Hi, we are thinking about birding in different parts of Argentina in July this year. Is it a good idea or not? And if so, why?
Thanks in advance!
It's a big place!
My experience is limited to January and February but I found the birding was great
Suggest investigating the areas you are interested in on ebird, filtered for the month you're planning to go.
If You go to northern Argentina, I suggest go via Sao Paulo International to Foz de Igauzo.
Via Buenos Aires You have to change from internation to national, which can take depended on traffic 1,5 to 3h or even longer.
In Sao Paulo flights from international possible, also to Foz de Iguazu.
Transfer to Argentina via taxi is easy.
July is a cold month in most of the country but the northern provinces, like Misiones, Formosa, etc. Nevertheless, there are some interesting winter migration patterns allowing you to see, for example, patagonian species at Buenos Aires, Andean birds at lower altitude, or some cotingas at Misiones. July is also the peak of winter holidays; everywhere is crowded with local tourism, so I would avoid places like Iguazú National Park, etc. Places like Surucua Lodge or our own lodge are a better option for those days, if you are interested mainly on birding (winter holidays goes from July 10 to July 28)
In July you will miss the frenetic activity of the breeding season (~September - February) and a handful of breeding migrants but otherwise I think most of Argentina would be pretty good, except maybe the far south.
I will put a trip report up on BF at some point from my visit earlier this year. I saw 326 species in six weeks - with five weeks doing research work in the Parque Costera del Sur 'reserve', so pure birding time was a few days in the north east (Iguasu,Uruguay-i , Andresito - Surucua Lodge) around New Years and a few days around Salta / Pre-Puna mid-February.
July is probably a bit cold for the Andean Pre-Puna / Puna so low activity. But the Yungas around Salta / Jujuy would still be good, and less likely to be rained off in July.
July in Missones I would expect would be fine, less likely to be rained off and quieter (people wise) than other times of year. I can't recommend the Surucua lodge highly enough if you get the chance to stay there. Adrian who runs the lodge with his wife is an excellent wildlife photographer and took us out to find Red-ruffed Fruitcrow, White-bearded Manakin and a stack of other good birds.
Surucuya I can't remember.
There are different birding spots in this area.
Also parc provenciales Araucaria in San Pedro.
All are reachable with normal car, except Cruce Caballero.
Cruce Cabellero is very nice parc.
http://www.toucanbirding.com/birding-localities/
Thanks!
I can also take the trip in June. Would that be a better choice regarding people everywhere and will the possible amount of birds be similar to July?
How is about Karadya in this time ?
Like parque provinciales Uruguai, it is not far from Iguazu.
In October Karadya and pp Urugai was excellent for birding.
I started in Salta via Cabra Corral, Humahuaca, Laguna Los Pozuelos, Calilegua, El Ray, Formosa, Pilcomayo, NP Grand Chaco, Murubuya, Cruce Caballero, Uruguai, Karadya and Iguazu, I defined with Karadya and Guy Cox help about 470 differnt birds in 4 weeks.
Info for Guy Cox
https://www.tourhq.com/guide/ar98548/guy-cox
http://birdingmisiones.blogspot.de/
If You go to northern Argentina, I suggest go via Sao Paulo International to Foz de Igauzo.
Via Buenos Aires You have to change from internation to national, which can take depended on traffic 1,5 to 3h or even longer.
In Sao Paulo flights from international possible, also to Foz de Iguazu.
Transfer to Argentina via taxi is easy.