Newsletter

Chapala Birders Newsletter, April 2, 2024 Sightings last Month There were 202 species reported for the lake area in March. The complete list is shown at the end of this newsletter. Less common observations in March: Jules Evens saw Solitary Sandpiper at the San Antonio malecon. Duncan Poole saw Purple Gallinule in the same location. Participants in the Rosa Amarilla Loop trip observed Short-tailed Hawk and Lesser Scaup. Nicola Cendron continues to see the higher atlitude species on the Caracol Trail such as Mexican Whip-poor-will and Rufous-capped Brush Finch. Featured Bird: Colima Warbler An adult Colima Warbler. Both male and female adults have the small reddish crest. It is not as fast moving as most warblers. The Colima Warbler is a Mexican warbler found in high altitude oak forests between 6,000 and 8,000 feet; (1,500 to 3,000m) It spends the four summer months, April to July, breeding in the Eastern Sierra Madre mountains of northern Mexico. For the rest of the year it resides in our area in central west Mexico. It nests on the ground,with the female laying 3 to 4 eggs. These are incubated for only 9 days, and the chicks fledge in just 11 days. With its yellow rump and yellow undertail coverts, it is similar to Virginia's Warbler which is grey but lacks the brownish tones, particularly on the sides, only seen on the Colima Warbler. April Migrants and Transients Already some of our migratory birds have left for the journey north. Practically all will have left by the end of April. The key for all of them is to arrive at the ideal breeding territory at just the right time to find a mate and build a nest after the ice and snow has melted. Other species we might see in this period are the 'Transients' which winter south of us and breed north of us and which spend only a little time traveling through our area. Such transients include: Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Black-chinned Hummingbird, Calliope Hummingbird, Rufous Hummingbird, Bumblebee Hummingbird, American Golden Plover, Snowy Plover, Semipalmated Plover, Whimbrel, Marbled Godwit, Ruddy Turnstone, Bairds' Sandpiper, Stilt Sandpiper, Wilson's Phalarope, Black Tern, Swainson's Hawk, Say's Phoebe, Swainson's Thrush, Dickcissel and Ovenbird. Bird Renaming Last October the American Ornithological Society approved the formation of a committee to recommend new English names for all bird species in North and South America that are named after people, and for the Inca Dove. The new names will be descriptive, like 'Thick-billed Longspur' instead of McCown's Longspur. This will involve about 80 species to be changed in four groups. No time schedule is mentioned. The first group will be about eight species which will be used to develop appropriate procedures for the renaming process. The committee will develop alternative names and public input will be solicited twice. Recommendations of course must be approved at an annual October meeting of the Society. We think this may take two or three years. The second group of names will be the biggest. It will include the species breeding in the U.S. and Canada. The new process for name selection will be employed and the new names must be approved at another October annual meeting. This will take at least another two years. The people most likely to be inconvenienced by this project will be publishers of bird books. Upcoming Bird Walks and Trips Our bird-walks are open to all those interested in birds, both beginners and experienced birders. Just bring binoculars. We always have knowledgeable birders on hand to identify the species. Note that we will try to limit most car trips to three vehicles and 14 people because larger convoys are hard to manage when trying to stop on country roads to look at the birds. If you are being given a ride, we suggest you make a contribution to your driver for gas and tolls (perhaps $150 pesos for a half day outing, $300 pesos for a day trip). On Friday April 12, we will meet at 8.00 am at the Sculpture (at the only traffic light in La Floresta, south-east corner, opposite Restaurant Pranzo) leaving immediately for the Mezcala Mountain (40 minutes drive). We will park and then walk the one-mile (1.5 km) trail at the top. After a snack break at 11.00 we will return to Ajijic for 12.30. Other pick-up points can be arranged between Ajijic and Mezcala. If you plan on going, you must email John at chapalabirders@yahoo.com at least 2 days ahead indicating if you can bring a vehicle and can take passengers, or you would like to be a passenger. High-clearance, all wheel drive vehicles are recommended for the ascent. On Thursday April 18, we will meet at 8.00 am at El Bajio on the west side of Ajijic. We will walk down the lane to the lake, expecting to see a good variety of birds in the tall trees and fields. At about 10.00 am we will head to Pancho's West for breakfast and review the bird list. How to Get There: From Ajijic go about 2 mi. (3 km) west from the light at Colon, turn downhill for El Bajio (across from the west end of the large unfinished retirement community being redeveloped by Latitude/Margaritaville) and park immediately on the lateral road parallel to the carretera. On Monday April 29, we will meet at 8.00 am at the "Sculpture" (at the only traffic light in La Floresta, south-east corner, opposite Restaurant Pranzo), departing immediately for Villa Corona on Lake Atotonilco (60 minutes drive). We expect to see various shore birds such as White-faced Ibis and Roseate Spoonbill. Bring your own mid-morning refreshments. There will be a break for snacking at 11.00 am. We will be back in Ajijic by about 1.30 pm. You must reserve - email John at least 2 days ahead of time, saying if you can bring a vehicle and can take passengers, or you would like to be a passenger. (We do not always have enough cars.) Bird Walk & Trip Reports On March 7, we had 15 keen birders out on the Allen Lloyd Trail in San Antonio Tlayacapan where we managed to see 53 species including Rusty-crowned Ground Sparrow, Western Kingbird, Black-capped vireo, Golden Vireo, Gray Silky Flycatcher and Greenish Elaenia. On March 15, we traveled to the Rosa Amarilla Loop on the plateau on the south side of the lake. With a strong contingent of eleven good birders we identified an impressive list of 73 species including Stripe-headed Sparrow, Brewer's Blackbird, Gadwall, Lesser Scaup, Wood Stork and Short-tailed Hawk. On March 25, we assembled at Cristiania Park in Chapala where we found Black-headed Oriole, Cinnamon-rumped Seedeater, American Wigeon, Forster's Tern, Monk Parakeet and Common Yellowthroat. Due to a good selection of birds at the treatment plant effluent stream the list came to 70 species. Monthly Sightings List Here are the 202 species observed around Lake Chapala in March: Ani, groove-billed Avocet, American Becard, rose-throated (Xt) Blackbird, Brewer's (Ra) Blackbird, yellow-headed Brushfinch, rufous-capped (Ct) Bunting, indigo Bunting, lazuli Bunting, painted Bunting, varied Bushtit Canvasback (Rp) Caracara, crested Chat, yellow-breasted Coot, American Cormorant, neotropic Cowbird, bronzed Cowbird, brown-headed Cuckoo, squirrel Dove, Eurasian collared Dove, Inca Dove, mourning (Ct) Dove, white-tipped Dove, white-winged Dowitcher, long-billed Duck, black-bellied whistling (Rp) Duck, Mexican Duck, ruddy Egret, great Egret, snowy Egret, western cattle Elaenia, greenish Euphonia, elegant (Av) Finch, house Flycatcher, ash-throated Flycatcher, buff-breasted (Ct) Flycatcher, dusky(Sa) Flycatcher, dusky-capped Flycatcher, gray silky Flycatcher, Hammond's (Sa) Flycatcher, least (Sa) Flycatcher, Nutting's (Sa) Flycatcher, social Flycatcher, vermilion Flycatcher, western (Ct) Gadwall (Ch) Gallinule, common Gallinule, purple (Sa) Gnatcatcher, black-capped Gnatcatcher, blue-gray Goldfinch, lesser Grackle, great-tailed Grosbeak, black-headed Grosbeak, blue Gull, Bonaparte's (Rp) Gull, laughing Gull, ring-billed Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, gray (Ch) Hawk, red-tailed Hawk, sharp-shinned Hawk, short-tailed (Ra) Hawk, white-tailed (Ra) Hawk, zone-tailed (Av) Heron, black-crowned night Heron, great blue Heron, green Heron, little blue Heron, tri-colored Hummingbird, berylline Hummingbird, broad-billed Hummingbird, calliope (Ct) Hummingbird, ruby-throated (Av) Hummingbird, rufous (Av) Hummingbird, violet-crowned Hummingbird, white-eared (Ct) Ibis, white-faced Jacana, northern Kestrel, American Killdeer Kingbird, Cassin's Kingbird, thick-billed Kingbird, tropical Kingbird, western Kingfisher, belted (Av) Kinglet, ruby-crowned Kiskadee, great Kite, white-tailed Meadowlark, Chihuahuan (Ra) Mockingbird, blue Mockingbird, northern Nighthawk, lesser (Rp) Nightjar, buff-collared Oriole, black-backed Oriole, black-vented Oriole, Bullock's Oriole, hooded Oriole, orchard Oriole, streak-backed Osprey Owl, ferruginous pygmy (Rp) Owl, great horned Owl, mottled (Ct) Owl, mountain pygmy Owl, western screech (Ct) Parakeet, monk parrow, rusty-crowned ground Pelican, American white Pelican, brown (Av) Pewee, greater Phoebe, Say's (Jo) Pigeon, rock Pintail, northern Pipit, American Plover, semipalmated (Sa) Rail, Aztec Raven, common Redstart, American (Dp) Robin, American (Ct) Robin, rufous-backed Sandpiper, least Sandpiper, solitary (Sa) Sandpiper, spotted Sandpiper, stilt (Rp) Scaup, lesser (Ra) Seedeater, cinnamon-rumped Shoveler, northern Shrike, loggerhead Snipe, Wilson's Solitaire, brown-backed Sora (Ch) Sparrow, chipping Sparrow, clay-colored Sparrow, house Sparrow, lark Sparrow, Lincoln's Sparrow, rusty (Ct) Sparrow, savannah Sparrow, stripe-headed Stilt, black-necked Stork, wood (Ra) Swallow, barn Swallow, northern rough-winged Swallow, tree (Sa) Swallow, violet-green Tanager, flame-colored (Ct) Tanager, hepatic Tanager, summer Tanager, western Teal, blue-winged Teal, cinnamon Teal, green-winged Tern, Caspian Tern, Forster's Tern, Royal (Rp) Thrasher, curve-billed Thrush, hermit Thrush, orange-billed nighting Towhee, canyon Towhee, green-tailed Tyrannulet, northern beardless Vireo, black capped (Sa) Vireo, Cassin's Vireo, golden Vireo, Hutton's (Ct) Vireo, plumbeous Vireo, warbling Vulture, black Vulture, turkey Warbler, black and white Warbler, black-throated gray Warbler, hermit (Ct) Warbler, Lucy's (Rp) Warbler, MacGillivray's Warbler, Nashville Warbler, orange-crowned Warbler, red-faced (Ct) Warbler, rufous-capped Warbler, Townsend's (Ct) Warbler, Virginia's Warbler, Wilson's Warbler, yellow Warbler, yellow-rumped Waterthrush, northern (Ch) Whip-poor-will, Mexican (Ct) Wigeon, American Willet Woodcreeper, white striped (Ct) Woodpecker, acorn Woodpecker, golden-fronted Woodpecker, ladder-backed Wren, Bewick's Wren, canyon Wren, happy Wren, house Wren, marsh Wren, Sinaloa Wren, spotted Yellowlegs, greater Yellowlegs, lesser Yellowthroat, common (Ch) Yellowthroat, gray-crowned (Ct) Sighting Location codes:  Ac - Ajijic: La Cristina & El Bajio At - Trails above Ajijic Av - Ajijic village Ca - Lake Cajititlan & marsh Ch - Chapala Ct - Caracol Trail & Int'l School Cu - Chapala Haciendas & UofG Cv - Cerro Viejo Dm - Dike: Jamay to Malteraña Dp - Dike: Maltaraña to La Palma Hv - Hidden Valley oak forest Ja - Jamay La - La Cañada & Hidden Valley Jo - Jocotepec Ld - Lerma & Duero rivers Mz - Mezcala Oc - Ocotlan Pe - Petatan area Ps - Pumping Station & Santa Cruz Pt - San Pedro Tesistan Pz - San Pedro Itzican/Poncitlan Ra - Rosa Amarilla loop Rc - Santa Rosa & Carnero dam Rp - Riberas del Pilar & canyon Sa - San Antonio & Allen Lloyd Trail Sc - San Juan Cosala Sn - San Nicholas & Golf Club Tz - Tizapan canyon Te - San Juan Tecomatlan Tr - Potrerillos & Las Trojes & Chupinaya Tu - Tuxcueca & San Luis Soyatlan Xt - Ixtlahuacan & Las Campanillas What is the "Lake Chapala Area"? We define it as the whole area of the lake plus all land within 15km (or 7 miles) of the edge of the lake. Lake Chapala Birders is an informal group of bird observers led by John and Rosemary Keeling. Illustrated color folders showing our common birds are once again available for $200 pesos at Diane Pearl's Gallery, 11 am to 4 pm, Santa Margarita #23, at the east end of Riberas del Pilar. Also available from John Keeling on bird walks. We like to hear of bird sightings at: chapalabirders@yahoo.com. Check our website: ChapalaBirders.org There you will find our newsletters, illustrations of our birds and advice on buying binoculars, books and birding apps.

Newsletter

Chapala Birders Newsletter, March 2, 2024 Sightings last Month There were 214 species reported for the lake area in February. The complete list is shown at the end of this newsletter. Unusual observations in February: Mexican Parrotlet was observed by Emily Beebee at the Racquet Club. Royal Terns were photographed by Bob Forgie at the malecon of San Juan Cosala. Bonaparte's Gull was seen by Jules Evens offshore from La Floresta. On our Bird Walk at El Bajio we saw Tufted Flycatcher which is very unusual. Also two Military Macaws flew high overhead. These are presumed escapes as they are seen in the wild only closer to the coast and in the canyon around Guadalajara. The Dark-eyed Junco has invaded Jalisco this year - seen first on the Tequila Volcano and later by Jules Evens at 10,000 feet on Cerro Viejo in our area. This is a new species for the lake, not usually reported south of Durango in the winter. It summers in the mountains of Wyoming and Montana. Featured Bird: Brewer's Blackbird An adult male Brewer's Blackbird. Despite adapting well to human environments, the population of this species has fallen in the last 50 years from 70 million to 10 million due to habitat loss resulting from human development. Commonly seen foraging on the ground, they eat seeds; berries when available and feed insects to their chicks. The Brewer's Blackbird is a winter migrant to our area seen from October to April. We are at the southern edge of its range, but it may be seen here in feed-lots with other blackbird species and cowbird species. It breeds in the western U.S. and Canada. Like other blackbirds it is a social bird, nesting in groups. Fifty percent of the nests of this species are subject to "brood parasitism" receiving a free egg from a female Brown-headed Cowbird which does not itself build a nest. We think it is under-reported here because the male is easily mistaken for Great-tailed Grackle (which has a longer tail and a longer bill) and the female is easily mistaken for female Brown-headed Cowbird (which has a shorter tail than Brewer's). Repeat, In Mexico, Do Not Trust Merlin ID, for the Present It's very simple. Merlin is using Artificial Intelligence and is still in training on the birds of Mexico. We hope that in a year or two it will graduate from its training period. In the meantime, for instance, anyone reporting Gray Catbird or Red Crossbill is known, with 99.9% probability, to be believing a bad suggestion by Merlin ID. Upcoming Bird Walks and Trips Our bird-walks are open to all those interested in birds, both beginners and experienced birders. Just bring binoculars. We always have knowledgeable birders on hand to identify the species. Note that we will try to limit most car trips to three vehicles and 14 people because larger convoys are hard to manage when trying to stop on country roads to look at the birds. If you are being given a ride, we suggest you make a contribution to your driver for gas and tolls (perhaps $150 pesos for a half day outing, $300 pesos for a day trip). On Thursday March 7,  we will meet at 8.00 am at the trail head to hike a mile up the Allen Lloyd Trail which has lots of underbrush in which birds love to hide. Expect to see Blue Mockingbird and hear the Happy Wren. At about 10.00 we will head to Cafe Negro restaurant for breakfast and complete the bird list. How to get to the trail head: Drive up the Libramiento a half mile (1km) from the traffic light at Walmart, then turn left (carefully) as you would for the new 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. On Friday March 15, we will meet at 8.00 am at the "Sculpture" (at the only traffic light in La Floresta, (south-east corner), leaving immediately for the Rosa Amarilla Loop (60 minutes drive). Expect to see a variety of grassland birds and possibly a White-tailed Hawk. Bring refreshments for the morning and sandwiches for the 12.30 lunch stop. We will be back about 3.30 pm. You must reserve - email John at chapalabirders@yahoo.com at least 2 days ahead 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). On Monday March 25, we will meet at 8.15 am at the entrance to Cristiania Park in Chapala. We should see an interesting selection of species in the park and on the shore of the lake. At about 10.00 we will go to 'La Palapa de Don Juan' for breakfast and complete the bird list. How to Get There: From Ajijic go to the traffic light at the main street of Chapala (Av. Madero), cross straight over and keep going straight for five blocks, turn left at the T intersection and park on the right, near the Park entrance. Bird Walk & Trip Reports On February 9, we went to Fisherman's Point and the Pumping Station with 25 birders. We recorded American Wigeon, Canvasback, Gadwall, Warbling Vireo, Western Flycatcher, Long-billed Curlew, Mourning Dove, Common Yellowthroat, and Forster's tern out of a total of 92 species which is an an unusually large list. On February 15, nine birders travelled to the Sierra de Tapalpa, where if was overcast and slow until the sun came out at 11.00 am and birds appeared. We had 52 species, including Striped Sparrow, Chihuahuan Meadowlark, Acorn Woodpecker, Slate-throated Redstart, Mexican Chickadee, Pygmy Nuthatch, Olive Warbler and White-striped Wood-creeper. On February 21, we walked the El Bajio area on the west side of Ajijic with 15 keen birders. We identified 70 species including Gray-silky Flycatcher, Stripe-headed Sparrow, Black-backed Oriole, Crested Caracara, Groove-billed Ani, Greenish Elaenia, Blue Mockingbird and Lucy's Warbler. Monthly Sightings List Here are the 214 species observed around Lake Chapala in February: Ani, groove-billed Avocet, American Becard, gray-collared (Ct) Becard, rose-throated (Sc) Blackbird, Brewer's (Sc) Blackbird, red-winged Blackbird, yellow-headed Bunting, indigo Bunting, lazuli Bunting, painted (Mz) Bunting, varied Bushtit Canvasback Caracara, crested Chat, yellow-breasted Coot, American Cormorant, neotropic Cowbird, bronzed Cowbird, brown-headed Cuckoo, squirrel Curlew, long-billed (Ps) Dove, common ground (Ps) Dove, Eurasian collared Dove, Inca Dove, mourning Dove, white-tipped Dove, white-winged Dowitcher, long-billed Duck, Mexican Duck, ring-necked (Rp) Duck, ruddy Egret, great Egret, snowy Egret, western cattle Elaenia, greenish Euphonia, elegant (Sc) Falcon, peregrine (Ps) Finch, house Flycatcher, buff-breasted Cv) Flycatcher, dusky Flycatcher, dusky-capped Flycatcher, gray Flycatcher, gray silky (Av) Flycatcher, Hammond's Flycatcher, Nutting's (Sa) Flycatcher, social Flycatcher, tufted (Cv) Flycatcher, vermilion Flycatcher, western Gadwall Gallinule, common Gnatcatcher, black-capped (Sa) Gnatcatcher, black-tailed (Ch) Gnatcatcher, blue-gray Goldfinch, lesser Grackle, great-tailed Grebe, least Grebe, pied-billed Grosbeak, black-headed Grosbeak, blue Gull, Bonaparte's (Ch) Gull, laughing Gull, ring-billed Harrier, northern Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, gray (Sa) Hawk, red-tailed Hawk, sharp-shinned Hawk, short-tailed (Jo) Hawk, white-tailed Hawk, zone-tailed (Jo) Heron, black-crowned night Heron, great blue Heron, green Heron, little blue Heron, tri-colored Hummingbird, berylline Hummingbird, black-chinned (Sa) Hummingbird, broad-billed Hummingbird, broad-tailed (Cv) Hummingbird, calliope (Sa) Hummingbird, Rivoli's Hummingbird, ruby-throated Hummingbird, rufous Hummingbird, violet-crowned Hummingbird, white-eared (Cv) Ibis, white-faced Jacana, northern Junco, dark-eyed (Cv) Kestrel, American Killdeer Kingbird, Cassin's Kingbird, thick-billed Kingbird, tropical Kingbird, western Kingfisher, belted (Sc) Kinglet, ruby-crowned Kiskadee, great Kite, white-tailed Mockingbird, blue Mockingbird, northern Motmot, russet-crowned (Sa) Nighthawk, lesser (Rp) Nightjar, buff-collared Oriole, black-backed Oriole, black-vented Oriole, Bullock's Oriole, hooded Oriole, orchard Oriole, streak-backed Osprey (Ps) Owl, ferruginous pygmy Owl, mountain pygmy Parakeet, monk Parrotlet, Mexican (Sc) Pelican, American white Pewee, greater Phoebe, Say's (Jo) Pigeon, rock Pintail, northern Pipit, American (Ch) Pipit, Sprague's (Ch) Rail, Aztec (Rp) Raven, common Redstart, American (Av) Redstart, painted Redstart, slate-throated (Ct) Robin, American (Cv) Robin, rufous-backed Sandpiper, least Sandpiper, solitary Sandpiper, spotted Sandpiper, western Sapsucker, yellow-bellied (Ch) Seedeater, cinnamon-rumped Shoveler, northern Shrike, loggerhead Snipe, Wilson's (Jo) Solitaire, brown-backed Sora Sparrow, chipping Sparrow, clay-colored Sparrow, house Sparrow, lark Sparrow, Lincoln's Sparrow, Rusty (Ct) Sparrow, rusty-crowned ground Sparrow, savannah Sparrow, stripe-headed Starling, European (Sc) Stilt, black-necked Swallow, barn Swallow, northern rough-winged Swallow, tree Swallow, violet-green Swift, white-throated (Cv) Tanager, hepatic Tanager, summer Tanager, western Teal, blue-winged Teal, cinnamon Teal, green-winged Tern, Caspian Tern, Forster's Tern, Royal Thrasher, curve-billed Thrush, hermit (Cv) Thrush, orange-billed nightingale (Rp) Towhee, canyon Towhee, green-tailed (Sa) Towhee, hybrid spotted x collared Trogon, elegant ((Tr) Tyrannulet, northern beardless (Rp) Vireo, Bell's Vireo, black-capped (Sa) Vireo, Cassin's Vireo, golden Vireo, Hutton's Vireo, plumbeous Vireo, slaty Vireo, warbling Vulture, black Vulture, turkey Warbler, black and white Warbler, black-throated gray Warbler, Colima Warbler, hermit Warbler, Lucy's (Mz) Warbler, MacGillivray's Warbler, Nashville Warbler, olive Warbler, orange-crowned Warbler, red-faced (Cv) Warbler, rufous-capped Warbler, Townsend's Warbler, Virginia's Warbler, Wilson's Warbler, yellow Warbler, yellow-rumped Wigeon, American (Ch) Willet (Ch) Woodpecker, acorn (Cv) Woodpecker, golden-fronted Woodpecker, ladder-backed Wren, Bewick's Wren, canyon Wren, happy (Rp) Wren, house Wren, marsh Wren, Sinaloa (Jo) Wren, spotted Yellowlegs, greater Yellowthroat, common Yellowthroat, gray-crowned Sighting Location codes:  Ac - Ajijic: La Cristina & El Bajio At - Trails above Ajijic Av - Ajijic village Ca - Lake Cajititlan & marsh Ch - Chapala Ct - Caracol Trail & Int'l School Cu - Chapala Haciendas & UofG Cv - Cerro Viejo Dm - Dike: Jamay to Malteraña Dp - Dike: Maltaraña to La Palma Hv - Hidden Valley oak forest Ja - Jamay La - La Cañada & Hidden Valley Jo - Jocotepec Ld - Lerma & Duero rivers Mz - Mezcala Oc - Ocotlan Pe - Petatan area Ps - Pumping Station & Santa Cruz Pt - San Pedro Tesistan Pz - San Pedro Itzican/Poncitlan Ra - Rosa Amarilla loop Rc - Santa Rosa & Carnero dam Rp - Riberas del Pilar & canyon Sa - San Antonio & Allen Lloyd Trail Sc - San Juan Cosala Sn - San Nicholas & Golf Club Tz - Tizapan canyon Te - San Juan Tecomatlan Tr - Potrerillos & Las Trojes & Chupinaya Tu - Tuxcueca & San Luis Soyatlan Xt - Ixtlahuacan & Las Campanillas What is the "Lake Chapala Area"? We define it as the whole area of the lake plus all land within 15km (or 7 miles) of the edge of the lake. Lake Chapala Birders is an informal group of bird observers led by John and Rosemary Keeling. Illustrated color folders showing our common birds are once again available for $200 pesos at Diane Pearl's Gallery, 11 am to 4 pm, Santa Margarita #23, at the east end of Riberas del Pilar. Also available from John Keeling. We like to hear of bird sightings at: chapalabirders@yahoo.com. Check our website: ChapalaBirders.org There you will find our newsletters, illustrations of our birds and advice on buying binoculars, books and birding apps.