Argentina 1
David and myself visited the Atlantic coastal forest area in Argentina from 11th February to 4th March 1995. Once again, we decided to obtain previous trip reports from the inter-net for birding sites, as we did not wish to use one of the tour companies, as we both much prefer to find and indentify our own species and not to rely on tour compaines. David recently gave me a copy of the new Birds of Argentina and the South-West Atlantic for my 80th birthday, which I have used for some of the details in this report.
This is not a full trip report of our trip, which can be found on my Birding Trips blog, and is not done in any order. By using only our own photographs, it will cover a number of selected species which will be covered over several blogs which will follow this one, as with the previous blogs during the last couple of years.
We hired a large car, as from past experience we may have to use the car for overnight sleeping at several of the locations, as there is little or no accommodation at a number of birding sites which we visited in Argentina.
Aplomado Falcon Falco femoralis
Adult Aplomado Falcon at Laguna Larga.
There are three subspecies, and its range is chiefly South America excluding Amazonia although it extends into Central America with a re-indouction programme in Southern range of North America
It has a widespread range in this area of Argentina, and this particular Falcon followed us at the Laguna Larga area giving us superb views, although we soon found out why.
Darwin's Nothura (Tinamou) - Nothura darwinii
Darwin's Nothura (Tinamou) at Laguna Larga
We unfortunately flushed this individual and it was immediately taken by the above Aplomado Falcon which had been following us for some time, no doubt hoping we would flush a bird. We were able to obtain the Tinamou for full identification purposes and photographed it before returning it to the Falcon which quickly made off with its kill. The outer web of the primaries lacked the distinctive white spotting which was so obvious on the outer primaries.
There are five subspecies, and they are present in the grasslands and crops in the Andean foothills and W lowlands to N. Patagonia.
White-tufted Grebe Rollandia rolland
White Tufted Grebe on roadside pools near San Clemente
Three subspecies and is widespread on freshwater and coastal areas in Argentina. Its range is from Peru to S.E.Brazil southwards to Cape Horn and Terra del Fuego., with one of the subspecies is present on the Falkland Islands . It breeds in colonies in reed-beds.
Whistling Heron - Syrigma sibilatrix sibilatrix
Whistling Herons at Costanera Sur Ecological Reserve.
Two subspecies, with a large range and is present in north eastern Argentina and generally appears to be expending its range. Unlike most Herons,which breed in colonies the Whistling Heron nests alone.
Maguari Stork - Euxenura maguari
A pair of Maguari Storks near San Clemente.
In Argentina it is resident in the N. and Central lowlands, but is widely distributed over much of South America east of the Andes. The juvenile is mainly blackish all over with a blackish bill but a white face.
It often breeds on the ground unlike other Storks. During our trip, we only recorded it on four dates with no more than 6 on a day.
Puna Ibis - Plegadis ridgwayi
Puna Ibis’s at the Abra Pampa marsh.
Found in Argentina, Boliva, Chile and Peru. Most of its range is in the Andes highlands including the puna, but it can occur down to sea-level.
Mountain Caracara - Polyborus megalopterus
Adult Mountain Caracara at Lago Puzuelos
It is found in puna and paramo areas in the Andes, ranging from Southern Ecuador, through Peru and
Boliva to Northern Argentina and Chile. We were fortunate to see 15 near Lago Pozuelo
South American Painted Snipe Nycticryphes semicollaris
South American Painted Snipe at Campo del Tuyu.
Six of these superb birds were seen extremely well (including 1 on the ground) at Campo del Tuyu on the 12th. One of the highlights of the trip.
Andean Avocet - Recurvirostra andina
Andean Avocet at Lago Pozuelos.
One seen at Lago Pozuelos on the 15th and two posing for the camera at Abra Pampa marsh on the16th.
It is restricted to the high NW Andes in Argentina.
Southern Lapwing - Vanellus chilensis
Southern Lapwing near San Clementine.
Andean Lapwing - Vanellus resplendens
Andean Lapwing at Lago Pozuelos
Twenty seen at Lago Pozuelos on the 15th and eight at Laguna Larga the next day.
Like the Andean Avocet, In Argentina, it is restricted to the high NW Andes.
