Lomas de Lachay National Reserve

with Alejandro Tello

On November 4, with an extra day after the others in the group left for home, I went with Alejandro Tello, my Peruvian guide, to Lomas de Lachay and Lagunas de Ventanilla. Here are a pair of Burrowing Owls in front of their burrow in the desert canyon at Lomas de Lachay.

We went to the side of Lomas away from the Pacific Ocean. Alejandro carried my scope up the dry desert-like canyon.

Our target was the endemic Cactus Canastero. Where a nest had been active 7 days before, all was quiet. The birds had left, but were still in the area and seen well, though not close enough for photos.

ENDEMIC Thick-billed Miner carrying a variety of insects and other food to its young at Lomas de Lachay on 4 November 2014,

Thick-billed Miner carrying food at Lomas de Lachay on 4 November 2014

The Pacific side of Lomas de Lachay faces the coastal desert and the ocean. Fog condenses and provides enough moisture for plants to grow.

Tawny-throated Dotterel - a mega shorebird for me. Loved seeing it in this dry habitat where it blended in so perfectly. Pacific side of Lomas de Lachay on 4 November 2014.

Least Seedsnipe is a great shorebird and Lomas de Lachay specialty.

The third super shorebird in the same habitat as the dotterel and seedsnipe was the Peruvian Thick-knee.

Variable Hawk at Lomas de Lachay on 4 November 2014.

Now go to page 13 - Lagunas de Ventanilla