Lomas de Arena Municipal Park

By A. Bennett Hennessey and Lawrence Rubey

If one only has one day to bird watch in Santa Cruz, we strongly recommend this area and that you visit the Armonia (BirdLife Bolivia) conservation centre on your way out. Lomas de Arena was initially preserved because of a small lake between sand dunes that can give the impression of having a beach. Several types of habitats are preserved in the area: pampas, chaco forest, dry forest stands, marshes and large water bodies. The area is also a stop over and wintering ground for many Austral and Boreal migrants. Over 240 birds have been recorded in the park but it is believed only 70 are actual residents. The usual daily list stands at 60-80 species. The bird community is in constant flux, with many crazy single day records of hundreds of Austral migrant birds just passing through. Moreover, in Bolivia’s summer, Eastern Kingbirds and Barn Swallows can be the most abundant birds. The area has many easily seen desired birds such as Comb Duck, Brazilian Duck, Burrowing Owl, White-eared Puffbird, White Woodpecker, Chalk-browed Mockingbird, and Chotoy Spinetail. The area also harbours some rarities like Toco Toucan, and Red-legged Seriema.

It is advisable to visit the area with a rental 4x4 vehicle. The park’s road is mostly compacted sand, which in non-wet conditions is not problematic. One could visit the first ¾ of the park road in a taxi or other two wheel drive vehicle. The last ~3 km of the road going to the lake passes a loose sand area that is only advisable for 4x4 vehicles in all weather conditions.

With the possibilities of strong winds and the openness of Lomas de Arena, we recommend starting birding at first light. The park opens at 7 am, but the park guard sleeps in the gate office and in the past he has had no problem opening the gate earlier. There is a small fee of around 5 bolivianos to enter. All the birding in the park can be based around the first single entrance road, which travels and ends at the large lake beside a large sand dune. The area is scattered with barbed wire to fence in cattle. Most of the park area remains private land. The wire is meant for cows and does not mean that people cannot enter- though if there are ranchers there, it is always best to ask permission as a gesture of respect. The best method is to find a large gap between two poles, and push down with your foot on one wire while lifting the above wire. Commonly seen birds along the entrance road are Picazuro Pigeon, Peach-fronted Parakeet, Blue-winged Parrolet, Yellow-chevroned Parakeet, Dark-billed Cuckoo, Striped Cuckoo, Spot-backed Puffbird, Chotoy Spinetail, Rufous-fronted Thornbird, Barred Antshrike, Mato Grosso Antbird, Yellow-bellied Elaenia, Tawny-crowned Pygmy-Tyrant, Fork-tailed Flycatcher, Fawn-breasted Wren, Rufous-browed Peppershrike, and Epaulet Oriole.

Follow the road entering into the park, paying attention to variations in habitat covering grassland, scrub, wet-areas and more closed forest. The road will eventually come to a fork. Take the right fork, which will bring you down to a grassy flood plain and a small river crossing. Look out here for shorebirds, and seedeaters and a Whistling Heron that is often around the opposite bank.

Continue birding the road across the small river where it rises again out of the floodplain and through a small treed area. On the right there was an artificial lake past the cattle fence which flooded its main gates. There is a barbed wire entrance door to this area. Possibly one could see in the area Rufescent Tiger-Heron, Cocoi Heron, Roseate Spoonbill, Brazilian Duck, Rusty-margined Flycatcher, and Social Flycatcher.

Continue following the road where you will eventually come to a large forest on the right hand side while traveling to the lake. This is where the area becomes very sandy and is only recommended for 4x4 vehicles. Taxis can wait here while you birdwatch. Continue along the road as the forest ends to the right. Cross over the fence and bird the forest border grassland. This is where the Red-legged Seriema is commonly seen. Toco Toucans had been recorded in the area in the past. Walk further into the grassland and walk randomly through the different types of grasses and hills and boggy areas. Birds seen in this area are Red-winged Tinamou, White-bellied Nothura, Buff-necked Ibis, White-tailed Hawk, Southern Caracara, Burrowing Owl, White-eared Puffbird, White-woodpecker (Austral Migrant), Campo Flicker, Pale-breasted Spinetail, Hudson’s Black-Tyrant (Austral Migrant), Spectacled Tyrant, Black-backed Water-Tyrant, Yellowish Pipit, Wedge-tailed Grass-Finch, and the rare Black-throated Saltator.

Presently there is no designed trail system for the forest, but the cows in the area have created a few haphazard trails that can be used to enter the area and escape from the midday sun. In the closed forest area there has been seen Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl, Blue-crowned Trogon, Blue-crowned Motmot, Chestnut-eared Aracari, Toco Toucan, Narrow-billed Woodcreeper, Great Antshrike, Steaked Flycatcher, Crowned Slaty-Flycatcher, Moustached Wren, Plush-crested Jay, Grayish Saltator, and Orange-backed Troupial.

During the heat of the day, visit the large lake at the end of the road where you might be able to see White-faced Whistling-Duck, Black-bellied Whistling-Duck Comb Duck, and Black-necked Stilt.

Logistics: Lomas de Arena is located south of the city off Avenida Santos Demont. You need to take Avenida Santos Dumont to the very end, almost reaching the Palmasola refinery. Just before the refinery, you will see another paved road that turns left (east) from Avenida Santos Dumont. There should also be signs for the park Lomas de Arene, and to the Santa Cruz Armonia office (BirdLife international for Bolivia). Follow the paved road over the railway tracks, and past the small dirt road on the right. Take the second right larger dirt road (there is a sign for the park and Armonia at this corner as well). Follow this road straight for about .5 km. You will travel over a small bridge and then come to an open area. On the left there is a sign for Armonia’s office- which is only 100 m further straight. Please feel free to stop by, use our library, and have a look out our Bolivian conservation programs and buy a T-shirt to support a project. If you like what we are doing you can support our actions by becoming a Armonia member. Turn right at this intersection following the larger dirt road- which will lead to the park gates after a few hard turns (~2 km). A taxi should be able to take you to the gets and a bit further on. We suggest you negotiate a fee for the entire morning, and then see how far into the park he is willing to go. The park guards should be able to help as well.

GPS reading at Park entrance: S 17°53.360 W 063°10.805

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