21st
Having arrived in
Buenos Aires to meet my girlfriend the previous Saturday and spent a few days
doing tourist stuff an afternoon trip to Reserva Costanera Sur was taken. This
reserve is walking distance from the busy city centre consisting of a maintained
waterfront with reeded areas. There is a circular route leading around the
reserve where two former lagoons have succumbed to mixed vegetation.
The afternoon began
with a mix of city species Guira Cuckoo, Rufous Collared Sparrow, Masked
Gnatcatcher and the regular and very noisy Nanday Parakeet. Chalk browed Mockingbird,
Southern Caracara, Picazuro Pigeon and a Green barred Woodpecker were also
added to the list.
A Southern Screamer
was spied early on but the photo opportunity was not to come until later on
after a tense search for the bird from the pavement walkway. This was the most
productive area for wildfowl which had a row of statues of former Argentine
sports stars excluding Maradonna and a burger van positioned ever 100metres.
Being an avid lover
of “Los Patos” I was in my element with Silver Teal being a personnel favourite
of mine. Rosy-billed Pochard was also numerous hanging around the edges of the
wall hoping for any offerings the passing public would cast aside.
Speckled Teal, Masked
Duck, Pied-billed Grebe and White-tufted Grebe were also present along with
Common Gallinule and numerous Coots.
There are three
types of Coot present all with subtle differences to the colour and shape of
the shield. I photographed one species the Red-gartered Coot during this visit.
I logged forty
species with a Limpkin and a wall walking Grey-necked Wood-Rail completing the
list. My next visit would be with Mark Pearman an ornithologist and
local bird guide.
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