News - November 2011

Gilded Sapphire - Cockspur Coral Tree
Hylocharis chrysura - Erythrina crista-galli

Nectar for a free ride

Pollination is an example of how organisms interrelate and need among each other to prosper. Pollination is the transference of polen from the stamens (masculine reproductive apparatus) to the stigma (terminal part of the femenine reproductive apparatus). The Cockspur Coral Tree like many other plants con not do this by itself and must resort to pollinators. Among birds hummingbirds play this role efficiently. And our example is the Gilded Sapphire. The striking red colour of the flower attracts the sapphire and the nectar, the sapphire's basic source of food, becomes a reward. With its specialized bill it reaches the nectaries at the base of the corolla. As it is lapping up nectar its head touches both the stamens and the stigma. The anthers (teminal part of the stamens) will release pollen on the head of the sapphire to be transported to other flowers. The receptive stigma will receive pollen and if it is compatible fertilization will begin. And I add an interesting detail. Look how the sapphire clasps with its minute legs. Flowers with a big petal like the Cockpur's are used as a platform. Nevertheless, the sapphire keeps hovering as it feeds on nectar. Video © Roberto Ares - Texto: Cora Rimoldi


Thoas swallowtail
Heraclides thoas thoantiades
Thoas swallowtail
26-11-11 © J. Simón Tagtachian
Thoas swallowtail
26-11-11 © J. Simón Tagtachian

Snail Kite
Rostrhamus sociabilis
Snail Kite
27-11-11 © J. Simón Tagtachian
White-winged Becard
Pachyramphus polychopterus
White-winged Becard
27-11-11 © J. Simón Tagtachian
Masked Yellowthroat
Geothlypis aequinoctialis
Masked Yellowthroat
27-11-11 © J. Simón Tagtachian
White-tipped Dove
Leptotila verreauxi
White-tipped Dove
26-11-11 © J. Simón Tagtachian
Gilded Hummingbird
Hylocharis chrysura
Gilded Hummingbird
26-11-11 © J. Simón Tagtachian



Black-and-white tegu lizard
Salvator merianae
Black-and-white tegu lizard
27-11-11 © Amira Hesain

Hot days are coming and lizards are more frequently seen. Amira and Abel tell us: "It was approximately 0.80 to 0.90 m long. We were sitting on a bench facing the sea in front of the electric power plant. In fact we were only 3 m away from the lizard during approximately 20 minutes till we left. The lizard moved into and out of the bushes. It seemed not to be afraid of us and we indulged ourselves taking a couple of pictures of it.


Scarlet-headed Blackbird
Amblyramphus holosericeus
Scarlet-headed Blackbird
26-11-11 © J. Simón Tagtachian
Bran-colored Flycatcher
Myiophobus fasciatus
Bran-colored Flycatcher
26-11-11 © J. Simón Tagtachian

Chiguanco Thrush
Turdus chiguanco
Chiguanco Thrush
29-11-11 © José Luis Fernández Guaraz
Thanks to José Luis we can add another record of this thrush. rare around here. Though there are records in Buenos Aires and surrounding areas in the province, the natural distribution of this bird is a broad stripe along the west of Argentina till Patagonia where it crosses to the Atlantic.

Scarlet-headed Blackbird
Amblyramphus holosericeus
07-11-11 © Roberto Ares



Wrongly identified: Not a
Parypthimoides phronius but a Celmis Satyr
Ypthimoides celmis
Marrón del pastizal/Celmis Satyr This Celmis Satyr (
Ypthimoides celmis) has been wrongly identified as a
Parypthimoides phronius. Ezequiel, our butterfly consultant, always on the alert, has corrected our mistake and explains to us that: "The diagnostic characteristics are the eyespots, the lines of the ventral side and the general tone." © Claudia Furman

Yellow-browed Tyrant
Satrapa icterophrys
Yellow-browed Tyrant
27-11-11 © Claudia y Diego Bastías
Wood Stork
Mycteria americana
Wood Stork
12-11-11 © J. Simón Tagtachian

Rufescent Tiger-Heron
Tigrisoma lineatum
Rufescent Tiger-Heron
13-11-11 © Carlos González Ledo
Rufescent Tiger-Heron
13-11-11 © Carlos González Ledo
On 13th one of the young flew.

Scissor-tailed Nightjar
Hydropsalis torquata
14-11-11 © Claudia y Diego Bastías

New butterfly species
European Peacock
Aglais io
European Peacock
06-11-11 © Javier Ubiría

Ezequiel Núñez Bustos tells us: "This is very interesting. This is an Inachis io, a common butterfly in Europe !! There are no exotic diurnal butterflies in the country. This is the first record confirmed in situ. An amazing finding"



Dark-billed Cuckoo
Coccyzus melacoryphus
Dark-billed Cuckoo
05-11-11 © Pablo Serur
Dark-billed Cuckoo
05-11-11 © Pablo Serur