Today we (Scarlett Eastman and Martin Eayrs) visited the Estancia Tipiliuke, owned by the Larminat Family who settled there from France in 1909. This was the first birding trip of 2015 and my last in this current trip to Argentina.

We left San Martín de los Andes at 9:00 am from Villa Vega, to a clear blue sky, strong sun and no wind. The day became hotter and stayed hot until about 13.30, when we returned home due to other commitments. Although short, it was an enjoyable day and we saw some thirty-seven species. A few photographs appear below – all were taken today.

Here is a list of the species we saw today, with some notes made by Scarlett.

FAM. PODICIPEDIDAE
1) Macá Común / Least Grebe (Rollandia Rolland). At least one adult and 2 chicks – rufous brown with the stripes on crown of the head (Laguna de los Zorros) in the reeds.

FAM. ARDEIDAE
2) Garza Blanca / Great Egret (Ardea alba) 4 around the laguna de los Zorros.

3) Garcita Blanca / Snowy Egret (Egretta thula) 1 perched on a bush

FAM. ANATIDAE
4) Cauquén Común / Upland aka Magellan goose (Chloephaga picta)

5) Pato Barcino / Speckled Teal (Anas flavirostris)
6) Pato Maicero / Yellow-billed Pintail (Anas georgica)
7) Pato Overo / Southern Widgeon (Anas sibilatrix)

8) Pato Zambullidor Chico / Lake Duck (Oxyura vittata) M & F and a chick

9) Pato Capuchino / Silver Teal (Anas versicolor)

FAM. ACCIPITRIDAE
10) Aguilucho Común / Variable aka Red-backed Hawk (Buteo polyosoma) F on a tall post

FAM. FALCONIDAE
11) Halconcito Colorado / American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) at rocks by Quilquihue bridge stop
12) Chimango / Chimango caracara (Milvago chimango)
13) Carancho / Southern Caracara (Caracara plancus)

FAM. CHARADRIDAE
14) Tero / Southern Lapwing (Vanellus chilensis)

FAM. COLUMBIDAE
15) Torcaza / Ear Dove (Zenaida auriculata)

FAM. PSITTACIDAE
16) Loro Barranquero / Burrowing Parakeet (Cyanocileus patagonus)

FAM. APODIDAE
17) Vencejo Blanco / Andean Swift (Aeronautes andecolus). Quilquihue bridge stop

FAM. ALCENIDAE
18) Martín Pescador Grande / Ringed Kingfisher (Megaceryle torquata) 2 females on bridge

FAM. PICIDAE
19) Carpintero Pitío / Chilean Flicker (Colaptes pitius)

FAM. FURNARIIDAE
20) Junquero / Wren-like Rush bird (Phleocryptes melanops)

FAM. TYRANNIDAE
21) Cachudito Pico N. / Tufted Tit Tyrant (Anaeretes parulus)
22) Fio-Fio / White-crested Eleania (Elaenia albiceps)
23) Pico de Plata / Spectacled Tyrant (Hymenops perspicillatus) M and F
24) Sobrepuesto / Austral Negrito (Lessonia rufa) M and F

25) Tachurí 7 Colores / Many-coloured Rush Tyrant (Tachuris rubrigastra)
26) Rara / Rufous-tailed Plant-cutter (Phytotoma rara) one female in bushes near Lagoon

FAM. HIRUNDINIDAE
27) Golondrina patagónica / Chilean Swallow (Tachycineta leucopyga)
28) Golondrina Barranquera / Blue and White Swallow (Notiochelidon cyanoleuca)

FAM. TROGLODYTIDAE
29) Ratona Común / Grass Wren (Troglodytes aedon)

FAM. TURDIDAE
30) Zorzal patagónico / Patagonian Thrush (Turdus falklandii)

FAM. EMBERIZIDAE
31) Misto / Grassland Yellow-Finch (Sicalis luteola)
32) Jilguero Dorado / Saffron Finch (Sicalis flaveola)

33) Diuca / Dicuca Finch (Diuca diuca)                                                                                                                                            

FAM. ICTERIDAE
34) Varillero Ala Amarilla / Yellow-winged Blackbird (Agelaius thilius)
35) Loica / Long-tailed Meadow-lark (Sturnella loyca)

FAM. FRINGILLIDAE
36) Cabecita Negra Austral / Black-chinned siskin (Carduelis barbata)

FAM. THRESKIORNITHIDAE
37) Bandurria Austral / Black-faced Ibis (Theristicus melanopis)

FAM. SCOLOPACIDAE
38) Becasina Común / Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago)