Beautiful late afternoon. Mallard, Wigeon, Shelduck, Pochard, Shoveler, Grey Heron, Black Headed Gull, Arctic Tern, Oystercatcher, Greylag (pair with 8 Goslings), Coot, Moorhen, Canada Goose, ChiffChaff (heard), Mute Swan.
Next day we added Mistle Thrush, Buzzard, Dunnock, ChiffChaff, Tufted Duck, GC Grebe, GS Woodpecker, Pied Wagtail
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Saturday, May 05, 2012
Chile: El Yali and Santo Domingo
One day off on a busy trip to Santiago, and I was very keen to get to a coastal location this time. Our very kind host volunteered to join me and drive, and suggested the El Yali reserve, a couple of hours away.
It took us a long time to find the reserve entry (Chimango caracara, Southern Lapwing, Long Tailed Meadowlark and Black chinned siskin on the journey), close to a very smelly SuperPollo battery hen mega-farm. The man on the entrance said that permits were needed and only obtainable from Santo Domingo (but I got a nice view of a Fire Eyed Duicon while he told us). However he gave us a tip as to how to get in round the back!
The reserve is a series of sea-water lagoons amongst woods and pasture. Even as we parked the car Coscoroba Swan flew over - very goose-like and as such missing the usual swan elegance. On the lagoon we came to, Great Egret, Neotropic cormorant, Black Necked Swan, White backed stilt, Greater Yellowlegs, Brown Hooded Gull.
Walking alongside the lagoon, a Green Backed Firecrown in the only flowering bush and Scale Throated Earthcreeper, Southern House Wren skulking around.
A magnificent Cocoi Heron flew past, then an American Kestrel.
There didn’t seem to be much chance of anything else without several hours' tramping over slow terrain, so we headed back to the car and in the scrub on the way out got good views of a Tufted Tit Tyrant.
Rufous Collared Sparrow, Chilean Mockingbird, Turkey Vulture also around.
On to Santo Domingo and the beach, which we walked along Northwards towards a rock which had birds on it. Tiring work on soft sand dunes or shingle. Strong surf so a dramatic overall scene.
Peruvian Pelicans flying past in sea-skimming formation. Kelp Gull looks like a Lesser BB, but behaves very differently, scuttling about as the waves go in and out like a Sanderling.
When we finally made the rock, the birds on it were revealed not as Penguins, which I had half-hoped as the Humboldt current cools the water here, but Peruvian Booby (had no idea 'Peruvian' applies to so many sea birds) and Red-legged Cormorant.
Common Diuca Finch and Chilean Swallow in the scrub behind the beach
Back in Santiago, a flock of Shiny Cowbird outside the Vitacura Starbucks and on a run round the local park I distinguished Eared Dove amongst the various pigeon-types.
It took us a long time to find the reserve entry (Chimango caracara, Southern Lapwing, Long Tailed Meadowlark and Black chinned siskin on the journey), close to a very smelly SuperPollo battery hen mega-farm. The man on the entrance said that permits were needed and only obtainable from Santo Domingo (but I got a nice view of a Fire Eyed Duicon while he told us). However he gave us a tip as to how to get in round the back!
The reserve is a series of sea-water lagoons amongst woods and pasture. Even as we parked the car Coscoroba Swan flew over - very goose-like and as such missing the usual swan elegance. On the lagoon we came to, Great Egret, Neotropic cormorant, Black Necked Swan, White backed stilt, Greater Yellowlegs, Brown Hooded Gull.
Walking alongside the lagoon, a Green Backed Firecrown in the only flowering bush and Scale Throated Earthcreeper, Southern House Wren skulking around.
A magnificent Cocoi Heron flew past, then an American Kestrel.
There didn’t seem to be much chance of anything else without several hours' tramping over slow terrain, so we headed back to the car and in the scrub on the way out got good views of a Tufted Tit Tyrant.
Rufous Collared Sparrow, Chilean Mockingbird, Turkey Vulture also around.
On to Santo Domingo and the beach, which we walked along Northwards towards a rock which had birds on it. Tiring work on soft sand dunes or shingle. Strong surf so a dramatic overall scene.
Peruvian Pelicans flying past in sea-skimming formation. Kelp Gull looks like a Lesser BB, but behaves very differently, scuttling about as the waves go in and out like a Sanderling.
When we finally made the rock, the birds on it were revealed not as Penguins, which I had half-hoped as the Humboldt current cools the water here, but Peruvian Booby (had no idea 'Peruvian' applies to so many sea birds) and Red-legged Cormorant.
Common Diuca Finch and Chilean Swallow in the scrub behind the beach
Back in Santiago, a flock of Shiny Cowbird outside the Vitacura Starbucks and on a run round the local park I distinguished Eared Dove amongst the various pigeon-types.
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