FIELD GUIDES BIRDING TOURS: Northwestern Argentina 2016: Rincon del Socorro extension

Field Guides Tour Report

Northwestern Argentina 2016: Rincon del Socorro extension

Oct 4, 2016 to Oct 9, 2016

Willy Perez

For our tour description, itinerary, past triplists, dates, fees, and more, please VISIT OUR TOUR PAGE.

See this triplist in printable PDF format with media only on page 1.

The fantastic Strange-tailed Tyrant was a top highlight of the extension! Photo by guide Willy Perez.

This year the short extension to Rincon del Socorro once again was fantastic -- everything worked out well and the comfortable estancia was perfect. Even the long drive from Posadas was fine and the roads were dry and easy to travel along.

Birding in the different habitats was unique. The combination of "spinal," gallery forest, and wetlands was perfect for the species that we needed. Being serenaded by the bird choruses very early in the morning was an experience itself, but the best was the call of the Greater Rhea at night. The mammals were nice as well, with many Capybaras all over the place, Plains Viscachas around the lodge, Pampas Fox, and three species of deer.

The best of course were the birds, with Giant Wood-Rails like chickens on the road, and Lark-like Brushrunner and Yellow Cardinal around the garden. Along the roadsides Bearded Tachuri were numerous; there were several Gray Monjitas, and plenty of Strange-tailed Tyrant males and females kept us happy and busy.

The visit to the Esteros de Ibera (the impressive wetlands) was rich with birdlife, Brazilian Teal, Bare-faced and Plumbeus ibises, Southern Screamer, and Rufous-sided Crake, just to mention a few. On this tour we even saw some tinamous -- Red-winged Tinamou and Spotted Nothura. And what about the food? It was out of this world, specially the lunch in the little house that Don Tito cooked for us in the Gaucho style....... yum!

This birding adventure couldn't have been complete without you, so thank you very much for joining us in this tour, it was a pleasure to share the adventure with you all.

Good birding,

--Willy

KEYS FOR THIS LIST
One of the following keys may be shown in brackets for individual species as appropriate: * = heard only, I = introduced, E = endemic, N = nesting, a = austral migrant, b = boreal migrant

Rheidae (Rheas)

GREATER RHEA (Rhea americana) – They were the garden birds at Rincon del Socorro, what a sight...

Tinamidae (Tinamous)

RED-WINGED TINAMOU (Rhynchotus rufescens) – Seen a few times along the road, also very vocal.

SPOTTED NOTHURA (Nothura maculosa) – Great views of this small tinamou along the roads.

Anhimidae (Screamers)

SOUTHERN SCREAMER (Chauna torquata)

Anatidae (Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl)

WHITE-FACED WHISTLING-DUCK (Dendrocygna viduata)

Male and female Brazilian Teal -- and it looks like the male is trying to play that beautiful wing to full effect! Photo by guide Willy Perez.

BRAZILIAN TEAL (Amazonetta brasiliensis) – A few pairs were seen nicely, but the best were at the Estero de Ibera.

WHITE-CHEEKED PINTAIL (Anas bahamensis)

Ciconiidae (Storks)

MAGUARI STORK (Ciconia maguari)

JABIRU (Jabiru mycteria) – A pair was spotted on a nest on our way back to Posadas.

Phalacrocoracidae (Cormorants and Shags)

NEOTROPIC CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax brasilianus)

Anhingidae (Anhingas)

ANHINGA (Anhinga anhinga)

Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns)

LEAST BITTERN (Ixobrychus exilis) [*]

RUFESCENT TIGER-HERON (Tigrisoma lineatum) – The small wetlands near the lodge were a great place to see this handsome heron.

COCOI HERON (Ardea cocoi)

GREAT EGRET (Ardea alba)

CATTLE EGRET (Bubulcus ibis)

STRIATED HERON (Butorides striata)

WHISTLING HERON (Syrigma sibilatrix) – One of the most colorful herons in the area.

BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON (Nycticorax nycticorax)

Threskiornithidae (Ibises and Spoonbills)

WHITE-FACED IBIS (Plegadis chihi)

BARE-FACED IBIS (Phimosus infuscatus)

PLUMBEOUS IBIS (Theristicus caerulescens)

ROSEATE SPOONBILL (Platalea ajaja)

Capybaras lounge at the water's edge. These are the largest rodents in the world. Photo by guide Willy Perez.

Cathartidae (New World Vultures)

BLACK VULTURE (Coragyps atratus)

LESSER YELLOW-HEADED VULTURE (Cathartes burrovianus)

Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, and Kites)

SNAIL KITE (Rostrhamus sociabilis)

LONG-WINGED HARRIER (Circus buffoni) – It was fantastic to see this bird several times, but the best one was the unusual black form.

CINEREOUS HARRIER (Circus cinereus)

SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (RUFOUS-THIGHED) (Accipiter striatus erythronemius) –

SAVANNA HAWK (Buteogallus meridionalis) – The most common hawk on the trip.

GREAT BLACK HAWK (Buteogallus urubitinga) – One bird was perched at the Esteros de Ibera.

ROADSIDE HAWK (Rupornis magnirostris)

BLACK-CHESTED BUZZARD-EAGLE (Geranoaetus melanoleucus)

Rallidae (Rails, Gallinules, and Coots)

RUFOUS-SIDED CRAKE (Laterallus melanophaius) – Fantastic views from the canoe of this small rail.

GIANT WOOD-RAIL (Aramides ypecaha)

ASH-THROATED CRAKE (Mustelirallus albicollis) – Very vocal but not seen. [*]

PLUMBEOUS RAIL (Pardirallus sanguinolentus)

COMMON GALLINULE (Gallinula galeata)

Aramidae (Limpkin)

LIMPKIN (Aramus guarauna)

Recurvirostridae (Stilts and Avocets)

BLACK-NECKED STILT (WHITE-BACKED) (Himantopus mexicanus melanurus)

Charadriidae (Plovers and Lapwings)

SOUTHERN LAPWING (CAYENNENSIS) (Vanellus chilensis cayennensis)

Jacanidae (Jacanas)

WATTLED JACANA (Jacana jacana)

Columbidae (Pigeons and Doves)

ROCK PIGEON (Columba livia) [I]

PICAZURO PIGEON (Patagioenas picazuro)

SPOT-WINGED PIGEON (Patagioenas maculosa)

WHITE-TIPPED DOVE (Leptotila verreauxi)

EARED DOVE (Zenaida auriculata)

Cuculidae (Cuckoos)

GUIRA CUCKOO (Guira guira)

SMOOTH-BILLED ANI (Crotophaga ani)

STRIPED CUCKOO (Tapera naevia)

Trochilidae (Hummingbirds)

BLUE-TUFTED STARTHROAT (Heliomaster furcifer) – A female was seen by some people around the gardens at the lodge, but we also saw a male near Laguna de Ibera.

GLITTERING-BELLIED EMERALD (Chlorostilbon lucidus)

Alcedinidae (Kingfishers)

RINGED KINGFISHER (Megaceryle torquata)

AMAZON KINGFISHER (Chloroceryle amazona)

GREEN KINGFISHER (Chloroceryle americana)

Picidae (Woodpeckers)

CHECKERED WOODPECKER (Veniliornis mixtus)

GREEN-BARRED WOODPECKER (Colaptes melanochloros melanolaimus)

CAMPO FLICKER (Colaptes campestris) – The common woodpecker on this extension, great looks.

Falconidae (Falcons and Caracaras)

SOUTHERN CARACARA (Caracara plancus)

YELLOW-HEADED CARACARA (Milvago chimachima)

CHIMANGO CARACARA (Milvago chimango)

AMERICAN KESTREL (Falco sparverius)

APLOMADO FALCON (Falco femoralis)

Psittacidae (New World and African Parrots)

MONK PARAKEET (Myiopsitta monachus)

BLUE-CROWNED PARAKEET (Thectocercus acuticaudatus)

Furnariidae (Ovenbirds and Woodcreepers)

NARROW-BILLED WOODCREEPER (Lepidocolaptes angustirostris)

RUFOUS HORNERO (Furnarius rufus) – This national bird of Argentina was seen every day.

WREN-LIKE RUSHBIRD (Phleocryptes melanops) [*]

FRECKLE-BREASTED THORNBIRD (Phacellodomus striaticollis) – Great looks when we went to Otamendi reserve.

GREATER THORNBIRD (Phacellodomus ruber)

LARK-LIKE BRUSHRUNNER (Coryphistera alaudina) – We managed to see this species in the garden of the lodge.

STRAIGHT-BILLED REEDHAUNTER (Limnoctites rectirostris) [*]

STRIPE-CROWNED SPINETAIL (Cranioleuca pyrrhophia) [*]

BROWN CACHOLOTE (Pseudoseisura lophotes)

CHOTOY SPINETAIL (Schoeniophylax phryganophilus)

YELLOW-CHINNED SPINETAIL (Certhiaxis cinnamomeus) – Several nice looks at this species. They like being close to water.

SOOTY-FRONTED SPINETAIL (Synallaxis frontalis)

Tyrannidae (Tyrant Flycatchers)

SOUTHERN BEARDLESS-TYRANNULET (Camptostoma obsoletum)

BEARDED TACHURI (Polystictus pectoralis) – This year many males and females were along the road, especially close to the water.

SMALL-BILLED ELAENIA (Elaenia parvirostris)

SOOTY TYRANNULET (Serpophaga nigricans) – A pair was nesting at the dock at Laguna de Ibera. [N]

WHITE-CRESTED TYRANNULET (Serpophaga subcristata)

PEARLY-VENTED TODY-TYRANT (Hemitriccus margaritaceiventer)

BRAN-COLORED FLYCATCHER (Myiophobus fasciatus)

VERMILION FLYCATCHER (Pyrocephalus rubinus)

SPECTACLED TYRANT (Hymenops perspicillatus)

YELLOW-BROWED TYRANT (Satrapa icterophrys)

GRAY MONJITA (Xolmis cinereus) – This year they were very common along the roads.

WHITE MONJITA (Xolmis irupero)

BLACK-AND-WHITE MONJITA (Xolmis dominicanus) – We managed to see this rare monjita on our way back from Rincon.

STREAMER-TAILED TYRANT (Gubernetes yetapa) – This was a nice surprise, a few of them were along the road on our last day in Rincon.

WHITE-HEADED MARSH TYRANT (Arundinicola leucocephala)

STRANGE-TAILED TYRANT (Alectrurus risora) – I have never seen so many of them. The displays of the males were superb.

CATTLE TYRANT (Machetornis rixosa)

SWAINSON'S FLYCATCHER (Myiarchus swainsoni swainsoni)

GREAT KISKADEE (Pitangus sulphuratus)

TROPICAL KINGBIRD (Tyrannus melancholicus)

FORK-TAILED FLYCATCHER (Tyrannus savana)

Tityridae (Tityras and Allies)

GREEN-BACKED BECARD (Pachyramphus viridis)

CRESTED BECARD (Pachyramphus validus)

Vireonidae (Vireos, Shrike-Babblers, and Erpornis)

RUFOUS-BROWED PEPPERSHRIKE (Cyclarhis gujanensis)

RED-EYED VIREO (MIGRATORY CHIVI) (Vireo olivaceus chivi)

Hirundinidae (Swallows)

BROWN-CHESTED MARTIN (FUSCA) (Progne tapera fusca)

WHITE-RUMPED SWALLOW (Tachycineta leucorrhoa)

Troglodytidae (Wrens)

HOUSE WREN (SOUTHERN) (Troglodytes aedon bonariae)

Polioptilidae (Gnatcatchers)

MASKED GNATCATCHER (Polioptila dumicola dumicola)

Donacobiidae (Donacobius)

BLACK-CAPPED DONACOBIUS (Donacobius atricapilla)

Turdidae (Thrushes and Allies)

RUFOUS-BELLIED THRUSH (Turdus rufiventris)

CREAMY-BELLIED THRUSH (Turdus amaurochalinus)

Mimidae (Mockingbirds and Thrashers)

CHALK-BROWED MOCKINGBIRD (Mimus saturninus)

WHITE-BANDED MOCKINGBIRD (Mimus triurus) – The first morning around the lodge we had one of these singing and jumping up and down on a dead tree.

Parulidae (New World Warblers)

MASKED YELLOWTHROAT (Geothlypis aequinoctialis)

WHITE-BROWED WARBLER (Myiothlypis leucoblephara)

Thraupidae (Tanagers and Allies)

RED-CRESTED CARDINAL (Paroaria coronata) – This stunning bird was always around the lodge calling and feeding, what a great bird!

YELLOW-BILLED CARDINAL (Paroaria capitata)

BLUE-AND-YELLOW TANAGER (Pipraeidea bonariensis bonariensis)

SAYACA TANAGER (Thraupis sayaca)

LONG-TAILED REED FINCH (Donacospiza albifrons)

BLACK-AND-RUFOUS WARBLING-FINCH (Poospiza nigrorufa)

SAFFRON FINCH (Sicalis flaveola)

LESSER GRASS-FINCH (Emberizoides ypiranganus)

GREAT PAMPA-FINCH (EASTERN) (Embernagra platensis platensis)

PEARLY-BELLIED SEEDEATER (Sporophila pileata) – Once again we managed to see this very restricted-range seedeater that was split from Capped Seedeater.

TAWNY-BELLIED SEEDEATER (Sporophila hypoxantha)

DARK-THROATED SEEDEATER (Sporophila ruficollis)

DOUBLE-COLLARED SEEDEATER (Sporophila caerulescens)

RUSTY-COLLARED SEEDEATER (Sporophila collaris)

YELLOW CARDINAL (Gubernatrix cristata) – Rincon del Socorro still is the best place to see this rare cardinal.

GRAYISH SALTATOR (Saltator coerulescens)

GREEN-WINGED SALTATOR (Saltator similis) – It was great to see this saltator coming to eat the leftovers from our lunch.

GOLDEN-BILLED SALTATOR (Saltator aurantiirostris)

Emberizidae (Buntings and New World Sparrows)

GRASSLAND SPARROW (Ammodramus humeralis)

RUFOUS-COLLARED SPARROW (Zonotrichia capensis)

Cardinalidae (Cardinals and Allies)

HEPATIC TANAGER (LOWLAND) (Piranga flava flava)

Icteridae (Troupials and Allies)

WHITE-BROWED MEADOWLARK (Sturnella superciliaris)

CHOPI BLACKBIRD (Gnorimopsar chopi)

SCARLET-HEADED BLACKBIRD (Amblyramphus holosericeus) – The contrast between the scarlet and black of this bird is unique.

UNICOLORED BLACKBIRD (Agelasticus cyanopus)

YELLOW-RUMPED MARSHBIRD (Pseudoleistes guirahuro)

BROWN-AND-YELLOW MARSHBIRD (Pseudoleistes virescens)

GRAYISH BAYWING (Agelaioides badius)

SCREAMING COWBIRD (Molothrus rufoaxillaris)

SHINY COWBIRD (Molothrus bonariensis)

VARIABLE ORIOLE (Icterus pyrrhopterus)

SOLITARY BLACK CACIQUE (Cacicus solitarius)

Fringillidae (Finches, Euphonias, and Allies)

HOODED SISKIN (Spinus magellanicus)

NINE-BANDED ARMADILLO (Dasypus novemcinctus)

CAPYBARA (Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris)

PLAINS VISCACHA (Lagostomus maximus)

PAMPAS FOX (Pseudalopex gymnocercus)

MARSH DEER (Blastocerus dichotomus)

PAMPAS DEER (Ozotoceros bezoarticus)

BROWN BROCKET DEER (Mazama gouazoubira)

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Additionally we saw Black Caiman and Broad-snouted Caiman at Esteros de Ibera.

Totals for the tour: 146 bird taxa and 7 mammal taxa