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!