ASUNCIÓN BAY IBA 
PARAGUAY

CENTRAL (W)

25o16’02’’S57o37’39’’W 375ha 60m flat scrub, wet grass areas, open water 
Protected/registered status IBA but now totally destroyed
September-November (winter-spring 2005)

 

Birding Site Guide

From Plaza de los Heroes in central Asunción, take Presidente Franco N to the outskirts of town and turn left at a guard house onto Avinida Artigas (large glass building on the right). Follow the rough dirt road through the shanty town of Mbigua towards the main River Paraguay, and at the end head out of Mbigua left along the river edge then take the first dirt road left towards the bay, the city is visible straight ahead over the bay. Park along this track (care should be taken leaving unguarded vehicles, a taxi is a good idea) walk along to the bay birding the scrub on the right for seedeaters and as you get towards the bay scan the flooded grass area for waders. At migration there can be 1000s of waterbirds and waders present in the bay. Walk through the scrub to the edge of the bay and there are a series of inlets and large areas of reeds each all being good areas to bird.


Species Notes 

At least 250 species have been recorded here. Of the species of conservation concern Buff-breasted Sandpiper (NT) has been found in the flooded grass areas, Bearded Tachuri (NT) in the rough grass and Marsh Seedeaters (EN) have been recorded as well as Chestnut Seedeater along the track to the bay in October and November. In the same area can be found the resident Seedeaters: White-bellied, Tawny-rumped and Rusty-collared. Black Skimmers are easily found at the water’s edge. Ringed Teal are migrant but common on passage. Check the large flocks of White-winged Coots for less common Red-gartered Coots. On passage large numbers of other North American waders are present including Upland Sandpiper, Hudsonian Godwit, and Baird’s Sandpiper are in the wet grass away from the water edge in small numbers. Bare-faced and White-faced Ibis can be present in large numbers and ducks include Brazilian Teal, Rosy-billed Pochard, Ringed Teal, Comb Duck (rare) and Red Shoveler in winter.

In the scrub look for Greater Thornbird, Grey-headed Tyrannulet (Serpophagasp.) and Lesser Canastero. In the reeds look for Warbling and Crested Doradito. 


Charles Hesse (29th June, 2005) 

This site is in easy reach of the city centre and has many waterbirds especially). I went there with Guira Paraguay but it should be quite easy to take a taxi or bus to the junction and walk. The dirt road to the site however passes through a poor area and although is not necessarily dangerous, it is an unpleasant 3km walk. There may also be a boat leaving from the port to the boat club. I saw a number of waders and other waterbirds including an unusual sighting of Stilt Snadpipers and Red Shovelers. Yellowish Pipit is common and we also saw Nacunda Nighthawk. It may be a good idea to take wellington boots. I saw 58 species including 5 lifers 

 

Species seen 

  • Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps
  • Neotropic Cormorant Phalacrocorax brasilianus
  • Cocoi Heron Ardea cocoi
  • Great Egret Ardea alba
  • Snowy Egret Egretta thula
  • Red Shoveler Anas platalea
  • Black Vulture Coragyps atratus
  • Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture Cathartes burrovianus
  • Osprey Pandion haliaetus
  • White-tailed Kite Elanus leucurus
  • Roadside Hawk Buteo magnirostris
  • Southern Caracara Caracara plancus
  • Aplomado Falcon Falco femoralis
  • Limpkin Aramus guarauna
  • Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus
  • White-winged Coot Fulica leucoptera
  • Wattled Jacana Jacana jacana
  • White-backed Stilt Himantopus melanurus
  • Southern Lapwing Vanellus chilensis
  • Collared Plover Charadrius collaris
  • Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes
  • White-rumped Sandpiper Calidris fuscicollis
  • Stilt Sandpiper Calidris himantopus
  • Yellow-billed Tern Sterna superciliaris
  • Large-billed Tern Phaetusa simplex
  • Black Skimmer Rynchops niger
  • Rock Pigeon Columba livia Introduced
  • Eared Dove Zenaida auriculata
  • Picui Ground-Dove Columbina picui
  • White-tipped Dove Leptotila verreauxi
  • Monk Parakeet Myiopsitta monachus
  • Blue-winged Parrotlet Forpus xanthopterygius
  • Smooth-billed Ani Crotophaga ani
  • Guira Cuckoo Guira guira
  • Striped Cuckoo h Tapera naevia
  • Nacunda Nighthawk Podager nacunda
  • Glittering-bellied Emerald Chlorostilbon aureoventris
  • Ringed Kingfisher Ceryle torquatus
  • Yellow-chinned Spinetail h Certhiaxis cinnamomea
  • Barred Antshrike h Thamnophilus doliatus
  • White Monjita Xolmis irupero
  • Spectacled Tyrant Hymenops perspicillatus
  • Cattle Tyrant Machetornis rixosus
  • Great Kiskadee Pitangus sulphuratus
  • Yellowish Pipit Anthus lutescens
  • White-banded Mockingbird Mimus triurus
  • Rufous-browed Peppershrike Cyclarhis gujanensis
  • Sayaca Tanager Thraupis sayaca
  • Rusty-collared Seedeater Sporophila collaris
  • Saffron Finch Sicalis flaveola
  • Yellow-billed Cardinal Paroaria capitata
  • Grassland Sparrow Ammodramus humeralis
  • Rufous-collared Sparrow h Zonotrichia capensis
  • Unicolored Blackbird Agelasticus cyanopus
  • White-browed Blackbird Sturnella superciliaris
  • Shiny Cowbird Molothrus bonariensis
  • Hooded Siskin Carduelis magellanica
  • House Sparrow Passer domesticus Introduced

 


Fundacion Moises Bertoni 

Procer Arguello 208. This road is near the intersections of Mariscal Lopez and Republica Argentina which are both large streets. There is also a modern looking building here with TIGO written in big letters. Coming along Mariscal Lopez from the city centre cross this junction and take the next road on the right. A number 31 bus from Cerro Cora in the town centre passes the junction. http://www.mbertoni.org.py

  • Tel: (595 21) 600855 or 608740 Fax: 608741
  • Maria del Carmen (Extension 119) organized logistical details and payment.
  • Myrium del Carmen (Ext. 132) is an ornithologist and knows the reserve very well. Both speak good English.



Guira Paraguay (a birdlife partner)

381 Coronel Rafael Franco (near where it crosses with Leandro Prieto) This road is runs from Mariscal Lopez which is a large street. The road is unsigned but is between Chaco Boreal and Cayala which are both signed. It is also accross the road from a shell station. A number 31 bus from Cerro Cora in the town centre passes the road.

  • www.guyra.org.py This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
  • Tel: (595 21) 227777 Fax: 229097
  • Also Rodrigo (speaks English) Mobile: 0981 126594


ASUNCIÓN BAY BIRD LIST (2005) 

  • Least Grebe Tachybaptus dominicus
  • Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps
  • White-tufted Grebe Rollandia rolland
  • Silvery Grebe Podiceps occipitalis
  • Neotropic Cormorant Phalacrocorax brasilianus
  • Anhinga Anhinga anhinga
  • Whistling Heron Syrigma sibilatrix
  • Cocoi Heron Ardea cocoi
  • Great Egret Ardea alba
  • Snowy Egret Egretta thula
  • Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis
  • Striated Heron Butorides striata
  • Black-crowned Night-Heron Nycticorax nycticorax
  • Rufescent Tiger-Heron Tigrisoma lineatum
  • Wood Stork Mycteria americana
  • Maguari Stork Ciconia maguari
  • Bare-faced Ibis Phimosus infuscatus
  • White-faced Ibis Plegadis chihi
  • Roseate Spoonbill Platalea ajaja
  • Fulvous Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna bicolor
  • White-faced Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna viduata
  • Black-bellied Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna autumnalis
  • Comb Duck Sarkidiornis melanotos
  • Ringed Teal Callonetta leucophrys
  • Brazilian Teal Amazonetta brasiliensis
  • White-cheeked Pintail Anas bahamensis
  • Silver Teal Anas versicolor
  • Red Shoveler-Anas platalea
  • Rosy-billed Pochard-Netta peposaca
  • Black-headed Duck-Heteronetta atricapilla
  • Black Vulture Coragyps atratus
  • Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture Cathartes burrovianus
  • Osprey-Pandion haliaetus
  • Hook-billed Kite Chondrohierax uncinatus
  • White-tailed Kite Elanus leucurus
  • Snail Kite Rostrhamus sociabilis
  • Long-winged Harrier Circus buffoni
  • Savanna Hawk Buteogallus meridionalis
  • Roadside Hawk Buteo magnirostris
  • Southern Caracara Caracara plancus
  • Yellow-headed Caracara Milvago chimachima
  • Chimango Caracara Milvago chimango
  • American Kestrel Falco sparverius
  • Aplomado Falcon Falco femoralis
  • Bat Falcon Falco rufigularis
  • Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus
  • Limpkin Aramus guarauna
  • Grey-breasted Crake Laterallus exilis
  • Giant Wood-Rail Aramides ypecaha
  • Ash-throated Crake Porzana albicollis
  • Plumbeous Rail Pardirallus sanguinolentus
  • Purple Gallinule Porphyrio martinica
  • Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus
  • Spot-flanked Gallinule Gallinula melanops
  • White-winged Coot Fulica leucoptera
  • Red-gartered Coot Fulica armillata
  • White-backed Stilt Himantopus melanurus
  • Wattled Jacana Jacana jacana
  • American Painted-snipe Rostratula semicollaris
  • Southern Lapwing Vanellus chilensis
  • American Golden-Plover Pluvialis dominica
  • Black-bellied Plover Pluvialis squatarola
  • Collared Plover Charadrius collaris
  • South American Snipe Gallinago paraguaiae
  • Hudsonian Godwit Limosa haemastica
  • Upland Sandpiper Bartramia longicauda
  • Greater Yellowlegs Tringa melanoleuca
  • Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes
  • Solitary Sandpiper Tringa solitaria
  • Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularia
  • Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
  • Red Knot Calidris canutus
  • Sanderling Calidris alba
  • Least Sandpiper Calidris minutilla
  • White-rumped Sandpiper Calidris fuscicollis
  • Baird's Sandpiper Calidris bairdii
  • Pectoral Sandpiper Calidris melanotos
  • Stilt Sandpiper Calidris himantopus
  • Buff-breasted Sandpiper Tryngites subruficollis
  • Wilson's Phalarope Phalaropus tricolor
  • Grey-headed Gull Larus cirrocephalus
  • Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea
  • Yellow-billed Tern Sterna superciliaris
  • Large-billed Tern Phaetusa simplex
  • Black Skimmer Rynchops niger
  • Rock Pigeon Columba livia
  • Picazuro Pigeon Patagioenas picazuro
  • Eared Dove Zenaida auriculata
  • Ruddy Ground-Dove Columbina talpacoti
  • Picui Ground-Dove Columbina picui
  • White-tipped Dove Leptotila verreauxi
  • Monk Parakeet Myiopsitta monachus
  • Blue-winged Parrotlet Forpus xanthopterygius
  • Yellow-chevroned Parakeet Brotogeris chiriri
  • Vinaceous Parrot Amazona vinacea
  • Smooth-billed Ani Crotophaga ani
  • Guira Cuco Guira guira
  • Striped Cuco Tapera naevia
  • Nacunda Nighthawk Podager nacunda
  • Glittering-bellied Emerald Chlorostilbon aureoventris
  • Gilded Sapphire Hylocharis chrysura
  • Blue-tufted Starthroat Heliomaster furcifer
  • Ringed Kingfisher Ceryle torquatus
  • Amazon Kingfisher Chloroceryle amazona
  • Green Kingfisher Chloroceryle americana
  • White-barred Piculet Picumnus cirratus
  • Campo Flicker Colaptes campestris
  • Rufous Hornero Furnarius rufus
  • Bar-winged Cinclodes Cinclodes fuscus
  • Wren-like Rushbird Phleocryptes melanops
  • Chotoy Spinetail Schoeniophylax phryganophila
  • Sooty-fronted Spinetail Synallaxis frontalis
  • Pale-breasted Spinetail Synallaxis albescens
  • Yellow-chinned Spinetail Certhiaxis cinnamomea
  • Lesser Canastero Asthenes pyrrholeuca
  • Greater Thornbird Phacellodomus ruber
  • Great Rufous Woodcreeper Xiphocolaptes major
  • Barred Antshrike Thamnophilus doliatus
  • Southern Beardless-Tyrannulet Camptostoma obsoletum
  • Yellow-bellied Elaenia Elaenia flavogaster
  • White-crested Tyrannulet Serpophaga subcristata
  • Grey-crowned Tyrannulet Serpophaga sp.
  • Bearded Tachuri Polystictus pectoralis
  • Crested Doradito Pseudocolopteryx sclateri
  • Warbling Doradito Pseudocolopteryx flaviventris
  • Tawny-crowned Pygmy-Tyrant Euscarthmus meloryphus
  • Pearly-vented Tody-Tyrant Hemitriccus margaritaceiventer
  • Bran-coloured Flycatcher Myiophobus fasciatus
  • Fuscous Flycatcher Cnemotriccus fuscatus
  • Vermilion Flycatcher Pyrocephalus rubinus
  • Grey Monjita Xolmis cinerea
  • White Monjita Xolmis irupero
  • White-winged Black-Tyrant Knipolegus aterrimus
  • Spectacled Tyrant Hymenops perspicillatus
  • Black-backed Water-Tyrant Fluvicola albiventer
  • Yellow-browed Tyrant Satrapa icterophrys
  • Cattle Tyrant Machetornis rixosus
  • Great Kiskadee Pitangus sulphuratus
  • Streaked Flycatcher Myiodynastes maculatus
  • Variegated Flycatcher Empidonomus varius
  • Tropical Kingbird Tyrannus melancholicus
  • Fork-tailed Flycatcher Tyrannus savana
  • Brown-chested Martin Progne tapera
  • Grey-breasted Martin Progne chalybea
  • White-rumped Swallow Tachycineta leucorrhoa
  • Chilean Swallow Tachycineta meyeni
  • Blue-and-white Swallow Notiochelidon cyanoleuca
  • Tawny-headed Swallow Alopochelidon fucata
  • Southern Rough-winged Swallow Stelgidopteryx ruficollis
  • Bank Swallow Riparia riparia
  • Cliff Swallow Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
  • Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
  • Yellowish Pipit Anthus lutescens
  • House Wren Troglodytes aedon
  • Chalk-browed Mockingbird Mimus saturninus
  • White-banded Mockingbird Mimus triurus
  • Creamy-bellied Thrush Turdus amaurochalinus
  • Masked Gnatcatcher Polioptila dumicola
  • Rufous-browed Peppershrike Cyclarhis gujanensis
  • Masked Yellowthroat Geothlypis aequinoctialis
  • Sayaca Tanager Thraupis sayaca
  • Purple-throated Euphonia Euphonia chlorotica
  • Red-crested Finch Coryphospingus cucullatus
  • Black-capped Warbling-Finch Poospiza melanoleuca
  • Blue-black Grassquit Volatinia jacarina
  • Rusty-collared Seedeater Sporophila collaris
  • Yellow-bellied Seedeater Sporophila nigricollis
  • Double-collared Seedeater Sporophila caerulescens
  • White-bellied Seedeater Sporophila leucoptera
  • Tawny-bellied Seedeater Sporophila hypoxantha
  • Chestnut Seedeater Sporophila cinnamomea
  • Grassland Yellow-Finch Sicalis luteola
  • Saffron Finch Sicalis flaveola
  • Great Pampa-Finch Embernagra platensis
  • Red-crested Cardinal Paroaria coronata
  • Grassland Sparrow Ammodramus humeralis
  • Rufous-collared Sparrow Zonotrichia capensis
  • Greyish Saltator Saltator coerulescens
  • Bobolink Dolichonyx oryzivorus
  • Unicoloured Blackbird Agelasticus cyanopus
  • Chestnut-capped Blackbird Chrysomus ruficapillus
  • White-browed Blackbird Sturnella superciliaris
  • Shiny Cowbird Molothrus bonariensis
  • Epaulet Oriole Icterus cayanensis
  • Yellow-rumped Marshbird Pseudoleistes guirahuro
  • Scarlet-headed Blackbird Amblyramphus holosericeus
  • Hooded Siskin Carduelis magellanica
  • House Sparrow Passer domesticus


Other Fauna 

Authors: BSG and Paul Smith. Charles Hesse 

For more information on volunteering on bird study projects in Paraguay, or for customised bird tours to anywhere in Paraguay contact Paul Smith via his website Fauna Paraguay or by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

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