El Palmar NP

 

Since we returned to Buenos Aires last Sunday it has rained and rained, only interrupted by thunderstorms - in Spanish Las Tormentas.  They have tormented us!  And made birding difficult and uncomfortable.  Still, Steve keeps racking up the "lifers" and has well over 300 species for the trip.  We have come to El Palmar NP after two nights in Ceibas.  It is just across the river from Uruguay.  The mammal count has increased with Cavies (Guinea Pigs) in Ceibas and Capybaras in EPNP.  Also a Pampas Fox to add to the Patagonian Fox at Emerald Lake.  Fox in Spanish is Zorro!

In the area around here tree growing is an important economic activity.  We saw very many eucalypt plantations and some saw mills.  Also many log trucks heading south to Buenos Aries.  We saw conventional agriculture too.  Crops, silage rolls, sheep, cattle and battery chicken sheds. 

Tonight we are staying near El Palmar NP in a camp where some accommodation is in old railway carriages.  Unfortunately we didn't get one of those but our room is very nice.

Steve should have some new pics soon to add to the blog but meanwhile here are some of mine.


This is one of the Slider Turtles - possibly a Morrocoyo - but not sure yet which one.  Its colours were stunning!

We stopped here for an early lunch when a thunderstorm hit.  The walls were decorated with old tools and goodness knows what else!  Steve's dad Don would have loved it.

There were tiny cavies going in all directions at our hotel in Ceibas.

Capybaras are like mini hippopotamuses lounging in the puddles.  There were heaps!  Jaguars may be introduced to this national park to control numbers.

The fungus was as big as Steve's foot.

That's Uruguay across the river

The national park's office is in the original farmhouse of the estancia (ranch) that was bought to start the park.  There is a pair of original gate posts too. 




Here are some of the palms.









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