COSTANERA SUR RESERVE (half day)
One of the best urban reserves in the world with 336 species of birds recorded in the last 30 years. The reserve opens at 8:00hs AM and close its doors at 19:00hs PM in spring. Remember that the reserve normally closes in rainy days, but it’s possible to take a view from outside for a couple of hours. No especial clothing is required, but you must bring insect repellent, suncream and a hat. A small backpack is always useful.
TOP TEN SPECIES: Black-necked Swan, Rosy-billed Pochard, Spot-flanked Gallinule, Guira Cuckoo, Checkered Woodpecker, Narrow-billed Woodcreeper, Masked Gnatcatcher, Yellow-billed Cardinal Greyish Baywing, Black-and-Rufous Warbling-Finch.
OTAMENDI NP & ENTRE RIOS PROVINCE (full day)
We start at 6:30 hs in a prearranged location. In the morning we visit the famous Otamendi NP, birding the riparian forest and marshlands. After lunch birding in xeric woodlands at Ceibas. This is probably the best birding site near Buenos Aires, a well-known place for birders which it was explored for the last 25 years. Normally in a spring day the bird list here is of more than 80 species. Return to Buenos Aires at about 18:00 hs.
TOP TEN SPECIES: Dusky-legged Guan, Giant Wood-Rail, Red-and-white Crake, Ash-coloured Cuckoo, Scimitar-billed Woodcreeper, Straight-billed Reedhaunter, Curve-billed Reedhaunter, Many-colored Rush-Tyrant, Diademed Tanager, Gray-throated Warbling-Finch.
PUNTA RASA AREA (2 days, 1 night)
We depart from Buenos Aires early in the morning. Transfer to San Clemente area where we’ll explore the grassy meadows which harbours plenty of aquatic birds, rheas and tinamous, among others specialties. The following day we have a full day around Punta Rasa, where hundreds of shorebirds and seabirds congregate in its tidal mudflats. Apart of this, there are extensive brackish grasslands where Dot-winged Crake is locally common. Return to Buenos Aires at about 18:00 hs.
TOP TEN SPECIES: Greater Rhea, Spotted Nothura, Black-headed Duck, Olrog’s Gull, Dot-winged Crake, Rufous-chested Dotterel (winter), Hudson’s Canastero, Bay-capped Wren-Spinetail, Sulphur-bearded Spinetail, Many-colored Rush-Tyrant.
PUNTA INDIO & PUNTA RASA AREA (3 days, 2 nights)
A good combination of the best places for birding near Buenos Aires. We start at 6:30 hs in a prearranged location. In the morning we visit the important bird area of Magdalena, birding the riparian forest and marshlands. After lunch birding in xeric woodlands and the coast at Punta Indio, located 160 km south of Buenos Aires city.
The second day we move to San Clemente area where we explore the grassy meadows which harbours plenty of aquatic birds, rheas and tinamous, among others specialties. The following day we have a full day around Punta Rasa, where hundreds of shorebirds and seabirds congregate in its tidal mudflats. Apart of this, there are extensive brackish grasslands where Dot-winged Crake is locally common. Return to Buenos Aires at about 18:00 hs.
TOP TEN SPECIES: Greater Rhea, Spotted Nothura, Black-headed Duck, Olrog’s Gull, Dot-winged Crake, Red and white Crake, Hudson’s Canastero, Bay-capped Wren-Spinetail, Sulphur-bearded Spinetail, Many-colored Rush-Tyrant.
