Thursday, October 21, 2010

BIRDING URUGUAY

TO: debi@shearwaterjourneys.com

FROM: Debi Shearwater Cabin 602
SUBJECT: BIRDING URUGUAY

16 & 17 OCTOBER 2010

Howdy, Birders,

We spent the next two days birding along the coast of Uruguay as far
north as Chuy on the border of Brazil. Sunny skies prevailed. We visited
Laguna Rocha and Laguna Negra. One night we spent in Rocha. The next in
Minas, a small town which was a gold mining town about 100 years ago.
Both were enjoyable. Traveling on many secondary, hard gravel roads was
easy. At various patches of habitat, we stopped to look at birds. The
single best place was Mirador de Aves on Hwy 14 between La Coronilla and
Hwy 16 at Laguna Blanca. Some spectacular species included: GREATER
RHEA, SOUTHERN SCREAMER, SPOTTED NOTHURA, WHISTLING HERON, PINNATED
BITTERN, MAGUARI STORK, BRAZILIAN TEAL, ROSY-BILLED POCHARD, APLOMADO
FALCON, SNAIL KITE, GIANT WOOD RAIL, SPIX'S SPINETAIL, FIREWOOD
GATHERER, SCIMITAR-BILLED WOODCREEPER, WHITE, BLACK & WHITE & GRAY
MONJITAS; CHALK-BROWED MOCKINGBIRD, RUFOUS-BROWED PEPPERSHRIKE,
CHESTNUT-BACKED & DIADEMED TANAGERS; RED-CRESTED CARDINAL, ULTRAMARINE
GROSBEAK, GREAT PAMPA FINCH, RED-RUMPED & BLACK & RUFOUS WARBLING
FINCHES; YELLOW-RUMPED & BROWN & YELLOW MARSHBIRDS; SCARLET-HEADED &
YELLOW-WINGED BLACKBIRDS.

From Minas, we drove through some of interior countryside backroads,
ending in Montevideo about 11 am. We reached the port and found our way
to our new home, Plancius.

Happy trails,
Debi Shearwater

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