[albatross02]

Hello,

I have been to Argentina from end of October 2011 for 4,5 weeks.
Start was in Salta and final in Iguazu.

Flight from Munich to Buenos Aires I used Lufthansa with was all time reliable for my flights before.
Connection in Buenos Aires to national airport takes some time, especially because I arrived during rush hour.
For flight to Salta I used LAN which seems to be reliable to and have possibility to change the flight for free.
I drove from Salta to Puerto Iguazu, took taxi to Foz de Iguazu and from there with TAM via Sao Paulo International to Munich.
( TAM from Foz de Iguazu fligtht to Sao Paulo national, but also directly to international ! )

Car rental is quite expensive and additional cost fee for one way is necessary.
But Argentina I choiced again, because it is one of the rare safe country with high variety of birds and good infrastructure.
On the other hand are nice landscapes like Humahuaca valley, street from Cafayate to Salta and Iguazu falls.
Furthermore there is also a good chance for other wild life.
I saw also Puma, snakes, wild pigs, deers, monkeys, Tapirs, big lizzards in Argentina.

The national parks are in good condition and the ranger have excellent knowledge. I never met ranger with such high knowledge in another country.

The national parks quite often only reachable via unsealed roads.
In the dry time it is no problem ordinary car, but after heavy rain it is very difficult especially in El Ray, Mbruruya.
But this year and also last year I had good luck.
Some friends came end of November and the ranger in Mbururuya recommend them to leave the park, because they expect heavy rain. They could also not go to Grand Cahco, Copo and El Ray.

My Route
Salta
Cabra Corral ( dam with good chance for water birds and also nice bush for small birds )
El Rey national park
Laguna Los Pozuelos ( all 3 native flamingos, Hudsonian Godwit, Puna Plover, Baird Sanpiper, Andean Advocet )
Tilcara ( castle with good chance for Giant Hummer )
Calilegua national park
Banado de Estrella ( excellent place for heron and storks, roseate spoonbill, snakenack bird and some waders )
Rio Pilcomayo national park
Grand Chaco national park
Mbururuya national park
Mocona
Jaguarundi provincial reserve
Cruze Caballero provicial reserve ( Helmeted Woodpecker ! )
Uruguai provincial reserve ( Chrysolampis mosquitus )
Karadya reserve
Iguazu national park

The travel was individual organiced.

In Jaguarundi, Cruze Caballero and Uruguai I used Guy Cox as guide.
He has excellent knowledge and I got many additional information about the birds in this area.

http://www.birdingmisiones.co.cc/

In Karadya my guide was Julian Baigorria, he is excellent too.
http://www.karadya.com/bioreserva.ph...iz=DESCRIPTION

Both guide are very helpful in this areas with deep forest and lots of bushes and bamboo. In such areas it is very hard to find the birds if You do not have very good knowledge of the bird life there ( included the bird sound ).

Detailed information about the areas I will give in another threads.


Best regards
Dieter

[albatross02]

some landscape pictures

1. + 2. + 4. Laguna Los Pozuelos
3. Calilegua national park
4. Humahuaca near Tilcara

[albatross02]

some more birds

[Julian Thomas]

Excellent stuff, albatross02! I was in Argentina for 3 weeks in Nov-Dec and visited some of the same places. Pozuelos is magnificent - the sheer number of birds is stunning, and we not only saw all the species you mention, but got distant views of Horned Coot too.

Did you get Giant Hummer? In level flight it reminded me of a bee-eater.

[albatross02]

Hello Julian,

in Pozuelos I defined 15 different waders included Puna Plover and Hudsonian Godwit.
Giant Hummer I saw 2011 und 2010 in the castle area of Tilcara.
The cardones are excellent for Hummers. But 2010 was more Hummers there.

In Tilcare should be also Red-tailed Comet !
But I did not found. Do You had better luck than me ?

Buy the way Pozuelos is interesting but also the small lagoon 10 km north of Abra Pampa ( east from the highway ).

I checked also Yala, but this time also no luck with Torrent Duck.



Best regards
Dieter

[karadya]

Hi Dieter!
It is good to hear from you! Thanks for the nice comments.
Hope to have you back soon.
Julián

[albatross02]

Originally Posted by karadya

Hi Dieter!
It is good to hear from you! Thanks for the nice comments.
Hope to have you back soon.
Julián

Hello Julian,

I want to come back to Argentina.
But at first I have to look for a new job.

For me Tucumun via Salta area, Pozuelos, Chaco to Iguazu is the magic bird watching route.


Best regards
Dieter