BUENOS AIRES & NORTHERN PATAGONIA PRE-TRIP Circumnavigation of The Falkland Islands Cruise OCTOBER 23–28, 2018 Black-and-rufous Warbling-Finch © Michael O’Brien LEADERS: HECTOR SLONGO & MICHAEL O’BRIEN LIST COMPILED BY: MICHAEL O’BRIEN VICTOR EMANUEL NATURE TOURS, INC. 2525 WALLINGWOOD DRIVE, SUITE 1003 AUSTIN, TEXAS 78746 WWW.VENTBIRD.COM Buenos Aires & Northern Patagonia Pre-trip Circumnavigation of The Falkland Islands Cruise October 23–28, 2018 By Michael O’Brien For those who wanted to see more of Argentina than what was offered on the Falklands cruise, this pre-trip provided a wonderful opportunity to get a taste of the diversity of habitats and birds that this country has to offer. From marshes, grasslands, and parks around Buenos Aires to steppe plains and rugged coastlines of Northern Patagonia, we found an amazing diversity of birds in just a few days. On our first afternoon, we visited Costanera Sur Ecological Reserve, a wetland oasis in downtown Buenos Aires, just minutes from our hotel. Birds were not only abundant here, but most were also conspicuous and easy to see. In a leisurely stroll down the edge of a small lagoon, we found an amazing array of birds, including Southern Screamer, White-faced Whistling-Duck, Brazilian and Silver teals, Rosy-billed Pochard, Guira Cuckoo, Glittering-bellied Emerald, Wattled Jacana, Rufescent Tiger-Heron, Campo Flicker, Narrow-billed Woodcreeper, Black- backed Water-Tyrant, Red-crested and Yellow-billed cardinals, Golden-billed Saltator, and many others. Adjacent city parks were also home to an interesting set of birds such as Picazuro Pigeon, Rufous Hornero (national bird of Argentina), Rufous-bellied Thrush, and Chalk-browed Mockingbird. It was a dizzying array of birds, right in downtown Buenos Aires! Rosy-billed Pochard © Michael O’Brien Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 2 Buenos Aires & Northern Patagonia Pre-trip, 2018 The next day we did a thorough exploration of Otamendi Natural Reserve in the Parana River Delta. Here, we had a taste of the famed Argentine “pampas’ grasslands and marshes. As soon as we arrived, we were wowed by some spectacular birds such as Spectacled Tyrant, Scarlet-headed Blackbird, Masked Yellowthroat, and Black-and-rufous Warbling-Finch. Maguari Storks soared overhead, and Long-winged Harriers hunted low over the grasslands. With a little effort, we were rewarded with sightings of some real skulkers such as Rufous-capped Antshrike, Curve- billed Reedhaunter, Freckle-breasted Thornbird, Spix’s Spinetail, and Long-tailed Reed Finch. And further efforts produced some additional gems like White Woodpecker and Diademed Tanager. With a long species list under our belts, we were pleased with our time around Buenos Aires. Freckle-breasted Thornbird © Michael O’Brien After an early morning flight to Trelew, we experienced a dramatic change of scenery. Lying in the rain shadow of the Andes, Patagonia is a landscape characterized by dry brushy steppe plains. Roadside stops in this wide-open landscape produced sightings of Guanaco, a relative of the Llama, and Patagonian Mara, a relative of the Guinea Pig. But most of our afternoon was spent at Punta Tombo, a beautiful coastal promontory, and home to the world’s largest colony of Magellanic Penguins. Although we saw “only” a few hundred penguins, the colony hosts nearly a half million birds! In addition to the penguins, we found several other exciting birds including White-headed Steamer-Duck (endemic to Argentina), Elegant Crested-Tinamou, three species of oystercatchers, Chilean Skua, Plain-mantled Tit-Spinetail, and Grassland Yellow-Finch. In Trelew, we visited two lakes, each absolutely loaded with hundreds of ducks, swans, grebes, coots, and a stunning flock of 1,000+ Chilean Flamingos. Around the margins, other interesting Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 3 Buenos Aires & Northern Patagonia Pre-trip, 2018 birds included Picui Ground-Dove, Cinerous Harrier, and a cooperative Correndera Pipit. Farther north, we visited Punta Loma, a beautiful vista overlooking Golfo Nuevo, where we enjoyed a large colony of Magellanic Cormorants, along with Snowy Sheathbill and nice views of the very attractive Common Diuca-Finch. A complete surprise here was seeing a juvenile Magnificent Frigatebird sailing by offshore. This is perhaps the southernmost record for the species, and a solid 1,000 miles south of its nearest normal range in southern Brazil! Common Diuca-Finch © Michael O’Brien On our last day, we visited the Valdes Peninsula north of Puerto Madryn. Although distant, we were all excited to find a small group of Lesser Rheas, oddly seeming to associate with a herd of Guanacos. Other roadside stops produced sightings of some prize species such as Scale-throated Earthcreeper, White-winged Black-Tyrant, and Lesser Shrike-Tyrant. But the real centerpiece of the day was a whale-watching trip at Puerto Piramides. Under warm temperatures and calm winds, we sailed barely a half-mile offshore and were surrounded by Southern Right Whales! Even the veteran whale-watchers among us felt spoiled by the amazing views we had of these animals, which use these protected waters to raise their calves. What a wonderful way to finish up our pre-trip program before heading out to the Falklands! ITINERARY October 24 – Arrivals in Buenos Aires and 2 pm meeting at hotel; afternoon to Costanera Sur Ecological Reserve. Night in Buenos Aires. Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 4 Buenos Aires & Northern Patagonia Pre-trip, 2018 October 25 – All day at Otamendi Natural Reserve (Parana River Delta) with lunch break at La Reserva Cardales Golf Course. Night in Buenos Aires. October 26 – 7:30 am flight to Trelew; afternoon at Punta Tombo National Park. Night in Trelew. October 27 – Trelew area including Laguna Chiquichano, Laguna del Ornithologo, and the Titanosauris pullout; afternoon to Punta Loma National Park. Night in Puerto Madryn. Guanaco and Magellanic Penguin at Punta Loma © Michael O’Brien October 28 – Parakeet ravine near Puerto Madryn; Valdes Peninsula National Park; whale watching trip at Puerto Piramides; Bird Island; meet remaining cruise participants at 6:30 pm. Night at Puerto Madryn. KEY N = nest observed Y = dependent young observed E = Endemic to Argentina BIRDS Rheas ( Rheidae ) Lesser Rhea (Rhea pennata ) – Small group at Valdes NP. Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 5 Buenos Aires & Northern Patagonia Pre-trip, 2018 Tinamous ( Tinamidae ) Elegent Crested-Tinamou ( Eudromia elegans ) – seen at several locations near Trelew. Elegant Crested-Tinamou © Michael O’Brien Screamers ( Anhimidae ) Southern Screamer ( Chauna torquata ) N – Pairs seen at Costanera Sur and Otamendi. Ducks, Geese & Swans (Anatidae ) White-faced Whistling-Duck ( Dendrocygna viduata ) – Several at Costanera Sur. Fulvous Whistling-Duck ( Dendrocygna bicolor ) – Several at Costanera Sur and big flock at Otamendi. Black-necked Swan (Cygnus melancoryphus ) N – Several in the Trelew ponds. Coscoroba Swan ( Coscoroba coscoroba ) – Numerous at the Trelew ponds. White-headed Steamer-Duck ( Tachyeres leucocephalus ) E – Three at Punta Tombo. Crested Duck ( Lophonetta specularioides ) – Seen at Punta Tombo and the Valdes Peninsula. Brazilian Teal ( Amazonetta brasiliensis ) – Several at Costanera Sur and Otamendi. Silver Teal ( Spatula versicolor ) – Numerous at Costanera Sur. Cinnamon Teal ( Spatula cyanoptera ) – Singles at both Trelew ponds. Red Shoveler ( Anas platalea ) – Abundant at the Trelew ponds. Chiloe Wigeon ( Mareca sibilatrix ) – Numerous in Trelew. Yellow-billed Pintail ( Anas georgica ) – Numerous in Trelew. Yellow-billed Teal ( Anas flavirostris ) – Small numbers at several locations. Rosy-billed Pochard ( Netta peposaca ) – Numerous at Costanera Sur and Trelew. Black-headed Duck ( Heteronetta atricapilla ) – Several in Trelew. Lake Duck ( Oxyura vittata ) – Numerous in Trelew. Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 6 Buenos Aires & Northern Patagonia Pre-trip, 2018 Flamingos ( Phoenicopteridae ) Chilean Flamingo ( Phoenicopterus chilensis ) – Numerous in Trelew. Grebes ( Podicipedidae ) White-tufted Grebe ( Rollandia rolland ) – Numerous in Trelew. White-tufted Grebe © Michael O’Brien Pied-billed Grebe ( Podilymbus podiceps ) – Seen at Costanera Sur. Great Grebe ( Podiceps major ) – Seen at several locations. Silvery Grebe ( Podiceps occipitalis ) – Numerous in Trelew. Pigeons and Doves ( Columbidae ) Rock Pigeon ( Columba livia ) ( I ) – Numerous around urban areas. Picazuro Pigeon ( Patagioenas picazuro ) – Abundant around Buenos Aires. Spot-winged Pigeon ( Patagioenas maculosa ) – A few at Costanera Sur. Picui Ground-Dove ( Columbina picui ) – Two at Laguna Chiquichano. Eared Dove ( Zenaida auriculata ) – Abundant around Buenos Aires; a few around Puerto Madryn. Cuckoos ( Cusulidae ) Guira Cuckoo ( Guira guira ) – Three at Costanera Sur. Hummingbirds ( Trochilidae ) Glittering-bellied Emerald ( Chlorostilbon lucidus ) – A few at Costanera Sur and Otamendi. Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 7 Buenos Aires & Northern Patagonia Pre-trip, 2018 Gilded Hummingbird ( Hylocharis chrysura ) – Two at Otamendi. Rails, Gallinules, and Coots ( Rallidae ) Plumbeous Rail ( Pardirallus sanguinolentus ) – Two at Costanera Sur and one at Otamendi. Giant Wood-Rail ( Aramides ypecaha ) – Heard at Otamendi. Spot-flanked Gallinule ( Porphyriops melanops ) – Two at Costanera Sur. Common Gallinule ( Gallinula galeata ) – Numerous at Costanera Sur. Red-fronted Coot ( Fulica rufifrons ) – The least numerous coot; three at Costanera Sur and a few more at Trelew. Red-gartered Coot ( Fulica armillata ) –