An early start for a day to the east towards Isozo. We had a 4.30 breakfast to leave at 5.00. We drove relatively quickly for 20 k before slowing down. Nick went on top and we continued. After a while a black shape appeared on the side of the road, then trotted along the road, turned and crossed, before it trotted down and into the side. Tayra!!! High fives. (But no picture) We did see a Red Brocket Deer which crossed the road in front of us.
Further on we stopped at a pipeline pumping station for a comfort break and there were quite a lot of birds flitting around a grassy area that had a small pool in it. A lovely Water Tyrant, Casiornis and Saltator were among the red Pileated Finches and ground doves.
Further along the road, there was an alert for a shape, which turned out to be a Rhea. We followed it for several kms clocking up around 50 km. Before it turned and dived into the bushes. Another one appeared a little down the road and started legging it down the road. They apparently don’t like to turn off so will just keep running. We backed off and let it run on while we stopped and did some birding.
At various stops we had sightings of American Kestrel, Black Vulture and Gilttering-bellied Emerald.
As we drove on there was a sudden shout and we came to a stop, with a Chaco Peccary in the vegetation on the side of the road. Unfortunately, all I could see was its side, with black/white and grey hairs. The animal moved off into the forest as the other car came up. And we waited and then were told to walk down the road, we were then called back, hurriedly, as it had come out but we were too late.
We drove on to Osozo, which is a terminal for the pipeline. It used to have a ranger station, which is where we ate, but that was abandoned and is completely unused.
After a lunch of chicken, lentils, potato and okra we began to make our way back. A stop for a ‘shape’ in the distance divided opinion between Desert fox, Jaguarundi and Ocelot it as it disappeared into the forest, it was never really decided.
As we drove along an animal trotted out of the bushes and started pottering along the road, Pampas Fox! We had really good views and managed some decent pictures before it went off into the Chaco.
A stop at one of the pipelines we found a Spot-backed Puffbird, staked out by Chris. We then kept driving on, scanning for anything that moved. Around Km170 we stopped for 15 mins or so hoping for Peccary but no luck.
We continued driving, stopping now and then. At one stop a few White-lipped Peccaries crossed the road, we moved closer and the whole group came across, including some small ones.
Travelling slowly along the road as the night came in we began to see nightjars on the road. One set of eye shine slowly revealed itself as an Ocelot. The animal slowly walked towards us, stopping every now and then. It got to about 100 yds away when it sat down, looked around and then got up, strolled to the side of the road and hopped into the jungle. Photos were difficult as it was through the windscreen but resonable views.
The rest of the drive home was quite quiet with nightjars winking from the road and fluttering around. One of them fluttered up from the road and perched at the side, where we managed a few photos before leaving it in peace.
We made it back just after 8.00, had supper, packed quickly and then went to bed.
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