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16-day Northern Argentina Owls, Iguazu Falls and more Birding ecotours is proud to announce its new tour to Northern Argentina. The primary focus of this 16 day trip will be on owls and nightbirds. Owl and nightbird fans will have the opportunity to travel to Argentina to explore the famous Iguazu Waterfalls, the Calilegua National Park, the Ibera marshes and other spectacular locations that place Argentina among one of the most amazing countries of the world. We will fly to Buenos Aires and explore the Otamendi Reserve where we will have the opportunity to see birds such as the localized Curve-billed Reedhaunter, Giant Wood-Rail and Ultramarine Grosbeak among many others. At night, we will focus on the Barn Owl, Short-eared Owl, Striped Owl, Burrowing Owl, Tropical Screech-Owl and Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl. Nightbirds include Scissor-tailed and Little Nightjar. We will fly to Jujuy in search of the impressive Buff-fronted Owl, Stygian Owl, Black-banded Owl, Spectacled Owl, Hoy Screech-Owl and Andean Pygmy-Owl. Other birds include Lyre-tailed Nightjar, Rufuos Nightjar, Red-faced Guan, Giant Antbird and Golden-collared Macaw. We will explore the surroundings of Salta to look for the Chaco Owl ,which is a recent split of the Rufuos-legged Owl, Lesser Horned Owl and Band-winged Nightjar. The area includes endemic birds like the Tucuman Warbling-Finch and Moreno Ground-Dove. The Ibera marshes is the largest Argentinean wetland and only comparable with the famous Brazilian Pantanal, which will be our next destination where we will birds like the Greater Rhea, Jabiru, Pinnated and Striped Bittern, Plumbeous Ibis and many more. We will look for the Great Horned Owl and other nightbirds like the Nacunda Nighthawk, and Sickle-winged Nightjar. Finally, we will explore the famous Iguazu National Park to see the biggest waterfall in the world. The subtropical forest here harbours the Tawny-browed Owl, Rusty-barred Owl, Mottled Owl, Black-capped Screech-Owl and Long-tufted Screech-Owl and also Common Potoo, Semicollared Nighthawk, Ocellated Poorwill and Silky-tailed Nightjar. We will have the opportunity to see Dusky-legged Guan, Toco Toucan, Black-throated Piping-Guan, Maroon-bellied Parakeet, Red-breasted Toucan among many others. 01. Day We will arrive in Buenos Aires and go immediately to the Otamendi Reserve, 90 km from the city. We will look for our first target, the impressive Giant Wood-Rail and the secretive Curve-billed Reedhaunter. We will look for Long-winged Harrier and Snail Kite, as well as Ultramarine Grosbeak, Rufuos-browed Peppershrike, Gilded Sapphire, Chequered Woodpecker, Warbling Doradito, Rufous-capped Antshrike, Wren-like Rushbird, Rufous Hornero, Monk Parakeet, Yellow-browed Tyrant, Diademed Tanager and Short-billed Canastero. Later, we will check into the hotel to have a brief rest so we are ready for a night walk after dusk to look for Tropical Screech-Owl, Striped Owl, Barn Owl, Short-eared Owl, Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl, Burrowing Owl and Little and Scissor-tailed Nightjars. Overnight in Cardales. 02. Day After final birding in the area, we will drive back to Buenos Aires to get our flight to Jujuy. We will go birding in the afternoon, looking for Dusky-legged Guan and the rare Red-faced Guan, the gorgeous Golden-collared Macaw, Blue-capped Puffleg, Slender-tailed Woodstar, Golden-olive Woodpecker, Great Rufous Woodcreeper, Black-banded Woodcreeper, Blue-crowned Trogon, Giant Antbird and Bat Falcon. 03. Day We will drive to Yala, near the Bolivian border, where we will look for another main target, Rufous-throated Dipper. We should also see Sclater’s Tyrannulet, Buff-banded Tyrannulet, Slaty Elaenia, Mountain Wren, Glossy-black Thrush, Pale-legged Warbler, Black-backed Grosbeak, Fulvous-headed Brush-Finch, Stripe-headed Brush-Finch, and Rusty-browed Warbling-Finch. Overnight in Ledesma. 04-05 Day Today we will explore the montane forest and subtropical evergreen “yungas” of the famous Calilegua National Park. The set of birds in this area includes Yungas Dove, Alder Parrot, White-throated Antpitta, Giant Antshrike (the largest of all the antbirds), Smoky-brown Woodpecker, Sooty-fronted Spinetail, Ochre-cheeked Spinetail, Black-capped Antwren, Green-backed and Crested Becard, Spotted Nightingale-Thrush, Golden-crowned Warbler, White-throated Quail-Dove, Tataupa Tinamou, Red-tailed Comet, Dot-backed Woodpecker, Plush-crested Jay, and Golden-winged Cacique. We will keep a lookout for large raptors such as Black-and-chestnut Eagle, Black-and-white hawk-Eagle and even Ornate Hawk-Eagle. During the last three nights we shall look for the amazing Stygian Owl, the seldom seen Buff-fronted Owl, Black-banded and Spectacled Owls, Hoy’s Screech-Owl and Andean Pygmy-Owl. We might also find Rufous and Lyre-tailed Nightjars. 06. Day We will leave the park and then drive towards Salta and Quilmes where we hope to see Ornate and Andean Tinamous, Torrent Duck, Andean Swift, Giant Hummingbird (the largest hummingbird in the world), Moreno Ground-Dove, Burrowing Parrot, White-throated Cachalote, Slender-billed Miner, Brown-capped Tit-Spinetail, Rock Earthcreeper and many more. 07. Day After a last morning birding in Quilmes, we will continue the journey, driving to the Moldes where we will spend the night. 08. Day Today we will explore the Cuesta del Obispo (Bishop) mountain pass, where we will look for Steinbach’s and Puna Canasteros, Azara’s Spinetail, the endemic Sandy Gallito which is another target of the day, White-browed Tapaculo, White-winged Black-Tyrant, White-throated Tyrannulet, Brown-capped Whitestar, Fawn-breasted Tanager, White-tipped Plantcutter, Greenish Yellow-Finch, Ringed Warbling-Finch, the endemic Yellow-striped Brush-Finch and Tucuman Warbling-Finch. We will focus all our efforts looking for the impressive Chaco Owl, which is a recent split off the Rufous-legged Owl, one of the most amazing South American owls. We shall also look for Lesser Horned-Owl and Band-winged Nightjar. 09. Day After final birding around the Bishop Pass, we will take a connecting flight to Posada on our way to the famous Ibera marshes. We will spend the night in Yacyreta. 10-11 Day Argentina’s biggest wetland, covering 20,000 km 2 near the border with Paraguay, contains rivers, beds of water hyacinth, rush beds, dry scrub, lagoons, savanna and gallery forest. The Ibera marshes harbor about 300 bird species, including Crowned Eagle, Greater Rhea, Jabiru, Woodstork, Maguari Stork, Southern Screamer, Plumbeous Ibis, Rufescent Tiger-Heron, Pinnated and Stripe-backed Bitterns, Azure Gallinule, Rufous-sided Crake, Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture, Black-collared Hawk, Black-and-white Monjita, the amazing Strange-tailed Tyrant, Crested Doradito, White-headed Marsh-Tyrant, Ochre-breasted Pipit, Yellow-billed Cardinal, Green-winged Saltator, Wedge-tailed Grass-Tyrant, Yellow-rumped Marshbird, Chopi Blackbird, Scarlet-headed Blackbird, Dark-throated, Tawny-bellied and Rufous-rumped Seedeaters as well as the rare Marsh Seedeater. During the night we will look for Great Horned Owl, Nacunda Nighthawk, Little Nightjar, Sickle-winged Nightjar, and Scissor-tailed Nightjar. This site also offers good opportunities for seeing other wildlife such as Capybara (the largest rodent in the world), Red Howler Monkeys, Swamp and Pampas Deer and the elusive Crab-eating Fox. The secretive and seldom seen Maned Wolf has been observed here but we will need tons of luck to see it during our tour. 12. Day After a final morning in the Ibera marshes, we will drive to San Pedro to visit the Araucaria National Park. 13-14 Day This park is dominated by various species of the monkey-puzzle tree (Araucaria angustifolia) which provides habitat for Araucaria Tit-Spinetail, Vinaceous-breasted Parrot, the localized Azure Jay, White-bearded Antshrike, Reddish-billed Parakeet, Spot-backed Antshrike, Plain Antvireo, Sharp-tailed Tyrant, Striped Cuckoo, Yellow Tyrannulet, Large-headed Flatbill, Blackish-blue Seedeater and many others. We will drive to Puerto Iguazu near the border with Uruguay near the gateway of the Iguazu National Park. 15 Day Today we will visit one the greatest wonders of the natural world: the Iguazu Falls, the biggest waterfall on the planet. This wonderful natural place is surrounded by lush subtropical forest and is extremely rich in birds, including the likes of Solitary Tinamous, Rusty-margined Guan, Black-throated Piping-Guan, Slaty-breasted Wood-Rail, Maroon-bellied Parakeet, Red-ruffed Fruitcrow, Great Dusky Swift, Pearly-breasted Cuckoo, Black-faced Trogon, Surucua Trogon, Green-billed Toucan, Toco Toucan, Blue-winged Parrotlet, Rufuos-capped Motmot, Ochre-collared Piculet, White-eyed Foliage-Gleaner, White-throated Spadebill, Swallow-Tanager, Green-headed Tanager, Spotted Bamboowren, Blue, Band-tailed and White-bearded Manakin, Chestnut-bellied Euphonia, Neotropical River Warbler, Long-tailed Tyrant, Plain Xenops, Blue Dacnis and more. We should encounter Black-capped Capuchin Monkey and bands of South American Coatis, a Neotropical mammal relative to the raccoon family. At night we will look for Tawny-browed Owl, Black-banded Owl, Rusty-breasted Owl, Mottled Owl, Black-capped Screech-Owl and Long-tufted Screech-Owl. Other nightbirds include the Common Potto, Semicollared Hawk, Parauque, Short-tailed Nighthawk, Ocellated Poorwill, Long-trained Nightjar, and Silky-tailed Nightjar. 16 Day After a last birding morning near Puerto Iguazu, we will flight back to Buenos Aires to connect with our evening international flight. Guides: Oscar Pugnali and Eduardo Ormaeche
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Itinerary: Duration: 16 days Limit: 4-6 Date: TBA Start: Buenos Aires End: Buenos Aires Price: TBA Price_Includes: All Transfers Private Transportation All Meals, except where indicated Private Bird Guides All Admission Fees Local flight tickets and airport taxes Accommodation on a double basis Boat tour in the Ibera Marshes Price_Excludes: International flight to Buenos Aires Transfers for passengers arriving or leaving at different times from the main group Dinner the last day in Buenos Aires Tipping Laundry Service, Spa Service, Internet Access, Phone Calls, Medical Travel Insurance, Luggage Insurance Anything not specified under “Tour Includes”
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© 2008-2010 Birding Ecotours · www.birdingecotours.co.za was updated March 2010 |
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