JPMyers 1974 Journal Estancia Moredland, 35 km S. of Juanico by road, Pto de Madariaga, Ria de Bs. Aires, Argentina 23 August (cont'd) etc. This morning [illegible] many of the swamps are dry. For example, Farmhouse puddle (see map on following page) is bone dry - it is [illegible] now crossed by a dirt road running across the middle of old grid 9. La curva swamp is almost dry. But here one notes a difference between the dryness of April-May and that of August: the wide, dark mud borders are not caked as they were several months ago. I sink in an inch or so as I walk. None of the roadside areas have any water now. Arroyo Chico, which I raced via the usual route (see map - farmhouse rd -> gate A -> tower llanos, etc.), however, had a pronounced current, and although it was not very wide, more water was flowing today than I have seen since early April. Tower llanos swamp has water [illegible] equivalent to 31 March levels. There, too, the difference between the state of the border mud now + in April is discernible. Tower llanos itself is not very different than it was - short grasses, no standing calder. The grass appears to have been heavily cropped, and the field is extraordinarily covered with cow + sheep droppings. Almost all standing thistle + other vegetation of noticeable height has been knocked down. This is particularly apparent along the raised edge of the arroyo. Much of the area which during last summer had ceased to be 'short-grass', has now regained that status. Across the Arroyo (W), unfortunately, this is being plowed for corn. I am told that part of Tower llanos will be also. From Tower llanos I continued up the Arroyo N, making necessary detours for gate A can be seen on the map. The impressive fact about the upland habitat here now is that there is so much that I can now call short-grass, which, as was in Tower llanos, had grown up during last summer. The cows have been busy. Many of the fields are turning green again. However, no Solanum has started to leaf, nor has the vegetation in swamps (i.e. tile) begun to regenerate. Birds: in general, they are extremely active, most noticeably brighter than last fall, and more engaged in displays, territorial singing, etc. See annotated list at the end of today's entry. Shorebirds are here - especially upland S.A. species. Large flocks of Chonophorus and Zonibyx abound. A few Thinocorus ruminans flocks are flying about. [illegible] Charadrius fallaxklandii also present. Among N.A. species I found: C. biardi, C.fasciollis, C.inclanakis, Tringa flavipes, Pluvialis dominica[illegible]. Gallinago also present. (What was impressive about shorebirds today was the heavy use of upland habitat. Or perhaps