La Joya in the middle of the desert

Midway between the city of Arequipa and the coast, you can find an artificial Lagoon. The Lagoon has developed slowly the past ten year because of an agricultural project in this desert plain at 1200 meters. You can find many ducks, flamingos and shorebirds here. However, most birds are only migrants. We visited the Lagoon 04 of July 2013 and we found several birds breeding in North America, Altiplano and one Austral migrant. Killdeer is probably one of few resident birds breeding along the shores of this Lagoon, but other birds like Vermillion Flycatcher and Least Seedsnipe breeds in the nearby agricultural fields. Here are some of the birds seen in the Lagoon.

 White-cheeked Pintail

 Cinnamon Teal and White-cheeked Pintail

 Puna Flamingo, present at surprisingly many sites including La Joya (this photo) and Ite (earlier post)

 Greater Yellowlegs, North-American migrant still present in the area

 Greater Yellowlegs

 Andean Swift

 Killdeer

Dragonfly (below), unknown species, any suggestions?

Andean Gull

Lomas de Arena, Santa Cruz

Lomas de arena
White-tailed Hawk
Southern Crested Caracara
Roseate Spoonbill
Ringed Teal (highest) & two Brazilian Ducks.

This area lies quite close to Santa Cruz. However, it takes some time to get there. Sometimes you need a four-wheel drive the last 3 or 4 kilometers, but off course you will see more birds walking through the forest the last kilometers before coming to the dunes and lagoons.

Along the road to Sandia 28 of May.

28 of May I headed towards Sandia together with some friends, our goal was San Juan del Oro. I was the only birdwatcher, but we had some stops that I used to watch birds. Along the road from Juliaca to Sandia you have to climb up to 4600 m, it means that you can see some highland species on your way.
Ornate Tinamou
La Rinconada area

White-winged Diuca Finch

Looking for gold.

Crested Duck

Moho area 02-03.04.2009

Andean Lapwing

Puna Teal
Yellow-billed Pintail
Peruvian Sierra-Finch

Pectoral Sandpiper

Laguna Koriauata, Juliaca 19.12.08

Yesterday I visited Laguna Koriauata, salida Cusco here in Juliaca together with Finn Jørensen. As usual we saw Titicaca Grebe (20+). Other interesting observations: Silvery Grebe (16, two nests) & Chilean Flamingo (50+)
Lesser Yellowlegs, 20+ present.
Puna Teal, at least 150 seen in the lagoon.

Titicaca Grebe

Titicaca Grebe

Laguna Koriauata, Salida Cusco, Juliaca (2)

The moon was already shining bright when I took my last photos of the Titicaca Grebes yesterday. Here are some of the results.
Titicaca Grebe & Andean Duck
Titicaca Grebe
Titicaca Grebe
Andean Duck & Titicaca Grebe

I've had enough of you!

We visited Puno today, and here are som pictures from Titicaca. A couple of Andean Ducks seemed to have some problems in their relationship; I hope they resolve their problems soon. By the way, it's the male who's on the run
Yellow-winged Blackbirds (male & female) & Puna Teal.

Laguna Lagunillas (4300 m) 14.09.07

The road to Juliaca ”touches” the north-western part of Laguna Lagunillas, these pictures are from this high altitude lake during a daytrip to Juliaca (se next post).

Pictures: Crested Duck (first picture), Wilson's Phalarope (bottom left) & Puna Teal (bottom right).