10 Jan 23 - Argentina - The Mar Chiquita To Villa Gesell Coastline

Another dawn start & I found a Spot-winged Pigeon enjoying the peace & quiet of the campsite barbeque area.

Spot-winged Pigeon: This is the nominate maculosa subspecies which occurs from South Bolivia to Paraguay, South East Brazil, Uruguay & South central Argentina

I was quickly leaving the Mar Chiquita campsite for another look around the small town, as there are occasional records of Red-winged Tinamous in the area & after I left the Mar Chiquita area, I would rapidly be heading out of its range. Not surprisingly, today wasn't the day when one would show itself. But the estuary river was busy again.

Lake Duck: This monotypic species occurs in South Argentina & Chile. It migrates North to South Brazil & Paraguay during the Argentinian Winter

Silver Teal: This is the nominate versicolor subspecies which occurs from South Bolivia, Paraguay & South Brazil to Tierra del Fuego

Yellow-billed Pintail: This is the spinicauda subspecies which occurs from the highlands of South Colombia to Tierra del Fuego & the Falkland Islands. The other subspecies is the nominate subspecies which is endemic to South Georgia

Black Skimmer: The Black Skimmers were patrolling along the river again

Spot-winged Pigeon: Another Spot-winged Pigeon on a garden lawn

Picazuro Pigeon: A Picazuro Pigeon for comparison was nearby

Chalk-browed Mockingbird: This is the modulator subspecies which occurs from South East Bolivia to South Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay & North Argentina

Chalk-browed Mockingbird

It was time to start the drive back to Buenos Aires. Rather than return the direct route, I decided on a longer route which followed the coast road up to the outer part of the Rio de la Plata coastline, before heading West along the coast to Buenos Aires. Invariably, there were a few roadside stops along the way.

Brown-and-yellow Marshbird: This monotypic species occurs from extreme South Brazil & Uruguay to North Argentina

Greater Rhea: This is the albescens subspecies which occurs on the plains of Argentina South to Rio Negro

Greater Rhea: This was a family of fourteen individuals

The first planned stop was some wet pools by the side of the small Villa Gesell flying club, where there had been old records of South American Painted Snipe. However, I will cover that those pools in the next Blog Post.

9 Jan 23 - Argentina - The Burrowing Owl Town

I had had a good night's sleep in the car at a campsite in the small town of Mar Chiquita on the Atlantic coast. I was up at first light & was greeted by a calling Chimango Caracara near to the car. It was clearly going to be a nice day, albeit with strong sunlight.

Chimango Caracara: This is the nominate chimango subspecies that occurs from South Brazil & Paraguay to central Argentina & central Chile

Chimango Caracara: They are a common species and I bumped into the next individual just outside of the campsite

After a quick breakfast, I was heading out to explore the coastal areas around Mar Chiquita. The small town has two rivers that runs into the larger river and the sea, as well as, some good-looking coastal beaches and mud flats. It looks a nice place to live for a Birder & where the locals were tolerant of their local wildlife.

Southern Lapwing: This is the lampronotus subspecies which occurs South of the Amazon & East of the Andes to South Uruguay & central Argentina

Chalk-browed Mockingbird: This is the modulator subspecies which occurs from South East Bolivia to South Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay & North Argentina

Southern Crested Caracara: This monotypic species occurs from the Amazon basin to East Peru, Tierra del Fuego & the Falklands. When I first travelled to the New World, it was lumped with Crested Caracara which occurs as far North to the Southern United States & some of the Caribbean Islands

There was a dirt track along the side of one of the coastal rivers which had a good selection of species.

Coscoroba Swan: This monotypic species occurs from South Brazil to Paraguay, Uruguay, Tierra del Fuego & the Falklands

Hudsonian Godwit: This monotypic species breeds in Alaska and Northern Canada & winters in Chile & Argentina. Note, the stronger supercilium compared to our similar-looking Black-tailed Godwit. In flight, their black underwing gives them away

Black Skimmer: This is the intercedens subspecies which occurs from East Brazil to Paraguay, Uruguay & North East Argentina

There was a good selection of species on the mudflats at low tide, but all too far for photos. Then I ran into the local celebrities. It was good to see how the locals were looking after them.

Burrowing Owl: This is the nominate cunicularia subspecies which occurs from South Bolivia, South Brazil & Paraguay to Tierra del Fuego

Burrowing Owl: They are quite happy dozing during the day as long as their partner is awake

Burrowing Owl: Just in case it wasn't obvious that they were protected

Burrowing Owl: The protected nest site is next to one of the dirt roads in the small town

Burrowing Owl: When I checked Google Maps, I found that I could see the Burrowing Owl pair & their nest site on Google Maps (Copyright Google Maps)

It was time to leave the Mar Chiquita area & explore further in the hope of seeing a Red-winged Tinamou: which was the Tick I was hoping to see in this area of the Argentinian coastline.