Random Walks Around Lima

A few of the birds to be found when walking around the parks of Lima :)

Black-crowned Night Heron

^^ Nycticorax nycticorax High in a tree, probably cursing humans for being around when fish were swimming nearby...

Vermilion Flycatcher (female)

^^ Pyrocephalus rubinus We still see a female in the garden most days, but she's more camera-shy than those found in the parks.

Sooty morph Vermilion Flycatcher

^^ Possibly the cutest flycatcher in Lima!

Blue-black Grassquit

^^ Volatinia jacarina Usually seen jumping about 1-2 feet in the air along with a short, loud call. Always nice to see atop a post or wall :)

Pacific Parrotlet (male)

^^ Forpus coelestis Saw two couples of these searching for food, unfortunately the female pics didn't come out very well. Maybe I'd have got the shot if locals walking their dogs hadn't unwittingly scared them off!

Where would a walk here be without one of these..?

Amazilia Hummingbird

^^ Amazilia amazilia Hummingbirds are head-turners every time for me, especially when they have their little territorial spats and chase each other in acrobatic madness!

Two Birds, One Future...

Something is going to happen soon...

Thanks to our cousin Malú for the great drawing!!

I've been doing some research into this marriage thing. Apparently, a man is incomplete until he is married - then he's really finished...

Just kidding Mel ;)

Punk Attitude

Southern Beardless-Tyrannulet (Camptostoma obsoletum).

A personal favourite, this little one (about 9.5-10 cm). Never been there when we looked for them, but this April we came across them many times - great!

NSFW... (Not Safe For Work)

Warning - This post may contain nudity and sexuality and is intended for 'mature' persons only. It must not be accessed by anyone that does not possess a sense of humour ;)

Relax and let it all hang out...

Have some 'play-time'...

Invite a friend..?

Pick a number, any number...

Your captions too please :)

Parque Zoológico Huachipa

Mono Capuchino?

Mel and I visited Huachipa Zoo almost two weeks ago now, but as Mel was on vacations last week, I didn't post anything from the day until now.

Although we had a great day, certain aspects of the place leave you a little sad. Many of the enclosures - cages - are not adequate for their inhabitants. I don't know the cause of what you see in the following photo, but whether a result of living in captivity or not, it's not nice to see...

Black-mandibled Toucan

However, what a zoo always offers someone like me, is the opportunity to practice some photography!

"You talkin' to me?"
Red-capped Cardinal

The two shots above were taken through cages.

Military Macaw

The highlight of the place has to be "Bosque de las aves" (Forest of the birds), a huge enclosed area to view 20 or more species (according to park signs, which were not clear in saying which were which though...). It has a tower in the middle to view from, and a small waterfall to walk behind.

Some pics from inside here:

Majestic...erm...beauty
King Vulture

I think this is a Spix's Guan,
looks like Crested Guan too though

Surprised to see this here!
Black Swan

I can't find what the next one is, annoying as it looks so familiar. Also, lower mandible is larger than upper??

Give me a name please!

Standard Reading??

After having 'THAT' happen to me twice last year, I'm beginning to think so...

Seen in a town near you!

It's not new, but the old ones are the best!

Fotos de La Arenilla

Day trip write-up and birding list to be found on Mel's post. Yes, I'm being lazy...

Franklin's Gull (Larus pipixcan)

Eared Dove (Zenaida auriculata)

Peruvian Pelican (Pelecanus thagus)

"Aah... that's better..."
Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius)

Plover-pirouettes wowed the judges.
Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus)

I'm not going to pretend I have any idea about what these next two are (species I mean - yes I know there's a butterfly and a crab...). Answers on a postcard please...

Exhibit 'A'

Exhibit 'B'

Pachacamac

I went to Pachacamac with Mel's mother and two aunts that were visiting from Argentina. The earliest parts of this archaeological site are believed to hail from between 1400 and 1800 years ago. The main construction followed with the Huari culture, and post-Huari it became a place of religious significance before becoming incorporated into the Incan Empire.

The highest point of the site,
with vast areas still to be discovered...

Unfortunately, lack of funding means that most of the site remains under sand, and it doesn't look as though that will change any time soon...

With some funding, this could be one
of Lima's greatest attractions

With the area being mostly desert, wildlife was minimal. At the entrance to the site they keep a llama. It seems this one didn't want to pose for a photo, so to save you from looking at said llama's rear-end, I found a 'gorgeous' canine instead - this is the breed that was offered to Barack Obama because of his dog allergies. I give you the Peruvian Hairless Dog...

Perro peruano sin pelo, ranked in the top five
in Tommy's Ugliest Dog Breeds '09

Hopefully that didn't put off anyone from visiting Lima... Just in case, here's the only birds I saw at Pachacamac...

Croaking Ground-Dove (Columbina cruziana)

Long-tailed Mockingbird (Mimus longicaudatus)

Time to go. Don't have nightmares about ugly dogs - I mean, it's not as if I posted this one!

Not Moving So Fast Now...

The last time I was here, there was one bird that tortmented me endlessly, darting and diving day after day around 'La Laguna' (the local lake). These Blue-and-White Swallows (Pygochelidon cyanoleuca) moved so fast I found it almost impossible to focus with my eyes, never mind about with a camera!

So, within a week of returning to these shores, I was extremely pleased to find around 20 of them sat on a wire right outside the front door! Obviously, I raced back to get the camera and took a few shots...

Adult

A spot of grooming...

Juveniles?

I've now made it my [impossible?] mission to get some in flight - wish me luck!

Tommy

Tommy's Back!

I have returned to Sudamérica once more! (With a new address for the blog too...)

And what better way to announce my return than with a Vermilion Flycatcher (Pyrocephalus rubinus)?? Here's a beautiful female sat out the front of the house :)


Got to go, time to turn everything off for Earth Hour :)

Tommy