With Focus On Nature

A Birding & Nature Tour 
in
ARGENTINA

(tour: FON/AR-1 '10)

September 27  - October 10, 2010

Tour to be led by Armas Hill 



Among the notable birds to be sought 
during this tour would be:
Spot-winged Falconet, Black-legged Seriema,
Lark-like Brushrunner, Rufous-throated Dipper, 
and the Many-colored Chaco-Finch.
 
Also the Magellanic Penguin, Tawny-throated Dotterel,  
Burrowing Parrot, and Yellow Cardinal.

In addition to an assortment
of marine and land mammals. 

Links:

A Complete List and a Photo Gallery of Argentina Birds (in 2 parts) 
(noting those during previous FONT tours): 
List 1: Penguins to Woodpeckers
List 2: Manakins to Grosbeaks

Mammals during FONT Argentina Tours  (with photos)

FONT Past Tour Highlights

Itinerary:

Mon: Sep. 27  Departure from North America, or elsewhere.

Tue: Sep. 28  Arrival in Argentina. Birding in the afternoon (particularly for those arriving in the morning or mid-day) in Buenos Aires at the Costanera Sud Nature Reserve. Even though it's in the city, it's a great place for birding. We've seen over 115 species there, including:  
Stripe-backed Bittern, Black-headed and Masked Ducks, Gray-hooded Gull and Snowy-crowned Tern, Many-colored Rush-Tyrant and Wren-like Rushbird, Curve-billed Reedhaunter and Sulphur-bearded Spinetail, Scarlet-headed Blackbird and Black-capped Warbling-Finch.  
Overnight in Buenos Aires.

Wed: Sep. 29  A morning flight from Buenos Aires to San Miguel de Tucuman (often called just "Tucuman").  
Birding, during two days, west of that city, in an area of excellent "yungas" forest. In addition to the endemic Tucuman Mountain-Finch and Yellow-striped Brush-Finch, other niceties of the area include the Red-tailed Comet, Dot-fronted Woodpecker, Scribble-tailed Canastero, Rufous-throated Dipper, and Rust-and-yellow Tanager. Overnight in the area of Tucuman.

Thu: Sep. 30  After some morning birding, travel south from Tucuman toward Cordoba. With birding enroute (of course!), and particularly in an area of a large inland salt marsh known as Salinas Grandes. A rarity occurring there is the Salinas Monjita. 
We'll have our first contact, along the way, with good chaco habitat, where specialties occur such as: Spot-winged Falconet, Black-legged Seriema, Chaco Earthcreeper, and Crested Gallito. Overnight near Cordoba, in Miramar.

Fri: Oct. 1  Birding in an outstanding area for it — the region of the Laguna Mar Chiquita. The now likely-extinct Eskimo Curlew was reported to be seen in this area in October–November 1988 (3 birds), 1989 (4 birds), and 1993 (2 birds). Our chances for that bird will be of course be nil, but who knows what we'll see? 
More relevant to 2010, the place is known for some tremendous birding, with massive numbers of shorebirds and waterfowl. The attractive Ringed Teal is notable among them. There are also some quite interesting and localized birds, including the Olive-crowned Crescent-chest and two species of doraditos (Crested and Dinelli's). Other notables include the Crested Hornero, Lark-like Brushrunner, Brown Cachalote, and the Many-colored Chaco-Finch. Overnight, again, at Miramar.

Ringed Teal photographed during a FONT tour
(photo by Marie Gardner)

Sat: Oct. 2  We'll travel west to a plateau known as the Pampa de Achala, in mountains called (in Spanish) the Sierra de los Comechingones, a rugged range isolated from the Andes to the west. In that area, we'll spend two days. 
One of the three Argentine endemics that occurs in this region is the Comechingones Cinclodes (now that's a mouthful!) Another cinclodes is also in the area, named after the renowned Argentine ornithologist, Olrog. And, there's the Cordoba Canastero, the Buff-breasted Earthcreeper, and the scarce Black-crowned Monjita.
Overnight in the town of Icho Cruz, a good site for the endemic Cinnamon Warbling-Finch.

Sun: Oct. 3  After birding in and near Icho Cruz, a late-day flight from Cordoba to Buenos Aires. Overnight in Buenos Aires.   

Mon: Oct. 4  Flight from Buenos Aires to Trelew. An afternoon visit to the huge penguin colony at Punta Tombo (where there are approximately a million penguins. So, of course, there are about 500,000 burrows where they nest). And, other birds are there in addition to the penguins. Among them the Brown Skua and the rare, localized Chubut Steamerduck. Overnight in Trelew.

Tue: Oct. 5  A full-day of birding and observing of other wildlife in the area of the Valdes Peninsula. Birds to include: Darwin's Rhea, Elegant Crested-Tinamou, Tawny-throated Dotterel, Black-browed Albatross, Southern Giant-Petrel, and Snowy Sheathbill, with an assortment of landbirds.  
Land mammals include the interesting Mara, and the Guanaco.  
Marine mammals can include: the Southern Right Whale, Killer Whale, Southern Elephant Seal, Southern Fur Seal, and Southern Sea Lion. Overnight, again, at Trelew.

Wed: Oct. 6  On this day, travel north (with birding enroute) to San Antonio Oeste. Our objective, at that destination would be 6 of the 16 Argentine endemic birds, along with the endangered Yellow Cardinal, and the colorful Burrowing Parrot. Whatever we miss this day, we'll try for again the following morning. Overnight at San Antonio Oeste.

Thu: Oct. 7  Among the birds that we'll seek in the area of San Antonio Oeste are the Sandy Gallito, the White-throated Cachalote, and the uncommon Rusty-backed Monjita. These are 3 of the 6 endemics in that region. Of course, we're going for all six! Return in the afternoon to Trelew. Overnight there.

Fri: Oct. 8   A flight from Trelew back to Buenos Aires.

Sat: Oct. 9  Some final Argentine birding at the Costanera Sud Nature Reserve in Buenos Aires, before our 
international flight departures for home.   

Sun: Oct. 10  For those returning to North America, after an overnight flight, a morning arrival.