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MONTHLY SKETCHBOOK

JULY 2000

July 4th weekend, 2000. Manzanillo, Colima, Mexico

Tequila! The long weekend gave me a chance to take a few days away from it all, with my better half, on the Pacific shores of Mexico.

It's always exciting to arrive somewhere exotic and new at night so that you can discover the scenery that first morning along with the birds. I soon found a Streak-backed Oriole in the hotel grounds, along with Ruddy Ground Doves, Social Flycatchers and Ruddy-breasted and White-collared Seedeaters.

Magnificent Frigatebirds were plentiful and the intial excitement of seeing them didn't seem to wear off. They really are masters of the air and I enjoyed spending time on the balcony trying to sketch them; their immense wings effortlessly cutting through the sky.

Brown Boobies also joined the action on the beach. Monotonously skimming back and forth like shearwaters, their flight path only broken by the occasional dive. Many seemed to be immatures but I did see the occasional very white headed brewsteri- type adult.

And finally, because I sketched them so much, here are some adult Magnificent Frigatebirds!

To see past sketchbooks click here