BIRDING CHILE
This trip is planned as a full immersion in the birdlife of Chile, visiting a wide range of different habitats, with complete and interesting information, a great quality service and with time enough to enjoy the most beautiful landscapes in earth. ITINERARY DAY 1: WELCOME TO SANTIAGO AND THE ANDEAN RANGE Reception at the airport of Santiago de Chile Walking tour in Santiago Lunch at the Local Market Transfer to the Andean valley Cajón del Maipo Welcome briefing to talk about the Chilean birds and their environments Overnight at Cajón del Maipo valley (Cascada Lodge or similar)
DAY 2: FULL DAY CENTRAL CHILE Early depart to a 4-5 hours hiking and birding with wonderful views of the Andes Mountain Range. Lunch at a typical restaurant Visit to a local vineyard, wine tasting Overnight at Cajón del Maipo (Cascada Lodge or similar)
DAY 3: FLIGHT TO PUERTO MONTT / CHILOÉ ISLAND Early flight from Santiago to Puerto Montt Ferry crossing to Chiloé island Caulín Bird´s Sanctuary Boat ride to see the Penguins Colony in Puñihuil Lunch: Typical empanadas and fish at Puñihuil bay Overnight in Ancud (Hostería Ancud or similar)
DAY 4: WILDLIFE AT CHEPU RIVER, CHILOÉ ISLAND Chepu River: navigation through the river and the sunken forest to reach the Coluco Lagoon. Lunch: Home hosted “Curanto” to interact with a local family of Chiloé Walking tour in Ancud Overnight in Ancud (Hostería Ancud or similar)
DAY 5: QUENUIR WETLANDS Early back to the mainland Navigation through the mouth of Maullín river to reach the Quenuir bay Lunch: box lunch with regional products Walking along the coast and wetlands Overnight in Puerto Varas (Estancia 440 or similar)
DAY 6: VICENTE PÉREZ ROSALES NATIONAL PARK Excursion to the Osorno Volcano and the Petrohué waterfalls Walking to the red crater and through the paths inside the native forest Time enough to enjoy nature and take photos Lunch: box lunch with regional products Overnight in Puerto Varas (Estancia 440 or similar) DAY 7: FLIGHT TO PUNTA ARENAS / TRANSFER TO PUERTO NATALES Walking tour in Puerto Natales, bird spotting at the waterfront Lunch: local restaurant Overnight in Puerto Natales (Hotel If Patagonia or similar) DAY 8: NATIONAL PARK TORRES DEL PAINE Full day exploring the north part of the National Park Lunch: box lunch Overnight in Puerto Natales (Hotel If Patagonia or similar) DAY 9: BAGUALES RANGE /TRANSFER TO PUNTA ARENAS Exploring the Baguales range, located north-east of Torres del Paine Lunch: local restaurant. Transfer to Punta Arenas. Walking tour in Punta Arenas. Overnight in Punta Arenas (Hotel Hain or similar) DAY 10: MORNING TRIP TO OTWAY SOUND / FLIGHT TO SANTIAGO Visit to the Magellanic penguin rookery and dolphin’s colonies. Transfer to Punta Arenas airport. END OF THE TRIP
Destinations
Central Area: Santiago, Cajón del Maipo valley Lakes District: Puerto Varas area, Chiloé island, Maullín South Patagonia: Puerto Natales, Torres del Paine, Punta Arenas
Length
10 days / 9 nights
Difficulty
Low
Guide
Bilingual naturalist tour guide specialized in birdlife (English-Spanish guide)
Equipment required Waterproof clothes and shoes sunscreen, comfortable shoes and and recommended water protection for your personal equipment (cameras, lens, binoculars, etc.). Recommendation: A good book and a field guide to bring during your trip in Chile is Alvaro Jaramillo´s Birds of Chile, English version available at Amazon.com. Equipment included Literature, field guide, birds check list, spotting scope, extra binoculars, rubber boots Meals included
Hotel’s breakfast, lunch or box lunch for each day (lunch includes entrée, main dish, dessert, glass of wine or water)
Accommodations, Boutique Hotel or similar accommodations, private ground transportation and transportation, ferry, boat rides, National Parks entrance fees others included Not included
Airline tickets, tips, insurances and any other item not specified
Domestic Flights
Passengers must buy their own airline tickets, following the schedules and flight numbers indicated by the company.
Minimum of passengers
Trips are guaranteed to depart with a minimum of four participants. Maximum 8 pax per departure. Window seat guaranteed at every land transportation
CHECK LIST OF BIRDS AND MAMMALS OF BIRDING CHILE Common English name, Family and Sc. Name
Rheas | Rheidae Lesser Rhea Rhea pennata Tinamous | Tinamidae Chilean Tinamou Nothoprocta perdicaria Penguins | Spheniscidae Humboldt Penguin Spheniscus humboldti Magellanic Penguin Spheniscus magellanicus Grebes | Podicipedidae Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps White-tufted Grebe Rollandia rolland Great Grebe Podiceps major Silvery Grebe Podiceps occipitalis
Albatrosses | Diomedeidae Black-browed Albatross Thalassarche melanophris Buller's Albatross Thalassarche bulleri Salvin's Albatross Thalassarche salvini Shearwaters & Petrels | Procellariidae Antarctic Giant Petrel Macronectes giganteus Southern Fulmar Fulmarus glacialoides Cape Petrel Daption capense White-chinned Petrel Procellaria aequinoctialis Sooty Shearwater Puffinus griseus Storm-Petrels | Hydrobatidae Wilson's Storm-Petrel Oceanites oceanicus Pincoya Storm-Petrel Oceanites pincoyae (New Specie see http://scillypelagics.com/Oceanites_Puerto_Montt_Chile.html) Pelicans | Pelecanidae Peruvian Pelican Pelecanus thagus Gannets & Boobies | Sulidae Peruvian Booby Sula variegata Cormorants | Phalacrocoracidae Neotropic Cormorant Phalacrocorax brasilianus Rock Shag Phalacrocorax magellanicus Imperial Shag Phalacrocorax atriceps Red-legged Cormorant Phalacrocorax gaimardi Herons, Egrets & Bitterns | Ardeidae Cocoi Heron Ardea cocoi Great Egret Ardea alba Snowy Egret Egretta thula Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis Black-crowned Night-Heron Nycticorax nycticorax Stripe-backed Bittern Ixobrychus involucris Ibises & Spoonbills | Threskiornithidae Black-faced Ibis Theristicus melanopis White-faced Ibis Plegadis chihi Flamingos | Phoenicopteridae Chilean Flamingo Phoenicopterus chilensis
Ducks, Geese & Swans | Anatidae Black-necked Swan Cygnus melanocorypha Coscoroba Swan Coscoroba coscoroba Upland Goose Chloephaga picta Kelp Goose Chloephaga hybrida Ashy-headed Goose Chloephaga poliocephala Ruddy-headed Goose Chloephaga rubidiceps Flightless Steamerduck Tachyeres pteneres Flying Steamerduck Tachyeres patachonicus Torrent Duck Merganetta armata Chiloe Wigeon Anas sibilatrix Speckled Teal Anas flavirostris Spectacled Duck Anas specularis Crested Duck Anas specularioides Yellow-billed Pintail Anas georgica Silver Teal Anas versicolor Cinnamon Teal Anas cyanoptera Red Shoveler Anas platalea Lake Duck Oxyura vittata New World Vultures | Cathartidae Black Vulture Coragyps atratus Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura Andean Condor Vultur gryphus Hawks, Eagles & Kites | Accipitridae White-tailed Kite Elanus leucurus Cinereous Harrier Circus cinereus Chilean Hawk Accipiter chilensis Harris' Hawk Parabuteo unicinctus Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle Geranoaetus melanoleucus Variable Hawk Buteo polyosoma Falcons & Caracaras | Falconidae Mountain Caracara Phalcoboenus megalopterus White-throated Caracara Phalcoboenus albogularis* Southern Crested Caracara Caracara plancus Chimango Caracara Milvago chimango American Kestrel Falco sparverius Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus New World Quails | Odontophoridae California Quail Callipepla californica Rails, Gallinules & Coots | Rallidae Plumbeous Rail Pardirallus sanguinolentus Spot-flanked Gallinule Gallinula melanops White-winged Coot Fulica leucoptera Red-gartered Coot Fulica armillata Red-fronted Coot Fulica rufifrons
Painted-Snipes | Rostratulidae American Painted-snipe Rostratula semicollaris Oystercatchers | Haematopodidae Magellanic Oystercatcher Haematopus leucopodus Blackish Oystercatcher Haematopus ater American Oystercatcher Haematopus palliatus Avocets & Stilts | Recurvirostridae Black-necked Stilt Himantopus mexicanus Plovers & Lapwings | Charadriidae Southern Lapwing Vanellus chilensis American Golden-Plover Pluvialis dominica Snowy Plover Charadrius alexandrinus Collared Plover Charadrius collaris Two-banded Plover Charadrius falklandicus Rufous-chested Dotterel Charadrius modestus Diademed Sandpiper-Plover Phegornis mitchellii Magellanic Plover | Pluvianellidae Magellanic Plover Pluvianellus socialis Sandpipers & Allies | Scolopacidae South American Snipe Gallinago paraguaiae Hudsonian Godwit Limosa haemastica Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus Greater Yellowlegs Tringa melanoleuca Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres Surfbird Aphriza virgata Sanderling Calidris alba Baird's Sandpiper Calidris bairdii Wilson's Phalarope Phalaropus tricolor Red Phalarope Phalaropus fulicaria Seedsnipes | Thinocoridae Gray-breasted Seedsnipe Thinocorus orbignyianus Least Seedsnipe Thinocorus rumicivorus Skuas & Jaegers | Stercoraridae Chilean Skua Stercorarius chilensis
Gulls | Laridae Dolphin Gull Larus scoresbii Gray Gull Larus modestus Kelp Gull Larus dominicanus Brown-hooded Gull Larus maculipennis Andean Gull Larus serranus Franklin's Gull Larus pipixcan Elegant Tern Sterna elegans South American Tern Sterna hirundinacea Common Tern Sterna hirundo Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea Snowy-crowned Tern Sterna trudeaui Inca Tern Larosterna inca Skimmers | Rhynchopidae Black Skimmer Rynchops niger Doves & Pigeons | Columbidae Rock Dove Columba livia Chilean Pigeon Columba araucana Eared Dove Zenaida auriculata Black-winged Ground-Dove Metriopelia melanoptera Parrots, Macaws & Allies | Psittacidae Austral Parakeet Enicognathus ferrugineus Slender-billed Parakeet (E) Enicognathus leptorhynchus Barn Owls | Tytonidae Barn Owl Tyto alba Typical Owls | Strigidae Magellanic Horned Owl Bubo magellanicus Rufous-legged Owl Strix rufipes Austral Pygmy-Owl Glaucidium nanum Burrowing Owl Athene cunicularia Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus Nightjars & Allies | Caprimulgidae Band-winged Nightjar Caprimulgus longirostris Hummingbirds | Trochilidae White-sided Hillstar Oreotrochilus leucopleurus Giant Hummingbird Patagona gigas Green-backed Firecrown Sephanoides sephaniodes Kingfishers | Alcedinidae Ringed Kingfisher Ceryle torquata
Woodpeckers & Allies | Picidae Striped Woodpecker Picoides lignarius Chilean Flicker Colaptes pitius Magellanic Woodpecker Campephilus magellanicus Ovenbirds | Furnariidae Common Miner Geositta cunicularia Short-billed Miner Geositta antarctica Rufous-banded Miner Geositta rufipennis Creamy-rumped Miner Geositta isabellina Scale-throated Earthcreeper Upucerthia dumetaria Straight-billed Earthcreeper Upucerthia ruficauda Band-tailed Earthcreeper Eremobius phoenicurus Crag Chilia (E) Chilia melanura Chilean Seaside Cinclodes (E) Cinclodes nigrofumosus Dark-bellied Cinclodes Cinclodes patagonicus Gray-flanked Cinclodes Cinclodes oustaleti Bar-winged Cinclodes Cinclodes fuscus Des Murs' Wiretail Sylviorthorhynchus desmursii Thorn-tailed Rayadito Aphrastura spinicauda Plain-mantled Tit-Spinetail Leptasthenura aegithaloides Wren-like Rushbird Phleocryptes melanops Lesser Canastero Asthenes pyrrholeuca Dusky-tailed Canastero (E) Asthenes humicola Cordilleran Canastero Asthenes modesta Austral Canastero Asthenes anthoides White-throated Treerunner Pygarrhichas albogularis Tapaculos | Rhinocryptidae Black-throated Huet-huet Pteroptochos tarnii Moustached Turca (E) Pteroptochos megapodius White-throated Tapaculo (E) Scelorchilus albicollis Chucao Tapaculo Scelorchilus rubecula Ochre-flanked Tapaculo Eugralla paradoxa Magellanic Tapaculo Scytalopus magellanicus Dusky Tapaculo (E) Scytalopus fuscus Plantcutters | Phytotomidae Rufous-tailed Plantcutter Phytotoma rara
Tyrant Flycatchers | Tyrannidae White-crested Elaenia Elaenia albiceps Tufted Tit-Tyrant Anairetes parulus Many-colored Rush-Tyrant Tachuris rubrigastra Patagonian Tyrant Colorhamphus parvirostris Fire-eyed Diucon Xolmis pyrope Black-billed Shrike-Tyrant Agriornis montana Great Shrike-Tyrant Agriornis livida Spot-billed Ground-Tyrant Muscisaxicola maculirostris Dark-faced Ground-Tyrant Muscisaxicola macloviana Cinnamon-bellied Ground-Tyrant Muscisaxicola capistrata Rufous-naped Ground-Tyrant Muscisaxicola rufivertex White-browed Ground-Tyrant Muscisaxicola albilora Cinereous Ground-Tyrant Muscisaxicola cinerea Ochre-naped Ground-Tyrant Muscisaxicola flavinucha Black-fronted Ground-Tyrant Muscisaxicola frontalis Austral Negrito Lessonia rufa Spectacled Tyrant Hymenops perspicillatus Swallows | Hirundinidae Chilean Swallow Tachycineta meyeni Blue-and-white Swallow Pygochelidon cyanoleuca Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica Wagtails & Pipits | Motacillidae Correndera Pipit Anthus correndera
Wrens | Troglodytidae House Wren Troglodytes aedon Sedge Wren Cistothorus platensis Mockingbirds & Thrashers | Mimidae Patagonian Mockingbird Mimus patagonicus Chilean Mockingbird (E) Mimus thenca Thrushes & Allies | Turdidae Austral Thrush Turdus falcklandii Old World Sparrows | Passeridae House Sparrow ( I ) Passer domesticus Siskins, Crossbills & Allies | Fringillidae Black-chinned Siskin Carduelis barbata Yellow-rumped Siskin Carduelis uropygialis
Buntings, Sparrows & Allies | Emberizidae Gray-hooded Sierra-Finch Phrygilus gayi Patagonian Sierra-Finch Phrygilus patagonicus Mourning Sierra-Finch Phrygilus fruticeti Plumbeous Sierra-Finch Phrygilus unicol Yellow-bridled Finch Melanodera xanthogramma* Common Diuca-Finch Diuca diuca Grassland Yellow-Finch Sicalis luteola Greater Yellow-Finch Sicalis auriventris Patagonian Yellow-Finch Sicalis lebruni Rufous-collared Sparrow Zonotrichia capensis Troupials & Allies | Icteridae Yellow-winged Blackbird Agelaius thilius Long-tailed Meadowlark Sturnella loyca Shiny Cowbird Molothrus bonariensis Austral Blackbird Curaeus curaeus MAMMALS Old World Rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus Brown Hare Lepus capensis Degu Octodon degu Nutria Myocastor coypus Peale's Dolphin Lagenorhynchus australis Southern Grey Fox Pseudalopex griseus Culpeo Fox Pseudalopex culpaeus Patagonian Hog-nosed Skunk Conepatus humboldti Marine Otter Lutra felina Southern Sea Lion Otaria byronia Guanaco Lama guanicoe Southern Andean Deer Hippocamelus bisulcus* Pudu Pudu puda (Patagonian pigmy deer)