Return to 'Wonderful' South America

It would seem from the number of plaudits received that the trilogy which was

Buenos Aires

was a crowd pleaser, so maybe a blessing that we kept the residue images 

rather than consigning them to ‘delete’, ‘delete’!

Maybe if we added to them a couple of short stories as well it might also

make for a decent post, but only you can be the judge of that?  

 This particular trip, as you will likely remember, took me from

Bogota Colombia to Buenos Aires Argentina on a west-bound trail with the birds, 
and other creatures, being selected randomly from the archive.

 COMMON PAURAQUE

 JABIRU

MARMOT

WHITE-NECKED JACOBIN

 A brief stop at 

BANDURRIA

to take in the good vibes of this ancient township dating back to 

4000 BC.

WHITE-CAPPED DIPPER

 ANDEAN FLICKER

 BAT FALCON

 TURKEY VULTURE

ANDEAN GEESE

The stop above was a calculated one which was unusual as the norm is drive into town,

get the ambiance of the place and if it feels right spend a day or 3.

 Such was the case with Puerto Lόpez in Ecuador but things very nearly started on the wrong foot.

Stepping from the bus and not paying attention fell into the arms of

Deidre Platt

who graciously accepted my appologies recognising that I was a fellow Brit.

She directed me to a small family run guest house where we had coffee and discovered that she is an Ecologist. Before leaving she almost ordered that she would pick me up at noon the following day and take me home for lunch as well as meeting her partner and 2 children - what a start!

 PARADISE

was where Archaeologist Richard Winnis was met along with 

 their children Brendan and missing for all photo calls Lucy.

Stimulating conversation, a beer or 3 and a few birds in the wild garden

 VIOLET-PURPLE CORONET

 SAFFRON SISKIN

PURPLE-BIBBED WHITETIP

 and

BROWN-THROATED PARAKEET

among others.

They were seen as a family agin in passing during the 3 days there but there was much more to do!

The following day it was off to the irresistable (wherever in the world)

 FISHMARKET

which in this instance was on the beach

 MARITIME MAFIOSO

ROYAL TERN

 When the Boat Comes In

with opportunist Pelicans never far away.

HAMMERHEAD SHARKS 

FILLETING

where the

ELEGANT TERN

video came from is a mystery as not having such a camera with me?

What was to visit me the following day could not have been imagined in the wildest of dreams

as opting for a visit to the

Poor Man's Galapagos

 Birdlife had been discussed with the Guide during the passage across

 who had wetted my appetite with 2 species which he said would have to be either or.

It was searringly hot but on the upside the other 4 passengers only wanted to stay 

by the seashore!

Only part way there he could already see that I was floundering

but with determination did get to see the

WAVED ALBATROSS

Almost spent, he was urged to lead me to the next target which he most reluctantly did

and what was considered to be the nearest to death I have ever been but, the finding of the

most bizzare creature in the world? 

 MATAMATA TURTLE

spurred me on even more!

Was it worth it? Well, with the benifit of hindsight NO as there have been many, many

more since but on the cusp of a World Lifer it is hard to turn away and eventually 

he afforded me brilliant views of just a single nesting

RED-FOOTED BOOBY

There sits a tired, tired Twitcher but worth every peso!

The sequel to this if you like, back in 2010, was the realiseation that I had unwittingly added

another species of Gull to my World List.

The Band-tailed Gull exists on both East and West coastlines of South America

and was always considered the same species only seperated by the

9th Highest Mountain Range in the World.

Peter Harrison makes no mention of there being any difference between them in his fine tome

SEABIRDS

an Identification Guide

published in 1983 since when it has been like a Bible to me.

Nothing is known either about who finally did the study to prove that the 

Band-tailed Gull

is in fact 2 seperate and distinguisable Species but sure has to be down to messrs

BELCHER'S GULL

and

OLROG'S GULL

I wouldn't want to be the one to distiguish between the 2 were they stood side by side

but fine, fine Birds they are!

At that time there were still about 10 other species of Gull in the World not yet seen,

but since that has been 'put to bed'.
We'll catch up with the weekend in days to come!

It's Only a 'Hobby' - Don't Take It Too Seriously

Only 3 speicies of Birds today, but maybe a chance to look into their 

Private Lives!

 In the first instance a

 MEGA RARITY

in these trying times as a Jet Airliner crossed the early morning sky.

What might very well be joining it in the none to distant future is the 

LAPWING 

which was once a prolific breeder here but like so many other places seemingly no longer.

 We don't search purposefully for nests, keeping very much to the beaten track,

 but do every so often come across one.

 This pair are 2 of only 6 of the species we have recorded so far this year,

whereas in days gone by it has been difficult to keep a tally as so numerous!

 In the short grass and gravel tracks across the

Solar Panel Compound

nesting sites were easy to spot but the birds just are not here this year.

They are not alone in this as the likes of Sand Martin and Little Ringed Plover,

and even though our glass is always 'half full' (but not for long), we have just about given up

on the former as usually the first migrant to return.

 It may have been noticed in the picture above that there are c2 hatched juveniles, one still emerging along with 2 eggs that are about to crack.

If these are all of the same clutch / brood it is unusual as Waders in general build a crud nest on the ground laying just 4 eggs which are usually possitioned pointed ends inward.

 The images were taken across a number of days from a distance that would not

disturb the birds until this

 CHICK

was found fallen into a hole in the ground and worth saving.

Kids, who'd have 'em  not like me when growing up so angelic!

 So we leave the parents to nurture the youngsters in the hope that it is they 

who return next year to procreate........

 LITTLE OWL

 may also be a lost breeding status across the Recording Area but

difficult to say categorically, this was once their nest hole.

 We have heard them singing a couple of times but only seen the once this year,

so let's hope these often secretive beauties are at it again?

 However, one nest we are very unlikely to see is that of the

HOBBY

Always with our 'eye to the sky' at this time of year this small, enigmatic bird of prey is

Hit and Miss

during any return.

Yesterday's find was, as can be seen, at great distance with the highest priority being
to video a species never committed film before. Additionally, we only held a few silhouette
shot, which have now been consigned to the 
Great Delete Bin in the Sky!

We did make a nervous attempt at edgeing a little closer but as it strated

fidgeting we cut our losses and stayed put.

Going throught just about every function

during the full 45 minutes

it was on view

 it will surely go down as on of the

Magic Bird Moments

 of the year!

They don't come that often

so best enjoyed to the full when they do.

Here's hopeing yours comes sooner rather than later!

Trivia:-

It would seem that birdwatcher and inventor Peter Adolph of Royal Tumbridge Wells
had no qualms when patenting his Table Football game back in 1946. 

 Hoping for great success with his newly invented hobby he decided to name it in 
honour of one of his favourite birds - fittingly the Hobby!
So what better name than

SUBBUTEO
which is taken from the Latin name of that bird
Falco Subbuteo

If I Had a Hammer - Peter, Paul and Mary

Another reasonably fine day with a rainless

(for us)

 FRONT

chugging up the

English Channel

 while the only New Moth was a

 RUSTIC SHOULDER-KNOT

Little (nothing) to capture our attention at any of the Ponds

we headed directly for the Heath, where again it was quiet but nt without its moments!

 Our favourite of the Rare Breeds Cattle 

the brown and white 

SHETLAND

was waiting for me at the gate as a

 COMMON CARDER BEE

 was as busy as one.

We make no appology for more

 WOODLARK

 images as they will all to soon be gone,

 so once they grace the viewfinder its

Click, Click, Click

 An inordinate number of

 BROWN-LIPPED SNAILs

today showing themselves for the first time this year

 while close by there was only the second Reptile for 2020 another

SLOW WORM

Even the

 EWES

are now in Summer Plumage as this years Lambs will not be cropped until next spring,

but then at the Airport Fence

 the easily recognisable song of a

 LESSER WHITETHROAT

 but in what was considered a strage place.

 A contribution from Jim the Medic in Beveley, Yorks but don't know where he got this one from.

Bournemouth International Airport

a little more crowded that Weymoth Bay.

That's when we thought we heard a second Lesser Throat, but adjusting the

Sensory Organs change our mind in favour of

 YELLOWHAMMER

 A most welcome species here these days  as gone are the times

when they bred in what might be considered 'flock' proportions.

Since our residence began in 2013 this is only the 3rd record putting this

smart little songster squarely in catagory of

RARE!

It also brought up the 100th species for 2020 across our Recording Area!