During my latest stay in Peru (august 2001), I have had the opportunity to go bird watching at Villa Marches for a total period of 12 days. This Ramsar site is the most important wetland in the direct surroundings of the capital Lima and is, as I have been able to experience for about 5 years now, an excellent and unique place for bird watching. The reason for this small paper is to offer an overview my recent observations as a guide to interested bird watchers, which plan a birding trip to this area of Peru. In the first part of this overview, some information on where and how to find the birds within the marches is given. In the second part, a daily inventory of the species and number of birds is given for the 12-day period. For those who would like additional information on this unique reservation, please do feel free to contact me and will try to be of assistance in the best possible way.

Chris Snyers  / snyers.chris@...

Floraliënlaan 324

B-2600 Antwerp

Belgium Europe

1 : Great grebe : Common. Breeding + 15 pares with young’s. Inhabit the great lagoon.

2 : Pied-billed grebe : Common. Breeding + 10 pares whit fullgrouwn young’s in all the lagoons.

3 : White-tufted grebe : A few couples survive in the smaller lagoons where there is no competition with the Great grebe.

7 : Neotropic cormorant : Common. 20 couples with two months old young’s. The colony is lays on a small island.

10 : White-necked heron : 17 August. First time this species was observed in the reserve. Normally this species is seen in "winter" till 70 Km south of Lima. The bird was not found the next day.

11 : Snowy egret : Common. +50 couples with young’s at different age breed on the outside of the Cattle egret colony.

12 : Cattle egret : Common. +700 couples with young’s of all ages. The nests are made on some of the reed - mace "Totora" islands. The birds go to feed on waste mostly south off Lima and come to sleep +3000 birds in the reserve.

13 : Great egret : Up to 30 birds come to sleep in the reserve. During the day you can see some of them resting on one of the dead palm trees.

14 : Little blue heron : Up to 10 birds can be seen. No nesting birds were seen but some of the birds were very young.

15 : Striated heron : Breeding in low numbers. Has a hidden way of live but is not shy.

16 : Least bittern : Breeding in low numbers and shy.

17 : Black-crowned night heron : +1000 couples breeding on the islands whit reed and totora. During the day some birds can bee seen.

18 : Puna ibis : common. Breeds from 1997, 3 pairs, on in the reserve. This time I have seen +40 couples with young’s.

19 : Speckled teal : One bird which is the only remaining from a small invasion earlier this year.

20 : Cinnamon teal : The most common duck at the reserve. Two females with young’s off less than 1 week where seen.

21 : White-cheeked pintail : Common. One female was seen with 3 young’s less than 1 week old.

22 : Andean duck : This year, only 1 male was spotted. Until two years ago, about 5 to 10 individuals could be seen on the great lagoon.

23 : Black vulture : Common. +8 couples are breeding in reed on one island.

24 : Osprey : Winter visitor. Some years, the young birds are resident throughout the whole year

25 : Harris’ hawk : Rare visitor. In some years, 1 or more birds staid for a long time.

26 : American kestrel : Three pares are breeding inside the dead leafs of the palm trees. A female was only seen once.

27 : Crested caracara : New to the reserve. On the 11/8 a young bird was seen and 2 young birds were seen on 22/8. The flying around of the crested Caracara caused great disturbance among the other resident birds and evoked attacks from gulls.

28 : Plumbeous rail : Common. +20 couples. The typical call can be heard early in the morning. They have a hidden way of life but are not shy.

29 : Common moorhen : Very common ( moorhen ).The highest number can be found in the coastal lagoon where you can see up to 240 birds in one flock !

30 : Red-fronted coot : Rare. This southern species was seen here in 1998 with 3 couples breeding. This year I saw only 1 full-grown young.

31 : Andean coot : Common. +15 couples.

32 : Black rail : Rare. You have to be lucky to see this shy bird that could be nesting in the reserve.

34 : American Oystercatcher : Seen on the beach.

35 : Peruvian thick-knee : To see this bird you best ask in the information centre for the best place. The birds are most of the time inside the reserve and can be seen from the road to the beach. Some couples breed in the reserve.

36 : Black-necked stilt : Common. +20 couples breed on the grasslands and sandy places. They breed all year round.

38 : Killdeer : Common. Till two years ago there were only some couples. Now there are thanks to a sandy island in a new made lagoon behind the info centre, up to 20 couples.

59 : Band-tailed gull : Common. Up to 125 bird came to wash and rest in the reserve.

60 : Gray-headed gull : Very common. There is a colony with over hundred couples. There were young’s off all ages present and eggs where seen as well.

61 : Franklin’s gull : Two second year birds were seen near the great lagoon.

62 : Laughing gull : New species to the reserve. This is a species which normally only winters in Peru in low numbers and mostly young birds. It was a big surprise when 1 adult bird in full breeding plumage was fount mating and breeding in a mixed couple whit a Gray-headed gull. This is as far as I can see the first time that Laughing gull breeds in Peru.

63 : Pacific dove : Common.+100 couples. Breeds in the Totora vegetation. One time we saw a pale colored bird.

64 : Eared dove : Only seen in small numbers near the coastal lagoon in the afternoon.

65 : Gold-billed ground-dove : Common. +20 couples. Breeds in the same places as the Pacific dove.

66 : Groove-billed ani : One couple with young’s and some solitary birds were seen.

67 : Scarlet-fronted conure : A group of this noisy introduced birds were flying over some times.

68 : Amazilla hummingbird : Only seen in the gardens near the road to the beach where they are breeding.

69 : Coastal minor : Rare. Only seen near the coastal lagoon

70 : Wren-like rushbird : Common. +50 couples. This noisy bird can very easy bee seen and heard. Nests are found in the Totora.

71 : Many-colored rush-tyrant : +10 couples. Once you find a territory, it’s easy to see them.

72 : Dark-faced ground-tyrant : Once seen near the coastal lagoon.

73 : Vermilion flycatcher : Common. It is very easy to see the singing males. In the reserve most of the males are of the black and red type.

74 : House wren : Common.+20 couples. They breed in between the hanging dead palm leafs and in the dense grass vegetation. Early in the morning is the best moment to see them.

75 : Long-tailed mockingbird : Until two years ago common in the area of the golf club. This year I saw only one bird.

77 : Barn swallow :Flying over.

76 : Blue-and-white swallow : Common.

78 : Cave swallow :16 August. This is according to the list the fist time this species is seen in the reserve.

79 : Yellowish pipit : The best place to see this species is the low vegetation near the coastal lagoon.

80 : Shiny cowbird : Common.+15 couples breed in the Totora.

81 : Scrub blackbird : I saw one bird near the golf club this year.

82 : Peruvian meadowlark : Common. +10 couples breed in the grassland vegetation. The males are easily recognised by their very red breast.

83 : Yellow-hooded blackbird :Common. The best place to see them is the coastal lagoon where a small group breeds.

84 : Blue-black grassquit : I saw one male near the coastal lagoon.

85 : Grassland yellow-finch : Common.+10 couples. The best place to see them is the dry grassland near the beach.

86 : Rufous-collared sparrow : Only seen near the houses next to the road to the beach.

87 : House sparrow : Only seen at the sport complex near the beach.

33 : Wilson’s phalarope ;42 : Solitary sandpiper ;43 : Lesser yellowlegs ;44 : Greater yellowlegs ;45 : Spotted sandpiper ;49 : Least sandpiper ;50 : Baird’s sandpiper ;51 : Pectoral sandpiper ;52: Stilt sandpiper : On the shallow pools off the reserve.

40 : Semipalmated plover ;47 : Western sandpiper ; 48 : Semipalmated sandpiper ; 53 : Whimbrel : on sandy places near the coastal lagoon and on the beach.

37 : Black-bellied plover ; 39 : Snowy plover ; 49 : Sanderling : Seen on the sandy beach.

41 : Ruddy Turnstone ; 57 : Gray gull : Seen on the sandy beach and passing over the sea.

4 : Sooty Shearwater ; 5 : Guanay cormorant ; 6 : Red-legged cormorant ; 8 : Peruvian booby ; 9 : Peruvian pelican : These species were passing over sea and were spotted in less than two hours. Since two of them are new to the reserve, these observations demonstrate that sea-watching can be rewording at this location. Next year, I shall give the park rangers my old telescope so they have at least one to do some sea-watching.

Part 2 : Birds with a X are new to the reserve, those with + are not completely counted.

English name

Spanish name

9-Aug

11-Aug

13-Aug

14-Aug

15-Aug

16-Aug

17-Aug

20-Aug

21-Aug

22-Aug

23-Aug

24- Aug

1 Great grebe

Zambullidor mayor

20

34

35

31

12

7

18

21

25

2 Pied-billed grebe

Zamb. pico grueso

16

1

15

11

17

8

12

1

19

26

3 White-tufted grebe

Zamb. Pimpollo

2

2

4

5

5

2

6

2

3

1

2

4 Sooty Shearwater X

Pardela Común

30+

5 Guanay cormorant

Guanay

3

33

6

20

6 Red-legged cormorant X

Chuita

2

7 Neotroptic cormorant

Cushri

30+

2+

6+

9+

59+

222+

88+

30+

52+

45+

65+

8 Peruvian booby

Piquero commun

45+

65+

50+

100+

9 Peruvian pelican

Pelicano Peruano

2

82

8

30+

10 White-necked heron X

Garza cuca

1

11 Snowy egret

G.blanca pequeña

6

6

22

46

19

23

33

6

43

7

15

50

12 Cattle egret

Garza bueyera

300+

54+

71+

95+

305+

302+

186+

170+

219+

300+

500

13 Great egret

G. blanca grande

5

1

3

3

5

6

15

2

4

3

5

5

14 Little blue heron

Garza azul

8

2

4

1

3

10

10

4

4

6

6

9

15 Striated heron

Garza tamaquita

6

1

2

2

4

1

8

2

7

2

16 Least bittern

Garzita leonada

2

2

1

2

1

3

1

1

17 Black-crow. night heron

Huaco

50+

3+

50+

24+

33+

21+

40+

23+

40+

1000

18 Puna ibis

Yanavico

70+

103+

18+

8+

112+

8+

55+

22+

7+

74+

65+

42+

19 Speckled teal

Pato sutro

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

20 Cinnamon teal

Pato colorado

18

42

15

19

38

46

18

35

8

18

21

42

21 White-cheeked pintail

Pato alablanco

9

12

7

2

37

33

27

17

9

8

23

22

22 Andean duck

Pato rana

1

23 Black Vulture

Gallinazo cab.neg.

40+

27+

14+

21+

80+

64+

115+

31+

67+

75+

80+

84+

24 Osprey

Aguila pescad.

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

25 Harris' hawk

Gavilán oscuro

1

26 American kestrel

Cernícalo amer.

4

2

2

1

1

1

3

2

1

3

3

1

27 Crested caracara X

Carancho

1

1

2

1

28 Plumbeous rail

Gallineta com.

2

1

1

2

9

9

13

2

3

6

29 Common moorhen

Polla de agua

170

48

28

17

46

291

284

52

294

60

11

30 Red-fronted coot

Gallineta pico ro.

1

1

1

1

31 Andean coot

Gallareta andina

8

4

7

13

10

22

6

10

21

32 Black rail

Gallineta negra

1

1

33 Wilson's phalarope

Falarope de Wil.

12

3

18

24

6

38

110

304

31

6

57

34 American oystercatcher

Ostrero negro

2

35 Peruvian thick-knee

Huerequeque

6

3

13

2

7

36 Black-necked stilt

Perrito

19

16

64

22

30

40

51

40

10

33

11

37 Black-bellied plover

Chorlo ártico

3

6

38 Killdeer

Chorlo de dobl.

12

40

16

48

40

42

58

7

50

70

40

2

39 Snowy plover

Chorlo nevado

2

40 Semipalmated plover

Chorlo semip.

3

1

6

3

41 Ruddy turnstone

Vuelvepiedras

2

4

42 Solitary sandpiper

Playero solit.

1

1

43 Lesser yellowlegs

Pata amarilla men

4

2

7

4

4

3

2

1

1

1

44 Greater yellowlegs

Pata amarilla may

6

22

22

13

21

18

4

8

8

25

45 Spotted sandpiper

Playero manch.

1

1

3

1

1

1

2

2

1

5

46 Sanderling

Playero blanco

15

6

18

47 Western sandpiper

Playerito occi.

12

22

1

3

3

48 Semipalmated sandpiper

Playerito semi.

9-Aug 1

11-Aug

13-Aug

14-Aug

15-Aug

16-Aug

17-Aug

20-Aug

21-Aug

22-Aug

23-Aud

24-Aug

49 Least sandpiper

Playerito pico fino

2

50 Baird's sandpiper

Playero de Baird

2

2

51 Pectoral sandpiper

Playero pectoral

3

6

1

1

1

52 Stilt sandpiper

Playero pata lar.

3

2

2

53 Whimbrel

Zarapito trin.

1

25

54 Sandwich tern X

Gaviotin patinegra

2

3

55 Peruvian tern

Gaviotín peruano

1

56 Inca tern

Zarcillo

1

3

1

3

57 Gray gull

Gaviota gris

2

45

75

50+

100+

58 Kelp gull

Gaviota dom.

7

5

2

19

3

3

3

3

59 Band-tailed gull

Gaviota peruana

50+

6+

23+

5+

56+

31+

139+

18+

54+

125

60 Gray-headed gull

Gaviota cap.gris

100+

43+

19+

10+

92+

104+

55+

62+

35+

31+

45+

157

61 Franklin's gull

Gaviota de Frank.

2

1

1

1

1

1

62 Laughing gull X

Gaviota centroam.

1

1

1

1

63 Pacific dove

Cuculí

20+

15+

14+

6+

26+

31+

50+

36+

20+

7+

64 Eared dove

Madrugadora

15

2

8

6

8

7

7

65 Gold-billed ground-dove

Tortolita peruana

20+

6+

7+

11+

14+

38+

7+

15+

16+

3+

66 Groove-billed ani

Guardacaballo

1

1

5

4

4

1

8

5

4

4

4

2

67 Scarlet-fronted conure

Cotorra de Wagl.

24

9

6

68 Amazilia hummingbird

Amazilia costeña

2

1

69 Coastal minor

Pampero peruano

2

1

1

70 Wren-like rushbird

Totorero

8

13

12

4

14

9

12

4

5

3

9

10

71 Many-colored rush-tyrant

Sietecolores

3

1

2

5

1

2

1

2

72 Dark-faced ground-tyrant

Dormil.cab.osc.

1

73 Vermilion flycatcher

Turtupilín

2

3

3

2

3

3

4

2

1

1

1

1

74 House wren

Cucarachero

1

1

3

4

4

2

75 Long-tailed mockingbird

Chisco

1

76 Blue-and-white swallow

Santa Rosita

5

10

3

4

3

9

19

6

14

77 Barn swallow

Golondrina migr.

2

2

1

78 Cave swallow X

Golondri. de cue.

1

79 Yellowish pipit

Chichirre

1

2

1

1

2

2