Chile. November Argentina Diary November 2008

Transcription

1 Chile November 2008 Argentina Diary November 2008 Chile Diary November 2008

2 Chile Diary November 2008

3 Chile trip Diary Four of us booked a 6 day trip in Central Chile around Santiago through Fantástico Sur tours@ fantasticosur.com, We had a guide Eduardo Whitaker and a van with driver to take us into the mountains behind the capital city during the first 2 days. Then we spent the latter 3 days without guide but still had the driver and the van. The price for the trip was $1265 pr. person. The fee included payment for hotels, transport, food, guide and pelagic trip. I think it was good value for money given we escaped all the hassle to find our way and look after our gear while birding. We arrived on 16 November to Santiago from Cordoba, Argentina and went to the city to have the day off. We were supposed to go to Lampa Marshes but they were dried out. Trip to Canyon Olivari The first day on 17 November we went on a full day excursion to Canyon Olivari GPS: ºS, ºW; 1313 m to look for condors, endemic birds and wildflowers. Cayon Olivaro is the main ski area in South America and ski lifts can be seen everywhere at high altitude. It was a beautiful day with clear weather. The highlights were close up condors and mountain Caracara in the canyon, Striped Woodpecker, Scalethroated Earthcreeper, several close up views of the large tapacolo Moustached Turca which was Jeff s 3000th World bird, and White-throated Sierra Finch. We had a roosting Horned Owl in eucalyptus trees near the entrance to the ski-resort. Wildflowers were everywhere. Trip to Embalse de Yeso On the second full day of 17 November we went to Embalse de Yeso at 3200 meters to look for Diademed Sandpiper-Plover behind a dam at km 23.2 stone. En route we made a few stops in a lovely canyon. Our first stop GPS: ºS, ºW; 1458 m. Produced Chilean Flicker, Crag Chilia (Canastero like ovenbird) singing to tape playback and a nice Dark-bellied Cinclodes nearby. Higher up about 5 km from the dam GPS: ºS, ºW; 2362 m we found Blackfronted Ground-Tyrant, Rufous-tailed Plantcutter, Yellow-rumped Siskin and Rufous-banded Miner. The area was overgrazed by goats. Finally, we reached the final destination behind the dam. Our van had to cross a few streams with some difficulty, but about ½ km. before the meadow we had to stop and do a short walk. Most of time, we had to wade in water so rubber boots came in handy. In this beautiful area we quickly found a pair of Sandpiper-plovers with two chicks. Later Hans found a nest with 1 egg. Jon Fjeldså regretted that we did not bring some DNA material back to the Danish Zoological Museum. Fortunately I got a photo of the chick that was of some use. GPS: ºS, ºW; 2591 m. Three upland geese (outside of their known range) took off and flew away. Facing Page: Embalse de Yeso with Grey-breasted Seedsnipe and Diademed Sandpiper Plover. This Page:: Crag Chilia and Aqua Sapphire Tower - Puya Berteroniana Chile Diary November 2008

4 Magellanic Tapaculos were jumping among the rocks but were too quick to get a decent photo. On the other hand, Grey-breasted Seedsnipes were singing from the edges and were fairly tame and photogenic. On the way back we stopped at an abandoned Military compound where we found a White-sided Hillstar bathing in the sand. We arrived at Hotel Presidente about 7 pm. We were too tired to go out so we had to be content with the slow service and micro-waved food in hotel. The rest of the time we were on the own with a Spanish speaking driver. We took a leisurely drive to the west towards the coast. We stopped several places to look for water birds. In an Australian looking landscape near Embalsa San Juan we could enjoy watching up to 15 species of waterbirds in a lake close to a fairly busy road. Some new birds were Chiloe Wigeon, teals, pintails, shovelers, pochards, coots and swans. GPS: ºS, ºW; 179 m Near the coast at the mouth of the Maipo River we stopped in areas for skimmers, waders, terns and whimbrel GPS: ºS, ºW; 0 m. Further on we made a visit to a nature reserve near El Peral. Here we had a Stripe-backed Bittern, Black-necked Swan, Tufted Tit-Tyrant and Wrenlike Rushbird. GPS: ºS, ºW; 12 m. The final stop produced two new birds, Dusky Tapaculo and Wire-tailed Rayadito, in ravine Quebrada Cordoba GPS: ºS, ºW; 85 m. We arrived to our hotel Marina del Rey in Viña del Mar (Valparaiso) about 7 pm. It was a very nice hotel with a good restaurant, internet access and a nice room. Seabirding trip Friday 20 November was a sea birding day. We met at the boat ramp about 6 am, but the boat left almost an hour later GPS: ºS, ºW; 0 m. The weather was overcast from the Humboldt Current. Another private group of 4 people from England and the USA joined us. On the way out we could see large flocks of Peruvian pelicans following us. Shortly after shearwaters, albatross and fulmars appeared. The Salvin s Shy Albatross and Black-browed Albatross were fairly common, but we saw a few Buller s Albatross and Jeff also spotted a Chatman s Island Shy Albatross. Of other birds were Peruvian Diving Petrels, Whitevented & Wilson s Storm Petrels, Skua and Jaegers, Westland and White-chinned Petrels. The trip lasted only to 1 pm, but was very enjoyable with a lot of action around the boat. On the way back the staff onboard served wine and biscuits with cheese while we were watching Sealions lying around on the docks. In the afternoon we did some excursions to the north to se a colony of Penguins and a few terns en route. We found the Seaside Cinclodes on a rock along the beach. Many of us were a bit tired and fell asleep in the bus. However that did not prevent us from seeing four Harris Hawks across a field. We had a great evening with red wine in the hotel, but I must say I was a bit affected by the bad news from the financial crisis. Trip to La Campana The last day we returned towards Santiago with a long stop in La Campana National Park (entrance at ºS, ºW; 424 m. This is nice area with some interesting birds such as Dusky-tailed Canastero, White-throated Treerunner, Fire-eyed Diucon (flycatcher), and several hummingbirds such as Giant. The vegetation is interesting with a lot of cactus and wildflowers. We returned to Santiago a bit early, but were delayed because Hans wanted to buy whisky for his wife. The driver was over-eager to please us and as a result we had to search for a shop in the rush hour. We quickly learned that Santiago is not the place for the grand old scotch. We really enjoyed Chile. The distances were manageable, as many good sites can be reached within a few hours. The seabirding was fantastic. The food is marvellous, if you have time to look for it. It is an easy-to-do yourself destination at a reasonable price. Pity it is so far away from Europe & Canada. Nonetheless, we will have to return to see Patagonia. and other area to the south. Chile Diary November 2008

5 Shy Albatross White-chinned Petrel Shy Albatross Pink-footed Shearwater Black-browed Albatross Southern Giant Petrel Chile Diary November 2008

6 Birds seen by the group Number Location Chilean Tinamou Nothoprocta perdicaria 4 H campana Black-browed Albatross Thalassarche melanophris 25 Valparaiso Shy Albatross Thalassarche cauta 50 Valparaiso Buller s Albatross Thalassarche bulleri 2 Valparaiso Southern Giant-Petrel Macronectes giganteus 8 Valparaiso Northern Giant-Petrel Macronectes halli 1 Valparaiso Southern Fulmar Fulmarus glacialoides 5 Valparaiso Defilippe s Petrel Pterodroma defilippiana 4 Valparaiso White-chinned Petrel Procellaria aequinoctialis 50 Valparaiso Westland Petrel Procellaria westlandica 40 Valparaiso Buller s Shearwater Puffinus bulleri 1 Valparaiso Pink-footed Shearwater Puffinus creatopus 300 Valparaiso Wilson s (Fuegian) Storm-Petrel Oceanites oceanicus chilensis 8 Valparaiso Peruvian Diving-Petrel Pelecanoides garnotii 4 Valparaiso Humboldt Penguin Spheniscus humboldti km North of Valparaiso Site? White-tufted Grebe Rollandia rolland 6 El Peral Great Grebe Podiceps major 36 Maipo River, Valparaiso Silvery Grebe Podiceps occipitalis 7 El Peral Neotropic Cormorant Phalacrocorax brasilianus 400 Valparaiso Red-legged Cormorant Phalacrocorax gaimardi 2 Valparaiso Peruvian Booby Sula variegata 120 Valparaiso, Maipo River Peruvian Pelican Pelecanus thagus 140 Maipo River Snowy Egret Egretta thula 2 Embalse San Juan Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis c common Black-crowned Night-Heron Nycticorax nycticorax 5 El Peral Stripe-backed Bittern Ixobrychus involucris 1 El Peral Andian Condor vultur gryphus 18 Canyon Olivari Black Vulture Coragyps atratus 6 Valparaiso and elsewere Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura 28 La Campana, Valparaiso Cinereous Harrier Circus cinereus 1 Embalse San Juan Harris s Hawk Parabuteo unicinctus 6 Valparaiso - concon Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle Geranoaetus melanoleucus 4 Canyon Olivari Red-backed Hawk Buteo polyosoma 4 Embalse de Yeso Mountain Caracara Phalcoboenus megalopterus 5 Canyon Olivari Chimango Caracara Milvago chimango 150 common American Kestrel Falco sparverius 4 Embalse de Yeso Aplomado Falcon Falco femoralis 2 Embalse de Yeso Black-necked Swan Cygnus melanocorypha 30 El Peral Coscoroba Swan Coscoroba coscoroba 14 Embalse San Juan Upland Goose Chloephaga picta 3 Embalse de Yeso Chiloe Wigeon Anas sibilatrix 200 Embalse San Juan Speckled Teal Anas flavirostris 1 Embalse San Juan Crested Duck Anas specularioides 2 Embalse San Juan Yellow-billed Pintail Anas georgica 250 Embalse San Juan White-cheeked Pintail Anas bahamensis 7 Embalse San Juan Cinnamon Teal Anas cyanoptera 10 Embalse San Juan Chile Birdlist November 2008

7 Red Shoveler Anas platalea 60 Embalse San Juan Black-headed Duck Heteronetta atricapilla 3 El Peral Lake Duck Oxyura vittata 70 Embalse San Juan, El Peral California Quail Callipepla californica 23 El Peral, Canyon Olivari Spot-flanked Gallinule Gallinula melanops 4 El Peral Red-gartered Coot Fulica armillata 30 El Peral White-winged Coot Fulica leucoptera 150 Embalse San Juan Red-fronted Coot Fulica rufifrons 22 Embalse San Juan American Oystercatcher Haematopus palliatus 254 Maipo River Blackish Oystercatcher Haematopus ater 4 Maipo River Southern Lapwing Vanellus chilensis 200 El Peral Diademed Sandpiper-Plover Phegornis mitchelli 7 (2 juv) Embalse de Yeso Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus 750 El Peral Willet Catoptrophorus semipalmatus 1 Maipo River Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes 4 Maipo River Greater Yellowlegs Tringa melanoleuca 1 Maipo River Surfbird Aphriza virgata 8 Maipo River Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres 20 Maipo River Baird s Sandpiper Calidris bairdii 3 Embalse de Yeso White-backed Stilt Himantopus melanurus 200 Maipo River Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus 1 Valparasio (Jeff) Red Phalarope Phalaropus fulicaria 60 Valparaiso Gray-breasted Seedsnipe Thinocorus orbignyianus 10 Embalse de Yeso Chilean Skua Stercorarius chilensis 2 Valparaiso Brown Skua Stercorarius antarcticus antarticus 1 Valparaiso (Jeff) Parasitic Jaeger Stercorarius parasiticus 2 Valparaiso Gray Gull Larus modestus 89 Valparaiso Brown-hooed Gull Larus maculipennis c Maipo River Kelp Gull Larus dominicanus 1800 Valparaiso Franklin s Gull Larus pipixcan Maipo River, Valparaiso South American Tern Sterna hirundinacea 215 Maipo River, Valparaiso Elegant Tern Thalasseus elegans 15 Rio Maipo s delta Royal Tern T maximus 3 Rio Maipo s delta Snowy-crowned Tern Sterna trudeaui 1 jeff Valparaiso estary (Jeff ) Valparaiso estuary Elegant Tern Sterna elegans 200 Maipo River Inca Tern Larosterna inca 100 Valparaiso Black Skimmer Rynchops niger 130 Maipo River Rock Pigeon Columba livia c not counted Chilean Pigeon Columba araucana 5 Quebrada Cordoba, La Campana Eared Dove Zenaida auriculata 100 Canyon Olivari Black-winged Ground-Dove Metriopelia melanoptera 12 Embalse de Yeso Picui Ground-Dove Columbina picui 20 Quebrada Cordoba Great Horned Owl Bubo virginianus 1 Canyon Olivari Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus 1 Maipo River White-sided Hillstar Oreotrochilus leucopleurus 9 Embalse de Yeso, Canyon Olivari Giant Hummingbird Patagona gigas 9 La Campana Green-backed Firecrown Sephanoides sephaniodes 2 La Campana Chilean Flicker Colaptes pitius 4 Embalse de Yeso Chile Birdlist November 2008

8 Striped Woodpecker Picoides lignarius 6 Embalse de Yeso, Canyon Olivari Rufous-banded Miner Geositta rufipennis 60 Embalse de Yeso, Canyon Olivari Scale-throated Earthcreeper Upucerthia dumetaria 10 Canyon Olivari Crag Chilia@ Chilia melanura 8 Embalse de Yeso Dark-bellied Cinclodes Cinclodes patagonicus 10 Embalse de Yeso Grey-flanked Cinclodes Cinclodes oustaleti 1 Embalse de Yeso (Tau & Hans) Bar-winged Cinclodes Cinclodes fuscus 55 Embalse de Yeso, Canyon Olivari Seaside Cinclodes@ Cinclodes nigrofumosus 5 Valparaiso north Thorn-tailed Rayadito Aphrastura spinicauda 32 Quebrada Cordoba, La Campana Wren-like Rushbird Phleocryptes melanops 8 El Peral Plain-mantled Tit-Spinetail Leptasthenura aegithaloides 9 El Peral, La Campana Lesser Canastero Asthenes pyrrholeuca 2 Canyon Olivari Dusky-tailed Canastero Asthenes humicola 2 La Campana Cordilleran Canastero Asthenes modesta 6 Canyon Olivari White-throated Treerunner Pygarrhichas albogularis 5 La Campana Moustached Turca@ Pteroptochos megapodius 13 Embalse de Yeso, Canyon Olivari White-throated Tapaculo@ Scelorchilus albicollis H La Campana Megellanic Tapaculo Scytalopus magellanicus 1 Embalse de Yeso Dusky Tapaculo Scytalopus fuscus 4 El Peral, Quebrada Cordoba White-crested Elaenia Elaenia albiceps 43 El Peral Tufted Tit-Tyrant Anairetes parulus 8 El Peral Many-colored Rush-Tyrant Tachuris rubrigastra 5 El Peral Fire-eyed Diucon Xolmis pyrope 13 La Campana, Canyon Olivari Black-billed Shrike-Tyrant Agriornis montana 2 La Campana Rufous-naped Ground-Tyrant Muscisaxicola rufivertex 60 Embalse de Yeso, Canyon Olivari White-browed Ground-Tyrant Muscisaxicola albilora 1 Canyon Olivari Black-fronted Ground-Tyrant Muscisaxicola frontalis 5 Embalse de Yeso Cinerous Ground-Tyrant Muscisaxicola cinereus 2 Canyon Olivari Austral (Patagonian Negrito ) Lessonia oreas 11 Canyon Olivari Chilean Swallow Tachycineta meyeni 170 El Peral, Canyon Olivari Rufous-tailed Plantcutter Phytotoma rara 4 Embalse de Yeso Blue-and-white Swallow Notiochelidon cyanoleuca 41 El Peral, Valparaiso, enroute to Yeso Correndera Pipit Anthus correndera 1 Canyon Olivari Chilean Mockingbird@ Mimus thenca 42 Embalse de Yeso, Canyon Olivari Austral Thrush Turdus falcklandii 120 El Peral, La Campana, Canyon Olivari Rufous-collared Sparrow Zonotrichia capensis c common Gray-hooded Sierra-Finch Phrygilus gayi 50 Embalse de Yeso, Canyon Olivari Patagonian Sierra-Finch Phrygilus patagonicus 4 Canyon Olivari Mourning Sierra-Finch Phrygilus fruticeti 5 Canyon Olivari Plumbeous Sierra-Finch Phrygilus unicolor 3 Canyon Olivari Common Diuca-Finch Diuca diuca 16 Canyon Olivari Greater Yellow-Finch Sicalis auriventris 150 Canyon Olivari Grassland Yellow-Finch Sicalis luteola 40? Embalse de Yeso, Canyon Olivari Yellow-winged Blackbird Agelaius thilius 40 El Peral, Canyon Olivari Long-tailed Meadowlark Sturnella loyca 35 Seen most sites Austral Blackbird Curaeus curaeus 40 La Campana Shiny Cowbird Molothrus bonariensis c not counted Yellow-rumped Siskin Carduelis uropygialis 75 Embalse de Yeso, Canyon Olivari 8 Chile Birdlist November 2008

9 Black-chinned Siskin Carduelis barbata House Sparrow Passer domesticus 12 c Embalse de Yeso, Canyon Olivari not counted Moustached Turca@ Pteroptochos megapodius Embalse de Yeso Alstromaria haemantha Chile Birdlist November 2008

10 Report prepared by: Niels Poul Dreyer Brunemosevej 10 DK-4250 Fuglebjerg wwww.dreyerfoto.dk Denmark Participitants: Operation & Logistics: FantásticoSur Guide: Eduardo Whitaker 10 Chile Diary November 2008 Jeff Skevington Hans Meltofte Niels Poul Dreyer Tau Rasmussen