Notes from Peru...

Well, it's been a while, but hey, I've been away, and then it was Christmas and all that...what can one do? I'm back now though and will try to scrape a few things together before the next moth season begins in earnest...whoever he is.

I was traveling in Peru and Argentina for two months from mid October. It was amazing and wonderful to see so much dramatic scenery and wildlife - not to mention the comprehensive selection of flans on offer in Argentina! I'll have to get my friend Steve to send me some flan pix for the old blog!

Anyway, though primarily a birding trip (more than 1200 species in the two months) I did, in true moth man fashion, indulge in my passion for the moth types on occasion. The following photos were taken at a brand new lodge at Abra Patricia, in northern Peru. The forests at Abra Patricia are justifiably famous for being the home to a number of rare and little known birds, many of which are endemic to the area. Long-whiskered Owlet and Royal Sunangel and just a couple of the fantastic birds on offer.

I don't know what any of these moths are! Just look at 'em and enjoy them for what they are...








This is what the walls looked like at Abra Patricia lodge! They were literally covered with moths, beetles, stick insects and other creepy crawly delights - it was truly amazing. I took loads of photos and the small selection above is but a fraction. I'll save some for a time when I get really stuck! Thankfully for the moths the generator would be switched off at about ten so they could fly off into the night.



This amazing creature is Pterochroza ocellana, the Peacock Katydid. It was photographed at Explornapo Lodge in Amazonian NE Peru. What a fantastic creature. I don't know much about it but will do a bit of research and enlighten you at some stage.

So, I hope you like these photo. If any of you out there know what any of the moths are...well, leave a comment. Pleeease...