Collared-Dove 7    Inca Dove 8    White-tipped Dove 9    White-winged Dove 10  Mourning Dove 11  Groove-billed Ani 12  Lesser Roadrunner 13  Squirrel Cuckoo 14  Lucifer Hummingbird 15  Rufous Hummingbird 16  Broad-billed Hummingbird 17  Violet-crowned Hummingbird 18  Berylline Hummingbird 19  Common Gallinule 20  American Coot 21  Black-necked Stilt 22  Killdeer 23  Northern Jacana 24  Laughing Gull 25  Ring-billed Gull 26  Caspian Tern 27  Clark's Grebe 28  Wood Stork 29  Neotropic Cormorant 30  White-faced Ibis 31  Least Bittern 32  Black-crowned Night Heron 33  Little Blue Heron 34  Tricolored Heron 35  Snowy Egret 36  Green Heron 37  Western Cattle-Egret 38  Great Egret 39  Great Blue Heron 40  American White Pelican 41  Black Vulture 42  Turkey Vulture 43  White-tailed Kite 44  Sharp-shinned Hawk 45  Cooper's Hawk 46  White-tailed Hawk 47  Zone-tailed Hawk 48  Red-tailed Hawk 49  Great Horned Owl 50  Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl 51  Russet-crowned Motmot 52  Golden-fronted Woodpecker 53  Ladder-backed Woodpecker 54  Crested Caracara 55  Monk Parakeet 56  Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet 57  Greenish Elaenia 58  Greater Pewee 59  Western Wood-Pewee 60  Western Flycatcher 61  Vermilion Flycatcher 62  Dusky-capped Flycatcher 63  Great Kiskadee 64  Social Flycatcher 65  Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher 66  Tropical Kingbird 67  Cassin's Kingbird 68  Thick-billed Kingbird 69  Golden Vireo 70  Loggerhead Shrike 71  Common Raven 72  Northern Rough-winged Swallow 73  Barn Swallow 74  Cliff Swallow 75  Bushtit 76  Canyon Wren 77  Bewick's Wren 78  Spotted Wren 79  Happy Wren 80  Sinaloa Wren 81  Blue Mockingbird 82  Curve-billed Thrasher 83  Northern Mockingbird 84  Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush 85  Rufous-backed Robin 86  Gray Silky-flycatcher 87  House Sparrow 88  Elegant Euphonia 89  House Finch 90  Lesser Goldfinch 91  Black-headed Siskin 92  Stripe-headed Sparrow 93  Chipping Sparrow 94  Yellow-eyed Junco 95  Rusty-crowned Ground-Sparrow 96  Canyon Towhee 97  Rufous-crowned Sparrow 98  Spotted Towhee 99  Collared Towhee 100 Chihuahuan Meadowlark 101 Black-vented Oriole 102 Orchard Oriole 103 Streak-backed Oriole 104 Black-backed Oriole 105 Red-winged Blackbird 106 Bronzed Cowbird 107 Brown-headed Cowbird 108 Great-tailed Grackle 109 Gray-crowned Yellowthroat 110 Common Yellowthroat 111 Yellow Warbler 112 Rufous-capped Warbler 113 Red Warbler 114 Red-headed Tanager 115 Black-headed Grosbeak 116 Blue Grosbeak 117 Indigo Bunting 118 Varied Bunting 119 Blue-black Grassquit 120 Cinnamon-rumped Seedeater What is the "Lake Chapala Area" for bird sightings? We define it as the whole area of the lake plus all land within 15 km (7 miles) from the edge of the lake. We combine sightings for the month from Chapala, Jocotopec, Ixtlahuacán de los Membrillos, Poncitlán, Ocotlán, Jamay, & La Manzanilla de la Paz. John and Rosemary Keeling Lake Chapala Birders is an informal group of bird observers led by a team of Chapala Birders on behalf of John & Rosemary Keeling. Overall Coordinator: Cheshta Buckley Newsletter: Mugs McConnell Website: Robert McConnell Feature Bird: Jules Evens Monthly Sightings List: Duncan Poole Bird Trip Leaders & Reports: Cheshta Buckley, Thomas Bravo, Kate & Carl Anderson, Jules Evens, Duncan Poole, John Roynon, Robert Taylor, Robert McConnell. Illustrated color folders showing our common birds are available for $200 pesos from your birding group leaders on bird walks. Also available at Diane Pearl's Gallery, 11am to 4pm, Santa Margarita #23, Riberas del Pilar. You can sign up for this newsletter or send us your exciting bird sightings at birderschapala@gmail.com. Check our website: ChapalaBirders.org . There you will find our newsletters, illustrations of our birds and advice on buying binoculars, books & birding apps.

Newsletter

View this email in your browser Chapala Birders Newsletter August, 2025 eBird News & Sightings Last Month submitted by Duncan Poole, John Keeling, Mugs McConnell eBird Community News Did you know that your eBirding data can help to further conservation, inspire support and inform ecological strategies? Keep those lists coming. You can read more about projects resulting from your list contributions at eBird in Action. Birding Ethics As we head out to enjoy the birds, it is important to respect the birds, their habitat and each other. To limit our impact there are a few simple rules to follow, like leaving dogs at home, staying on the trails, giving birds their space, and sticking with your group. Before going on a bird outing, check these guidelines and a great article on Birding Ethics from eBird. Obituary Don Bell passed away June 14, 2025. He and his wife Myrtle maintained a winter home in west Ajijic, where he could be seen on the highway in running gear. A keen birder and outdoorsman, he was an active and respected member of our birding group. He made a habit of going round his local area every Sunday morning to make a bird list. He grew up on a farm in Manitoba and was a high school teacher and principal in Morden, Saskatchewan. For hundreds of students, he was the best track coach and mentor they ever had. Sightings This Past July There were 116 species reported for the lake area in Jul. The complete list is shown at the end of this newsletter. Interesting sightings included the following: Northern Waterthrush, Kate Anderson, Robert and Marion McConnell, and others, Creek Walk, La Manzanilla de la Paz,  (1stsighting for this time of Year)   Bonparte's/Sabine's Gull , Thomas Bravo, Cheshta Buckley, Presas de San Nicolas de Ibarra Feature Bird: Rufous-capped Warbler (Basileuterus Rufifrons) submitted by Jules Evens.    Photo & Video credit: Sam Shepherd This small, brightly colored warbler is sassy and sometimes secretive, creeping amidst low tangles of vegetation. It prefers dry, semi-open, scrub habitats, from sea level to 3,000 m above sea level, although most common above1,000-m. Although rather common here, it may be difficult to see due to its furtive behavior. When it does emerge from the thickets, it is a perky and active sprite, cocking-up and flicking its long tail and flapping its wings. Conspicuously plumaged, it has a rufous crown and cheek separated by a white eyeline, a bright yellow throat and chest, a white belly, with grayish-olive upperparts. Also, a large head and rather stout bill for a warbler. The sexes are similar and both sing. The song is a rapid accelerating trill with a slight change in timbre amidst the series of notes, often becoming more rapid and emphatic mid-way through the song. Like most warblers, it has a strong "chip" location note and a strident chatter when agitated, usually given from protective cover. Its diet is mostly of insects, but berries are taken as well. When foraging it is slow and deliberate, unlike the perkiness it exhibits in the open. Due to its furtive nature, very little information is available about the breeding biology and other aspects of this warbler. This is a year-round resident nearly endemic to Mexico, barely extending into northern Guatemala and sparingly in the southernmost U.S.   Birds in the southern part of the range are now split out as a separate "sister" species—the Chestnut-capped warbler (Basileuterus delattrii), found from extreme southern Mexico through Middle America to northern Colombia. The closest relative in central Jalisco is the Golden-browed Warbler (Basileuterus belli). It is known to hybridize with the Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas x Basileuterus rufifrons). Here is a short video clip taken on the Allen Lloyd trail in Ajiic on July 7th. Upcoming Bird Walks & Trips Our bird-walks are open to all those interested in birds, both beginners & experienced birders. We always have knowledgeable birders on hand to identify the species. Note that we will try to limit most car trips to 3-4 vehicles and 12-16 people. Larger convoys are hard to manage while honoring Birding Ethics. If you are being given a ride, you are expected make a contribution to your driver for gas and tolls ($150 pesos for a half day outing, $300 pesos for a day trip). 1st SUNDAY OF THE MONTH: August 3rd there will be a birding outing along the Allen Lloyd Trail. Meet up with trip leaders Kate and Carl Anderson at 8am. Come prepared for a wee hike. Expect to see Blue Mockingbird and Happy Wren. Please confirm your attendance at least 2 days in advance by sending an email to hdd@hdd.net How to get to the trail head: Drive up the Libramiento a half mil (1 km) from the traffic light at Walmart, then turn left (carefully) as you would for the hospital (Ribera Medical Center). Double back and drive up the left side of the hospital. Keep going uphill another half mile, and park on the only street to your left. Here is a pindrop. On Wednesday August 13th, meet team leader Cheshta Buckley at 8.00 am at El Bajio on the west side of Ajijic and walk down the lane to the lake. Expect to see a good variety of birds in the tall trees and fields. At about 10.00 am we will review the bird list. You must reserve - email Cheshta Buckley at: cheshta@mac.com at least 2 days ahead of time. Chesh's US cell 808 854 1594. (Location pindrop)  On Tuesday August 26th, meet team leaders Robert and Mugs McConnell at 8:00am at the "Sculpture" (see pindrop - its at the only traffic light in La Floresta). We will depart immediately for the Rosa Amarilla Loop on the south side of the lake, about a 60 minute drive. Expect to see a variety of grassland birds and possibly a White-tailed Hawk. Bring enough refreshments for a morning coffee break and a 12:30 lunch. We will be back at about 4:00 pm. You must reserve as we would like to limit it to 4 cars if possible to avoid congestion when parking on roads. Email Robert at bob.mcconnell58@gmail.com and reserve 5 days in advance and indicate whether you can bring a car or you would like to be a passenger.  Each passenger pays the driver $300 pesos to cover gas and tolls. Bird Walk Trip Reports submitted by June Trip Leaders On Sunday, July 6, what started with 12 keen birders on the Allen Lloyd trail ended with 14. The Buckleys, flying in over night from Ireland, made a dash to catch up with Kate and Carl Anderson's group just as a Russet-crowned Motmot flew over the group. John Keeling came to help with bird ID and other aspects of birding that one always learns from him. Great sightings were had by all. The Squirrel cuckoo made a brief appearance right from the start. More Motmots cooed close by but no one could find them. It wasn't till later that one flew over. Constantly the Northern Rough-winged swallows dashed about. A kettle of Black Vultures thought they would come in from the lake for the count. Special was a pair of Chestnut-capped warblers which Sam got an incredible video of. Sam also videoed a nest building Streak-backed Oriole. It was fun watching birds close up in real time through his scope rigged with phone camera. Thank you Sam for lugging that up the canyon. During this rainy season the group was blessed with sunshine and clean air. The lush vegetation made it challenging to spot birds. 40 species was a great count since this is the time of year there are fewer birds. Here is the full checklist of birds observed.   On Tuesday, July 15, 15 birders joined Thomas Bravo and visited Villa Corona on Lake Atontonilco. Despite the low water levels, 39 species were seen, highlighted by 140 Whistling Ducks, thousands of White-faced Ibis, American Avocets, a Snowy Plover, and a very surprising Snow Goose. Follow this list to all species and images. On Tuesday, July 29th, 12 enthusiastic birders joined Robert and Mugs McConnell on a trip to La Manzanilla de la Paz on the other side of Lake Chapala.  All enjoyed a beautiful walk along the creek path up to the Presa Del Chiflon. A total of 29 species were observed. The Greenish Elaenia, Gray-Silky Flycatcher, and Orange-billed Nightingale Thrush were the top 3 highlights, but also the Northern Waterthrush and adult Spotted Wrens feeding the chicks in the nest. A Western Flycatcher feeding 3 fledglings in a willow tree made for a good ending for a wonderful day.  See list. Monthly Sightings List submitted by Duncan Poole Here are the 116 species observed around Lake Chapala in July (in Taxonomic order): 1    Black-bellied Whistling-Duck 2    Fulvous Whistling-Duck 3    Muscovy Duck 4    Mexican Duck 5    Ruddy Duck 6    Northern Bobwhite 7    Rock Pigeon 8    Eurasian Collared-Dove 9    Inca Dove 10  Common Ground Dove 11  White-Tipped Dove 12  White-winged Dove 13  Mourning Dove 14  Groove-billed Ani 15  Lesser Roadrunner 16  Greater Roadrunner 17  Squirrel Cuckoo 18  Rivoli's Hummingbird 19  Broad-billed Hummingbird 20  Violet-crowned Hummingbird 21  Berylline Hummingbird 22  Common Gallinule 23  American Coot 24  Black-necked Stilt 25  Killdeer 26  Northern Jacana 27  Spotted Sandpiper 28  Bonparte's/Sabine's Gull 29  Laughing Gull 30  Ring-billed Gull 31  Caspian Tern 32  Least Grebe 33  Pied-billed Grebe 34  Clark's Grebe 35  Neotropic Cormorant 36  White-faced Ibis 37  Least Bittern 38  Black-crowned Night Heron 39  Little Blue Heron 40  Tricolored Heron 41  Snowy Egret 42  Green Heron 43  Western Cattle-Egret 44  Great Egret 45  Great Blue Heron 46  American White Pelican 47  Brown Pelican 48  Black Vulture 49  Turkey Vulture 50  Osprey 51  White-tailed Kite 52  Cooper's Hawk 53  Red-tailed Hawk 54  Great Horned Owl 55  Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl 56  Russet-crowned Motmot 57  Green Kingfisher 58  Golden-fronted Woodpecker 59  Ladder-backed Woodpecker 60  Crested Caracara 61  Monk Parakeet 62  Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet 63  Greenish Elaenia 64  Greater Pewee 65  Western Wood-Pewee 66  Western Flycatcher 67  Vermilion Flycatcher 68  Dusky-capped Flycatcher 69  Brown-crested Flycatcher 70  Great Kiskadee 71  Social Flycatcher 72  Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher 73  Tropical Kingbird 74  Cassin's Kingbird 75  Thick-billed Kingbird 76  Golden Vireo 77  Loggerhead Shrike 78  Northern Rough-winged wallow 79  Barn Swallow 80  Cliff Swallow 81   Black-capped Gnatcatcher 82   Canyon Wren 83   Bewick's Wren 84   Spotted Wren 85   Happy Wren 86   Sinaloa Wren 87   Blue Mockingbird 88   Curve-billed Thrasher 89   Northern Mockingbird 90   Brown-backed Solitaire 91   Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush 92   Rufous-backed Robin 93   Gray Silky-flycatcher 94   House Sparrow 95   House Finch 96   Lesser Goldfinch 97   Stripe-headed Sparrow 98    Rusty-crowned Ground-Sparrow 99    Canyon Towhee 100  Rusty Sparrow 101  Yellow-headed Blackbird 102  Black-vented Oriole 103  Streak-backed Oriole 104  Black-backed Oriole 105  Orchard Oriole 106  Bronzed Cowbird 107  Brown-headed Cowbird 108  Great-tailed Grackle 109  Northern Waterthrush 110  Gray-crowned Yellowthroat 111  Common Yellowthroat 112  Yellow Warbler 113  Rufous-capped Warbler 114  Blue Grosbeak 115  Blue-black Grassquit 116  Cinnamon-rumped Seedeater What is the "Lake Chapala Area" for bird sightings? We define it as the whole area of the lake plus all land within 15 km (7 miles) from the edge of the lake. We combine sightings for the month from Chapala, Jocotopec, Ixtlahuacán de los Membrillos, Poncitlán, Ocotlán, Jamay, & La Manzanilla de la Paz. John and Rosemary Keeling Lake Chapala Birders is an informal group of bird observers let by a team of Chapala Birders on behalf of John & Rosemary Keeling. Overall Coordinator: Cheshta Buckley Newsletter: Mugs McConnell Website: Robert McConnell Feature Bird: Jules Evens Monthly Sightings List: Duncan Poole Bird Trip Leaders & Reports: Cheshta Buckley, Thomas Bravo, Kate & Carl Anderson, Jules Evens, Duncan Poole, John Roynon, Robert Taylor, Robert & Mugs McConnell. Illustrated color folders showing our common birds are available for $200 pesos from your birding group leaders on bird walks. Also available at Diane Pearl's Gallery, 11am to 4pm, Santa Margarita #23, Riberas del Pilar. You can sign up for this newsletter or send us your exciting bird sightings at birderschapala@gmail.com. Check our website: ChapalaBirders.org . There you will find our newsletters, illustrations of our birds and advice on buying binoculars, books & birding apps.