19th April. Arrival at Buenos Aires international airport early morning, quick stop en-route to the city at a small marsh/grassland area, with all afternoon spent at the Reserva Natural Costaneira Sur on the Rio Plate (located almost in the centre of the city): -
- White-tufted Grebe 150+
- Pied-billed Grebe 75+
- Great Grebe c.10
- Neotropic Cormorant 5+
- Great Egret 3
- Snowy Egret 50+
- Striated Heron 2+
- Black-crowned Night Heron 8+
- Rufescent Tiger-Heron 1
- White-faced Ibis 30+
- Fulvous Whistling Duck 1
- White-faced Whistling Duck 60+
- Coscoroba Swan 25
- Black-necked Swan 100+
- Yellow-billed Pintail 1
- Speckled Teal 4
- Silver Teal 30+
- Rosy-billed Pochard 8
- Argentine Ruddy (Lake) Duck c.25
- Black Vulture 2
- Snail Kite 4
- Long-winged Harrier 1
- Roadside Hawk 1
- Southern Crested Caracara 6
- Chimango Caracara 15
- Limpkin 1
- Red-gartered Coot 100s (commoner than the next species)
- White-winged Coot 100s
- Red-fronted Coot 5
- Moorhen many
- Spot-flanked Gallinule c.4
- Wattled Jacana 15+
- Southern Lapwing 15+
- South American Kelp Gull 8
- Brown-hooded Gull 40+
- Grey-hooded Gull c.25
- Picazuro Pigeon 25+
- Feral Pigeon many
- Eared Dove 12+
- Nenday (Black-hooded) Parrot 10+
- Monk Parakeet 30+
- Guira Cuckoo 6+
- Green Kingfisher 1
- Golden-breasted (Green-barred) Woodpecker 5
- Bar-winged Cinclodes 1
- Rufous Hornero 10+
- Spectacled Tyrant 3
- Sooty Tyrannulet 1
- Cattle Tyrant 5
- Yellow-browed Tyrant 1
- Great Kiskadee many
- Tropical Kingbird 1
- Vermilion Flycatcher 2
- White-crested Tyrannulet 6+
- Small-billed Elaenia 6
- Brown-chested Martin 2
- Chilean Swallow 1
- Southern House Wren 5
- White-banded Mockingbird 1
- Chalk-browed Mockingbird 12+
- Creamy-bellied Thrush 1
- Rufous-bellied Thrush 8+
- Masked Gnatcatcher 6
- Sayaca Tanager 2
- White-lined Tanager 1
- Red-crested Cardinal 3
- Yellow-billed Cardinal 3+
- Double-collared Seedeater 5
- Saffron Finch 2
- Rufous-collared Sparrow 10+
- House Sparrow many
- Black-and-rufous Warbling-Finch 6
- Black-capped Warbling-Finch 4
- Great Pampa-Finch 4
- Hooded Siskin 12+
- Epaulet Oriole 5
- Shiny Cowbird many
- Bay-winged Cowbird 3
- Yellow-winged Blackbird 2
20th April. Mid morning spent at Buenos Aires domestic airport, which is situated on the banks of the Rio Plate. Immediately opposite the airport (over the bridge or walking quickly over the busy road), the river can be viewed: -
o Snowy Egret 1
o Chimango Caracara c.15 (inc.9 flying over the river)
o Southern Crested Caracara 2+
o South American Kelp Gull 50+
o Olrog’s (Band-tailed) Gull 3+ (1+ adult, 2+ 1st-years)
o Grey-hooded Gull 25+
o Brown-chested Martin 2
o Eared Dove 5
Internal flight from Buenos Aires to Tucuman. A quick bit of birding in the airport grounds at Tucuman producing: -
- Glittering-bellied Emerald 2
- White-bellied Hummingbird 1
- White-banded Mockingbird 1
- Yellowish Pipit 1
- Rufous Hornero 1+
- Southern Lapwing 5+
- American Kestrel 1
Highway between Tucuman and the mountain pass running adjacent to the Rio Los Sosas: -
o Snowy Egret 3
o Black Vulture 20+
o Roadside Hawk 1
o Great Black-Hawk 1
o Smooth-billed Ani 3
o Guira Cuckoo 1
o Cattle Tyrant 1
o Great Kiskadee many
o Blue-and-white Swallow many
o Screaming Cowbird 4
The road adjacent to the Rio Los Sosas, climbing up the mountains in the direction of the town of Tafi del Valle (from the Tucuman highway): -
- Torrent Duck 1 female
- Turkey Vulture 2
- Black Vulture many
- Southern Crested Caracara 2
- Bar-winged Cinclodes 3
- Black Phoebe 5
- White-throated Tyrannulet 2
- Blue-and-white Swallow 100s
- Rufous-throated Dipper 1
- Southern House Wren 2
- Mountain Wren 1
- Red-eyed Vireo 1
- Brown-capped Redstart 2
- Tropical Parula 1
- Common Bush-Tanager 1
- Hooded Siskin 10+
Grassland area on the right of the road before the town of Tafi del Valle and the shores of El Mollar Lake: -
- Pied-billed Grebe 1
- Yellow-billed Pintail 4
- Speckled Teal (of the race oxpterum, ‘Sharp-winged Teal’) 2
- White-tailed Kite 1
- Red-backed Hawk 1
- Southern Crested Caracara 4
- Chimango Caracara 2+
- American Kestrel 1
- Andean Coot 5
- Black-necked Stilt (of the race melanurus, ‘White-backed Stilt’) 6
- Southern Lapwing 12+
- Andean Lapwing 1
- Andean Gull c.10
- Eared Dove 4
- Burrowing Owl 1
- Blue-and-white Swallow 20+
- Andean Slaty-Thrush 1
- Chiguanco Thrush 6+
- Rufous-collared Sparrow 1
- House Sparrow 10
21st April. Uphill from the town of Tafi del Valle (on the road towards El Infiernillo pass) there is a waterworks situated on a left hand bend. The small area of forestry uphill and behind the waterworks produced: -
- Tucuman Mountain-Finch 1
- Yellow-striped Brush-Finch 8
- Hooded Siskin 20+
- Bar-winged Cinclodes 1
- Andean Condor 3
- Bay-winged Hawk 2
- Red-backed Hawk 2
- Southern Crested Caracara 3
- Chiguanco Thrush 6+
- Cliff Flycatcher 1
- Mountain Wren 1
A couple of stops were made by vegetated ravines adjacent to the road between Tafi del Valle and the summit of the El Infiernillo pass: -
- Andean Condor 2
- Aplomado Falcon 2
- Peregrine 1
- Cinereous Harrier pair
- Red-backed Hawk 6+
- Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle 1
- Chimango Caracara 5
- Andean Lapwing 6
- Grey-hooded Parakeet 10+
- Black-winged Ground-Dove 6+
- Bare-eyed Ground-Dove 4
- Golden-spotted Ground-Dove 2
- Andean Flicker 2
- Andean Hillstar 1
- Andean Swift 15+
- Rufous-banded Miner 2
- White-winged Cinclodes 1
- Brown-capped Tit-Spinetail 2+
- Hooded Siskin 5
- Rufous-sided Warbling-Finch 2
- Rufous-collared Sparrow many
- Ash-breasted Sierra-Finch 15+
- Band-tailed Sierra-Finch 1
- Mourning Sierra-Finch 2
- Grey-hooded Sierra-Finch 3
- Greenish Yellow-Finch 8+
- Paramo Pipit 1
- Hellmayr’s Pipit 2
- D’Orbigny’s Chat-Tyrant 2+
- Yellow-browed Tyrant 1
- Spot-billed Ground-Tyrant 1
- Lesser (Mouse-brown) Shrike-Tyrant 1
- Black-billed Shrike-Tyrant 1
- Shiny Cowbird 100
Roadside stop in Ampimpa village (near the petrol station): -
- American Kestrel 1
- Turkey Vulture 4
- Black Vulture 2
- Picui Ground-Dove 1
- Andean Hillstar 2
- Chequered Woodpecker 1
- White-fronted Woodpecker 2
- Golden-breasted (Green-barred) Woodpecker 1
- Rusty-vented (Creamy-breasted) Canastero 1
- Patagonian Mockingbird 3
A couple of roadside stops in the desert area between Ampimpa and Cafayete.
- Elegant-crested Tinamou 4
- Turkey Vulture 1
- Southern Lapwing 2
- Spot-winged Pigeon 1
- Picui Ground-Dove 1
- Burrowing Parrot 40 (of the northern, dark-bellied race)
- Great Kiskadee 2
- Blue-and-yellow Tanager 1
- Patagonian Mockingbird 2
- Sandy Gallito 1+
- Andean Tyrant 1(female)
- White-winged Black-Tyrant 1
- Greater Wagtail-Tyrant 2
22nd April. The forested Los Laureles area at the start of the unpaved road up to Los Cardones National Park from the town of Moldes: -
o Great Egret 1
o Whistling Heron 2
o Scaly-headed Parrot 4
o Burrowing Owl 2
o Ocellated Piculet 1
o Dot-fronted Woodpecker 2
o Mountain Wren 1
o Stripe-crowned Spinetail 2
o White-crested Tyrannulet 2
o Plain Tyrannulet 1
o Yellow-browed Tyrant 1
o Giant Antshrike 1(male)
o Rufous-browed Peppershrike 1
o Tropical Parula 3
o Two-banded Warbler 2
o Brown-capped Redstart 3
o Common Bush-Tanager 2
o Sayaca Tanager 5
o Orange-headed Tanager 2
o Ultramarine Grosbeak 1(female)
o Fulvous-headed Brush-Finch 2
o Rufous-collared Sparrow 2
The road between Los Laureles right up the mountain, past the National Park entrance, to the summit at Parador Piedra del Molino, Herrera with several stops en-route: -
- Ornate Tinamou 2
- Andean Condor 2
- Turkey Vulture 2
- American Kestrel 2
- Roadside Hawk 1
- Red-backed Hawk 2
- Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle 1
- Southern Lapwing 3
- Dusky-legged Guan 6
- Mitred Parakeet 12
- Eared Dove 2
- Bare-eyed Ground-Dove 1
- Golden-spotted Ground-Dove c.40
- Andean Flicker 3
- Andean Swift 15+
- Red-tailed Comet 2+
- White-sided Hillstar 1
- Chestnut (Steinbach’s) Canastero 1+
- Rusty-vented (Creamy-bellied) Canastero 2+
- Cordilleran Canastero 1
- Rock Earthcreeper 2
- Buff-breasted Earthcreeper 1
- Rufous-banded Miner 3
- Azara’s Spinetail 1
- Brown-capped Tit-Spinetail 1
- Yellow-billed Tit-Tyrant 2
- White-winged Black-Tyrant 1
- White-bellied Tyrannulet 1+
- Yellow-bellied Elaenia 1
- Black-billed Shrike-Tyrant 2
- Plush-crested Jay 2
- Golden-billed Saltator 3
- Grey-hooded Sierra-Finch 3
- Black-and-chestnut Warbling-Finch 2
- Mourning Sierra-Finch 2
- Ash-breasted Sierra-Finch 10+
- Saffron Finch 6+
- Plain-coloured Seedeater 2
- Double-collared Seedeater 2
- Black-backed Grosbeak 1(male)
- Sayaca Tanager 2
- Blue-and-yellow Tanager 1
- Bay-winged Cowbird 8+
Beyond the summit, there is a large plateau area of area of puna habitat at Cachi Pampa: -
o Least Seedsnipe 6
o Tawny-throated Dotterel 16+
o Slender-billed Miner 2
Near Salta city: -
- Cattle Egret c.15
- Chimango Caracara 1
- Blue-and-white Swallow 10+
23rd April. Roadside stop at Laser, and area of small bushes adjacent to the river, a few kilometres out of San Lorenzo: -
- Cattle Egret 15+
- Snowy Egret 1
- Buff-necked Ibis 3
- Black Vulture 1
- American Kestrel 1
- Peregrine 1
- Chimango Caracara 1
- Southern Crested Caracara 3
- Grey-necked Wood-Rail 1
- Picazuro Pigeon 3
- Picui Ground-Dove 1
- Guira Cuckoo 1
- Mitred Parakeet 24
- Glittering-bellied Emerald 1
- Ocellated Piculet 1
- Buff-browed Foliage-gleaner 2
- White Monjita 2
- Yellow-browed Tyrant 2
- Great Kiskadee 1
- Rufous-bellied Thrush 1
- Golden-billed Saltator 1
- Brown-capped Redstart 2
- Hepatic Tanager 1(female)
- Sayaca Tanager 4+
- Ultramarine Grosbeak 1 (female)
- Black-capped Warbling-Finch 3
- Stripe-capped Sparrow 2
- Epaulet Oriole 3
- Bay-winged Cowbird 15+
Golf course area near Salta city: -
- Whistling Swan 2
- American Kestrel 1
- Burrowing Owl 2
- Picui Ground-Dove 2
- White Monjita 6
- Rufous Hornero 1
- Stripe-capped Sparrow 4
- Shiny Cowbird 25+
La Laganilla lake, just outside Salta city: -
- Neotropic Cormorant 20+
- Southern Screamer 1
- Black-necked Stilt (race melanurus, ‘White-backed Stilt’) 25+
- Red-gartered Coot 250+
- Andean Ruddy Duck 40+
- Brazilian Teal 3
- White-cheeked Pintail 12
- Silvery Teal 2
- Brown Pintail 30+
- Speckled Teal (of the race oxpterum, ‘Sharp-winged Teal’) 5
- Rosybill drk
- Cinnamon Teal 15+
- Black-headed Duck 2
- White-faced Ibis 100+
- Southern Lapwing 20+
- Pied-billed Grebe 40+
- White-tufted Grebe c.75
- Sharp-shinned (Rufous-thighed) Hawk 1
- Black Vulture 15+
- White-tailed Kite 1
- Snail Kite 1
- Moorhen 20+
- Picazuro Pigeon 30+
- Eared Dove 10+
- White-tipped Dove 1
- Picui Ground-Dove 15+
- Red-tailed Comet 1
- White-crested Tyrannulet 1
- Sooty Tyrannulet 1
- White Monjita 3
- Great Kiskadee 5
- Southern Rough-winged Swallow 2
- Blue-and-yellow Tanager 3
- Sayaca Tanager 2
- Black-and-chestnut Warbling-Finch 1
- Epaulet Oriole 1
- Hooded Siskin 2
Picnic site by the river in the National Park in the Yala hills: -
- Torrent Duck 2(pair)
- Rufous-throated Dipper 2
- Mitred Parakeet 25+
- Southern House Wren 1
- Red-tailed Comet 1
- Spot-breasted Thornbird 1
- Black Phoebe 1
- Blue-and-white Swallow 20+
Lagoon in the valley c.15 kilometres outside the town of Tilcara.
o Silvery Grebe 1
o Cattle Egret 5
o Puna Ibis 25
o Speckled Teal (of the race oxypterum, ‘Sharp-winged Teal’) 30+
o Brown Pintail 50+
o Puna Teal 1
o Cinnamon Teal 5
o Moorhen 15
o Red-gartered Coot 15+
o Andean Coot 5
o Southern Lapwing 10+
o Black-necked (White-backed) Stilt 15+
o Picui Ground-Dove 4
o Guira Cuckoo 6
o Rothschild’s Swift 3
o Red-tailed Comet 1
o Brown-capped Tit-Spinetail 1
o Yellow-billed Tit-Tyrant 1
o White-winged Black-Tyrant 1
o Great Kiskadee 2
o Chalk-browed Mockingbird 2
o Band-tailed Seedeater 4
o Saffron Finch 5+
o Bay-winged Cowbird 10+
24th April. The road between Tilcara and Abra Pampa with several stops along the Humahuaca Canyon.
- White-tipped Plantcutter 4
- Grey-hooded Parakeet 12+
- Brown-backed Mockingbird 2
- Chalk-browed Mockingbird 5+
- Band-tailed Seedeater 6
- Blue-and-yellow Tanager 4
- Rufous-collared Sparrow 10+
- Great Kiskadee 1
- Bare-eyed (Moreno’s) Ground-Dove 5
- Picui Ground-Dove 6+
- Eared Dove 1
- Black-winged Ground-Dove 2
- White-sided Hillstar 1
- Plain-coloured Seedeater 3
- Golden-billed Saltator 1
- Saffron Finch 15+
- Black-hooded Sierra-Finch 6+
- Red-tailed Comet 1
- Bay-winged Cowbird c.10
- Aplomado Falcon 1
- Southern Crested Caracara 1
- Chimango Caracara 1
- Chiguanco Thrush 2
- D’Orbigny’s Chat-Tyrant 5+
- Streak-fronted Thornbird 1
- White-winged Cinclodes 2
- Mourning Sierra-Finch 3
- Greensih Yellow-Finch 12+
- Plain-mantled Tit-Spinetail 3
- Hooded Siskin 5+
- Black Siskin 4
- Puna Yellow-Finch 2
- Andean Hillstar 1
Abra Pampa mountain pass and lagoons, although the largest lake was void of water: -
- Mountain Caracara 5
- Andean Goose c.15
- Black-necked (White-backed) Stilt 10
- Chilean Flamingo 18
- Puna Teal 8
- Speckled (‘Sharp-winged’) Teal 12
- Crested Duck 8+
- Red-backed Hawk 2
- Baird’s Sandpiper 12
- Lesser Yellowlegs 2
- Tawny-throated Dotterel 8+
- Black Vulture 1
- Turkey Vulture 2
- Andean Condor 1
- Common Miner 3
- Puna Miner 2
- Andean Negrito 2+
- Andean Avocet 4
- Andean Gull 3
- Cinereous Harrier 2
- American Kestrel 2
- Puna Ibis 2
- Cattle Egret 5
- White-winged Black-Tyrant 1
- White-tufted Grebe 1
- Burrowing Owl 2
- Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle 1
25th April. Outside the town of Tilcara, an area of scrub just off the main road to San Sebastian de Jujuy at Pulmamarca: -
- Rusty Flowerpiercer 1
- Sparkling Violetear 3
- Red-tailed Comet 6+
- Andean Hillstar 3
- Golden-billed Saltator 2
- Blue-and-yellow Tanager 10+
- Sayaca Tanager 5+
- Hooded Siskin 6+
- Saffron Finch 10+
- Eared Dove 1+
- Rufous-collared Sparrow 5
- Patagonian Mockingbird 2
- Chalk-browed Mockingbird 2+
- Bay-winged Cowbird 10+
- American Kestrel 1
- Chiguanco Thrush 2