Dermot Breen's Blog: Argentina

Tuesday, 11 February 2020

Argentina 20th December 2019

Managed a few hours again in Costanera Sur first thing in the morning. This time we even managed to get inside the reserve. As we were nearly finished in the reserve it was closed up again early and we asked to leave because there was a cloud or two in the sky - truly bizare!
We had a good walk around the perimeter of the two main lagoons by the coast. We even managed to see the Coral Princess waiting for us in the harbour which was very close-by.
Again a fantastic spot to have in such a large urban area. In four hours here we 87 species including an impressive fifteen species of wildfowl.
https://ebird.org/checklist/S62484975
We were in a bit of panic to board the Coral Princess as early as possible but the whole process was very seamless and quick. We were to see no seabirds as we departed as we left Buenos Aires at 1700hrs and we just crossing over the River Plate towards Montivideo, Uruguay which was to be our first "shore-day" of the cruise.

Rufescent Tiger-Heron

Rufescent Tiger-Heron and White-faced Whistling-Duck.

Red-gartered Coot and Common Gallinule.

Red-crested Cardinal

Golden-billed Saltator

Greyish Baywing

Glittering-bellied Emerald

Double-collared Seedeater

Yellow-browed Tyrant

Small-billed Elaenia

Green-barred Woodpecker

Checkered Woodpecker

Picazuro Pigeon

Coral Princess awaits.

Buenos Aires cityscape.

Costanera Sur

Invasive aquatic weed control, Costanera Sur.

City view from the Coral Princess.

Sunday, 9 February 2020

Argentina 19th December 2019

We had a full day around Buenos Aires before our cruise started the next day. We spent the 19th visiting the pampas grassland and marshes area around the Ceiba and Entre Rios area which is about 100km north of the capital city. Our guide for the day was Marcelo Gavensky of www.birdingbuenosaires.com
A quick stop at a nearby petrol station resulted in a few lifers as was usual with every stop during the entire trip. https://ebird.org/checklist/S62455035
The main targets here were the some of the many species of seedeaters and Saffron-cowled Blackbird. The latter species has undergone a rapid decline in recent years to that stage now where it is classified as Endangered which an estimated population between just 1200 - 7000 individuals. The many threats included habitat change due to agriculture intensification, predation, parasitism by Shiny Cowbirds and illegally trapping. We were extremely lucky to encounter around 14 birds in a mobile flock. A lot of conservation work has been started by Birdlife Argentina but the species seems to be on a knifes edge at the moment. We encountered some "Colony Guardians" trying their best to protect the species. https://www.birdlife.org/americas/news/chronicles-saffron-cowled-blackbird
We did very well with seedeaters also, the other main targets here. We recorded six species in the area - Double-collared, Tawny-bellied, Dark-throated, Rufous-rumped, Chestnut and Marsh Seedeater. The last species is another Endangered species under threat with just a global population of 600 - 1700 individuals left.
https://ebird.org/checklist/S62457846
https://ebird.org/checklist/S62457854
We tried another area nearby that had a few more areas of wetlands. Some great species here also with large numbers of American Golden Plovers feeding across the grasslands and many Southern Screamers feeding in the wetter areas. We also got some fantastic close views of a pair of South American Painted Snipe feeding in a roadside pool.
https://ebird.org/checklist/S62457870