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.

My first whole month in Argentina was full of challenges but still offered goodies. Magellanic woodpecker, tapaculos, canasteros and owls obliged in Patagonia, but a trip to the coastal pampas was the cherry on top.

Buenos Aires serves as a hub for travelling through Argentina, and also as a great location to connect with local specialties. Reserva Ecológica Costanera Sur brings Paraná Delta avifauna into the city center.

A short visit to the cloud forests surrounding Salta offered my first-ever hummingbirds and guans, represented by attractive endemics. Yungas specialist Tucuman amazon, yungas sparrow and brushfinches followed.

My first time birding in the Neotropics involved a couple of hours walking the grasslands around Viru Viru Airport in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, featuring grasping looks at nothuras, tinamous and rheas.