Argentina 5
Continuing with our trip to Argentina in March, 1995.
Early morning birding the chaco near J.V.G. then drove to Tafi del Valle birding along the river between Tucuman and Tafi del Valle.
The Gully at Tafi del Valle.
Drive to Cafayate
Cafayate area
View from Cafayate looking towards the snow-capped Andes.
Two views of the sandy desert at Cafayate.
Poppies growing in the sandy desert.
Speckled Teal - Anas flavirostris
Speckled Teal at Abra Pampa.
In Argentina it is widespread locally to 2,000 m.in the NW. We recorded it on our trip on six dates with a daily maximum of 50 seen on the 12th and the 15th.
Cinereous Harrier - Circus cinereus
A moulting adult male Cinereous Harrier at Campo del Tuyu
unfortunately taken against the sun.
In Argentina, its fairly widespread with some birds move north during the winter. During our trip we only saw two individuals with single males seen near Campo del Tuyu on the 12th and at Abra Pampa marsh on the 15th.
Grey-breasted Seedsnipe - Thinocorus orbignyianus ingae
Adult male Grey Breasted Seedsnipe at Lago Pozuelos
Two subspecies. Its range is throughout the Andes above 2,300 m in North or 1,000 m in the south.
During our trip five were seen along the track leading to Lago Pozuelos on the 15th and four were seen nearby on the 16th.
Olrog's Gull - Larus atlanticus
Adult non-breeder (grey on the head and neck) Orlog's Gull at Punta Rasa
Endemic breeder on islands off Buenos Aires and Chubut, ranges sparsely through continental seeboard.
We just found an adult in winter plumage which was photographed at close range on the beach at Punta Rasa on the 12th . A recent split from Band-tailed Gull. Listed as Vulnerable by Collar et al. (1994)
Brown-hooded Gull - Larus maculipennis
Adult non-breeding Brown-headed Gull on Punta Rasa beach.
Present throughout seaboard, N lowlands and S Andes, moving north in winter with a resident population on the Falkland Islands. We found it to be common on the coast with ten seen on the 11th, 100 on the 12th and seventy on the 13th. Twenty seen at Costanera Sur on the 4th.
Snowy-crowned Tern - Sterna trudeaui
Snowy Crowned Terns on Punta Rasa beach
Two Snowy Crowned Terns with Common Terns on Punta Rasa beach.
Snowy Crowned Tern in flight at Pnnta Rasa
In Argentina it is resident in the N and C lowlands and on the coast. We recorded six of these attractive Terns on roadside pools on the drive to San Clemente on the 11th and fifty were seen on Punta Rasa beach on the 12th.
Common Tern - Sterna hirundo hirundo
Common Terns on Punta Rasa beach
Common Terns with Snowy Crowned Terns on Punta Rasa beach.
Four subspecies. Common boreal migrant throughout continental coasts (Oct - March).
Large numbers were passing out to sea past San Clemente on the 11th where in a short period of time we saw an estimated 1,000 birds. Also 200 seen past Punta Rasa on the 12th.
(Note the blackish carpal bar which appears to be diagnostic with this race}.
Eared Dove - Zenaida auriculata virgata
Eared Dove in the Calilegua National Park.
During our trip we found it to be very common and widespread but not seen at Iguazu. Up to 500 seen every day in chaco habitat.
Picui Ground-Dove - Columbina picui picui
Picui Ground-Dove at Palomites
Widespread in lowlands and Andes to 2,950m, south to N. Patagonia. We found it to be very common in chaco with up to 100 seen daily but far less common in other areas and just the odd birds seen at Iguazu.
Ruddy Ground-Dove - Columbina talpacoti talpacoti
Ruddy Ground-Doves along the entrance road to the Calilegua National Park.
It is a resident breeder from Mexico south to Peru, Brazil and Paraguay and northern Argentina, and on Trindad and Tobago. We recorded it on our trip with ten seen along the entrance road at Calilegua NP on the 18th and ten on the drive to JVG on the 19th and two near JVG on the 20th. with ten seen along the entrance road at Calilegua NP on the 18th and ten on the drive to JVG on the 19th and two near JVG on the 20th.
Golden-spotted Ground-Dove - Metriopelia aymara
Golden Spotted Ground Doves at Laguna Larga.
It is found in Argentina, Bolovia, Chile and Peru. We recorded five of these fine doves located along the mountain road between Humahuaca and Abra Pampa on the 15th and fifteen were seen on the walk back from Laguna Larga on the 16th. Tame and approachable with the gold-spotting only visible at certain angles.
Bare-eyed Ground-Dove Metriopelia morenoi
Bare Eyed (Moreno’s) Ground-Dove above Humahuaca
Endemic to NW Andes. We recorded four along the mountain road above Humahuaca on the 15th and six were seen around the Tafi del Valle gullies on the 22nd.
