News - January 2016

January 03, 2016 02:18

Creole Duck
Cairina moschata

23 1 16 © Sergio Cusano

30 1 16 © Sergio Cusano

31 1 16 © Nicolás Giorgio
This duck is the agrotype variety of the Muscovy duck
Cairina moschata.

Ultramarine Grosbeak

Cyanoloxia brissonii

31-01-16 © Claudia Mon

Southern Screamer

Chauna torquata

31-01-16 © Horacio José Patrone

Roseate Spoonbill

Platalea ajaja

30-01-16 © Amelia Besana

Red-crested Finch

Coryphospingus cucullatus

31-01-16 © Gustavo Masuzzo

Vermilion Flycatcher

Pyrocephalus rubinus

30-01-16 © J. Simón Tagtachian

Black-crowned Night-Heron

Nycticorax nycticorax

30-01-16 © J. Simón Tagtachian

Fatal attack on common gallinule

Juvenile common gallinule attacked by a side-necked turtle, which devours part of it to later abandon the rest of the body.

Spot-flanked Gallinule

Gallinula melanops

30-01-16 © Sergio Cusano

A juvenile of a species scarcely seen since last October

Rosy-billed Pochard

Netta peposaca

30-01-16 © Sergio Cusano

Two families. The one on top with small ducklings, the one belos with a duckling rather smaller than the rest

30-01-16 © Sergio Cusano

Creamy-bellied Thrush

Turdus amaurochalinus

30-01-16 © J. Simón Tagtachian

Chalk-browed Mockingbird

Mimus saturninus

30-01-16 © Amelia Besana

Southern Caracara

Caracara plancus

30-01-16 © Sergio Cusano

Coscoroba Swan

Coscoroba coscoroba

30-01-16 © Marcelo Leanes

European Starling

Sturnus vulgaris

30-01-16 © Sergio Cusano

Shiny Cowbird

Molothrus bonariensis

30-01-16 © Marcelo Leanes

Fork-tailed Flycatcher

Tyrannus savana

30-01-16 © J. Simón Tagtachian

Tailless

30-01-16 © Sergio Cusano

With a butterfly in the bill

Limpkin family at the Coypu Pond January 2016

Gray-necked Wood-Rail

Aramides cajaneus

30-01-16 © Marcelo Leanes

White-lined Tanager

Tachyphonus rufus

30-01-16 © Marcelo Leanes

Male eating fruit of bugweed Solanum granulosum-leprosum

House Wren

Troglodytes aedon

30-01-16 © Marcelo Leanes

Yellow-billed Cardinal

Paroaria capitata

30-01-16 © J. Simón Tagtachian

White-faced Ibis

Plegadis chihi

30-01-16 © J. Simón Tagtachian

Masked Duck

Nomonyx dominicus

30-01-16 © Sergio Cusano

Yellow-browed Tyrant

Satrapa icterophrys

30-01-16 © J. Simón Tagtachian

Gray-breasted Martin

Progne chalybea

30-01-16 © J. Simón Tagtachian

Vermilion Flycatcher

Pyrocephalus rubinus

30-01-16 © Claudia Mon

Narrow-billed Woodcreeper

Lepidocolaptes angustirostris

23-01-16 © Claudia y Tito Di Mauro

Feeding the chicks

Limpkin

Aramus guarauna

28-01-16 © Sergio Cusano

Great Grebe

Podiceps major

16-01-16 © Claudia Mon

Stripe-backed Bittern

Ixobrychus involucris

28-01-16 © Sergio Cusano

26-01-16 © Claudia Mon

24-01-16 © Eugenia Boggiano

Views of the river coast

23 1 16 © Sergio Cusano

23 1 16 © Sergio Cusano

23 1 16 © Sergio Cusano

23 1 16 © Sergio Cusano
Views of the coast with water hyacinth mats. At the Meeting Point there were no trespassing tapes to prevent visitors from getting to the shore

More onlookers on the mats

Silver Teal

Anas versicolor

23-01-16 © Silvia Ana González

Chimango Caracara

Milvago chimango

23-01-16 © Silvia Ana González

Picazuro Pigeon

Patagioenas picazuro

23-01-16 © Silvia Ana González

Wattled Jacana

Jacana jacana

23-01-16 © Silvia Ana González

Southern Screamer

Chauna torquata

23-01-16 © Sergio Cusano

Several screamers arrived on the floating mats, both adults and juveniles. There were five at the Coypu Pond and at least two on the coast

23-01-16 © Sergio Cusano

Several screamers arrived on the floating mats, both adults and juveniles. There were five at the Coypu Pond and at least two on the coast

American Kestrel

Falco sparverius

23-01-16 © Eduardo Carreyra

Male

White-lined Tanager

Tachyphonus rufus

23-01-16 © Eduardo Carreyra

23-01-16 © Silvia Ana González

Polydamas swallowtail

Battus polydamas polydamas

23-01-16 © Sergio Cusano

23-01-16 © Silvia Ana González

23-01-16 © Eduardo Carreyra

23-01-16 © Cora Rimoldi

Flowers and fruits
Common moth vine *Araujia sericifera*23 1 16 © Sergio Cusano	Common moth vine *Araujia sericifera*23 1 16 © Sergio Cusano
Wild pea *Vigna adenantha*16 1 16 © Silvia González	Wild pea *Vigna adenantha*9 1 16 © J. Simón Tagtachian
Calico flower *Aristolochia elegans*9 1 16 © Gustavo Masuzzo	Cow's foot *Bauhinia forficata*23 1 16 © Sergio Cusano
Water fern *Salvinia biloba*23 1 16 © Cora Rimoldi	Alligator weed *Alternanthera philoxeroides*23 1 16 © Cora Rimoldi
London plane *Platanus x acerifolia*9 1 16 © J. Simón Tagtachian	Graham's cassava *Manihot grahamii*© Sergio Cusano
Water hyacinth *Eichhornia crassipes*17 1 16 © Silvia González	Yellow bird of paradise *Cesalpinia gilliesii*23 1 16 © Sergio Cusano
Indian shot *Canna indica*9 1 16 © Sergio Cusano	Pink pavonia *Pavonia hastata*23 1 16 © Sergio Cusano
Peach *Prunus persica*© Sergio Cusano	Bristly Oxtongue *Picris echioides*© Sergio Cusano
Ocean blue morning glory *Ipomoea indica*23 1 16 © Sergio Cusano	Morning glory *Ipomoea cairica*23 1 16 © Sergio Cusano

Dark-billed Cuckoo

Coccyzus melacoryphus

23-01-16 © Sergio Cusano

23-01-16 © Silvia Ana González

Swainson's Flycatcher

Myiarchus swainsoni

23-01-16 © Sergio Cusano

White-eyed Parakeet

Psittacara leucophtalmus

23-01-16 © Sergio Cusano

Masked Duck

Nomonyx dominicus

23-01-16 © Sergio Cusano

At midday three other females jointed

Black-backed Water-Tyrant

Fluvicola albiventer

23-01-16 © Sergio Cusano

Masked Yellowthroat

Geothlypis aequinoctialis

23-01-16 © Sergio Cusano

Spot-winged Pigeon

Patagioenas maculosa

23-01-16 © Sergio Cusano

23-01-16 © Silvia Ana González

Juveniles and families

Double-collared Seedeater

Sporophila caerulescens

23-01-16 © Silvia Ana González

Brazilian Teal

Amazonetta brasiliensis

23-01-16 © Silvia Ana González

23-01-16 © Cora Rimoldi

At Canal Viamonte

Shiny Cowbird

Molothrus bonariensis

23-01-16 © Sergio Cusano

Fork-tailed Flycatcher

Tyrannus savana

23-01-16 © Sergio Cusano

Fork-tailed Flycatcher

Tyrannus savana

23-01-16 © Silvia Ana González

White-rumped Swallow

Tachycineta leucorrhoa

23-01-16 © Silvia Ana González

Pied-billed Grebe

Podilymbus podiceps

23-01-16 © Sergio Cusano

Rosy-billed Pochard

Netta peposaca

23-01-16 © Sergio Cusano

Red-gartered Coot

Fulica armillata

23-01-16 © Sergio Cusano

Rufous-collared Sparrow

Zonotrichia capensis

23-01-16 © Sergio Cusano

European Starling

Sturnus vulgaris

23-01-16 © Sergio Cusano

Eared Dove

Zenaida auriculata

23-01-16 © Sergio Cusano

Checkered Woodpecker

Veniliornis mixtus

23-01-16 © Sergio Cusano

Golden liophis

Erythrolamprus semiaureus

19-01-16 © Silvia Ana González

Fork-tailed Flycatcher

Tyrannus savana

19-01-16 © Silvia Ana González

Ultramarine Grosbeak

Cyanoloxia brissonii

19-01-16 © Silvia Ana González

Sooty-fronted Spinetail

Synallaxis frontalis

19-01-16 © Silvia Ana González

Streaked Flycatcher

Myiodynastes maculatus

19-01-16 © Silvia Ana González

Lake Duck

Oxyura vittata

18-01-16 © J. Simón Tagtachian

Glittering-bellied Emerald

Chlorostilbon lucidus

19-01-16 © Silvia Ana González

Variable Oriole

Icterus pyrrhopterus

19-01-16 © Silvia Ana González

Rufous-bellied Thrush

Turdus rufiventris

19-01-16 © J. Simón Tagtachian

Great Grebe

Podiceps major

18-01-16 © J. Simón Tagtachian

The onlookers on the floating mats

The water hyacinth mats got anchores on the shore and several onlookers come to investigate

Greyish Baywing

Agelaioides badius

19-01-16 © Silvia Ana González

Great Kiskadee

Pitangus sulphuratus

19-01-16 © Silvia Ana González

Snowy Egret

Egretta thula

19-01-16 © Silvia Ana González

Eared Dove

Zenaida auriculata

19-01-16 © Silvia Ana González

Water hyacinth mats

19 1 16 © J. Simón Tagtachian

19 1 16 © Silvia González

19 1 16 © Silvia González
Camalotales sobre la costa del río

19 1 16 © J. Simón Tagtachian

19 1 16 © J. Simón Tagtachian
Water hyacinth mats at Grierson Bridge's docks

Southern Screamer

Chauna torquata

19-01-16 © J. Simón Tagtachian

Kelp Gull

Larus dominicanus

19-01-16 © J. Simón Tagtachian

Southern Screamer

Chauna torquata

18-01-16 © J. Simón Tagtachian

Monday 18th - three southern screamers at the Coypu Pond

18-01-16 © J. Simón Tagtachian

Note the difference in size with the white-faced whistling-heron

18-01-16 © J. Simón Tagtachian

Tropical Parula

Setophaga pitiayumi

16-01-16 © J. Simón Tagtachian

Gray-breasted Martin

Progne chalybea

16-01-16 © J. Simón Tagtachian

Brown-chested Martin

Progne tapera

02-01-16 © Silvia Ana González

Brown-chested martins are summer visitors which breed in the reserve. They reuse hornero's nests. This nest is in a cock spur tree in the recreational sector at the Viamonte end. Silvia discovered them when they were hungrily poking their heads out on January 2nd. Today they are outside the nest waiting for food to be delivered

02-01-16 © Silvia Ana González

16-01-16 © Silvia Ana González

Fledgling waiting for food to be delivered

16-01-16 © Silvia Ana González

Fledgling waiting for food to be delivered

16-01-16 © Claudia y Tito Di Mauro

Insistent call of this fledgling martin

Southern Caracara

Caracara plancus

16-01-16 © Claudia Vilma Mon

With silver teals, cocoi heron and rosy-billed pochard at Coypu Pond

Black-and-rufous Warbling-Finch

Poospiza nigrorufa

16-01-16 © Claudia Mon

Red-crested Cardinal

Paroaria coronata

16-01-16 © Gustavo F. Brahamian

Southern Screamer
Chauna torquata

16 1 16 © J. Simón Tagtachian
On Saturday 16th we reached the coast and from the viewpoint we managed to see thre or four lines of floating vegetation in the distance. We were surprised at the size of these mats. We knew they would appear any time due to the floods.
These floating masses may act as a dispersal of fauna y and they are doubtless one of the reasons why the reserve is so rich and diverse. On them reptiles, amphibinas, insects and birds as well are transported. They are home for too many species but unluckily the press only refers to them as ways of dispersal of venemous snakes. At the reserve there are many species of snakes, most of them inoffensive, but there has always been he Urutu pit viper for more than 20 years now. Al the reptiles are more active during hot months, that is way it is advisable to be more cautious and follow the rule of not descending from the paths. In case of detecting any species of snake, inform the Personnel.
On Sunday Silvia came back to the place and the floating masses on the shore.

17 1 16 © Silvia González

17 1 16 © Silvia González
Silvia documentó a un ave poco frecuente en la reserva. Tres pichones de chajá. Uno ya casi adulto y otros dos mucho más chicos que quedaron separados de su familia.

17 1 16 © Silvia González

17 1 16 © Silvia González
The Great Egret explores the water hyacinth mat on the shore

New butterfly species

White morpho

Morpho epistrophus argentinus

16-01-16 © J. Simón Tagtachian

16-01-16 © Silvia Ana González

16-01-16 © Cora Rimoldi

16-01-16 © Claudia y Tito Di Mauro

At last we managed to record this butterfly. A very difficult butterfly to photograph for the way it moves. It flies erratically and quickly. It was seen along the Canal Vaimonte where the thick rope closes the access to the path. This window in the vegetation let us see them flying by. They crossed the window in one way or the other and sometimes got out of the vegetation and onto the road. Simón saw three individuals. I recorded only two. This took us more than half an hour.

New mammal species

White-eared opossum

Didelphis albiventris

09-01-16 © Sergio Cusano

Unluckily we found this opossum dead at the edge of the Lizard Path. We knew there were white-eared opossums but had no register of it. This individual had no bites. It only had a small wound which must have been the cause of death. Run over?
With Carlos's digital method we estimated the opossum's body to be less than 30 cm long. This opossum is crepuscular. It is terrrestrial, but it can climb with agility using the tail.

New moth caterpillar

Flannel moth

Megalopyge sp.

02-01-16 © Flor A Modeo

This is the caterpillar. It looks very cuddly but do not touch it. This family's caterpillars (Megalopygidae) may cause a severe sting, being some of them very dangerous.

Three new insects

Dragonfly/Skimmers

Micrathyria hypodidyma

02-01-16 © Sergio Cusano

Darkling beetle

Strongylium decoratum

09-01-16 © Sergio Cusano

A coleopteran of the family Tenebrionidae. Tenebrionids are known as darkling beetles. They live mainly in steppes and desertic areas.

Lady beetle

Olla v-nigrum

02-01-16 © Sergio Cusano

A coleopteran. Melanic form

Red-eared turtle

Trachemys scripta elegans

09-01-16 © Gustavo Masuzzo

Black-and-white tegu lizard

Salvator merianae

02-01-16 © Gustavo F. Brahamian

Coypu

Myocastor coypus

09-01-16 © J. Simón Tagtachian

Coscoroba Swan

Coscoroba coscoroba

14-01-16 © Gustavo F. Brahamian

Passing down the snail

Yellow-browed Tyrant

Satrapa icterophrys

14-01-16 © Gustavo F. Brahamian

Green-barred Woodpecker

Colaptes melanochloros

14-01-16 © Gustavo F. Brahamian

Gilded Hummingbird

Hylocharis chrysura

09-01-16 © Gustavo Masuzzo

Coscoroba Swan

Coscoroba coscoroba

14-01-16 © Gustavo F. Brahamian

Masked Duck

Nomonyx dominicus

09-01-16 © J. Simón Tagtachian

White-winged Becard

Pachyramphus polychopterus

09-01-16 © J. Simón Tagtachian

Screaming Cowbird

Molothrus rufoaxillaris

09-01-16 © Sergio Cusano

Campo Flicker

Colaptes campestris

Black-backed Water-Tyrant

Fluvicola albiventer

White-tipped Dove

Leptotila verreauxi

Striated Heron

Butorides striata

Ringed Teal

Callonetta leucophrys

Harris's Hawk

Parabuteo unicinctus

On December 2nd Gustavo caught this hawk red-handed

On 9th Simón first watches the hawk chasing a flock of starlings and later the hawk with a prey. Is it a starling?

Juveniles and families

White-faced Whistling-Duck

Dendrocygna viduata

Along with rosy-billed pochard Netta peposaca, silver teal Anas versicolor and neotropical cormorant Phalacrocorax brasilianus.

Limpkin

Aramus guarauna

Each parent is feeding a chick at a time. Parents must teach kids the tecnique to remove the fleshy part of the apple snail. So they need kids to focus. If other siblings were present there would certainly be fights over food or distractions of any kind.

Rufous-collared Sparrow

Zonotrichia capensis

Double-collared Seedeater

Sporophila caerulescens

Red-crested Cardinal

Paroaria coronata

White-rumped Swallow

Tachycineta leucorrhoa

Rufescent Tiger-Heron

Tigrisoma lineatum

Southern Lapwing

Vanellus chilensis

Rosy-billed Pochard

Netta peposaca

2006 - 2016. We turned 10! A big thanks to all those who help build this site no matter how tiny the contribution is. This site is full of good vibes of all the people who share, contribute and have fun with birds. We are a lot and the number keeps increasing. My acknowledgment to Horacio Reinaudo, the founder of this web site and my gratitude to the "teachers" for their teachings which encourage us to go ahead, to those who share their material or provide information and to those who follow the site. Let us tackle the following ten years, this team is ready for the challenge.
A small sample of the observers that participate in the walks. No chronological order has been kept and there are lots of collaborators and observers missing. Horacio Reinaudo, el creador del sitio See more photos
A memory for those who saw the site hatch See more photos

Great Grebe

Podiceps major

Snowy Egret

Egretta thula

Great Egret

Ardea alba

Monk Parakeet

Myiopsitta monachus

Red-eyed Vireo

Vireo olivaceus

Common Gallinule

Gallinula galeata

European Starling

Sturnus vulgaris

Red-gartered Coot

Fulica armillata

Grassland Yellow-Finch

Sicalis luteola

White-browed Blackbird

Sturnella superciliaris

Warbling Doradito

Pseudocolopteryx flaviventris

Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl

Glaucidium brasilianum

White-eyed Parakeet

Psittacara leucophtalmus

Juveniles, nests and families

Rufescent Tiger-Heron

Tigrisoma lineatum

Nest detected by Simón with two recently born tiger-herons

Red-crested Cardinal

Paroaria coronata

Red-fronted Coot

Fulica rufifrons

Common Gallinule

Gallinula galeata

Rosy-billed Pochard

Netta peposaca

House Wren

Troglodytes aedon

Coscoroba Swan

Coscoroba coscoroba

Striated Heron

Butorides striata

European Starling

Sturnus vulgaris

They were eating on the heaps piled by the machines and they took flight from time to time

They were eating on the heaps piled by the machines and they took flight from time to time.

Lake Duck

Oxyura vittata

White-tipped Dove

Leptotila verreauxi

Bran-colored Flycatcher

Myiophobus fasciatus

Blue-and-yellow Tanager

Pipraeidea bonariensis

Bare-faced Ibis

Phimosus infuscatus

Yellow-browed Tyrant

Satrapa icterophrys

Neotropic Cormorant

Phalacrocorax brasilianus

With marbled swamp eel

Urutu pit viper

Bothrops alternatus

Some minutes before we had been told that a photographer took photos of this viper eating a Brazilian Guinea Pig. We found it near the road and immediately informed the Personnel. It was motionless. Perhaps digesting the guinea pig. This viper is not aggressive except if it fels threatened. Watch where you walk and do not leave the main trails.

Views

View of Coypu Pond

View of Gull Pond

Coypu

Myocastor coypus

Eyes, ears and nose are placed on the upper part of the head. In this way this small part of the head is above water. Front legs end in four long fingers and very small thumb, whereas hind legs have the five fingers well developed and are webbed, adapted for aquatic life.

White-tufted Grebe

Rollandia rolland

Pied-billed Grebe

Podilymbus podiceps