FAUNA PARAGUAY 10 DAY BIRDING AND WILDLIFE TOUR WITH PAUL SMITH

DAY 1 Asuncion Botanical Gardens
After arrival we provide you with a gentle introduction to Paraguayan birding at the Botanical gardens, actually a huge park that was once the estate of the ruling Lopez family. We may expect such species as Red-crested Cardinal, Green-barred Woodpecker, Chalk-browed Mockingbird, Thrush-like Wren and White-barred Piculet amongst many others. If the summer migrants are in town expect also species such as Tropical Kingbird and Crowned Slaty-flycatcher.
Cultural option - Historic tour of Asunción ($20 extra).

DAY 2 Asuncion Bay and Arroyos and Esteros
Just outside the capital city this site is of international importance for waterbirds (especially migrants). In addition to the ducks, coots, herons and waders likely to be in attendance we will be looking for smaller birds such as Crested Doradito, Masked Yellowthroat, Greater Thornbird, Chestnut-capped Blackbird and Grey-breasted Crake amongst the marsh vegetation. After lunch we will be leaving the capital heading for our next destination with a stop at Arroyos and Esteros on the way. This is a reliable site for the remarkable Strange-tailed Tyrant and other big ticks such as Long-tailed Reedfinch. Expect also more widespread marshbirds such as Snail Kite, ibises and Limpkin, and a large number of reptiles (especially snakes!) and amphibians.

The 10-day expert-led birdwatching, wildlife and nature tour with Paul Smith and Hugo del Castillo is designed to catch up with the maximum number of species in the shortest space of time. We have ensured that time on the road is broken up with opportunities to see animals en route and time in the vehicle has been minimised so that we spend more time looking for animals in the field. This tour is ideal for a brief visit from neighbouring Brazil or Argentina, whilst it also gives you the opportunity to clean up on some of Paraguay´s most sought-after species.

DAY 3-4 Laguna Blanca
One of the top cerrado sites on earth with a total of 10 threatened and 4 near threatened species recorded on a regular basis here. Though there is some degraded humid forest here we will be birding the cerrado looking for globally-threatened species such as Black-masked Finch, Sharp-tailed and Cock-tailed Tyrant, White-banded Tanager and Bearded Tachuri. The two big ticks are the Lesser Nothura (only known site outside of Brazil) and the endangered White-winged Nightjar (one of only 3 regular sites on earth for this species). Other grassland specialities include White-rumped Tanager, Curl-crested Jay, Black-throated Saltator, Greater Rhea, Plumbeous Seedeater and White-rumped Monjita. Night birding is spectacular too, with seven species of Caprimulgid possible. Maned Wolf is here but you will need a lot of luck to see it, Crab-eating Fox, Brazilian Cottontail, Red Brocket Deer and various armadillos are more likely mammal-wise.
Cultural option - Swimming in the crystal-clear waters of the lagoon - not exactly cultural but very relaxing nonetheless!

DAY 5-6 Mbaracayú Reserve
One of the most important Atlantic Forest sites in Paraguay with over 400 species on the list, there is also a large and healthy area of cerrado. Pretty much anything is possible in the forest here including such gorgeous Atlantic Forest endemics as Yellow-fronted Woodpecker, Red-breasted Toucan, Rufous-capped Motmot and Helmeted Woodpecker. We will also spend some time out in the cerrado looking to add a few more grassland species to our list, as well as another chance to see the White-winged Nightjar. Night drives for mammals may find Paca, Azara´s Agouti, Crab-eating Fox and even Maned Wolf, Jaguar and Puma.

DAY 7-9 The Chaco
We will proceed up through the Low Chaco (Bajo Chaco), a haven for waterbirds, birding the marshes and ponds along the way. Typical species of the flooded palm savanna here include Black-masked Parakeet, Southern Screamer, Jabiru, Maguari Stork, Plumbeous Ibis, Great Black and Black-collared Hawks. Marshier areas attract Scarlet-headed Blackbird, Donacobius and if we are very lucky the extremely rare Dinelli´s Doradito. In the drier High Chaco (Alto Chaco) our main targets are the 18 Chaco endemics including Many-coloured Chacofinch, Black-capped Warbling Finch, Chaco Chachalaca and Brushland Tinamou amongst others. Of these the most sought after, and hence the most difficult are the Big 5 - Spot-winged Falconet, Chaco Owl, Black-legged Seriema, Quebracho Crested-tinamou and Black-bodied Woodpecker. The salt lagoons of the Central Chaco IBA area attract flocks of migrant waders and ducks at certain times of year, but at other times the birding is still spectacular offering up the chance of species such as Coscoroba Swan, Rosybill and Chilean Flamingo. The Chaco is also one of the best places on the continent for large mammals which we will be staking out on night-drives, including the Chaco Peccary, Puma, Jaguar, Lowland Tapir and Giant Anteater.
Cultural option - Visit to the Chaco War trenches ($25), Project Tagua - the Chaco Peccary Breeding Project ($25)

DAY 10 Return to Asuncion birding the highway through the Low Chaco again to pick up any species we may have missed!

What does it cost?
Tours are priced per person and the more people there are in a group the lower the individual cost. This is because there are certain "fixed costs" involved in running tours, namely the cost of vehicle maintenance (the vehicles receives a lot of punishment on the unpaved roads of the Chaco!), entrance fees to reserves and guiding fees. Prices are all inclusive (including accommodation, food and beverages etc) and the price you pay depends on how ambitious you want your tour to be, we can fly you into the Pantanal, take a boat cruise along the River Paraguay or on safari in the Chaco. Let us know what your aims and objectives are and we will come up with a series of tour suggestions that will guarantee you a trip to remember!

Prices for the standard tour shown above are:
1 person = 226 EUROS per day per person.
2 people = 141 EUROS per day per person.
3 people = 128 EUROS per day per person.
4 people = 170 EUROS per day per person (the price rises again because we need two vehicles!) etc.

Prices for "personalised" tours vary from those quoted above (they are not necessarily more expensive!). Tours that do not include a visit to the Chaco are more economical.

How do I book my tour?
You can book your tour or ask any questions by contacting us at faunaparaguay@yahoo.com.ar