Parque Tres de Febrero was very busy this afternoon. I believe
that there was a national holiday this weekend and the city had descended on
the park. Pedalos plied the lake instead of any waterfowl. Such excitement may
have caused the birds to flee and the expected coots (Red-gartered Coot,
Red-fronted Coot and White-winged Coot) were nowhere to be seen. The paths
and lawns were covered with people and stalls, with skaters and drummers adding
to the frenetic atmosphere. I tried to circle the lake hoping to find a few
birds sheltering from the celebrations on a quiet bank on an island. A pair of Yellow-billed Teal roosted fitfully,
but so many people were milling around that they were driven back onto the
water.
Gray-breasted Martins, Brown-chested Martins and White-rumped
Swallows skimmed across the lake, some fed off the insects rising from the
water as evening approached, some delicately sipped from the water’s surface,
others clumsily crashed in the attempt. A Red-crested Cardinal was obviously used to the crowds and carried on as usual.
I gave up
trying to stay out of peoples’ way on the paths and sat myself down by the
water’s edge. On an island in the western lobe of the lake (at Google Earth
ref; 34°34'12.21"S 58°25'6.44"W) a Fork-tailed Flycatcher hawked from a dead branch protruding from a
large tree and Monk Parakeets found
fruits from the trees.
A small
flock of Yellow-chevroned Parakeets
flew into a nearby Jacaranda tree and fed amongst the purple blossoms. I love
Jacarandas. There, I’ve said it.
A European Starling flew in to the same tree.
I wonder if the purple sheen around its neck was a reflection from the flowers
or just a light refraction from its glossy plumage.
Picazuro Pigeons and Eared Doves had
found a quiet lawn inside a fenced area and were able to find a bit of peace.
Birds seen; 22
Yellow-billed Teal 6, Neotropic
Cormorant 4, Great Egret 1, Striated Heron 1, Picazuro Pigeon 80, Eared Dove
60, Nanday Parakeet 15, Monk Parakeet 6, Yellow-chevroned Parakeet 4, Rufous
Hornero 20, Cattle Tyrant 3, Great Kiskadee 20, Fork-tailed Flycatcher 1, Gray-breasted
Martin 8, Brown-chested Martin 10, White-rumped Swallow 20, Rufous-bellied
Thrush 10, Chalk-browed Mockingbird 3, European Starling 10, Red-crested
Cardinal 2, Bay-winged Cowbird 1, Shiny Cowbird 25.
For a previous post from Parque Tres de Febrero follow the link below;
Parque Tres de Febrero is an open-sided city park with
access at any time. There is a railed area which may not be open too early in
the morning. The Rose Garden is within the railed area. There are lakes, lawns
and lightly wooded areas. It is a well used park, popular with the residents of
the city and can get extremely busy, especially at weekends. The lakes hold
various coot species as well as grebes and a few duck. There is a large population
of domestic geese and domestic Muscovy Duck that may be out-competing many of
them. Swallows and martins are common in their season.
Pigeons and
doves are abundant and obvious throughout the park with the city gimmes
(Rufous-breasted Thrush, Rufous Hornero, Chalk-browed Mockingbird) all easy to
find.
3 species of
parakeet are common and plenty of other birds can be seen if you can find a
quiet spot. A small bridge crosses to an island at Google Earth ref;
34°34'16.51"S 58°24'57.49"W. This is potentially the quietest area of
the park with the possibility of the manicurists having missed it out. It is
within the railed area.
There is
plenty of lightly wooded areas on the periphery of the park including the
Planetarium with its adjacent lake at Google Earth ref; 34°34'10.93"S 58°24'42.28"W
Lots of
taxis run past the park and it is well served by buses that pass along Ave del
Libertador. For a previous post from Parque Tres de Febrero follow the link below;
Visit the
dedicated Central and South American Page for more from Buenos Aires, including
Costanera Sur and Ribera Norte.
