News - March 2014



Red-eyed Vireo
Vireo olivaceus
Red-eyed Vireo
29-03-14 © Elsa y Guillermo Marcaida

Jumping spider
Cotinusa vittata
Jumping spider
01-03-14 © Pablo Serur

White-banded Mockingbird
Mimus triurus
White-banded Mockingbird
29-03-14 © J. Simón Tagtachian
White-banded Mockingbird
29-03-14 © J. Simón Tagtachian
Ringed Teal
Callonetta leucophrys
Ringed Teal
29-03-14 © J. Simón Tagtachian

A new duck family

Ringed Teal
29-03-14 © J. Simón Tagtachian

A new duck family

Diademed Tanager
Stephanophorus diadematus
Diademed Tanager
29-03-14 © J. Simón Tagtachian
Tropical Parula
Setophaga pitiayumi
Tropical Parula
29-03-14 © J. Simón Tagtachian
Cattle Egret
Bubulcus ibis
Cattle Egret
29-03-14 © J. Simón Tagtachian

Ringed adult in nuptial plumage releaded inside RECS

Ultramarine Grosbeak
Cyanoloxia brissonii
Ultramarine Grosbeak
29-03-14 © J. Simón Tagtachian
Picui Ground Dove
Columbina picui
Picui Ground Dove
29-03-14 © Gustavo F. Brahamian
White-winged Coot
Fulica leucoptera
White-winged Coot
29-03-14 © Gustavo F. Brahamian

With red-gartered and red-fronted coots 

Greyish Baywing
Agelaioides badius
Greyish Baywing
29-03-14 © J. Simón Tagtachian
Greyish Baywing
29-03-14 © J. Simón Tagtachian
Rufescent Tiger-Heron
Tigrisoma lineatum
Rufescent Tiger-Heron
29-03-14 © Gustavo F. Brahamian

With a frog in the bill


More butterflies of March
Victoria Mansilla contributed with a great deal of butterflies she photographed during March. I took from all the material those butterflies which had not been published during this month and those, in some cases repetead, showing the ventral and dorsal view. With this third group March ends with a record of 39 butterfly species and two moth species.
Lantana scrub-hairstreak
Strymon bazochii
Lantana scrub-hairstreak
24-03-14 © Victoria Mansilla
Lantana scrub-hairstreak
24-03-14 © Victoria Mansilla
Chilean lady
Vanessa carye
Chilean lady
15-03-14 © Victoria Mansilla
Chilean lady
15-03-14 © Victoria Mansilla
Snout
Libytheana carinenta
Snout
02-03-14 © Victoria Mansilla
Snout
02-03-14 © Victoria Mansilla
Snout
02-03-14 © Victoria Mansilla
Bella mapwing
Hypanartia bella
Bella mapwing
08-03-14 © Victoria Mansilla
Bella mapwing
08-03-14 © Victoria Mansilla
Fiery skipper
Hylephila phyleus
Fiery skipper
15-03-14 © Victoria Mansilla
Fiery skipper
22-03-14 © Victoria Mansilla
Ithra crescent
Ortilia ithra
Ithra crescent
22-03-14 © Victoria Mansilla
Ithra crescent
22-03-14 © Victoria Mansilla
Remus greenstreak
Cyanophrys remus
Remus greenstreak
13-03-14 © Victoria Mansilla
Funeral duskywing
Erynnis funeralis
Funeral duskywing
13-03-14 © Victoria Mansilla
Small skipper
Viola minor
Small skipper
24-03-14 © Victoria Mansilla
Canna skipper
Quinta cannae
Canna skipper
24-03-14 © Victoria Mansilla
Cloudless Sulphur
Phoebis sennae marcellina
Cloudless Sulphur
08-03-14 © Victoria Mansilla
Oily lazy
Actinote mamita
Oily lazy
13-03-14 © Victoria Mansilla
Soldier
Danaus eresimus plexaure
Soldier
02-03-14 © Victoria Mansilla
Russula metalmark
Emessis russula
Russula metalmark
22-03-14 © Victoria Mansilla
Common yellow
Eurema deva
Common yellow
22-03-14 © Victoria Mansilla
Orcus checkered skipper
Pyrgus orcus
Orcus checkered skipper
22-03-14 © Victoria Mansilla
Orcus checkered skipper
22-03-14 © Victoria Mansilla




Diego Bastías tells us he identified a Rufous-browed Peppershrike
Cyclarhis gujanensis from a photo an observer took near the burnt area at Viamonte. This bird was last seen in 2009. A photo and voice of the Rufous-browed Peppershrike for those who do not know or remember it



Juan Chiviro/Rufous-browed Peppershrike


White-tufted Grebe
Rollandia rolland
White-tufted Grebe
29-03-14 © Pablo Serur
Wattled Jacana
Jacana jacana
Wattled Jacana
22-03-14 © Amelia Besana

Six legs can be counted inside the circle. The adult wattled jacana in a semicrouching poistion hugs them under his wings.

Wattled Jacana
22-03-14 © Amelia Besana
Blue-and-yellow Tanager
Pipraeidea bonariensis
Blue-and-yellow Tanager
26-03-14 © J. Simón Tagtachian
Blue-and-yellow Tanager
26-03-14 © J. Simón Tagtachian
Sayaca Tanager
Thraupis sayaca
Sayaca Tanager
26-03-14 © J. Simón Tagtachian

Eating fruit of bugweed

Sayaca Tanager
26-03-14 © J. Simón Tagtachian
Brown-chested Martin
Progne tapera
Brown-chested Martin
15-03-14 © Gustavo F. Brahamian
Chalk-browed Mockingbird
Mimus saturninus
Chalk-browed Mockingbird
14-03-14 © Nicolás Giorgio
Golden-billed Saltator
Saltator aurantiirostris
Golden-billed Saltator
14-03-14 © Nicolás Giorgio

Eating caterpillar


New bird species
White-tailed Hawk
Geranoaetus albicaudatus
White-tailed Hawk
24-03-14 © Gustavo F. Brahamian
White-tailed Hawk
24-03-14 © Gustavo F. Brahamian

Matías Juhant says this is an immature, most certainly in its second year. The photo is not good enough to appreciate the colouration of the feathers. But secondaries are shorter. The tail has a conspicuous subterminal band which is characteristic of a second year.


Cinnamon Teal
Anas cyanoptera
Cinnamon Teal
13-03-14 © Sergio Cusano
Cinnamon Teal
13-03-14 © Sergio Cusano
Cinnamon Teal
13-03-14 © Sergio Cusano
Variable Oriole
Icterus pyrrhopterus
Variable Oriole
08-03-14 © Amelia Besana
Gilded Hummingbird
Hylocharis chrysura
Gilded Hummingbird
19-03-14 © Nicolás Giorgio

Black-crowned Monjita
Xolmis coronatus
Black-crowned Monjita
21-03-14 © Laura Dodyk

It was catching insects at the antenna 

Scarlet-headed Blackbird
Amblyramphus holosericeus
Scarlet-headed Blackbird
15-03-14 © Claudia y Tito Di Mauro
Spectacled Tyrant
Hymenops perspicillatus
Spectacled Tyrant
22-03-14 © Claudia y Tito Di Mauro
Red-gartered Coot
Fulica armillata
Red-gartered Coot
22-03-14 © Claudia y Tito Di Mauro

At last the red garter after which is named. On the right a female rosy-billed pochard

White-lined Tanager
Tachyphonus rufus
White-lined Tanager
22-03-14 © Claudia y Tito Di Mauro

Red-eared turtle
Trachemys scripta elegans
Red-eared turtle
22-03-14 © Claudia y Tito Di Mauro

Yellow-lined Grasshopper
Schistocerca flavofasciata
Yellow-lined Grasshopper
08-06-13 © Oscar Melo

Chimango Caracara
Milvago chimango
Chimango Caracara
08-03-14 © J. Simón Tagtachian
Chimango Caracara
08-03-14 © J. Simón Tagtachian
Chimango Caracara
08-03-14 © J. Simón Tagtachian
Released some two months ago - data from Rocío Lápido from the Rehablitation Center

New moth species
South American palm borer
Paysandisia archon
South American palm borer
26-01-13 © Victoria Mansilla
South American palm borer
26-01-13 © Victoria Mansilla
South American palm borer
26-01-13 © Victoria Mansilla
Belongs into the family Castniidae. This moth has diurnal habits. The larvae are very harmful to the palms they feed on. They bore galleries in the trunk and stems causing great damage. Different palm genera are taken as hosts. Native to us it has been introduced in other countries and it is a matter of concern now.

Big lazy
Actinote pyrrha
Big lazy
08-03-14 © J. Simón Tagtachian

More butterflies
Bella mapwing
Hypanartia bella
Bella mapwing
13-03-14 © Sergio Cusano
American white skipper
Heliopyrgus americanus bellatrix
American white skipper
13-03-14 © Sergio Cusano
Gisca skipper
Cymaenes gisca
Gisca skipper
18-03-14 © Nicolás Giorgio
Gisca skipper
18-03-14 © Nicolás Giorgio
Southamerican lady
Vanessa braziliensis
Southamerican lady
13-03-14 © Sergio Cusano
Celmis satyr
Ypthimoides celmis
Celmis satyr
20-03-14 © J. Simón Tagtachian
Celmis satyr
14-03-14 © Nicolás Giorgio
Celmis satyr
14-03-14 © Nicolás Giorgio
Celmis satyr
18-03-14 © Nicolás Giorgio
Common Lazy
Actinote pellenea
Common Lazy
18-03-14 © Nicolás Giorgio
White-patched duskywing
Chiomara autander autander
White-patched duskywing
15-03-14 © Dolores Fernández
Gulf fritillary
Agraulis vanillae maculosa
Gulf fritillary
18-03-14 © Nicolás Giorgio
Lesbia sulphur
Colias lesbia
Lesbia sulphur
18-03-14 © Nicolás Giorgio

Variety heliceoides

Southern buckeye
Junonia genoveva hilaris
Southern buckeye
14-03-14 © Nicolás Giorgio





A very low tide on Saturday Costa por Viamonte Costa por Viamonte Costa por ViamonteSo low that it was possible to walk to the fisherman's pier © Dolores Fernández

Barn Swallow
Hirundo rustica
Barn Swallow
15-03-14 © J. Simón Tagtachian
Wattled Jacana
Jacana jacana
Wattled Jacana
15-03-14 © Carlos González Ledo

Carlos tells us that "I could not corroborate what had happened to the eggs, I only observed that there was one adult flying over the nest site. Only when I enlarged the photo did I see at least three had been born. The nest with four eggs detected by Amelia was successful." 

Green Kingfisher
Chloroceryle americana
Green Kingfisher
15-03-14 © Pablo Serur

Female with a fish ready to be swallowed

White-winged Becard
Pachyramphus polychopterus
White-winged Becard
15-03-14 © J. Simón Tagtachian
Nenday Parakeet
Aratinga nenday
Nenday Parakeet
15-03-14 © J. Simón Tagtachian

Flock of more than 100

Brown-chested Martin
Progne tapera
Brown-chested Martin
14-03-14 © Nicolás Giorgio
Tropical Kingbird
Tyrannus melancholicus
Tropical Kingbird
15-03-14 © J. Simón Tagtachian

Hunting on the wing


Band-eyed drone fly
Eristalinus taeniops
Band-eyed drone fly
08-03-14 © Pablo Serur
Striped eyes, bee-like body, but it is a fly. Flies which belong into the family Syrphidae, as this case, are characterized by emulating wasps and bees. This provides protection against their predators. They emulate these hymenoptera so well that they can be seen hovering. When adult these flies feed on flowers. Here a female on Brazilian arnica Solidago chilensis
Butterflies
Great Southern White
Ascia monuste automate
Pirpinto de la col/Great Southern White© J. Simón Tagtachian
Argentine Checkered Skipper
Pyrgus orcynoides
Ajedrezada menor/Argentine Checkered Skipper© J. Simón Tagtachian
American White-milk
Tatochila mercedis vanvolxemii
Lechera artentina/American White-milk© Dolores Fernández
Polydamas Swallowtail
Battus polydamas polydamas
Borde de oro/Polydamas Swallowtail© J. Simón Tagtachian
Southern Fritillary
Euptoieta hortensia
Hortensia/Southern Fritillary© J. Simón Tagtachian
Eurytulus Scrub-Hairstreak
Strymon Eurytulus
Frotadora común/Eurytulus Scrub-Hairstreak© Amelia Besana
Ithra Crescent
Ortilia ithra
Bataraza/Ithra Crescent© J. Simón Tagtachian
Eufala Skipper
Lerodea eufala
Medialuna común/Eufala Skipper© Amelia Besana
Monarch
Danaus erippus
Monarca/Monarch© Nicolás Giorgio
Rachiplusia
Rachiplusia nu
Lagarta del girasol/Rachiplusia© Carlos González Ledo
Lesbia Sulfur
Colias lesbia
Isoca de la alfalfa/Lesbia Sulfur© Dolores Fernández
Lesbia Sulfur
Colias lesbia
Isoca de la alfalfa/Lesbia Sulfur© J. Simón Tagtachian

Long-horned beetle
Retrachydes thoracicus
Long-horned beetle
08-03-14 © Amelia Besana
A beautiful long-horned beetle

Glittering-bellied Emerald
Chlorostilbon lucidus
Glittering-bellied Emerald
08-03-14 © J. Simón Tagtachian
Spectacled Tyrant
Hymenops perspicillatus
Spectacled Tyrant
08-03-14 © J. Simón Tagtachian
Red-fronted Coot
Fulica rufifrons
Red-fronted Coot
09-03-14 © J. Simón Tagtachian
Black-and-rufous Warbling-Finch
Poospiza nigrorufa
Black-and-rufous Warbling-Finch
09-03-14 © Carlos González Ledo
Black-and-rufous Warbling-Finch
09-03-14 © Carlos González Ledo
Black-and-rufous Warbling-Finch
09-03-14 © Carlos González Ledo
In different stages
Campo Flicker
Colaptes campestris
Campo Flicker
08-03-14 © J. Simón Tagtachian

Male on the left, female on the right

White-winged Becard
Pachyramphus polychopterus
White-winged Becard
08-03-14 © J. Simón Tagtachian
Golden-crowned Warbler
Basileuterus culicivorus
Golden-crowned Warbler
08-03-14 © J. Simón Tagtachian
Small-billed Elaenia
Elaenia parvirostris
Small-billed Elaenia
08-03-14 © J. Simón Tagtachian
White-crested Tyrannulet
Serpophaga subcristata
White-crested Tyrannulet
08-03-14 © J. Simón Tagtachian
Monk Parakeet
Myiopsitta monachus
Monk Parakeet
08-03-14 © J. Simón Tagtachian

Eating bread


Fire incendio1 incendio3There was a small seat of fire quite near the Viamonte Access on the Lizard Path. Walter told us that the fire began on Sunday March 2nd, approximately at 6:30 pm. Firemen could control the fire quickly since it was near the trail. © Dolores Fernández

Black-necked Swan
Cygnus melancoryphus
Black-necked Swan
10-03-14 © Nicolás Giorgio
Wattled Jacana
Jacana jacana
Wattled Jacana
04-03-14 © Amelia Besana

The male is still sitting on eggs but it is a short way to go. Let's do the maths. Amelia sent us her finding on February 17th. Up to March 11th it is 22 days. They are about to hatch.

Cattle Tyrant
Machetornis rixosa
Cattle Tyrant
06-03-14 © Nicolás Giorgio
Ringed Teal
Callonetta leucophrys
Ringed Teal
11-03-14 © Amelia Besana
European Starling
Sturnus vulgaris
European Starling
06-03-14 © Nicolás Giorgio

New team collaborator: J. Simón Tagtachian simon2 © Cynthia Guevara Welcome, Simón! Simón is joining as an administrator. His work and dedication will certainly improve this site.

Rufous-sided Crake
Laterallus melanophaius
Rufous-sided Crake
02-03-14 © Carlos González Ledo
Rufous-sided Crake
02-03-14 © Carlos González Ledo

It sang endlessly. It was worth waiting for it. It showed up at the edge of the vegetation and Carlos spotted it when it moved. Among cattails in the shadow and quite far from our position this was the best he managed to obtain.There were two crakes. One seemed a juvenile due to the brownish colouring of the bill.

Rosy-billed Pochard
Netta peposaca
Rosy-billed Pochard
02-03-14 © Carlos González Ledo

Female with tow juveniles, one male, the other one female. As forming the line, the female is leading, second comes the juvenile female (plumbeous bill) and closing ranks the juvenile male (bill turning rose)

Masked Yellowthroat
Geothlypis aequinoctialis
Masked Yellowthroat
01-03-14 © Carlos González Ledo
Spectacled Tyrant
Hymenops perspicillatus
Spectacled Tyrant
01-03-14 © Carlos González Ledo
Rufous-collared Sparrow
Zonotrichia capensis
Rufous-collared Sparrow
01-03-14 © Carlos González Ledo
Black-and-rufous Warbling-Finch
Poospiza nigrorufa
Black-and-rufous Warbling-Finch
01-03-14 © Carlos González Ledo
Narrow-billed Woodcreeper
Lepidocolaptes angustirostris
Narrow-billed Woodcreeper
01-03-14 © Carlos González Ledo

Guava Skipper
Phocides polybius phanias
Polibio sangrante/Guava Skipper Polibio sangrante/Guava Skipper© Carlos González Ledo

Green Kingfisher
Chloroceryle americana
Green Kingfisher
01-03-14 © J. Simón Tagtachian

Here we can see how peculiar the foot of this female green kingfisher is. Like the majority of birds it has three forward-pointing toes and a back-pointing one. But the three toes are not separated. The two external ones are fused at the base and then separate. It is called syndactyl foot and is typical of this family, the Alcidinidae.


Roadside Hawk
Rupornis magnirostris
Roadside Hawk
08-03-14 © J. Simón Tagtachian
Rufescent Tiger-Heron
Tigrisoma lineatum
Rufescent Tiger-Heron
01-03-14 © J. Simón Tagtachian
White-tufted Grebe
Rollandia rolland
White-tufted Grebe
01-03-14 © J. Simón Tagtachian
Wren-like Rushbird
Phleocryptes melanops
Wren-like Rushbird
01-03-14 © J. Simón Tagtachian

A video by Claudia and Tito to celebrate the World Wetlands Day (February, 2nd) © Claudia y Tito Di Mauro

Green Kingfisher
Chloroceryle americana
Green Kingfisher
01-03-14 © Dolores Fernández
Rosy-billed Pochard
Netta peposaca
Rosy-billed Pochard
01-03-14 © Dolores Fernández
Ringed Teal
Callonetta leucophrys
Ringed Teal
01-03-14 © Amelia Besana
Ringed Teal
01-03-14 © Amelia Besana
Eared Dove
Zenaida auriculata
Eared Dove
01-03-14 © Amelia Besana
Eared Dove
01-03-14 © Amelia Besana
Eared Dove
Zenaida auriculata
Eared Dove
01-03-14 © Amelia Besana
Glittering-bellied Emerald
Chlorostilbon lucidus
Glittering-bellied Emerald
01-03-14 © Dolores Fernández