Chile 2025

Chile Trip Report by Sue Bryan

(Central Chile, Tierra Del Fuego, Patagonia and Rapa Nui (Easter Island)

November 19^th – December 14^th 2025

Sue Bryan

John Geeson

Introduction

John was keen to have a holiday in Chile, which I have visited for birding purposes twice before and seen all the endemics. However his proposed trip was of interest to me as a) it is a beautiful country and b) the trip he wanted to do would cover many areas that I had not been to before. John’s main target was to try and see a Puma and to see Rapa Nui (Easter Island). I wanted to see Magellanic Plover as on my last visits, I was either too far south or too far north! The lure of seeing Puma and Easter Island also appealed to me of course. The other appeal is escaping the British winter with its cold-grey gloomy weather and long dark winter nights, so a three week holiday in the sun and light did not take much persuasion from John.

We approached several companies, giving them a rough outline of what we wanted to do, finding that www.albatross-birding.com were the most responsive and coming up with a proposal that was almost perfect for our needs. Alexandra was particularly good at responding to every query that we put to her and extremely efficient.

21^st Nov – 28^th Nov  Central Chile

29^th Nov – 7^th Dec  Tierra Del Fuego and Patagonia

8^th Dec – 12^th Dec  Easter Island

Guides:

Daniel Teran               Central Chile, Tierra Del Fuego and Patagonia

Sebastian Yancovic      Rapa Nui (Easter Island)

Itinerary

Nov 19^th  Heathrow – Santiago

Nov 20^th Santiago

Nov 21^st Santiago – El Yeso

Nov 22^nd  Santiago – Parque Humedal and Maipo River mouth – Cartagena Lagoon

Nov 23^rd  Pelagic out of Valparaiso

Nov 24^th  Farellones and Yerba Loca

Nov 25^th Laguna de Batuco to Altos de Lircay

Nov 26^th Altos de Lircay

Nov 27^th Altos de Lircay to Colbun Lake to Temulco

Nov 28^th Parque Nacional Conguillio to Santiago

Nov 29^th Santiago to Punta Arenas, Patagonia

Nov 30^th Punta Arenas, Patagonia to Tierra Del Fuego

1^st Dec Tierra Del Fuego to Cerro Castillo

2^nd Dec Cerro Castillo to Sierra Baguales

3^rd Dec Cerro Castillo to Estancia Laguna Armarga

4^th Dec Cerro Castillo to Lake Grey to Estancia Laguna Armarga

5^th Dec Cerro Castillo to Sarmiento Lake to Lake Grey

6^th Dec Cerro Castillo to Punta Arenas

7^th Dec Punta Arenas to Santiago 

8^th Dec Santiago to Rapa Nui (Easter Island)

9^th Dec Rapa Nui (Easter Island) multiple sites

10^th Dec Rapa Nui (Easter Island) multiple sites

11^th Dec Rano Kau volcano to Anakena Rapa Nui (Easter Island)

12^th Dec Rapa Nui (Easter Island) to Santiago

13^th Dec Santiago to Madrid

14^th Dec Madrid to Heathrow

Flights

International return flights with https://www.britishairways.com/ to Santiago were booked with sacha.barbato@travelcouncellors.com as we wanted to ensure of getting booked aisle seats for the long haul overnight flight.

Our internal return flights from Santiago to Punta Arenas and Santiago to Rapa Nui (Easter Island) were booked by www.Albatross-birding.com

Accommodation

All accommodation was booked by Albatross Birding.

Money

We used no money at all during our stay.

General Information 

Chile is a long, narrow country stretching along South America’s western edge, with more than 6,000km of Pacific Ocean coastline. Santiago, its capital, sits in a valley surrounded by the Andes and Chilean Coast Range mountains. Chile shares borders with Peru, Bolivia, Argentina and the Drake Passage to the south. Several Pacific islands, including Juan Fernandez and Easter Island, come within its administration and it also manages part of Antarctica. The national language is Spanish.

Climate

Being such a long country Chile’s climate is very diverse. lt ranges from the world’s driest desert in the north, the Atacama Desert, through to a Mediterranean climate in the centre, tropical in Easter Island, to an oceanic climate, including alpine tundra and glaciers in the east and south.

Habitat

Due to its unique geography of being such a long, thin country, Chile’s habitats are incredibly diverse ranging from the world’s driest Atacama Desert in the north, to a Mediterranean central zone, to temperate rainforests, and finally to the wet, cool Patagonian steppes and glaciers in the south. The high-altitude Andes Mountains and coastline create unique ecosystems for unique wildlife including flamingos, pumas, guanacos, and endemic foxes.

Daily Log

John and I boarded an overnight flight from Heathrow to Santiago.

Daniel picked us up from the airport and we walked to the on-site airport, Holiday Inn Hotel and waited for our room to be ready. After freshening up, the three of us walked to a local restaurant where we enjoyed a local dish that Daniel recommended.

We left the hotel at 6am and Daniel drove us to El Yeso, high up in the Andean Mountains. I was really looking forward to the day as this would be my third visit to this wonderfully spectacular valley, with the mountain scenery of the Andes and the very special chance of seeing the iconic Diademed Sandpiper Plover. My first visit was in 1998 when I visited on my way back from Antarctica and my last visit was in 2010 as part of my round-the-world trip with my ex-partner.

The weather could not have been better with a clear blue sky and was very warm. We stopped on the way up and watched Chilean Mockingbird, Mourning Sierra Finch and Diuca Finch. As we got out of the car and climbed up a steep bank there were several Austral Blackbirds and a pair of Tufted Tit-Tyrants that sat and posed beautifully. A Southern House Wren sang, before we drove on and stopped by a more open area that was covered in birds feeding on the short grass. We added Black-winged Ground Dove, California Quail and Grassland Yellow Finch to our list. We motored on and nearly ran a Moustached Turca over as it ran across the road in front of us. Blue-and-white Swallows flew around as we drove further up the valley.

An American Kestrel sat and posed on a wire before another grassy area. Here we added Rufous-banded Miner, White-browed Ground-Tyrant, Grey-hooded Sierra Finch and Plumbeous Sierra Finch. A little further on we stopped once more and looked over the river valley where we saw some distant Yellow-rumped Siskins and a singing Rufous-collared Sparrow. On the other side of the road we met another birder and together we saw a Sharp-billed Canastero.

We finally arrived at the dam wall at the El Yeso Embalse where we took a few photographs. I was eager to get to the spot to see the Diademed Sandpiper Plover as a headache had started. I suffer very badly from altitude sickness and at 8000 feet up I needed some puffs from my little oxygen cylinder. With my usual migraine medication, I was hopeful that I would still be able to stand without my legs buckling as they have in the past when I have been at high altitude. I was disappointed to know that the spot where I had seen the Diademed Sandpiper Plover before was now mostly dried up and we would have to drive much further up the valley into a private area. We stopped to pay a man some money and he lifted up the barrier and let us through.

The scenery was just stunning as we admired the snow-topped mountains. We stopped to watch a pair of Upland Geese on a small pool and noted a pair of Creamy-rumped Miners, Ochre-naped Ground-Tyrant and a Scale-throated Earthcreeper. A Buff-winged Cinclodes was also photographed. We had reached the end of the road and crossed through a river over the wide river-bed.

We parked up and got out and went for a wander. John called me over as the other driver of the birder that we had met earlier, had found a Diademed Sandpiper Plover right next to the vehicles. It allowed us to approach it down to six feet. We took far too many photographs and enjoyed watching the bird very much in the heat of the day. What an amazing little bird!

An Andean Condor flew overhead as we took photographs of Greater Yellow Finch and Grey-hooded Sierra Finches that were after our crumbs. Sadly it was time to leave. On the way back down, we stopped to watch Yellow-billed Teal, Red-gartered Coot and Monk Parakeets sitting on some wires.

After a breakfast at the hotel Daniel drove John and I to Parque Humedal at the Rio Maipo mouth. Here we watched a Harris Hawk, Rufous-tailed Plantcutter, Rufous-collared Sparrow, Grassland Yellow-Finch and a Cinereous Harrier as Black-chinned Siskins flew around. In the reedbed a Many-coloured Rush Tyrant did not want its photograph taken, as we watched a Spectacled Tyrant and a White-crested Elaenia in the bushes. We walked to the beach where it was cool and windy adding American Oystercatcher, Hudsonian Whimbrel and Franklin’s Gulls as well as a few Peruvian Boobies and Red-legged Cormorants sat on a distant rock. Down at the river mouth we watched hundreds of Black Skimmers as Black Vultures sat on the beach along with Chimango Caracaras. A family of Peruvian Pelicans sat amongst Elegant Terns and South American Terns surrounded by hundreds of Franklin’s Gulls, Brown-hooded Gulls and a couple of Grey Gulls. Waders included Semipalmated Plover, Semipalmated Sandpiper, American Golden Plover and Baird’s Sandpiper.

We drove to the Cartegena Lagoon where a Red-gartered Coot was giving a pair of Coscoroba Swans some grief as a Copyu swam across to us. Black-necked Stilts were not happy at our presence as we watched Red Shoveler, Chiloe Wigeon on the island and a Lake Duck diving in front of us. We added Austral Negrito, Snowy Egret and Wren-like Rush Bird to our lists too.

We had lunch at Las Crucres and walked along the beach front where we admired Seaside Cinclodes, White-banded Mockingbird, Kelp Gulls and Blackish Oystercatcher.

We were up early to be down in the harbour at Valparaiso, Chile for a morning’s pelagic. Although Santiago was due to be another very hot and sunny day, the coastal murk and low cloud was due to linger for most of the day with the Andes acting as a barrier. We met up with a group of four birders from the U.K in the car park and joined a few others in the harbour by the boat. Our guide Daniel was one of the seabird guides on the boat with two other guides helping. Having been to Antarctica, I had already seen most of the species on offer for the pelagic, but was hopeful that at least one of the rarer seabirds might put in an appearance, but Daniel said that the chances were slim as even he had not seen one of them!

 

We set sail and were soon watching South American Terns and Inca Terns in the harbour fishing and as we left harbour Humboldt Penguins soon appeared along with a few Peruvian Pelicans. Wilson’s Petrels were abundant but getting a photograph was another matter as my camera and the chap’s camera next to me refused to focus. We put it down to the murk, as cameras hate misty days. I gave up and just watched them flutter by. Sooty Shearwaters and Pink-footed Shearwaters appeared as we went further out and John was soon very excited when the first Black-browed Albatross appeared. More appeared and we soon had several Salvin’s Albatrosses too. Peruvian Diving Petrels flew by as a line of Guanay Cormorants overtook us.

The light did not improve much but I gave photography another go and found it was challenging in the gloom. Some excitement suddenly occurred as a pterodroma petrel was called by a young French man. I raced to the back of the boat but missed it (as did most others) Grrrr!  However I was a bit quicker with the next one he called and was lucky to pick it up very quickly as he got a photograph of it. The guides studied it and it was a Juan Fernandez Petrel. A lifer for me! I also saw the next one he found too! Sadly John didn’t manage to see it.

A while later another pterodroma petrel was called. The Frenchman once again managed a good photograph of it. The birders amongst us all saw it too. Upon examination of the photograph, it was a Masatierra Petrel, another lifer for me. Later on I found my own Masatierra Petrel and managed a photograph of it too! A few Buller’s Albatrosses caused some excitement as we took some photographs but not as much as the sighting of a Chatham’s Albatross did. I jostled for a view and Daniel and I both saw it before it flew off into the distance.

During the trip we added Westland Petrel and White-chinned Petrel but I think we all enjoyed the Northern Royal Albatross that came close to the boat and gave us all excellent views of it. I ended the day with three lifers, three more than I dared hope for!

This morning we set off up the Vispudava Road on the way to Farellones and stopped to try and find Moustached Turca and Crag Chilia. It took a while. We saw a Moustached Turca from the roadside perched up high on a rock but we wanted a photograph. We walked a steep small gully where we heard a Moustached Turca calling. We watched a pair of Giant Hummingbirds and Daniel spotted a Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle perched on a rock. We eventually saw a Moustached Turca perched up on a rock above us. A little later a Crag Chilia appeared and with a bit of patience we saw it again, long enough to get a quick photograph perched in a bush.

We drove onto Yerba Loca, a mountain nature reserve and campsite that I had visited back in 2010. After paying our entrance fee, the receptionist showed us a pair of roosting Lesser Horned Owls behind the visitor entrance office. A Plain-mantled Tit-Spinetail also sat and posed for us. We motored onto the campsite where we ate our brunch picnic after watching a Band-tailed Sierra Finch, Mourning Sierra Finch and Diuca Finch.

With our brunch consumed we started the Zona Curvas, a series of many hairpin bends to get up to Farellones, nearly ten thousand feet up in the mountains. The scenery was stunning on the way up. Just before we arrived in the village we stopped in the horse grassy area where we watched a Long-tailed Meadowlark as well as several species that we saw on our way up to El Yeso. A Variable Hawk gave a Black-chested Eagle some grief in the sky over our heads as we watched several Andean Condors in the sky flying around.

We eventually reached Valle Nevado, one of the biggest areas in the world for ski-ing. Except for some workers doing maintenance, the place was deserted and we started to walk. I had my little oxygen bottle with me, which is necessary for my altitude sickness that renders me into a heap if I don’t take some oxygen at this altitude. I took a few swigs of it as I walked slowly up the hill to a watch point, where we added White-sided Hillstar, Mountain Caracara and Black-faced Ground-Tyrant to our lists.

On the way back down the hairpin bends we could admire the stunning scenery, that was when our eyes were open as all the fresh air had had its effect on us.

After a hotel breakfast we drove north of the city of Santiago to Laguna de Batuco, where we had gained special permission to be let in early to the wetland before the opening of the reserve to the general public. It was wonderful to have the reserve to ourselves in the peace and quiet of the early morning mist.

We watched Great Grebes and White-tufted Grebes as well as Cinnamon Teal, Red Shoveler, Lake Duck and a lifer for me in the shape of Black-headed Duck on the various lakes. Night Herons and Cocoi Herons flew around with Cattle Egret, Great Egret and Snowy Egrets.

I spent a while trying to find a Many-coloured Rush Tyrant that would stay still enough to get a photograph whilst John and Daniel searched for a Stripe-backed Bittern, which we eventually flushed from a board walk as John and I were passing by. I added West Peruvian Dove whilst overhead we watched Cinereous Harriers carrying nesting material for their nest in the reeds. Wren-like Rushbirds had already built their nest which fascinated me for a while and Red-fronted Coots were feeding chicks. A Plumbeous Rail was wandering around on cut reed as we came to the end of our visit as a flock of White-faced Ibis flew through. On the way out we stopped to admire a Burrowing Owl sat on a post.

All too soon it was time to leave as John had left his fleece in the hotel and we had to return to the city to collect it. We started our journey south down route five and called into fields near a lake where we saw two Chilean Tinamous before driving further south to our hotel in Vilches for the night deep in a forest reserve at Altos de Lircay.

We had a later start this morning so that we could have our breakfast at Picamenderos Hotel in the forest at Altos de Lircay. After breakfast we drove through the buffer zone where we had special permission to pass through the reserve gate and drive up the steep forest track to the beginning of one of the trails. We watched Thorn-tailed Rayaditos which were very mobile and White-throated Treerunners.

We heard an Austral Parakeet but it took us a while to find it perched high up in one of the trees. A Green-backed Firecrown zipped through but did not stay long enough to get a good view. We walked another trail and saw more of the same species and listened to a Chestnut-throated Huet-huet calling but try as we might we didn’t see it. We had poor views of Striped Woodpecker which was too high up in the tree to see it well before it flew. At the top of the trail we stopped to admire a pair of White-throated Hawks which were displaying above our heads.

We stopped for a picnic lunch whilst Patagonian Sierra Finches hopped around our feet and a Chimango Carcara eyed up our lunch.

After the picnic lunch Daniel drove us back down the steep track. We stopped to admire five Chilean Flickers, some of which posed for us.

We had a pre-breakfast walk in the forest at Altos de Lircay where we heard Black-throated Huet-huet calling, but failed to see any. Although we heard birds calling the walk was most disappointing as the birds did not seem to want to show themselves.

We had a problem with one of the car tyres and we needed to visit a garage to get some air pumped into one of them. We were worried about a slow puncture perhaps, as the tyre kept losing air. At breakfast, I had managed to persuade Daniel to visit the nearby Colbun Lake which was not that far off our route, where after much searching I managed to find my much-wanted Spectacled Duck. With only one available pair according to e-bird, it took some time!  We also watched Black-faced Ibis, White-winged Coot and Pied-billed Grebe as well as lots of other water birds that we had seen previously in the trip. Some Burrowing Parakeets flew over and we added Fire-eyed Diucon sitting in one of the lakeside bushes. It was a pleasant walk which we all enjoyed across the grass to the lake edge.

Daniel then drove for four and a half hours down route five to Nielol Cerro Park in Temuco where we watched Rufous-tailed Hawk from a road in the suburbs before entering the park where we watched Ochre-flanked Tapaculo whilst listening to Chuaco Tapaculo, Black-throated Huet-huet and Magallenic Tapaculo. It took a while before all three of us saw De Murs’s Wiretail but we managed it in the end, deep in the Bamboo as well as watching a Chilean Pigeon posing.

We had a lovely evening meal in some style to celebrate all our lifers today.

After a hotel breakfast at the Holiday Inn, Temuco, we made our way to Parque Nacional Conguillio, high up in the Andean Mountains. At first we were in forest where we watched a Crested Caracara sitting on a low branch before stopping again and watching White-crested Eleania, Green-backed Firecrown, Blue-and-white Swallows, Chilean Swallows and some Black-chinned Siskins.

Further on we took photographs of Fire-eyed Diucons whilst admiring all the Monkey Puzzle trees. Daniel drove on further up the mountain. We started to lose the trees and volcanic ash meant that we could drive no further.

We parked the car and walked up over the volcanic ash and admired the Llaima Volcano dominating the skyline. It was covered in snow and against the clear-blue sky made a stunning scene. We started our search for the bird we had come to see. After a short walk a bit further up the mountain we sat down and watched the rocks across a gully where a pair of Patagonia Forest Earthcreepers were sitting on a rock. They soon flew across and over our heads to a feeding area behind some trees at the back of us. It didn’t take long before they flew over us again and over the rocks out of our sight, returning a few minutes later with a faecal sac. This was repeated several times. We had good flight views but they did not perch again for a photograph.

We wandered around watching Buff-winged Cinclodes and White-browed Ground-Tyrant as well as admiring all the pretty spring flowers and butterflies. John was in his element whilst I was busy taking scenic photographs. Daniel and I heard a Magellanic Woodpecker but did not see it, as well as a Magellanic Tapaculo and a Chucao Tapaculo from somewhere down in the forest below us.

 

After several hours of wandering in the bright sunlight a mist enveloped us and we could not see anything and retreated to the car where Daniel treated us to a hot tea and coffee. We drove slowly to the Temuco Airport stopping to watch a White-tailed Kite sitting in a dead tree along with several Chimango Caracaras. We also found some Slender-billed Parakeets posing for us in a roadside tree.

We spent the afternoon sitting in the airport before flying back to Santiago, where we spent the night in the airport Holiday Inn hotel at Santiago.

Daniel, John and I flew from Santiago to Punta Arenas at the southern tip of mainland Chile. The only trouble was that once I was on the plane I discovered that I had left my laptop in the hotel room. Curses! I realised that it was now too late to retrieve it. Daniel phoned his office and the hotel immediately and before we took off, we got a message that it had been retrieved from the room. Fortunately for me, Albatross had guides coming to Torres del Paine in a few days time, staying at our hotel, so hopefully I can be reunited with it then. Fingers crossed!

The view of the Andes was stunning as we flew over the mountains, glistening in the sunlight with a blue sky as well.

Once we had landed and collected the car, Daniel drove us along the coastline following the Magellan Strait where we watched Magellanic Oystercatchers, Imperial Shags, Crested Duck, Correndera Pipit, Chilean Skua, Southern Giant Petrel, Southern Fulmar, South American Terns, Dark-bellied Cinclodes, Flying Steamer Duck, Ashy-headed Goose, Ruddy-headed Goose and Upland Geese.

We watched several Black-crowned Night Herons fishing along the shoreline too.

We eventually arrived in Punta Arenas where we had an amazing view from Cabo de Hornas Hotel overlooking the harbour. We all enjoyed a meal in the hotel before retiring to gaze out of our room window out at sea as it was still light at 10pm!

It was another wonderful day as I opened the curtains in our hotel, just after sunrise overlooking the Magellan Straits in Punta Arenas. After a delicious breakfast we headed for the ferry after spotting a Dolphin Gull in the harbour and once on board we set off and made our way to one of the upper decks on the ferry along with several other birders. Here whilst crossing the Magellan Straits on a calm day, we watched Black-browed Albatross, White-chinned Petrel, Wilson’s Petrels, Magellanic Diving Petrel, Sooty Shearwater, Chilean Skua, Magellanic Penguin, South American Tern, Kelp Gull, Imperial Shag and a nesting Magellanic Cormorant as we came into harbour at Bahia Chilota on Tierra Del Fuego.

Daniel then drove us around the coastline where we saw a Common Miner as well as lots of Upland Geese. I was eager to get to see the Magellanic Plover so Daniel drove us straight to the area where back in October he had scouted around to find a spot for one. E-bird is now very helpful for this as it shows where they have been seen historically and in the last 30 days. After admiring a few more geese for John to photograph, we stopped to see some Guanacos that were grazing and jumping fences, we arrived at the beach. We walked down the cliff edge and walked along the beach. It was a beautifully calm day as we walked along the sand and small rocks. We crossed over a wetter area to a promontory where there were some waders running along the shore line. We saw Baird’s Sandpipers and Two-banded Plovers.

John and Daniel had scopes and soon found a Magellanic Plover whilst I searched with my camera. The plover was very camouflaged and very difficult to pick out amongst the grey-coloured rocks. Daniel kindly let me look through his scope and I was thrilled to see it as it was one of the birds that I was keen to see. John and I took lots of photographs whilst Daniel had a few words with the landowner whose land surrounded the beach. It was very remote and he was not too pleased to see us on his beach! Daniel managed to placate him but we decided to leave as we had a long drive to the King Penguin colony at Bahia Inutil after we had had some lunch in a delightful little café.

We arrived at the King Penguin colony and joined the tourist group and listened to the guide who gave us information about the penguins. We walked along the board walk, took a few photographs of the penguins but then made our way to a hide where we watched a Muskrat swimming in the river. We started the drive back to Cerro Sombrero to stay at the Tunkelen Hosteria but stopped en route to admire a Chilean Flamingo in one of the pools.

After the thrill of seeing Magellanic Plover yesterday, which was the reason for coming to Tierra Del Fuego, we had breakfast and drove to the ferry. A Grey Fox sat and watched us whilst we were in the queue for the ferry before we boarded and sailed the 25 minute crossing from Tierra Del Fuego back to the mainland at Punta Delgada. We spent the next few hours driving around trackways in this area watching Grey-bellied Shrike-Tyrant , Band-tailed Earthcreeper, Scale-throated Earthcreeper, Barn Swallow, Darwin’s Rhea (Lesser Rhea), Least Seedsnipe, Magellanic Snipe and the star bird for me several Tawny-throated Dotterels which I had missed on my previous visits to the southern South American region. I was thrilled to see them. Some also posed nicely for photographs too.

After lunch back in the town by the ferry, we initially headed north, stopping to watch Austral Negrito and a Chocolate-vented Tyrant but then diverted back onto a track which Daniel had scouted because of the wonderful opportunity it gave for seeing wildlife down in this region of Patagonia and John also wanted to see White-bridled Finch.

After a bit of a drive we found a couple of White-bridled Finches but John managed to miss them so we had to try again a bit further along the road where luckily one posed several times for us all to admire. An Austral Canastero sat and sang for us. We also saw an Aplomado Falcon which flew off as soon as I opened the car window. Grrr!  We saw many Guanacos, Hares and Grey Foxes as well as a very long encounter with a Lesser Rhea which ran along a fence line in front of our car.

We now had a long drive to a hotel at Cerro Castillo just outside the Torres del Paine Nation Park where we were to spend the next five nights but paused just outside Morro Chico to watch Andean Condors roosting on an outcrop.

En route to the hotel we stopped to admire some Chilean Flamingos on a lake.

Once we had arrived in the hotel John and Daniel were too tired to eat in the restaurant, so I sat with all the other residents to eat my evening meal without them. My glass of red wine went down a treat. I have to say the wine here is delicious and much appreciated.

I have been without my laptop, as I had managed to leave it in the hotel in Santiago, but luckily the owner of the Albatross whose company has organized the tour for us, was due to arrive at our hotel here in Cerro Castillo this evening. As I was enjoying my evening meal Fernando arrived and put my laptop in my hand. I was so relieved to see it again that I gave him a great big hug. Thanks Fernando for retrieving it from Santiago airport hotel for me. That’s service for you!

John and I were exhausted and arranged with Daniel to have a much easier day today so we had a lie in and met for breakfast at eight o’clock. We set off for more of our target species to Sierra Baguales just outside the Torres Del Paine National Park. The scenery here was just stunning but we soon realised what Daniel had been warning us about……the strength of the Patagonian wind in this area. We were given warnings about the safety about always closing car doors. That would be a challenge for John! The car got blown about on the road and Daniel had to hold onto the steering wheel.

We kept asking Daniel to stop the car as we wanted to take photographs of the famous towers that you see in all the photographs of Torres Del Paine National Park. At every turn there seemed to be another wonderful scene and I began to have doubts that we would ever get any birding done at all, especially as we had asked Daniel to get us back by lunchtime as we begged for an afternoon off to catch up with domestics and the mountain of photographs that I had accumulated by not having my laptop over the last couple of days. We both also needed the rest, as we know that the next few days involve some very early mornings, to be in position for dawn, which is very early at this latitude at this time of year.

Eventually we arrived in the valley, with the wind still blowing a hooley. Daniel spotted a Diuca Finch and a Patagonian Mockingbird before we stopped to admire a Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle on a nest in the cliff-face as Andean Condors swirled in the wind overhead. We eventually reached the end of the road and Daniel went off searching, whilst John and I put on more clothing. John then spotted a Yellow-bridled Finch perched on a distant rock which took off and flew towards us. It was another lifer for me when Daniel called us to see another lifer, a Cinnamon-bellied Ground-Tyrant. We walked back to the car and saw a juvenile Yellow-bridled Finch.

At our request, our time was up and after taking yet more scenic photos, we drove back to the hotel in time for lunch and a meeting with Fernando who had had a successful Puma watch this morning with other clients. Fingers crossed for tomorrow!

Today was the day that John and I had been waiting for, as the holiday to Chile was built around it. This year John and I have been having a bit of a ‘mammal’ year targeting some of the iconic mammals that we have not yet seen on our travels. We started the year with Iberian Lynx in Spain, then Eurasian Lynx in Poland, then Aardwolf and African Wild Dog in Botswana and now finally Puma in Patagonia, Chile.

We had a 4.30am start and after an hour’s travel Daniel, John and I met up with Christobal, a professional tracker who’s all terrain vehicle took us into an Estancia by the side of Torres Del Paine National Park. After a bumpy ride along tracks we stopped and searched several valleys for an hour and a half, seeing Spot-billed Ground-Tyrant and Great Shrike Tyrant whilst searching. We tried another valley and Christobal called for Daniel’s scope, as he thought he had spotted one in the bottom of the valley lying under a bush. John and I rushed over and indeed he had found a Puma. It looked like a lump of rock as I looked through Daniel’s and then John’s scope, from our position high up on the hillside, trying to convince myself it was an animal and not a rock. All of a sudden the Puma lifted its head and I could see some ears and eyes. There were celebrations all round as John, Daniel and I all had hugs together, as we were all so pleased that we had seen a Puma in the wild.

We spent the next five hours watching the Puma but John and I spent some of the time having brunch in the vehicle and warming up, as the wind was bitterly cold as we sat on some rocks watching the Puma. Luckily after an hour revitalizing and having a hot drink the sun appeared which made watching the Puma a real joy.

At first the Puma was sleeping, but after a while it left its bush and walked over to a stored cache of a dead Guanaco, which it had covered up with dead grass. It pulled some of the grass back and tucked into its meal and when satiated re-covered its larder and had a nap once again. Some walkers walked along a trail behind it not knowing that the Puma was there, but having seen us watching from the hillside opposite them, realised that we were watching something. They too enjoyed good views of the Puma. All of a sudden the Puma woke up and started to walk towards us. As it got closer I started to feel uncomfortable at how close it was coming and the guide assured me that it would not attack us but would stop at a bush that was nearby and rest again. He was right, it did exactly that. However he said we should retreat back to our vehicle as soon as the Puma was settled, which we did much to my relief!

The sun was shining and the snow-covered mountains gleamed in the sunlight. A pair of Andean Condors flew overhead. We had also watched a pair of Cinereous Harriers, Austral Negritos, a Correndera Pipit and an American Kestrel as well as adding White-throated Caracara to our lists. Christobal drove us back to our vehicle in the car park where we watched another pair of Andean Condors and two Black-chested Buzzard-Eagles.

It had been another amazing morning of wildlife-watching and thanks must go to Christobal and Daniel for their help in ensuring that we saw our target mammal.

It was the first day that the weather had been against us as we set off this morning with the threat of rain as we got nearer to our intended destination of the Torres Del Paine National Park stopping at Lake Grey in the hope of seeing Chilean Hawk. We stopped to take some photographs of Andean Condors, Crested Caracaras and Black-faced Ibises en route before we met the rain as we entered the park.

The heavy rain meant that birding was pointless so we parked up and had a hot chocolate and a cake in the Lake Grey’s hotel and waited for the rain to ease a little before setting off down a trail, over a bridge and into the forest. Daniel soon spotted a pair of Magellanic Woodpeckers which gave us amazing views as I clicked away and even managed a short video of them.

Daniel and I walked on to the beach and along a shingle bank over the beach at Grey Lake so that we could see the glacier snout.

After a few photos we walked back watching an Andean Condor overhead and met back up with John who needed a rest. We ate our sandwiches watching a Meadow Lark and drove, stopping to take more photos to the car park where we met up with Chistobal, the Puma tracker once again.

Christobal obviously knew about a Puma on a hillside not far from the car park where we met him and we set off in hot pursuit. There were a few vehicles already there with people out of them taking photographs of a Puma walking along the hillside. After a bit of a disagreement about parking along the almost deserted road, as Christobal did not want to stop, we managed to persuade him to stop for a couple of minutes to watch the Puma from the window, but it meant that whoever was on the far side of the vehicle could not see the Puma or take photographs. Christobal turned the vehicle around to give me a chance of a few snatched shots before driving off. We were so frustrated at leaving a sighting of a Puma which was the major reason for our holiday! We spent the next two hours looking for it again around the back of the hillside after a long detour along tracks by which time the animal had long disappeared, as it had wandered up the hillside, despite our best efforts at looking for it in the strong wind and sun. We were so disappointed. We watched a Guanaco before asking to be taken back to Daniel’s car and back to the hotel for a late dinner.

Because of yesterday’s debacle with the Puma tracker, John and I decided to cancel our day’s booked Puma tracking and stick with our own guide Daniel who would make better use of our time in this wonderful region of the world. We decided to have an easier relaxing day today, with a slightly later get up and just two target birds to look for.

After agreeing to meet up with one of Daniel’s fellow guiding mates and friend with his two clients, we drove to one of the marshes to try for the Austral Rail, a bird that only a few years ago was thought to be extinct. It is a notoriously difficult bird to see and we had heard many tales along the way of birders failing to see it or only having the briefest of glimpses after several hours of waiting. En route to the marsh we stopped to take photos of the scenery and a Magellanic Oystercatcher. I was all prepared with a snack in my pocket, goodness knows how many layers of clothing on, in this windy part of the world and my little seat with binoculars and camera at the ready for a long vigil.

John, Daniel and I walked along a trail overlooking the lake and marsh, met up with Daniel’s friend and clients and watched the reeds with anticipation. I settled down but was almost straight back up again as Daniel said something was moving in from the right of the very small patch, clear of reeds. Within a minute we watched the Austral Rail scuttle across the gap with another following it. Far too quick for my camera! Luckily the birds were moving back again and Daniel suggested that I could move a bit closer and get ready. This time I was ready and bingo, I pressed the shutter at the right moment! Result!

We motored on, stopping far too many times (at John and my requests) to take yet more photos of the scenery, so now we have too many photos to process and label! We arrived at Lake Grey where we had been rained on yesterday, to a much better sunny day, but it was very windy as we saw Thorn-tailed Rayadito, Austral Parakeet as well as Patagonian Sierra Finch and White-crested Elaenias along the way. We failed to find Chilean Hawk but the lunch was wonderful, as we sat and looked out of the restaurant’s window over the lake and views of Torres Del Paine. What luxury!

On the way back we watched Andean Condors soaring over the mountains as well as fantastic views of Cinereous Harriers, Crested Caracaras, Chimango Caracaras and Black-chested Buzzard-Eagles.

 What a day it had been. Thanks to Daniel and John.

We started our day watching Long-tailed Meadow Larks at our hotel as it was another glorious sunny but cold day. After setting off, it wasn’t long before we were trying to get some help for a poor little injured Culpeo but its chances of getting reached by a vet were slim in this region of Patagonia, so far from anywhere. We enjoyed our last looks of Andean Condors and a Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle as we drove on.

Next up was getting stopped on our route back to Punta Arenas at the southern end of the mainland of Chile by the police. Luckily we had done nothing wrong, but we were not allowed to continue as two Baqueanos on horseback and numerous dogs were shepherding thousands of sheep along the road. I don’t think I have ever seen such a large flock in one place together.

We waited until they passed by, which took a while before we could stop to admire some Lupins on the side of the road and some Lesser Rheas in a gully, that we could photograph without a fence in the way. They wanted to play hide and seek behind a bush.

At Puerto Natales we admired Black-necked Swans, Chiloe Wigeon, and Crested Ducks on the water.

We motored on towards Punta Arenas, where we were to spend the night once more and stopped along the Magellan Strait where we watched Black-browed Albatrosses, Southern Giant Petrel, Chilean Skua and Magellanic Oystercatchers before moving onto a wetland reserve in Punta Arenas, where we watched several Magellanic Snipe, Upland Goose, Southern Lapwing, Austral Negrito, Correndera Pipit and more Chiloe Wigeon.

We spent the night back in our hotel where we had been a few days earlier overlooking the Magellan Strait where we watched many Imperial Cormorants sitting on a jetty before flying to Santiago on the following day for the next exciting part of our trip.

After breakfast we flew from Punta Arenas back to Santiago. Once we were settled back into the airport hotel we had a very late lunch in the bar and spent the rest of the day processing photographs. We met up with Daniel in the evening, who had been back to the airport to obtain all the necessary documentation for the next exciting part of our trip, before retiring to bed.

After sharing our last breakfast with Daniel we walked to the airport together and Daniel made sure that after dropping our large suitcases off at the check-in desk, we knew what forms we needed to show the officials at the separate lane for those flying to Rapa Nui (Easter Island). We handed over our FUI forms and our booking form for the hotel on Easter Island, as well as our passports and were allowed to progress towards security with another little bit of paper we were given. A little further on, we had to show this all over again. Once through security we were allowed down to the gate where we were given priority boarding onto the plane, but only after handing in yet another little bit of paper to another official!

We flew Premium Business Class to Easter Island after a wonderful flight with lots of room in the front row of the plane!

After landing at Easter Island, Sebastian met us and drove us to our hotel. We had some lunch and then Sebastian picked us up again and drove us to the coast where we watched Masked Boobies and Grey Noddies. He then drove us to the rim of the Rona Kau volcano where we watched Kermadec Petrels flying around in the late afternoon sun. It was a magical experience! My two favourite interests rolled into one! There were also many Diuca Finches around. A bird which we would get used to seeing here!

After a taking far too many photographs we returned to the hotel where John and I sat on the terrace in the warm evening sun, enjoying an evening meal and a few alcoholic drinks watching the sun set. Another fantastic day!

This morning we played tourist, as you can’t come to Easter Island (Rapa Nui) and not see the Moai statues can you? However we started our day walking back up to Rona Kau and the volcanic crater. Of course our binoculars accompanied us around some of the sites and at Orongo we looked across to Motu island where we watched Great Frigatebird, Red-tailed Tropicbird, Masked Booby and Brown Noddy. We also saw the white-headed form of Diuca Finch.

We did not realise that with over a thousand Moai statues on the island, the majority are still lying flat on the ground. Some of these have now been put back together (only since the 1960s) which are the ones we get to see in the photos of the island. So after visiting a few sites with Moai lying on the ground we then visited Ahu a Kivi, where seven Moai statues are now standing proud. Some have had to be repaired to make them stand up as they would have done centuries ago.

After some time to ourselves this afternoon, Sebastian picked us up and drove to the Hanga Roa harbour, where he had arranged with a local fisherman to take us on a boat trip to the Motu Nui islands which were just offshore where many seabirds breed. The sun was shining and it was still hot. Sebastian provided us with cushioned seats which provided back support on the boards across the boat and we set off. The sea was reasonably calm, to John’s relief (he’s not a good sailor) and with the sea glistening in the sunlight we soon arrived at the islets. We cruised around the stack watching Masked Boobies and Grey Noddies before sailing around Motu Iti, the middle islet and Motu Nui the larger of the three islets, watching many Kermadec Petrels and Brown Noddies before Sebastian spotted a Brown Booby sitting up high on Motu Nui. We sailed nearer for some photos as Great Frigate birds soared overhead and perched on the islet. Getting photos was tricky as the boat wobbled around and I took many photos of vacant sky and birds with head and wings missing!

Motu Nui is the largest of the uninhabited islets just offshore of Easter Island (Rapa Nui) and is famous for its role in the ancient Rapa Nui “Birdman” cult.  Every year a race was held amongst the various clans to retrieve the first Sooty Tern egg after they had returned to breed on the islet. Competitors had to swim to the islet from the Rano Kau volcano and back again to Easter Island with the egg. The clan that the winner came from then ruled Easter Island for the coming year and had the rights to collect eggs from the islet for the year.

All of a sudden Sebastian called Henderson Petrel and John and I both saw the two birds that were flying together. Herald Petrels were flying around with Kermadec Petrels and it was difficult to make sure that I got photos of both, as the undersides are very similar, especially as there were light, dark and intermediate morphs of Kermadec Petrels. A Christmas Shearwater appeared but I failed to get a photograph of one until much later on.

Excitement grew when Sebastian called Black-winged Petrel which is scarce here and Sebastian was excited at seeing one. I managed a back view shot of one, but sadly deleted it from my card in the processing stage later on my laptop! However at least we both saw it. Seabirds were everywhere and I had my work cut out as the boat wobbled and my arms grew tired from holding a heavy lens. I needed a rest from photography and just used my binoculars for a while to enjoy all the birds swirling around in the heat of the sun. The light was fantastic, we could not have wished for better. By now I thought I had taken at least a few photos of what was on offer of each species of bird, but knew the proof would be when I downloaded the photos to my laptop later on. From this point on, I tried only to take photos of birds that looked a bit different and spotted a bird with a much darker head which was later identified as a Phoenix Petrel that Sebastian had said he had seen earlier but in the melee had not informed us. Sadly John did not see it.

After several hours we moved closer to a low rock in the sea where Brown Noddies were mating. We enjoyed the scene and taking yet more photographs. It was time to go and we sailed back to the harbour and a long night ahead of processing photographs, after we had had something to eat back at the hotel watching the sunset. What a day it had been in the sun and visiting this very special island and its Moai and seabirds.

We played tourist today on Rapa Nui (Easter Island) and visited some of the Moai sites. We took far too many photographs of the iconic Moai! It was very hot today but we enjoyed the walk around the sites with Sebastian as our guide. We visited Tahai, Rano Raraku (the quarry where all the Moai statues were cut from), Tongariki and finally Anakena where we had a late lunch before returning to the hotel for a lie down (Pina Coladas seem to have an effect on my ability to think straight!) to have a rest and sort out yet more photographs.

Today we had requested to do a trek up to the rim of the volcano crater rim so that we could enjoy the sight of the crater once more and take our scopes to see the birds on Motu Nui again. It was a glorious walk in the sun and heat. I have always been fascinated by volcanoes and really wanted to see the crater one last time.

After admiring the crater of Rano Kau, we watched Masked Boobies, Brown Noddies and Red-tailed Tropicbirds soaring around the Motu Nui islands as well as sitting on nest with their chicks. After an hour of watching we walked back down and enjoyed a coastal restaurant lunch watching Great Frigatebirds flying around as the two supply boats were fetching supplies of the moored ship offshore as it was too big to dock in the small harbour.

Our afternoon was spent snorkeling in the clear blue sea under the blue sky from a wonderful sandy beach. The water was a lovely temperature as I watched the multi-coloured fish beneath me.

Our evening was made rather special as Albatross Birding had treated us to a Kari Kari Cultural Ballet performance evening in Hanga Roa. Little did I know that one of the dancers was going to get me to join him on stage to be his partner for one of the dances!

After breakfast sitting on the terrace looking out at sea in the sun, John and I packed our cases and waited for Sebastian to pick us up watching Diuca Finches everywhere. He drove us to the harbour where we spent some time watching a very large Green Turtle by one of the boats that was eventually joined by three smaller Green Turtles. It was a glorious morning but the reflection on the water was making photography difficult. I eventually managed some nice video footage of the largest of the Green Turtle before walking around the harbour to the bay, where we watched two others swimming with some bathers in the waves. It was quite magical standing in the sun watching turtles on the harbour wall. I don’t think either of us wanted to leave.

We had another lovely meal with Sebastian overlooking the harbour and bay and were reluctant to leave for the airport. Our holiday was unfortunately at an end so we thanked Sebastian, who drove us to the airport and boarded our plane to Santiago where we had the privilege of premium business class seats once again! It was very late by the time we arrived at the Santiago Airport Hotel.

After breakfast, we said goodbye to Santiago in the sun and heat and boarded a flight to Madrid.

After a flight to Madrid, John and I arrived at Heathrow to a cold but sunny day and drove home watching many Red Kites as we travelled back to Norfolk.

It goes without saying that I must thank http://albatross-birding.com for all their hard work in putting the trip together and guides Daniel and Sebastian, whose care, hard work and companionship was delightful, as well as being good guides, as well as Christobel for finding the first Puma, Fernando for recovering my left-behind laptop and most of all John, without whom this trip would never have taken place……. he does have some good ideas!

Species Lists

Birds

1. Lesser Rhea (Rhea pennata) 01/12/2025      Punta Delgada
2. Chilean Tinamou (Nothoprocta perdicaria) 25/11/2025      Convento Viejo
3. Black-headed Duck (Heteronetta atricapilla) 25/11/2025      Laguna de Batuco
4. Lake Duck (Oxyura vittata) 22/11/2025 Cartagena Lagoon
5. Coscoroba Swan (Coscoroba coscoroba) 22/11/2025      Cartagena Lagoon
6. Black-necked Swan (Cygnus melancoryphus) 22/11/2025 Parque Humedal, Rio Maipo
7. Upland Goose (Chloephaga picta) 21/11/2025 El Yeso
8. Kelp Goose (Chloephaga hybrida) 01/12/2025 Cerro Sombrero, Tierra Del Fuego
9. Ashy-headed Goose (Chloephaga poliocephala) 29/11/2025      Punta Arenas
10. Ruddy-headed Goose (Chloephaga rubidiceps) 29/11/2025 Punta Arenas
11. Crested Duck (Lophonetta specularioides) 29/11/2025      Punta Arenas
12. Bronze-winged Duck (Speculanas specularis) 27/11/2025      Colbun Lake
13. Flying Steamer Duck (Tachyeres patachonicus) 29/11/2025 Punta Arenas
14. Red Shoveler (Spatula platalea) 22/11/2025      Cartagena Lagoon
15. Cinnamon Teal (Spatula cyanoptera) 25/11/2025      Laguna de Batuco
16. Chiloe Wigeon (Mareca sibilatrix) 22/11/2025      Parque Humedal, Rio Maipo
17. Yellow-billed Pintail (Anas georgica) 22/11/2025      Parque Humedal, Rio Maipo
18. Yellow-billed Teal (Anas flavirostris) 21/11/2025      El Yeso
19. California Quail (Callipepla californica) 21/11/2025      El Yeso
20. Chilean Flamingo (Phoenicopterus chilensis) 30/11/2025   Bahia Inutil, Tierra Del Fuego
21. White-tufted Grebe (Rollandia rolland) 25/11/2025 Laguna de Batuco
22. Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps) 27/11/2025      Colbun Lake
23. Great Grebe (Podiceps major) 23/11/2025      Valparaiso
24. Black-winged Ground Dove (Metriopelia melanoptera) 21/11/2025      El Yeso
25. Picui Ground Dove (Columbina picui) 22/11/2025      Parque Humedal, Rio Maipo
26. West Peruvian Dove (Zenaida meloda) 25/11/2025      Laguna de Batuco
27. Eared Dove (Zenaida auriculata) 20/11/2025      Santiago
28. Chilean Pigeon (Patagioenas araucana) 25/11/2025 Convento Viejo
29. Plumbeous Rail (Pardirallus sanguinolentus) 25/11/2025      Laguna de Batuco
30. Austral Rail (Rallus antarcticus) 05/12/2025      Sarmiento Lake, Torres Del Paine
31. Red-fronted Coot (Fulica rufifrons) 25/11/2025      Laguna de Batuco
32. Red-gartered Coot (Fulica armillata) 21/11/2025      El Yeso
33. White-winged Coot (Fulica leucoptera) 27/11/2025      Colbun Lake
34. Magellanic Plover (Pluvianellus socialis) 30/11/2025      Laguna Verde, Tierra Del Fuego
35. Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus) 22/11/2025 Parque Humedal, Rio Maipo
36. Magellanic Oystercatcher (Haematopus leucopodus) 29/11/2025      Punta Arenas
37. Blackish Oystercatcher (Haematopus ater) 22/11/2025      Las Cruces
38. American Oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus) 22/11/2025      Parque Humedal, Rio Maipo
39. American Golden Plover (Pluvialis dominica) 22/11/2025      Parque Humedal, Rio Maipo
40. Tawny-throated Dotterel (Oreopholus ruficollis) 01/12/2025      Punta Delgada
41. Diademed Sandpiper-plover (Phegornis mitchellii) 21/11/2025 El Yeso
42. Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus) 22/11/2025 Parque Humedal, Rio Maipo
43. Southern Lapwing (Vanellus chilensis) 21/11/2025      Santiago
44. Two-banded Plover (Anarhynchus falklandicus) 30/11/2025      Laguna Verde, Tierra Del Fuego
45. Snowy Plover (Anarhynchus nivosus) 22/11/2025      Cartagena Lagoon
46. Grey-breasted Seedsnipe (Thinocorus orbignyianus) 21/11/2025      El Yeso
47. Least Seedsnipe (Thinocorus rumicivorus) 01/12/2025      Punta Delgada
48. Hudsonian Whimbrel (Numenius hudsonicus) 22/11/2025      Parque Humedal, Rio Maipo
49. Magellanic Snipe (Gallinago magellanica) 01/12/2025      Punta Delgada
50. Baird’s Sandpiper (Calidris bairdii) 22/11/2025      Parque Humedal, Rio Maipo
51. Semipalmated Sandpiper (Calidris pusilla) 22/11/2025      Parque Humedal, Rio Maipo
52. White-rumped Sandpiper (Calidris fuscicollis) 01/12/2025      Punta Delgada
53. Chilean Skua (Stercorarius chilensis) 29/11/2025      Punta Arenas
54. Black Skimmer (Rynchops niger) 22/11/2025 Parque Humedal, Rio Maipo
55. Brown Noddy (Anous stolidus) 08/12/2025      Rona Kau, Rapa Nui (Easter Island)
56. Grey Noddy (Anous albivitta) 08/12/2025      Rona Kau, Rapa Nui (Easter Island)
57. Inca Tern (Larosterna inca) 23/11/2025      Valparaiso
58. Elegant Tern (Thalasseus elegans) 22/11/2025 Parque Humedal, Rio Maipo
59. South American Tern (Sterna hirundinacea) 22/11/2025      Parque Humedal, Rio Maipo
60. Brown-hooded Gull (Chroicocephalus maculipennis) 22/11/2025 Parque Humedal, Rio Maipo
61. Dolphin Gull (Leucophaeus scoresbii) 30/11/2025 Punta Arenas
62. Grey Gull (Leucophaeus modestus) 22/11/2025 Parque Humedal, Rio Maipo
63. Franklin’s Gull (Leucophaeus pipixcan) 22/11/2025 Parque Humedal, Rio Maipo
64. Kelp Gull (Larus dominicanus) 22/11/2025      Parque Humedal, Rio Maipo
65. Red-tailed Tropicbird (Phaethon rubricauda) 09/12/2025      Motu Islets, Rapa Nui (Easter Island)
66. King Penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) 30/11/2025      Bahia Inutil, Tierra Del Fuego
67. Humboldt Penguin (Spheniscus humboldti) 23/11/2025      Valparaiso
68. Magellanic Penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus) 30/11/2025 Bahia Chilota, Tierra Del Fuego
69. Northern Royal Albatross (Diomedea sanfordi) 23/11/2025 Valparaiso
70. Black-browed Albatross (Thalassarche melanophris) 23/11/2025      Valparaiso
71. Buller’s Albatross (Thalassarche bulleri) 23/11/2025 Valparaiso
72. Salvin’s Albatross (Thalassarche salvini) 23/11/2025 Valparaiso
73. Chatham Albatross (Thalassarche eremita) 23/11/2025      Valparaiso
74. Wilson’s Petrel (Oceanites oceanicus) 23/11/2025      Valparaiso
75. Pintado Petrel (Daption capense) 23/11/2025      Valparaiso
76. Southern Giant Petrel (Macronectes giganteus) 23/11/2025      Valparaiso
77. Northern Giant Petrel (Macronectes halli) 23/11/2025      Valparaiso
78. Southern Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialoides) 29/11/2025      Punta Arenas
79. Westland Petrel (Procellaria westlandica) 23/11/2025      Valparaiso
80. White-chinned Petrel (Procellaria aequinoctialis) 23/11/2025      Valparaiso
81. Sooty Shearwater (Ardenna grisea) 23/11/2025      Valparaiso
82. Pink-footed Shearwater (Ardenna creatopus) 23/11/2025      Valparaiso
83. Christmas Shearwater (Puffinus nativitatis) 09/12/2025 Motu Islets, Rapa Nui (Easter Island)
84. Peruvian Diving Petrel (Pelecanoides garnotii) 23/11/2025      Valparaiso
85. Magellanic Diving Petrel (Pelecanoides magellani) 30/11/2025      Bahia Chilota, Tierra Del Fuego
86. Masatierra Petrel (Pterodroma defilippiana) 23/11/2025      Valparaiso
87. Black-winged Petrel (Pterodroma nigripennis) 09/12/2025 Motu Islets, Rapa Nui (Easter Island)
88. Juan Fernandez Petrel (Pterodroma externa) 23/11/2025      Valparaiso
89. Kermadec Petrel (Pterodroma neglecta) 08/12/2025      Rona Kau, Rapa Nui (Easter Island)
90. Herald Petrel (Pterodroma heraldica) 09/12/2025      Motu Islets, Rapa Nui (Easter Island)
91. Henderson Petrel (Pterodroma atrata) 09/12/2025      Motu Islets, Rapa Nui (Easter Island)
92. Great Frigatebird (Fregata minor) 09/12/2025      Motu Islets, Rapa Nui (Easter Island)
93. Brown Booby (Sula leucogaster) 09/12/2025 Motu Islets, Rapa Nui (Easter Island)
94. Masked Booby (Sula dactylatra) 08/12/2025 Rona Kau, Rapa Nui (Easter Island)
95. Peruvian Booby (Sula variegata) 22/11/2025 Parque Humedal, Rio Maipo
96. Red-legged Cormorant (Poikilocarbo gaimardi) 22/11/2025 Parque Humedal, Rio Maipo
97. Neotropic Cormorant (Nannopterum brasilianum) 22/11/2025      Parque Humedal, Rio Maipo
98. Rock Shag (Leucocarbo magellanicus) 30/11/2025      Bahia Chilota, Tierra Del Fuego
99. Guanay Cormorant (Leucocarbo bougainvilliorum) 23/11/2025      Valparaiso
100. Imperial Shag (Leucocarbo atriceps) 29/11/2025      Punta Arenas
101. Black-faced Ibis (Theristicus melanopis) 27/11/2025      Colbun Lake
102. White-faced Ibis (Plegadis chihi) 25/11/2025      Laguna de Batuco
103. Peruvian Pelican (Pelecanus thagus) 22/11/2025      Parque Humedal, Rio Maipo
104. Stripe-backed Bittern (Botaurus involucris) 25/11/2025      Laguna de Batuco
105. Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) 25/11/2025      Laguna de Batuco
106. Great White Egret (Ardea alba) 22/11/2025      Milipilla
107. Cattle Egret (Ardea ibis) 25/11/2025      Laguna de Batuco
108. Cocoi Heron (Ardea cocoi) 25/11/2025      Laguna de Batuco
109. Green-backed Firecrown (Sephanoides sephaniodes) 26/11/2025 Altos de Lircay
110. White-sided Hillstar (Oreotrochilus leucopleurus) 24/11/2025      Valle Nevada
111. Giant Hummingbird (Patagona gigas) 24/11/2025      La Vispudava Road
112. Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia) 25/11/2025      Laguna de Batuco
113. Lesser Horned Owl (Bubo magellanicus) 24/11/2025      Yerba Loca N P
114. Andean Condor (Vultur gryphus) 21/11/2025      El Yeso
115. Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus) 22/11/2025      Parque Humedal, Rio Maipo
116. Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) 22/11/2025      Parque Humedal, Rio Maipo
117. White-tailed Kite (Elanus leucurus) 28/11/2025      Parque Nacional Conguillio
118. Cinereous Harrier (Circus cinereus) 22/11/2025      Parque Humedal, Rio Maipo
119. Harris’s Hawk (Parabuteo unicinctus) 22/11/2025      Parque Humedal, Rio Maipo
120. Variable Hawk (Geranoaetus polyosoma) 24/11/2025      Farellones
121. Black-chested Buzzard-eagle (Geranoaetus melanoleucus) 24/11/2025 La Vispudava Road
122. Rufous-tailed Hawk (Buteo ventralis) 27/11/2025      Nielol Cerro, Temuco
123. Chilean Flicker (Colaptes pitius) 26/11/2025      Altos de Lircay
124. Magellanic Woodpecker (Campephilus magellanicus) 04/12/2025   Lake Grey
125. Striped Woodpecker (Veniliornis lignarius) 26/11/2025      Altos de Lircay
126. Crested Caracara (Caracara plancus) 28/11/2025      Parque Nacional Conguillio
127. Chimango Caracara (Daptrius chimango) 20/11/2025      Santiago
128. Mountain Caracara (Daptrius megalopterus) 24/11/2025      Valle Nevada
129. White-throated Caracara (Daptrius albogularis) 03/12/2025 Estancia Laguna Amarga
130. American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) 21/11/2025      El Yeso
131. Aplomado Falcon (Falco femoralis) 01/12/2025      Gallego Chico
132. Monk Parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus) 21/11/2025      El Yeso
133. Slender-billed Parakeet (Enicognathus leptorhynchus) 27/11/2025 Colbun Lake
134. Austral Parakeet (Enicognathus ferrugineus) 26/11/2025      Altos de Lircay
135. Burrowing Parrot (Cyanoliseus patagonus) 27/11/2025      Colbun Lake
136. Rufous-tailed Plantcutter (Phytotoma rara) 22/11/2025      Parque Humedal, Rio Maipo
137. Many-colored Rush Tyrant (Tachuris rubrigastra) 22/11/2025      Parque Humedal, Rio Maipo
138. White-crested Elaenia (Elaenia albiceps) 22/11/2025 Parque Humedal, Rio Maipo
139. Tufted Tit-tyrant (Anairetes parulus) 21/11/2025      El Yeso
140. Spot-billed Ground Tyrant (Muscisaxicola maculirostris) 03/12/2025 Estancia Laguna Amarga
141. Ochre-naped Ground Tyrant (Muscisaxicola flavinucha) 21/11/2025   El Yeso
142. White-browed Ground Tyrant (Muscisaxicola albilora) 21/11/2025   El Yeso
143. Cinnamon-bellied Ground Tyrant (Muscisaxicola capistratus) 02/12/2025 Sierra Baguales
144. Black-fronted Ground Tyrant (Muscisaxicola frontalis) 24/11/2025   Valle Nevada
145. Austral Negrito (Lessonia rufa) 22/11/2025 Cartagena Lagoon
146. Spectacled Tyrant (Hymenops perspicillatus) 22/11/2025 Parque Humedal, Rio Maipo
147. Fire-eyed Diucon (Pyrope pyrope) 27/11/2025      Colbun Lake
148. Chocolate-vented Tyrant (Neoxolmis rufiventris) 01/12/2025 Cerro Sombrero, Tierra Del Fuego
149. Black-billed Shrike-tyrant (Agriornis montanus) 21/11/2025      El Yeso
150. Great Shrike-tyrant (Agriornis lividus) 03/12/2025      Estancia Laguna Amarga
151. Grey-bellied Shrike-tyrant (Agriornis micropterus) 01/12/2025      Punta Delgada
152. Moustached Turca (Pteroptochos megapodius) 21/11/2025      El Yeso
153. Ochre-flanked Tapaculo (Eugralla paradoxa) 27/11/2025      Nielol Cerro, Temuco
154. Common Miner (Geositta cunicularia) 30/11/2025 Laguna Verde, Tierra Del Fuego
155. Rufous-banded Miner (Geositta rufipennis) 21/11/2025      El Yeso
156. Creamy-rumped Miner (Geositta isabellina) 21/11/2025      El Yeso
157. White-throated Treerunner (Pygarrhichas albogularis) 26/11/2025   Altos de Lircay
158. Band-tailed Earthcreeper (Ochetorhynchus phoenicurus) 01/12/2025 Punta Delgada
159. Crag Chilia (Ochetorhynchus melanurus) 24/11/2025      La Vispudava Road
160. Wren-like Rushbird (Phleocryptes melanops) 22/11/2025      Cartagena Lagoon
161. Patagonian Forest Earthcreeper (Upucerthia saturatior) 28/11/2025 Parque Nacional Conguillio
162. Scale-throated Earthcreeper (Upucerthia dumetaria) 21/11/2025 El Yeso
163. Buff-winged Cinclodes (Cinclodes fuscus) 21/11/2025      El Yeso
164. Dark-bellied Cinclodes (Cinclodes patagonicus) 29/11/2025      Punta Arenas
165. Chilean Seaside Cinclodes (Cinclodes nigrofumosus) 22/11/2025      Las Cruces
166. Thorn-tailed Rayadito (Aphrastura spinicauda) 26/11/2025      Altos de Lircay
167. Des Murs’s Wiretail (Sylviorthorhynchus desmurii) 27/11/2025      Nielol Cerro, Temuco
168. Plain-mantled Tit-spinetail (Leptasthenura aegithaloides) 24/11/2025 Yerba Loca N P
169. Austral Canastero (Asthenes anthoides) 01/12/2025      Punta Delgada
170. Sharp-billed Canastero (Asthenes pyrrholeuca) 21/11/2025      El Yeso
171. Chilean Swallow (Tachycineta leucopyga) 20/11/2025      Santiago
172. Blue-and-white Swallow (Pygochelidon cyanoleuca) 21/11/2025      El Yeso
173. Swallow (Hirundo rustica) 01/12/2025      Punta Delgada
174. Grass Wren (Cistothorus platensis) 05/12/2025      Sarmiento Lake, Torres Del Paine
175. Southern House Wren (Troglodytes musculus) 21/11/2025      El Yeso
176. Chilean Mockingbird (Mimus thenca) 21/11/2025      El Yeso
177. Patagonian Mockingbird (Mimus patagonicus) 02/12/2025      Sierra Baguales
178. White-banded Mockingbird (Mimus triurus) 22/11/2025      Las Cruces
179. Austral Thrush (Turdus falcklandii) 20/11/2025      Santiago
180. House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) 08/12/2025      Rona Kau, Rapa Nui (Easter Island)
181. Correndera Pipit (Anthus correndera) 29/11/2025      Punta Arenas
182. Yellow-rumped Siskin (Spinus uropygialis) 21/11/2025      El Yeso
183. Black-chinned Siskin (Spinus barbatus) 22/11/2025 Parque Humedal, Rio Maipo
184. Rufous-collared Sparrow (Zonotrichia capensis) 21/11/2025      El Yeso
185. Long-tailed Meadowlark (Leistes loyca) 24/11/2025      Farellones
186. Shiny Cowbird (Molothrus bonariensis) 20/11/2025      Santiago
187. Austral Blackbird (Curaeus curaeus) 21/11/2025      El Yeso
188. Yellow-winged Blackbird (Agelasticus thilius) 22/11/2025 Parque Humedal, Rio Maipo
189. Grey-hooded Sierra Finch (Phrygilus gayi) 21/11/2025      El Yeso
190. Patagonian Sierra Finch (Phrygilus patagonicus) 26/11/2025 Altos de Lircay
191. White-bridled Finch (Melanodera melanodera) 01/12/2025      Gallego Chico
192. Yellow-bridled Finch (Melanodera xanthogramma) 02/12/2025      Sierra Baguales
193. Greater Yellow Finch (Sicalis auriventris) 21/11/2025      El Yeso
194. Grassland Yellow Finch (Sicalis luteola) 21/11/2025      El Yeso
195. Plumbeous Sierra Finch (Geospizopsis unicolor) 21/11/2025      El Yeso
196. Mourning Sierra Finch (Rhopospina fruticeti) 21/11/2025      El Yeso
197. Band-tailed Sierra Finch (Rhopospina alaudina) 24/11/2025      Yerba Loca N P
198. Diuca Finch (Diuca diuca) 21/11/2025      El Yeso

Mammals

 

1. European Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) 29/11/2025      Punta Arenas
2. European Hare (Lepus europaeus) 29/11/2025      Punta Arenas
3. Common Muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) 30/11/2025      Bahia Inutil, Tierra del Fuego
4. Coypu (Myocastor coypus) 22/11/2025      Cartegena Lagoon
5. Commerson’s Dolphin (Cephalorhynchus commersonii) 01/12/2025 Punta Dalgeda, Tierra del Fuego
6. Guanaco (Lama guanicoe) 30/11/2025      Bahia Inutil, Tierra del Fuego
7. Puma (Puma concolor) 03/12/2025      Estancia Laguna Amarga
8. Culpeo (Lycalopex culpaeus) 04/12/2025      Lago Porteno
9. South American Grey Fox (Lycalopex griseus) 29/11/2025      Punta Arenas
10. South American Sea Lion (Otaria byronia) 23/11/2025       Valparaiso