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Esteros del Iberá

The Iberá in September

September is spring in the wetlands. This is what happens in the Iberá this month and what to know before you travel.

Spring begins and with it the breeding season. High season continues, the weather warms up and migratory species return.

Season

The high season of the Iberá is from June to October. Winter (June to August) is a very good time: low water, concentrated wildlife, cool weather and no mosquitoes. Long weekends and July are the peaks of occupancy: book in advance. The low season (January to March) has extreme heat but also very active wildlife at dawn.

Weather

The Iberá has a humid subtropical climate. Average temperature in January: 27°C, in July: 16°C. Absolute highs exceed 40°C in summer. Frosts are possible between June and August. It rains all year round, around 1,400 mm annually. Rain is concentrated between autumn and spring (March, April and October are among the wettest months) and winter is the driest part of the year, with August the driest month.

Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes are most active in summer (December to March) and at dusk. With proper repellent and lightweight long clothing they are not a real problem. In the cold months (May to August) there are practically no mosquitoes. The lodgings in the Iberá always have mosquito nets.

Only at this time of year

They are only around for part of the year, and this month is one of them.

Pink trumpet tree
Only at this time of year
Pink trumpet tree
Handroanthus heptaphyllus

From July to September (late winter and early spring).

Argentine Black-and-white Tegu
Only at this time of year
Argentine Black-and-white Tegu
Salvator merianae

Exclusively from spring to summer (September to April).

Black Spine-necked Swamp Turtle
Only at this time of year
Black Spine-necked Swamp Turtle
Acanthochelys spixii

Spring and summer, in shallow marshes.

Tropical Kingbird
Only at this time of year
Tropical Kingbird
Tyrannus melancholicus

It arrives in late September and its constant song is part of the soundscape of the Iberá in the warm season.

Mussurana
Only at this time of year
Mussurana
Clelia clelia

Warm nights in spring and summer.

Chivi Vireo
Only at this time of year
Chivi Vireo
Vireo chivi

Spring and summer.

Nacunda Nighthawk
Only at this time of year
Nacunda Nighthawk
Chordeiles nacunda

Spring and summer.

Short-eared Owl
Only at this time of year
Short-eared Owl
Asio flammeus

Spring and early summer, when the records in Corrientes are concentrated.

Patagonian Racer
Only at this time of year
Patagonian Racer
Philodryas patagoniensis

September to April, in the mild morning hours.

Fork-tailed Flycatcher
Only at this time of year
Fork-tailed Flycatcher
Tyrannus savana

From October to March, peaking between November and February; it arrives in September and the last ones leave in April.

Piratic Flycatcher
Only at this time of year
Piratic Flycatcher
Legatus leucophaius

Spring and summer during its stay in the Iberá.

Streaked Flycatcher
Only at this time of year
Streaked Flycatcher
Myiodynastes maculatus

Mainly spring and summer.

In bloom

Species in bloom during this month.

Sarandí colorado
In bloom
Sarandí colorado
Cephalanthus glabratus

Spectacular from September to December, when it flowers with hundreds of white pompoms that literally protrude from the water.

Ingá (ice-cream-bean tree)
In bloom
Ingá (ice-cream-bean tree)
Inga vera

Flowering from September to November, the moment when the aroma of its pompoms permeates the trail in the darkness.

Arrayán
In bloom
Arrayán
Blepharocalyx salicifolius

The scented spring flowering and the multicoloured summer fruit are its showiest moments, but the tree can be identified at any time of year by its rough dark bark and the scent of its leaves when crushed.

Guayaibí
In bloom
Guayaibí
Cordia americana

Flowering in spring.

Tatané
In bloom
Tatané
Chloroleucon tenuiflorum

Showy flowering in spring (September to November).

Arrowhead (water arrow)
In bloom
Arrowhead (water arrow)
Sagittaria montevidensis

Its striking black-and-white flowering becomes especially abundant and photogenic between the months of September and January.

Southern cattail
In bloom
Southern cattail
Typha domingensis

The flowering is concentrated in spring (from September to November).

Dwarf yatay palm
In bloom
Dwarf yatay palm
Butia paraguayensis

Its period of greatest visibility occurs during spring and summer, when its flowering and subsequent fruiting give it away among the pastures.

White quebracho
In bloom
White quebracho
Aspidosperma quebracho-blanco

Spectacular flowering from spring to early summer (September to January), with whitish flowers of a sweet, intense perfume that is perceived before seeing the tree.

Black carob tree
In bloom
Black carob tree
Neltuma nigra

Bright green budding in September, yellowish flowering in spring.

Roman cassie (espinillo)
In bloom
Roman cassie (espinillo)
Vachellia caven

Its moment of glory: late winter and early spring (August and September), when it flowers in mass with the tree almost leafless, turning the woodland edge into a perfumed sea of yellow pompoms.

Breeding

Breeding season: more song, more movement and better chances of seeing them.

Red-and-green Macaw
Breeding
Red-and-green Macaw
Ara chloropterus

Peak activity in spring and summer during nesting season.

Strange-tailed Tyrant
Breeding
Strange-tailed Tyrant
Alectrurus risora

Spring and summer during the breeding season.

Saffron-cowled Blackbird
Breeding
Saffron-cowled Blackbird
Xanthopsar flavus

The breeding season in spring and summer is the best time to see them.

Black-necked Swan
Breeding
Black-necked Swan
Cygnus melancoryphus

Carrying chicks on the back can be seen in spring.

Migration

Migratory species passing through or arriving in the Iberá at this time.

Greater Ani
Migration
Greater Ani
Crotophaga major

Spring and summer (a summer migrant in the Iberá), though harder to see than the smooth-billed ani.

American Golden-Plover
Migration
American Golden-Plover
Pluvialis dominica

Autumn and spring during migration (March to May, and August to October).

At its best

They are here all year, but this is their moment of greatest presence or activity.

Water hyacinth
At its best
Water hyacinth
Pontederia crassipes

The months from May to October (autumn and winter) are ideal for navigating and exploring the dense network of floating peat mats by boat or kayak.

Seven-banded Armadillo
At its best
Seven-banded Armadillo
Dasypus septemcinctus

Year round, with the best chances on sunny spring and autumn afternoons.

Glittering-bellied Emerald
At its best
Glittering-bellied Emerald
Chlorostilbon lucidus

More visible in spring and summer when the flowers are more abundant.

White-faced Ibis
At its best
White-faced Ibis
Plegadis chihi

Year round, with greater presence in spring and summer when the wetlands are active.

Black-and-white Monjita
At its best
Black-and-white Monjita
Heteroxolmis dominicana

Year-round, with greatest detectability in spring and summer.

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck
At its best
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck
Dendrocygna autumnalis

Year round, most abundant in spring and summer.

Red-winged Tinamou
At its best
Red-winged Tinamou
Rhynchotus rufescens

Year round, most detectable in spring and summer when the males sing more frequently.

Lesser Grass-Finch
At its best
Lesser Grass-Finch
Emberizoides ypiranganus

In spring it sings from the tops of the stems and shows itself better.

White-rumped Swallow
At its best
White-rumped Swallow
Tachycineta leucorrhoa

All year round, most active in spring.

Also in September

More species present, in bloom or breeding this month.

🐦 Brown-chested Martin 🐦 Rufous Casiornis 🐦 Striped Cuckoo 🐟 Brown Hoplo 🐟 Chanchita 🐟 Boga 🟡 Golden dorado 🐦 Barn Swallow 🐦 Grassland Sparrow 🐦 Vermilion Flycatcher 🐸 Cururu Toad

Always there

The Iberá's emblematic wildlife is around all year, September included.

🐆 Ocelot 🦦 Coypu 🐻 Southern Tamandua 🐱 Puma 🦦 Neotropical Otter 🐊 Yacare caiman 🦫 Capybara 🦢 Southern Screamer 🦩 Jabiru 💜 Water hyacinth 🦩 Wood Stork 🐦 Anhinga 🐦 Yellow Cardinal 🐦 Saffron-cowled Blackbird

Where to see it

The gateways into the Great Iberá Park and the base towns, each with their own lodges, guides and boat tours.

Portal Río Corriente Portal Capivari Portal Uguay Portal Carambola Portal Laguna Iberá Portal San Nicolás Portal San Antonio Portal Cambyretá Portal Galarza P.N. Mburucuyá Ituzaingó Mercedes

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