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.
SHORT BREAK SAN RAFAEL
The Area Designated for San Rafael National Park is the largest remaining block of Atlantic Forest in Paraguay and counts on a substantial area of Mesopotamian Flooded Grasslands. With some 410 species of birds recorded from the reserve this is one of Paraguay´s biodiversity hotspots and there is enormous potential for building a large and varied ticklist. We will be birding the Pro Cosara/ECOSARA estate with an optional extra to visit the grasslands at Estancia Kanguery. Expect 150-180 species during a three-day visit given good viewing conditions and at peak times of year.
As soon as we arrive at our accommodation you will start seeing birds. The fruit trees in the orchard around the cabins attract Reddish-bellied Parakeets, Chestnut-eared Aracari, Surucua Trogon, Saffron Toucanet, Plush-crested Jay, Grey-fronted Dove and hordes of tanagers, notably Magpie, Ruby-crowned and Sayaca. We´ll spend most of our time walking the numerous forest trails and seeking out their greatly diverse inhabitants. As we walk we may spook Tataupa and Brown Tinamous feeding on the paths, whilst Short-tailed Antthrush, White-shouldered Fire-eye, Spot-winged Wood-Quail and Slaty-breasted Wood-Rail walk quietly through the undergrowth. Stands of Chusquea bamboo have their own particular avifauna, here we will look for Dusky-tailed Antbird, Chestnut-headed Tanager, Blackish-blue Seedeater, Ochre-faced Tody-Flycatcher, Yellow Tyrannulet and Rufous-capped and Grey-bellied Spinetail amongst others. Our attention may be distracted by the impressive Robust Woodpecker hammering away at a trunk, one of many species in this charismatic family that we might expect to see - others including Blond-crested, Helmeted, Lineated, White-spotted, Yellow-fronted etc and the diminutive Ochre-collared Piculet. Woodcreepers are well represented too, look out for Planalto, White-throated, Scaled and Olivaceous. Up in the canopy is where you´ll find some of the most beautiful forest inhabitants, Chestnut-bellied, Violaceous and Purple-throated Euphonias mixing with Blue-naped Chlorophonia, Blue Dacnis, Tropical Parula, Hooded Tanager, Swallow-Tanager and less colourful but equally conspicuous species such as Eastern Sirystes, Buff-fronted, Black-capped and Ochre-breasted Foliage-gleaners, the near threatened Creamy-bellied Gnatcatcher and Wing-barred Piprites. In the dense forest undergrowth a whole different community of birds is present, species like Drab-breasted Bamboo-Tyrant, White-browed Warbler, Large-tailed, Variable and Tufted Antshrike, White-eyed Foliage-gleaner, Sepia-capped Flycatcher, Black-goggled Tanager - the list goes on and on. We´ll keep a special eye out for stunning but secretive forest species such as Black-throated Trogon, Rufous-capped Motmot and Spot-billed Toucanet, and then of course there is the lake with its own particular fauna where Rufescent Tiger-Heron, Blackish and Plumbeous Rail, Pied-billed Grebe, Brazilian Duck and other aquatic species are often seen. There´s a resident herd of Capybara here too, and other mammals that are often encountered include White-eared Opossum, Azara´s Agouti, Crab-eating Fox, Crab-eating Raccoon and Cavy. Puma and Jaguar are also present, though you´ll need a certain element of luck to see them! After dark Tropical Screech-Owl, Pauraque, Rufous and Silky-tailed Nightjar, Ocellated Poorwill, Tawny-browed and Rusty-barred Owl are among the species that emerge. Armed with a powerful spotlight we´ll be hot on their trail!
An optional visit to the grasslands at Estancia Kanguery will add a series of grassland birds to our list. Specialities include Giant Snipe, Cock-tailed Tyrant, Lesser Grassfinch, Marsh Seedeater, Sedge Wren, Sharp-tailed Grass-Tyrant, Saffron-cowled Blackbird and other open-country species such as Yellow-rumped Marshbird, Chimango Caracara, White-tailed Goldenthroat, Red-winged Tinamou, Toco Toucan and Capped Seedeater.
WHAT DOES IT COST?
The price includes bus from Encarnación to the town of Ynambú, transfer in 4x4 to the reserve, accommodation, food, non-alcoholic drinks and guiding fees.
This is a minimum three-day trip for a minimum of 2 people:
Price: 255 EUROS per person for a minimum of 3 days each additional day 80 EUROS per person
Add $35 EUROS for an opitional visit to Estancia Kanguery grasslands
