News - February 2016
Nicolas tells us that "This morning I was walking along the outer side of the Coypu Pond when I saw an unusual number of egrets at Parrilla Don José. It was a group of 70 individuals foraging and moving actively in the pond. They barely flew about. I had never seen a group this big! Since I had previously seen young fish near this area I thought this could be their food ...
An awesome scene!"
Three exotic and toxic plants |
They are toxic because they are exotic. All the plants have chemical compounds to defend themselves and some of them may be toxic to us. In this case it coincides that besides being toxic they are exotic. The degree of toxicity depends on the amount one consumes, of the age of the consumer, of the part of the plant ingested, of its elaboration. Many of these chemical compounds are used to make medicines which should be taken in the appropriate dose. Both in children and old people effects tend to worsen since physiological functions are not either developed or are diminishing. Remember them anywhere you may find them |
Pokeweed Phytolacca americana ![]() Native to the east of the United States. Family Phytolaccaceae. It shares the genus Phytolacca with our ombu tree. With different degrees of toxicity all the components are toxic, roots, stems and fruits. Ii is advisable to remove this plant from gardens or nearby domestic areas so that children may not be tempted to ingest the fruit due to the aspect and colour. This weed should be manipulated using gloves since the sap toxins may permeate the skin and cause allergies. |
Nerium Nerium oleander ![]() Native possibly to the southwest of Asia. Family Apocynaceae. It is a very showy plant seen in gardens and parks. All its parts are toxic if ingested. Its sap also contains allergenic substances which can cause dermatitis. This plant is in the Willow Path |
Ricino Ricinus communis ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Native to North Africa or India. Family Euphorbiaceae. Most species of this family are toxic. (See Pencil plant Euphorbia tirucalli). Its seeds are very toxic. Ingestion of two seeds may cause the death of a child, ten of an adult. Castor oil is obtained from the seeds. This oil has been used in kids as a purgative till half a decade ago. The oil loses the toxicity in the heating process, when the ricine, the toxic component, is destroyed. Today the oil has industrial use. This plant is invasive and scattered all over the reserve. |
Appearances may be deceiving |
![]() In this photo both the beautiful model and the beautiful egret have an articulation half way through the leg. We know that the model's is the knee. In egrets and birds in general this is .... Enteráte cómo es la pata de las aves |
Second nest of tiger-herons of this season. It is very far and concealed. Anyway the activity of the two chicks may be observed.
The father and his four chicks feeding very actively
Nest building
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Pekin duck Anas platyrynchos ![]() |
We found this Brazilian duck family again two weeks later
These six ducklings appeared without their mother. They tried to join a family a ringed teals, but the adults rejected them.
We stayed a long while to see if they were accepted, but they were adrift. Though ducklings are not fed by their parents, these lead them to the feeding grounds and protect them. Small as they are, they become easy preys.
Javier discovered the jacana lying. He was sitting on eggs. When he stood, three eggs got exposed
CLOSED ON FRIDAY 5TH AND SATURDAY 6TH Due to the Formula E car race which will be held in the surroundings of the reserve, it will be closed on Friday 5th and Saturday 6th. RECS Source: Facebook Reserva Ecológica Costanera Sur_Oficial |
Damián tells us "I wanted to share with you this urutu pit viper taken at the Middle Path 100m away from the Lizard Path on Saturday 30th.
It was 11 a.m. and the scene lasted only a minute, enough time to take photos. The viper then came back to the same side of the road it had appeared from. It was between a meter and a meter and a half long."