Date: Monday 5 September 2022

Trajectory:  Formosa – Mercedes

Distance covered: 480 km

My days with my guide Ariel had in fact finished yesterday, but as he was going back to the place where he works as a park ranger and I was going the same way we shared the drive. It was a day of straightforward driving, but we did see a few birds along the way.

My bird of the day was a laughing falcon, only really seen in this part of the world. I only got a distant shot, but was happy as I had dipped on this bird earlier in the week.

I had also been hoping, somewhat optimistically, to see an Aguará Guazu, a maned wolf. Unfortunately although we did see one it was the victim of a hit and run accident. So sad; very recently killed, and its fur in beautiful condition. A previous passerby had snipped off one of its forepaws as a souvenir – I resisted the temptation to do the same. 

We also saw this rhea at a service station, made entirely of welded scrap metal – an animal of another kind! This artwork style seems quite common in Northern Argentina.

From the Province of Formosa we drove straight through the Province of Chaco and entered the Province of Corrientes, where I shall be for the next few days. We drove over the huge bridge over  the river Paraná that separates Chaco and Corrientes …

… where we had a tasty lunch of surubí, a local fish cooked in foil with cream, artichokes, peppers and a bunch of other stuff. Very tasty.

It was finally time to say goodbye to Ariel, pictured here at the seccional where he works as a park ranger. I owe him a lot, and have great respect for his knowledge, professionalism and energy levels – the last of which far outstripped mine.

Back on my own now for a day or so – tomorrow to Carlos Pelligrini, a small town on the edge of the Iberá wetlands. More about this tomorrow.