Trips

Birding Argentina – Costanera Sur in Buenos Aires

June 24, 2014 by Renato 3 Comments

After our first leg of this birding trip we took a couple of days to visit Buenos Aires and to soak-in some of the local culture; BA is a beautiful city and our stay was very memorable.

Costanera Sur was an old riverside resort which was restored to and Ecological Reserve back in the 1970.  Today it is a protected reserve in the middle of the city just east of Puerto Madero which also was an old port build in the late 1800s and is now restored into a 21 st century waterfront project.

Here is the main entrance to Costanera Sur:

Costanera Sur EntranceCostanera Sur Ecological Reserve

I am always concerned about my camera when I am in any city but this place is gated and had some policing.  We felt pretty safe and managed to get some nice photos and even some new birds!

Black-and-rufous Warbling-FinchBlack-and-Rufous Warbling Finch

Black-hooded ParakeetBlack-hooded Parakeet

European StarlingEuropean Starling (introduced sp)

Golden-billed SaltatorGolden Billed Saltator

Green-barred WoodpeckerGreen-barred Woodpecker at work!

Guira CuckooThe three stooges cleaning themselves up in the sun (Guira Cuckoo)

Guira CuckooGuira Cuckoos sun-bathing

Masked Gnatcatcher FemaleMasked Gnatcatcher (female)

Masked Gnatcatcher MaleMasked Gnatcacher (male)

Patagonian MockingbirdPatagonian Mockingbird.  I think..  This individual was darker and more rufous than the Chalk-browed Mockingbird below

Chalk-browed MockingbirdChalk-browed Mockingbird

Picazuro PigeonPicazuro Pigeon

Sooty-fronted SpinetailSooty-fronted Spinetail

Buenos Aires was good to us, birds and culture, all in the same place.

Written by Renato
Renato was born in Quito, Ecuador and quickly flew to the USA to learn all about engineering and climbing company ladders. After getting his engineering degree from the University of Minnesota he worked in the Standard-American-Rat-Race-Company for fifteen years. After climbing the ladder to where he could no longer see the ground, he decided to jump off the ladder and migrate south like all normal birds do. To his surprise home did not look like it did when he left as a young fledgling; the towns were bigger, most of his friends had nests of their own, and the countryside was changed. Shocked by all the change he searched for a new life and a new wife. He stumbled across a vivacious young chick who would accompany him inside a volcanic crater to set up a love nest. So, after eight years of nesting inside the crater a new love for nature and birds has sprung a career in environmental conservation and birding tours. Finally this bird has come home to roost!