A few birds from Buenos Aires

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From Buenos Aires, Argentina, Kenn writes: We were walking for hours and for miles in the huge Costanera Sur reserve right in the city today, developing a good January sunburn in the process. Buenos Aires is a city of around ten million people, and it's amazing to have this superb nature reserve within walking distance of the downtown hotels. A recurrent drought has dried up the ponds that usually have hordes of waterbirds, but we did see a great variety of landbirds. It's after midnight here in Argentina and we're too wasted to write anything, but here are a few pictures, anyway.

Looking at a small part of the skyline of Buenos Aires, Argentina, from across the Costanera Sur Nature Reserve


Picazuro Pigeon -- this native pigeon is abundant in the reserve

Bay-winged Cowbird -- the most attractive of the three local species of cowbirds (this one is not a brood parasite, but its nests are parasitized by another species, the Screaming Cowbird)

 Green-barred Woodpecker, lurking in deep shade -- as you might guess by looking, this bird is related to the flickers in North America

This young White-rumped Swallow was waiting to be fed by its parents. Early January is mid-summer here, and we saw recently fledged young birds of several species.


Comments

  1. ChadJanuary 3, 2009 at 10:22 AM

    Its amazing how when you travel to another country (or city) how we birders get so excited at the birds that are just "common" to the locals. Last June when I was in Costa Rica I remember being so excited over the Clay-colored Robin but since they are as common as the American Robin here there was little to no excitement from the residents over them.

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  2. Julie ZickefooseJanuary 13, 2009 at 6:47 PM

    I dunno why, but the name Screaming Cowbird made me hoot! I am loving these strange, strange birds. Keep 'em coming!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Luigi SperanzaSeptember 1, 2011 at 4:23 PM

    Congratulations, Kenn and Kimberly. I loved the photos. Here three cheers for W. H. Hudson, patron saint of La-Plata birding!

    ReplyDelete

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