My research work brought me to the Patagonian coastline, where sea lions, Magellanic penguins, oystercatchers and melanistic herons meet monte specialties such as yellow cardinal, sandy gallito or Hudson’s black tyrant.

Three days watching birds in the Chaco woodlands produced well over 50 lifers including smart endemics: Salinas monjita, crested gallito, Dinelli’s doradito, crescentchest, xenopsaris, warbling finches or chaco sparrow.

Coastal Buenos Aires Province produced several endemics and thousands of waders over a short trip marked by terrible weather: Hudson’s canastero, sulphur-bearded reedhaunter, Olrog’s gull and more.

Two days birding l’Albufera finished with terrific sunsets. Highlights included a mega greater yellowlegs, wintering jack snipes, a common scoter, the local sacred ibis, and numerous waders and waterfowl.