Argentina 7
We have now arrived at the Iguazu National Park for 5 days of birding and also to see the spectacular water-falls.
Flying into Iguazu with the rainforest below.
The river leading to the Iguazu waterfalls.
David at the spectacular waterfalls.
Wildflowers in the National Park.
Surucua Trogon - Trogon surrucura surrucura
Surucua Trogon at Iguazu National Park.
Found in humid forests and nearby habitats in S.E.Brazil, E. Paraguay and far N.E.Argentina. During our trip it was only seen at Iguazu with two seen on the 26th, a family party of five on the 27th, two on the 2nd and two on the 3rd.
Spot-billed Toucanet - Selenidera maculirostris maculirostris
Spot Billed Toucanet taken against the light at Iguazu National Park.
Found in the Atlantic forests of S.E.Brazil, E. Paraguay and N.E Argentina. During our trip a fine adult with a fully grown immature was found at the far end of the Sendero Macuco trail at Iguazu NP on the 28th and another individual was seen in a large fruiting tree at Puerto Canoas car park at Iguazu on the 2nd.
Red-breasted (Green-billed) Toucan - Ramphastos dicolorus
Red Breasted (Green-billed) Toucan at Iguazu National Park.
It is found in the Atlantic forests in southern and eastern Brazil, Pantanal of Bolivia, eastern Paraguay and far north eastern Argentina. A party of five were found feeding in fruiting trees around the administration buildings at Iguazu NP on the 27th and two showed well in a fruiting tree near the car park at Iguazu on the 2nd. Quite superb.
Toco Toucan - Ramphastos toco albogularis
Toco Toucans at Iguazu National Park.
It is the largest in the Toucan family. Found in semi-open habitats throughout a large part of Central and Eastern South America. This splendid species proved one of the highlights of our trip with two seen at Calilegua NP on the 17th and good numbers seen virtually daily at Iguazu NP with several feeding low in a fruiting tree in the car park on our first two days. Generally we saw around twelve in a day although twentyfive were seen on the 27th and oddly only one on the 2nd. They were very obvious early in the morning but would usually depart from view and were absent in the afternoons.
Rusty-breasted Nunlet - Nonnula rubecula rubecula
Rusty Breasted Nunlet at Iguazu National Park.
Present in two major ranges of the Central Amazon Basin, and in S.E.Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina.
Singles were seen on three dates along the Sendero Yataratia trail at Iguazu NP on the 26th, 28th and 3rd. The last individual allowed close approach and for some good photographs to be obtained.
Campo (Field) Flicker - Colaptes campestris campestroides
Campo Flicker in the car park at Iguazu National Park
It is found in a wide range of open and semi-open habitats in Eastern Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and N.E.Argentina. We recorded it on 3 days along the coastal strip with a maximum of ten seen on the 13th chiefly seen along the road. A pair was present on four dates in the Car Park at Iguazu NP.
Blond-crested Woodpecker - Celeus flavescens flavescens
Just record shots of a Blond Crested Woodpecker in Iguazu National Park.
This superb Woodpecker being surely one of the best in the world was seen extremely well on two occasions in Iguazu NP on the 1st and 3rd. It is found in Brazil, S.E.Paraguay and N.E.Argentina.
Buff-breasted Earthcreeper - Upucerthia validirostris
Buff Breasted Earthcreeper at Laguna Larga
Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical and it is found throughout the Puna grasslands and mountains of N.W.Argentina. On our trip four were seen in the Andes on the drive from Humahuaca to Abra Pampa on the 15th, and up to twelve seen on the walk to Laguna Larga on the 16th.
Rock Earthcreeper - Upucerthia andaecola
Rock Earthcreeper at Humahuaca
Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland. It is found in the Puna grassland of Boliva, northern Chile and Argentina. During our trip we obtained excellent views were of a pair on the drive from Humahuaca on the 15th with one seen on the 16th. It appeared tamer than other Earthcreepers.
White-winged Cinclodes - Cinclodes atacamensis atacamensis
White Winged Cinclodes at Laguna Larga
Two subspecies. Its range is in the N. Andes and C. Sierras. We found it to be a large striking Cinclodes with eight seen on the 16th mainly on the walk to Laguna Larga. Also seen above Tafi del Valle where three were seen on the 22nd.
Buff-winged Cinclodes - Cinclodes fuscus albiventris
Buff-winged Cinclodes near Lago Pozuelos.
Formerly lumped with Bar-winged Cinclodes, and is found in Argentina and Chile. Its natural habitats are high-altitude shrubland and grassland. We recorded it with singles seen along the Yala River on the 14th and on the drive to Lago Pozuelos on the 15th, two near Laguna Larga on the 16th and two above Tafi del Valle on the 22nd.
Rufous Hornero - Furnarius rufus rufus
Rufous Hornero in the lowlands
It occurs in eastern South America and is the national bird of Argentina and Uruguay.
We recorded large numbers along the coastal strip with a daily maximum of sixty being seen on the 13th and otherwise seen virtually daily although only a pair seen at Iguazu - nesting in the Car Park.
Crested Hornero - Furnarius cristatus
Crested Hornero at JVG
It is found in Argentina, Boliva and Paraguaywith its natural habitat is dry shrubland. We only came across it once with six seen well in chaco at JVG on the 20th.
Wren-like Rushbird - Phleocryptes melanops melanops
Wren Like Rushbird at Campo del Tuyu
Found in Argentina, Boliva, Brazil, Chile and Wren Like Rushbird at Campo del Tuyu. We recorded seven seen well at Punta Rasa and five at Campo del Tuyu on the 12th.
Firewood-gatherer - Anumbius annumbi
Firewood -gatherer leaving its huge nest near Campo del Tuyu.
It is found in Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and is found at elavations up to 1,000 m. We recorded one seen at its nest near Campo del Tuyu on the 12th and four on the drive to Attalaya on the 13th in a hedgerow close to the village.
Steinbach’s (Chestnut) Canastero - Asthenes steinbachi
Steinbach’s Canastero at Cafayate.
Endemic to W. Argentina and its natural habitat are steep valleys in high-altitude shrubland from 650-3,000 m. Just two seen whilst driving in the Andes to Cafayate on the 22nd. Listed as Vulnerable by Collar et al. (1994).
Hudson's Canastero - Asthenes hudsoni
Hudson's Canastero at Punta Rasa marsh.
It is found in Argentina, Brazil, Paragual, and Uruguay. Its natural habitat is temperate grassland. It is named after Argentina-British ornithologist William Henry Hudson. We just saw five at the Punta Rasa marsh on the 12th.
Great Antshrike - Taraba major major
Female Great Antshrike
Male Great Antshrike
A pair of Great Antshrikes at Palomites.
Resident breeder in the tropical New World in S. Mexico, Central America, Trindad and South America down to Argentina and S.E.Brazil. We recorded it at Palomites with two were seen in chaco on the 19th and two on the 20th and one seen in JVG chaco on the 21st.
Crested Gallito - Rhinocrypta lanceolata lanceolata
Crested Gallito in the chaco at J.V.G.
It is found in Argentina, Bolivia and Paragual chiefly in thron scrub in the Chaco areas. We recorded two in JVG chaco on the 19th and five responded well to the tape early the next morning even coming onto the path to have a ‘run-around’ ! An absolutely stunning spectacle.
Sandy Gallito Teledromas fuscus
David at the Sandy Gallito site.
Our gamble paid off when we played the tape in the sandy area and obvious sand dunes around 5kms outside Cafayate on the Salta road on the 23rd. Several birds responded to the tape and we were able to locate 4 different birds. They remained shy and would not tolerate close approach, often running at high speed over the sand although at other times would sit in the open on top of a sand dune or a small bush calling back to the tape.
