Date: Saturday 10 September 2022

Trajectory:  Carlos Pelligrini – Mercedes

Distance covered: 180 km (with side trips)

Left Carlos Pelligrini still feeling under the weather to drive to Mercedes. I had been told to look out for Pampa Deer (a species I hadn’t seen) at a particular place on the way. I did find two deer in the right place but could only get a glimpse and a ghost photo. It could just as well be a female Marsh Deer. I guess the jury’s out on it.

Drove slowly from Pelligrini to Mercedes, looking for birds and other wildlife, and got to Mercedes at lunchtime to find it was the biggest party of the year, the Annual Agricultural Show. That explained why it had been so difficult to find a hotel on the Internet and it took about three hours to find a suitable place. 

I ended up at the Hotel Ivyra Pyta, in a room for five people – the last room available there and possibly in Mercedes. Pricy by local standards, bit in GBP easier to digest.

I then went for a drive to see a local geological phenomenon, a large stone formation called Itá Pucu (Guarani for ‘large stone’). I included a man in the picture to give some idea of the size.

The drive there was long and difficult terrain, and put the SW4 through its paces – it performed admirably.  On the way I passed a dead snake (no idea what kind) …

… and a dead cow (no vultures for once) – a very typical sight I am beginning to realise, and an explanation for so many cattle bones just lying around.

Also my bird of the day, a Greater Rhea (Rhea americana), not to be confused with the Lesser Rhea we see in Patagonia.

It was getting dark by now so I headed back to the hotel to write this entry and get some supper. Tomorrow to the Mburucuyá National Park.