The children from
Hunab Mexico arrived yesterday evening for a five day stay at Laguna Blanca
where they would take part in Para La Tierra outreach programme engaging with
the local children during Eco cine and the Eco Club activities. Pablo a group
member is a keen ornithologist and naturalist with an incredible mind for
information. Paul Smith and his son Sean arrived for a holiday on the reserve.
With spring migration entering a key period there was plenty of opportunity to
connect with passing migrants or birds just taking advantage of the conditions
to move to more favourable feeding grounds.
A group of
Grey-breasted Martins were hawking insects from the roof of the boathouse.
Snowy and Great White Egret were also present on the lagoon. They were to be
joined later by more of each species a small indication that there was movement
in the area.
At 0735hrs a flock
of birds appeared from the S heading directly N over the lagoon. My first
thought was these aren’t cormorants OMG Ibis!! I fired off a few pictures to
secure the moment also realizing that the legs of the bird did not extend
beyond the tail and there was a small patch of red behind the bill.
A look at
the pictures later with Paul confirmed Bare faced Ibis a first record for the
reserve!! Five birds were seen later in the morning by Paul.
There was time for a
quick celebration and breakfast with our new arrivals, then out again for a
walk around the lagoon. A Plumbeous Kite was seen thermalling over the S corner
of the lagoon.
The group was making
its way towards the Seasonal Pond so I went on ahead to set up my telescope so
that the children could have a good view of the birds on the pond. As I was
setting up I saw an Anhinga in the corner of my eye flying across the pond.
This bird was the second record for the reserve.
The Masked Duck were
still present along with Least Grebe, Common Gallinule and Brazilian Teal. The
next couple of weeks will be interesting!! Woo Hoo!
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