I spent a day in Buenos Aires on my way back to Manchester and, as has now become my custom, I stuck my head into the Reserva Ecologica Costanera Sur (aka RECS). I was there for a very short time as I also had shopping to do, but I did have time to take a few photos.

First up, this rather splendid photo of downtown Buenos Aires, taken from within the reserve. This shows how close the reserve is to the city centre, but is an angle I had never seen a photo taken from – really quite unusual.

First up, I was witness to a battle (presumably territorial) between a couple of coots and a couple of moorhens. I guess these conflicts go on all over the world; this one at least seemed quite intense.

I only seem to have taken photos of three other birds. I remember I was very low on battery and was intending to go to the zoo in the afternoon, so was preserving power. I am also quite familiar with the birds I tend to see here (it must have been my tenth visit) and didn’t register any lifers on this visit.

The ones I did take are below:

pepitero de collar (Golden-billed Saltator) Saltator aurantiirostris

pepitero gris (Grayish Saltator) Saltator coerulescens

garcita azulada (Striated Heron) Butorides striata

The Striated Heron was displaying most splendidly – and they are lovely birds to see.

I also saw quite a few lizards enjoying the morning sun; here is one example, what the locals often refer to as an iguana but not really an iguana at all.

Lagarto Overo (known locally by many as “Iguana”) Tupinambis merianae. Eng. the White-and-black Tegu Lizard.