Argentina

The Pampas

From Buenos Aires, the capital city and main entrance point to the country, one can visit many protected natural areas where the typical native Pampas flora and fauna exist.

This famous region is known for its vast plains covered with grasslands interspersed with wetlands. In fact there is a lot more to the region: near Buenos Aires we can explore the native “Espinal” woodlands, the delta of the Paraná River, mudflats on the shores of the River Plate and the Atlantic sea-coast.

Just 15 minutes from any hotel one can visit the Costanera Sur Nature Reserve, some 360 hectares (890 acres) of grassland, lakes and patches of woods. This reserve is an excellent introduction to the local fauna and flora where at least 50 species of birds can be seen in a brief visit: Coscoroba and Black-necked Swans, three species of coots, several waders and many ducks such as the Black-headed Duck; passerines here include the Spectacled Tyrant, Masked Gnatcatcher, Black-and-rufous Warbling-finch; other wildlife in the reserve includes the Coypu (erroneously known as Nutria), Cavies (the origin of Guinea-pigs), the small Red Water-possum, Tegu Lizard and Hillary's Side-necked Turtle.

The Otamendi Nature Reserve , part of the national park system and nearly 3.000 hectares (7400 ac) big, is a short ride of 68 Km (42 mi) north-west from Buenos Aires. Samples of the habitats bordering the Paraná River are here protected: gallery forest, marshes and reed-beds, grassland and Hackberry woods are all found here.The area is special for several species of birds such as the Curve-billed and Straight-billed Reedhaunters, the Checkered Woodpecker, Chicli Spinetail, Red-rumped Warbling-finch and Diademed Tanager . In the wetter areas the Giant Wood-Rail may be seen; Snail Kite, Long-winged Harrier and the Scarlet-headed Blackbird are common over the open marshes and reedbeds. Just across the Paraná River we can explore the delta habitats and thorny Prosopis woods of Entre Ríos province, near Ceibas, some 150 Km (93 mi) from Buenos Aires.

In this region one can find an impressive array of birds, with Ringed Teal, White-fronted Woodpecker, Scimitar-billed Woodcreeper, Brown Cacholote, Short-billed Canastero, Lark-like Brushrunner, Rusty-collared Seedeater and Xenopsaris amongst others.

Working south out of the capital city we encounter the real Pampas of Argentina, where huge stands of Pampas grass and a series of marshes surround the sea-side town of San Clemente. Here one is ideally situated on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, near several different eco-systems. The Punta Rasa reserve forms a long peninsula, separating the sea from the estuary and tidal River Plate mud-flats. On the shores we will encounter hundreds of terns and Black Skimmers, Olrog's Gull and several shorebirds which visit the site during the summer – American Oystercatcher, Hudsonian Godwit, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, White-rumped Sandpiper, Red Knot and Golden Plover. Driving a short distance inland we visit some estancias and explore the grasslands and marshes where such interesting species as the Greater Rhea, the South American Painted Snipe, Southern Screamers and Spotted Nothura are found. The Pampas has several species of mammals; chief amongst them is the much endangered Pampas Deer, here in one of its last strong holds.

Yet further south is Bahía Blanca, ideally situated to visit the ecotone between the Pampas and the thorny woodlands of the Espinal. This is the area for what is perhaps the most endangered species in the country, the Pampas Meadowlark, and it is also a good area to find another endangered species, the Yellow Cardinal. Here too we see one of the most enigmatic species, the Chaco Pipit.