Tango for two in Argentina
New country, new birds. Having spent yesterday in airports and aeroplanes it was nice to get out birding again, even though the cold winter weather in Buenos Aires was a bit of a shock to the system. Back on with the fleeces, hats and gloves! We took a taxi from the Complete Tango Hotel (tango-themed from top to bottom and even the option of tango classes, in case we tire of birding!) in the centre of Buenos Aires down to the nature reserve of Costanera Sur. This large wetland on the edge of the city promised much in the way of waterfowl. Unfortunately there was just one thing missing: water. The whole area was suffering from a drought and all the pools had completely dried up. Undaunted, we completed a circular walk around the areas of now scrubby grassland and a short section of shoreline and still managed to see quite a few good birds. Chimango Caracaras and Southern Caracaras were easily seen hunting over the area. A Chilean Swallow hawked overhead, no doubt finding it a struggle to feed in the cool conditions, both Black-capped and Black-and-rufous Warbling-finches showed off well in low scrub beside the path. Chestnut-capped Blackbirds formed roving feeding flocks often flying up to perch high in pampas grass. Checking the flocks closely, we also identified Yellow-shouldered Blackbirds amongst them. A Spectacled Tyrant was incredibly obliging feeding within a few feet as it chased insects frantically along one of the causeways. At the shoreline, a mixed flock of gulls contained Kelp, Gray-headed and Brown-hooded Gulls. As we headed back towards the entrance, we had great views of a White-tipped Plantcutter sitting quietly in a bare tree.
We then moved across town to Palermo Park where we immediately saw a flock of coot on the ornamental lake. Once we had put the scope on it, the flock proved to contain both Red-gartered and White-winged Coots. Three White-tufted Grebes dived for fish amongst the coot, while a fine drake Rosy-billed Pochard was accompanied by two rather less glamorous females at the far end of the lake.
Bird species list: 2613
Posted 2nd July, Buenos Aires, ArgentinaP.S. Do check back over the Cristalino blogs as we've added photos of some of the great birds we saw there!