FEBRUARY 15th
Today was a trip into Santa Rosa with Helen. Becky and I required a Paraguayan driving
licence to drive the site vehicle. This is a simple and I thought efficient
process which involved a blood test. This enables your blood group to be shown
on the licence in the case of emergency! The journey from Laguna Blanca is on a
dirt road which plenty of potholes and puddles which makes the relatively short
journey a long bumpy ride.
There were birding opportunities along the way with American
Kestrel utilised the wires lining the road, Picui Doves were also present. At
one of the bridges there is an expanse of marshland where a group of White
Woodpeckers and Yellow-rumped Marshbird were observed in flight.
After lunch in Santa Rosa a few supplies were gathered then
it was back to base. I had completed my induction period and had been “Let
loose!” in Jo’s words which meant I could go out onto the site on my own. There
are controls in place which involve booking out and giving a time of
return, carrying a GPS and a local mobile phone so that contact with the base
can be made if disaster strikes!
There was about an hours light left, it was off to check
the Lagoon. I stopped to talk to Jo at the Beach and three White-backed Stilts
interrupted our conversation and were observed flying low and off N. This
species was a Paraguayan tick for me.
I have already made a mental note to regularly check the
Lagoon and it is paying off having noted Barn Swallow flying W at dawn.
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