I
do so hope that you will follow my adventures. You can do so via
this blog and also by my Biking Birder Facebook page and Twitter
feed.
or
via my personal Facebook page :
I
am trying to raise money for two charities and obviously I would love
you to donate to them.
Birdlife
International
Chaskwasi-Manu
Children's Project
OK!
The adventure starts on Sunday next at Los Pantanos de Villa nature
reserve, south of Lima, Peru. After the day spent there birding with
friends, the adventure of my lifetime is ahead; six months of
cycling, packrafting and birding. Six months to experience oceanic
coastline, desert, mountains and rainforest. Six months to try and
see more than 618 bird species, the incredible Green Birding list
that is the current World Green Birding Year list record held by
Dorian Anderson of the USA.
27th
March 2018 – Miraflores, Lima, Peru
Up
early for here, late for the UK and out, after unpacking the bike and
putting it together. A walk down to Parque Kennedy to sit and watch
as birds came into the trees, avoiding the many cats to be found
here. Tropical Kingbirds, Long-tailed Mockingbirds, Red-faced
Parakeets and West Peruvian Doves with more colour to be found on the
superb Vermilion Flycatcher and an Amazilian Hummingbird. Good
numbers of Southern Beardless Tyrannulets are in amongst the dense
foliage. Lots of Shiny Cowbirds are on the grass, some allowing one
to walk right by them.
To
the beach and more surfers out amongst the breakers than I had seen
here before, more sunbathers on the pebbles too. Lots of plastic on
the pebbles and after watching the numerous Rainbow Crabs on the
rocks, I empty a large carrier bag of my banana sandwiches and set to
clearing as much as I can from a section of the beach.
Two carrier
bags full I take to a bin with larger pieces of plastic placed in the
bin too, I return to the cleared spot to find more has already been
deposited by the waves! How much plastic is out there?
Other
than a small number of Franklin's Gulls on telegraph wires, far fewer
than I have seen here previously, and a few Inca Terns on the pier
stanchions, there are few birds close in shore. About a half mile out
to sea though a very large flock of Peruvian Boobies and Pelicans and
both Guanay and Neotropic Cormorants are actively fishing, following
what must be a huge shoal of fish. The flock remains vibrant, diving
in by their hundreds for half an hour or so and come closer to the
end of a rocky jetty. Slowly the action fades and birds drift off.
It
is hot, 28 degrees Celsius and I walk back to San Isidro via a
supermarket where the lack of plastic wrapping on the superb fruit
and veg is evident. How sad that this will change over the coming
years. As if we need more plastic!
Love to you all, Gary.
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