Designed by Paul Smith 2006. This website is copyrighted by law.
Material contained herewith may not be used without the prior written permission of FAUNA Paraguay.
Photographs on this web-site were taken by Paul Smith, Hemme Batjes, Regis Nossent,
Alberto Esquivel, Arne Lesterhuis, Rebecca Zarza, José Luis Cartes and Hugo del Castillo and are used with their permission.
RAMSAR site and Important Bird Area, the Bahía de Asunción is a vital stopover for migrant waterbirds during the southbound migration. During winter it also receives an influx of southern migrants, including numerous species of ducks and grebes. Despite being just a stonesthrow from the city centre some 260 species have been recorded here. "The bay" provides easy birding with a mixture of aquatic and wetland birds and 100 species possible in a single morning at peak times of year - all against the dramatic backdrop of the City of Asunción waterfront.
HALF-DAY BAHÍA DE ASUNCIÓN
Best time to visit is from September through to December when a constant stream of Nearctic migrant waders means that the Bay is frequently overflowing with waterbirds. The Bahía is of particular importance for the Near Threatened Buff-breasted Sandpiper which is easy to see here, but a host of other waders are present including Stilt Sandpiper, Lesser and Greater Yellowlegs, White-rumped, Baird´s and Pectoral Sandpipers, American Golden and Collared Plovers, Hudsonian Godwit, White-backed Stilt, Wattled Jacana and Wilson´s Phalarope. There are always surprises too, with species such as Ruddy Turnstone, Red Knot and Semipalmated Sandpiper occasionally showing their faces, despite only a handful of records from the interior of South America.
But its not just waders that make a visit to the Bahía worthwhile. Potential raptors include Snail Kite, White-tailed Kite, Osprey, Southern Crested-Caracara and Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture, whilst there are usually ducks around such as Brazilian Duck, Ringed and Silver Teal, Rosybill and if you are very lucky Red Shoveler or Comb Duck. Flocks of White-winged Coot, usually with White-tufted and Silvery Grebe in amongst them amass in winter. Large-billed and Yellow-billed Terns are always loafing on sandbanks with Neotropical Cormorants and charismatic Black Skimmers. Herons are well-represented too with numerous egrets, Cocoi Heron and Black-crowned Night-Heron amongst the most frequently seen.
Away from the water there is plenty to see. The reedbeds harbour Scarlet-headed, Unicoloured and Chestnut-capped Blackbirds, whilst South American Painted-Snipe, South American Snipe and Grey-breasted Rail are sometimes flushed. Giant Wood-Rail is a bolder reedbed inhabitant that frequently ventures out into the open. Smaller reed birds include Crested and Warbling Doraditos, Bay-capped Wren-Spinetail (in winter), Pale-breasted Spinetail and Greater Thornbird, whilst flocks of seedeaters habitually include Double-collared, White-bellied and Rusty-collared amongst others. A large number of Tyrant-flycatchers are also visible, you might expect to see Grey and White Monjita, Spectacled Tyrant, Cattle Tyrant, Great Kiskadee, Tropical Kingbird and the handsome Fork-tailed Flycatcher. Other notable species that are often encountered include Saffron and Red-crested Finch, Striped Cuckoo, Yellowish Pipit, Masked Gnatcatcher, Barred Antshrike, Nacunda Nighthawk and various Hirundines such as White-rumped Swallow.
WHAT DOES IT COST?
The cost includes pick up and return to hotel, transport to the bay and guiding fees. This is a half-day trip and does not include lunch:
Price: 35 EUROS per person per day
This trip can be combined with an afternoon visit to the Jardín Botánico for a special reduced price of 65 EUROS per person per day not including lunch or 75 EUROS per person per day including a restaurant lunch.
