May
6th,
2018
Hot
and sunny with cloud build up once more in the afternoon.
Jonathan
and Moises join me for a birding walk in the Eucalyptus and crop
fields east of the village. We walk slowly together and stop for any
bird. Two Golden-billed Saltators respond positively to pishing.
Jonathan has never seen this before and tries his hand at making the
silly noises necessary. A lesson learned, I am sure he will become a
pishing champion as he is keen to attract birds closer to his
expensive Canon camera.
Together
we come across a ruined mill. It used to supply the village with
electricity but was closed down as there was no profit in it for the
larger electricity company in the area. The machinery is all there
but the mill streams are dry.
Walking
along what used to be the main road to Juanza, with very tall
Eucalyptus trees shading us from the strong Sun, I count every bird,
intending to place the bird list on eBird when I can. As usual
Rufous-collared Sparrow dominate the list but there are also good
numbers of Chiguanca Thrushes and Sparkling Violetears. Eared Doves
are common.
Past
a large ruined house, Moises tells me that it belonged to a German
family that escaped from Deutschland just as World war 2 finished.
Called the Richter family, I wonder what the history is here. Their
house and land is all smashed now with signs of river inundation from
flooding.
Down
to the nearby river, a large fast-flowing expanse with a wide flood
plain of stones and boulders, there is a foot suspension bridge that
rocks as one traverses it. Two men are fishing on the other side
using short poles and fixed monofilament line.
Walking
south along the riverside there are a number of Turkey Vultures and
American Kestrels. A small pool created where some gravel has been
removed has just a single Moorhen amongst the short reeds growing
there. Andean Flickers are vocal and easily seen.
Back
through the fields, workers are bent double tending crops and their
children play, climbing trees and chasing each other. I give one
young boy my tiny Llama enamelled figurine and some money for his
mother.
Once
in the village once more, Moises tells me about the stories of each
of the personalities of the statues in the village square. Most are
heroes from the war against Chile.
Back
at the hostel in the afternoon I relax, listen to music and clean the
bike. The back wheel is slightly buckled and I try to straighten it
as well as I can. I am lucky that the bull attack only buckled it a
small amount.
Green
Year list : 185 birds average new birds to list per day : 5.14 birds
Distance
walked : 3.94 miles
elevation
: up 94 feet, down 94 feet
altitude
: 11,004 feet
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