Wetlands of Uruguay

Scarlet-headed Blackbird (猩紅頭黑雀)
Uruguay (2015)
5th June, 2015. Punta del Este

Snowy Egret (美洲雪鷺)
Uruguay (2015)

5th June, 2015. Punta del Este

The spotlight will shine on Uruguay's spectacular Bañados del Este y Franja Costera wetland when it hosts the 12th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (COP12) in Punta del Este between 1-9 June.

The Bañados del Este y Franja Costera wetland is located on the eastern side of Uruguay, sharing a border with Brazil and taking in some of the country’s South Atlantic coast. An internationally recognised biosphere reserve, it comprises a vast complex of coastal wetlands, including various lagoons and parts of rivers. Altogether, these form a rich habitat for an assortment of wildlife, including myriad species that are categorised as near-threatened or endangered – one notable example is the juvenile green turtle (Chelonia mydas). Bañados del Este y Franja Costera was added to the Montreux Record, the register for wetlands where ecological changes have occurred or are occurring because of human interference, in July 1990. The area had already been designated as a wetland of international significance in 1984, thereby coming under the auspices of the Convention on Wetlands (or Ramsar Convention) which is committed to the conservation of vulnerable wetlands while achieving sustainable development by delivering a framework action at local and global levels.

The Bañados del Este y Franja Costera wetland is situated in the departments of Rocha and Treinta y Tres in eastern Uruguay (its coordinates are: 33°48'S 053°50'W). The site covers an approximate area of some 407,408 hectares. Many of the country’s rivers flow east toward the Atlantic and empty into lagoons in the coastal plain – the largest of these is Laguna Merin, Uruguay’s easternmost destination and part of the reserve.

Isla de Flores

Snowy Egret (美洲雪鷺), Kelp Gull (黑背鷗) and
American Oystercatcher (美洲蠣鷸)
Uruguay (2011)
3rd December, 2015. Montevideo

Isla de Flores is a small island in the Rio de la Plata, 21 miles south-east of Punta Carretas, Montevideo, Uruguay.

Flores was named by Sebastián Gaboto, who discovered it on Easter Sunday 1527 (the Spanish expression Pascua Florida or Pascua de Flores, i.e. "Flowery Easter" was the reason for the name "Flores").

It has a historic lighthouse, which was the subject of an 1819 treaty, by which Uruguay lost the Misiones Orientales. This lighthouse, of Portuguese origin, entered service in 1828. It was dubbed "the world's most expensive lighthouse".[by whom?] The lighthouse is now under the jurisdiction of the Uruguayan Navy. It is 37 metres high and flashes twice every 10 seconds.

Spring series 2015 - Owls (2)

   

L : Short-eared Owl (短耳鴞) ; R : Great Horned Owl (大雕鴞)
Uruguay (2015)
30th September, 2015. Montevideo

Uruguay is home to birds. Uruguay was named after the Uruguay River, which meant in Guarani, the native people’s language,  “A river where colored birds inhabit”.

Uruguay is the best country for bird-watching.

There are 9 bird-watching sites found along the coastline and 11 such sites inland. Near these sites are hotels, restaurants, and Estancias (farms and ranches) ready to welcome tourists and visitors.

As the birds you may encounter vary place to place, it is advisable to check the information in advance: the families of herons are seen in the eastern wetland; the families of sea gulls are at the mouth of rivers and brooks; the families of ibises and crows are in the northern ravines; thrushes and tanagers are in the forests; and lesser rheas, the biggest birds seen in South America, and harriers are in the grasslands.
Although most migratory birds come flying from September through March, bird-watching is a year-round leisure since vermillion flycatchers and frigate birds come flying in spring, and Magellan penguins, albatrosses and petrels come flying in winter.

The lake Rocha is famous for allowing you to watch black-necked swans and flamingos. You can even find nests of ovenbirds on the electric poles and roofs in the urban district. Let’s look for them when you do not go to the sanctuaries for bird-watching.

Uruguay is the best country for bird-watching, where more than 440 kinds of wild birds live.

Spring series 2015 - Owls (1)

From left to right:
First row: Buff-fronted Owl (黃額鬼鴞) ; Burrowing Owl (穴鴞)
Tropical Screech-Owl (熱帶角鴞)
Second row: Barn Owl (倉鴞) ; Ferruginous Pygmy-owl (赤褐鵂鶹)
Striped Owl (紋鴞)
Uruguay (2015)
3rd December, 2015. Montevideo

Uruguay is home to birds. Uruguay was named after the Uruguay River, which meant in Guarani, the native people’s language,  “A river where colored birds inhabit”.

Uruguay is the best country for bird-watching.

There are 9 bird-watching sites found along the coastline and 11 such sites inland. Near these sites are hotels, restaurants, and Estancias (farms and ranches) ready to welcome tourists and visitors.

As the birds you may encounter vary place to place, it is advisable to check the information in advance: the families of herons are seen in the eastern wetland; the families of sea gulls are at the mouth of rivers and brooks; the families of ibises and crows are in the northern ravines; thrushes and tanagers are in the forests; and lesser rheas, the biggest birds seen in South America, and harriers are in the grasslands.

Although most migratory birds come flying from September through March, bird-watching is a year-round leisure since vermillion flycatchers and frigate birds come flying in spring, and Magellan penguins, albatrosses and petrels come flying in winter.

The lake Rocha is famous for allowing you to watch black-necked swans and flamingos. You can even find nests of ovenbirds on the electric poles and roofs in the urban district. Let’s look for them when you do not go to the sanctuaries for bird-watching.

Uruguay is the best country for bird-watching, where more than 440 kinds of wild birds live.

Tranqueras

Greater Rhea (美洲鴕鳥)
Uruguay (2014)
22nd July, 2014. Tranqueras

Tranqueras is a city in the Rivera Department of northeastern Uruguay.

During the first decades of the 19th century the area was known as Paso de Tranqueras because of the homonymous bridge over the Tacuarembó Grande river. In 1890 the French Marcos Bourré donated to the state some land for the construction of a railway station. The arrival of the railway became the birth point of a village which grew rapidly with hotels, stores and small industry.

Red Knot (紅腹濱鷸)
Uruguay (2013)
22nd July, 2013. Montevideo

Tourist destinations - Maldonado and Rocha

Upper : Red Knot (紅腹濱鷸), Green Sea Turtle (綠蠵龜)
Lower : Greater Rhea (美洲鴕鳥)
Uruguay (2013, 2014)
20th October, 2014. Montevideo

Maldonado is the capital of Maldonado Department of Uruguay. As of the census of 2011, it is the seventh most populated city of the country.

Maldonado is also the name of the municipality to which the city belongs. It includes the following zones: Maldonado, Punta Ballena, Portezuelo, Barrio Hipódromo, Canteras de Marelli, Los Ceibos, Abra de Perdomo, Laguna del Diario.

Rocha is the capital city of the Rocha Department in Uruguay.

The city is located on the intersection of Route 9 with Route 15, about 70 kilometres northeast of San Carlos of Maldonado Department. The stream Arroyo Rocha flows along the west limits of the city. It was founded in 1793 and had acquired the status of "Villa" (town) before the Independence of Uruguay. On 7 July 1880 it was made capital of the Department of Rocha by the Act of Ley Nº 1.474, while its status was elevated to "Ciudad" on 10 January 1894 by the Act of Ley Nº 2.252.