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
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
| Roseate Spoonbill with two Silver Teal. |
| Greater Rheas |
| Greater Rhea |
| Greater Rhea |
| Southern Screamer |
| Silver Teal |
| Snail Kite |
| Savanna Hawk |
| Giant Wood-Rail |
| Spot-flanked Gallinule |
| Plumbeous Rail |
| American Golden Plover |
| White-necked Stilt |
| Southern Lapwing |
| Pectoral Sandpiper |
| South American Painted-Snipe |
| South American Painted-Snipe |
| South American Painted-Snipe |
| South American Painted-Snipe |
| South American Painted-Snipe |
| South American Painted-Snipe |
| South American Painted-Snipe |
| South American Painted-Snipe |
| White Monjita |
| White Monjita |
| Chopi Blackbird |
| Chestnut-capped Blackbird |
| Firewood-gatherer |
| Glittering-bellied Emerald |
| Glittering-bellied Emerald |
| Greater Pampa-Finch |
| Red-crested Cardinal |
| Campo Flicker |
| Marsh Seedeater |
| Marsh Seedeater |
| Spectacled Tyrant |
| Hooded Siskin |
| Hooded Siskin |
| White Woodpecker |
| Rufous Horneo nest. |
| Saffron-cowled Blackbirds |
| Saffron-cowled Blackbird habitat. |
| Gaucho |