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Monday 28 October 2013

Brazilian Migratory Bird Festival... and two new birds!

We have had a very successful time here in southern Brazil. The weather has been variable to say the least, from torrential downpours and storms to clear blue skies.

It was on a wet first morning that we got our first new bird South American Snipe. We were trying to get to Lagoa dos Patos when we came across two birds sitting in a field by the road. We never got to the Lagoa as the road was impassable for our little car, but we were happy to see our new bird.
South American Snipe Gallinago paraguaiae: Tavares, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
The next morning dawned bright and sunny and we were taken by Batista, our host at the Hotel Parque da Lagoa, in his Landrover in which he runs trips onto the marshes and beaches with his company Lagoas Expedições e Turismo. In this vehicle we were able to reach places we couldn't go in our own car.
Landrovers go where other vehicles fear to tread!

The crew that morning: Sylvia and Daniel from Paraty, Me and Elis, Guto of Avistar and Batista.
 Several wader species were seen in the marshy water-logged grasslands.
Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes: Tavares, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

Buff-breasted Sandpiper Tryngites subruficollis: Tavares, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

American Golden Plover Pluvialis dominica: Although this photo was taken on the beach the vast majority of them were in the wet meadows, Tavares, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
 On the beach itself we found yet more species.
Red Knot Calidris canutus (Sanderling Calidris alba in front): Tavares, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

Sanderling Calidris alba: Tavares, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

White-rumped Sandpiper: Calidris fuscicollis: Tavares, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

Greater Yellowlegs Tringa melanoleuca: Tavares, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

Guto and me watching White-rumped Sandpipers: Tavares, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
 There was a film crew from SBT TV there at the time of our visit and we gave a short interview about our project.
Facing the cameras, nerve wracking, especially in a foreign language!

On the return we stopped again in a marshy area along the Talhar Mar trail and here after a good deal of searching and soggy feet, Batista found a South American Painted-Snipe for us. At first we only saw it in flight...
South American Painted-Snipe Nycticryphes semicollaris: Tavares, Rio Grande do Sul,  Brazil.

but with patience and a bit of stealthy stalking we got one on the deck!
South American Painted-Snipe Nycticryphes semicollaris: Tavares, Rio Grande do Sul,  Brazil.

Me celebrating the painted-snipe with Batista (left) and Guto.

In the evening we gave our talk to a pleasingly packed hall.
The talk in progress.

It seemed to be well received; we were very pleased to have the opportunity to talk to people at such an interesting event that combines the arrival of the migratory birds with local cultural themes.

Local culture featured heavily in the festival.

2 comments:

  1. Thanks a lot for your notes, Rick, e obrigada, Elis!! Parabéns pelas foots! Foi ótimo estar com vocês!

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  2. Thanks Sylvia, it was good to see you again and have the chance to talk to so many people about what we are doing and why. Good luck with your project!
    Cheers.
    Rick and Elis.

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