Buenos Días Birding
Buenos Aires, Argentina

Savanna Hawk A handsome and reliable species on our tours throughout northern Argentina, neither we nor our guests ever tire of encountering a Savanna Hawk. Their large size and aesthetic plumage are great for birders and photographers alike, and their tendency to sit still on a roadside fencepost staring right back at us makes them excellent subjects. ... Savanna Hawks are snake-eating specialists. Their long, featherless legs are covered in overlapping scales to prevent a snake's fangs from penetrating the skin. Preying on snakes also forces the hawk to spend lots of time either on the ground or perched just above it on a wooden post or small tree. The flight feathers are a rich cinnamon colour, contrasting with the black 'border' around the edges of the wings, making the species instantly recognisable when airborne. Ceibas is a hotspot for the species, though it can be seen in any lightly wooded or open habitats on our circuits in northern Argentina. To obtain inspiration for our long-awaited reopening, please refer to our website for news and updates, as well as browsing the selection of trips and itineraries we have to offer. http://buenosdiasbirding.com/ Alex Fletcher Howard Bergman

10th October marks World Migratory Bird Day, a highly important day in both the birding and conservation calendar. Every summer, millions of migratory birds of all shapes and sizes embark on some kind of seasonal migration - whether it's an altitudinal hop from the Andean foothills to the slopes and plateaus 3,000m up, or a Nearctic, hemispherical migration that originates in North America and sees birds travelling as far south as Patagonia. Our understanding of the ecologic...al needs of migrating birds is ever increasing, but simply protecting their breeding and non-breeding grounds is not good enough. This year's theme, 'Birds connect our world' highlights the importance of conserving the ecological connectivity of all ecosystems required by migrating birds throughout their route, therefore aiming to ensure safe passage for migrating birds as they fly over potentially hostile environments and habitats en route to their northern or southern ranges. One case is that of the shorebirds (waders), renowned migrants that travel among the furthest of all migrations. By clicking on the photos in the shared post, you will understand a little more about the journeys and distances involved for each of the featured species, all of which should be completing their seasonal migrations right around this time of year. Let us celebrate their latest successful arrival to our shores and begin to appreciate the hardship and peril they must face on their long journeys from the north (or wherever they originate from!). Alex Fletcher