Introduction

Birding Central Chile - Trip Code CHL04

Trip Highlights

• The magnificent Andean Condor and the Magellanic Woodpecker.

• The stunning Diademed Sandpiper-Plover.

• Up to seven endemic species of Chile including Crag Chilia, Moustached Turca and White-throated Tapaculo.

This program is operated as a scheduled departure, leaving on a set date.

A custom trip (flexible option which runs on a date you choose giving you more privacy) is available upon request for individuals or small private groups.

The Difference of Traveling with Fantástico Sur Expeditions:

• Great accommodations at conveniently located hotels and lodges, meaning shorter driving times to the birding sites.

• Superb dinning cuisine and memorable picnic lunches.

• Spacious vehicles that ensure a window seat to each trip participant.

• Each vehicle and driver we use has been authorized by the Chilean Transportation Authority.

• The service and expertise of a professional local birding/naturalist leader, who will look after every logistical aspect of “your” holiday.

• The use of top-class spotting scopes for our guests for a better observation, identification and study of the birds and other wildlife.

• You will receive a free, signed copy of one of our great birding books for Chile & Patagonia.

• … plus an useful pre-departure information package.

Birding Chile can be combined with one of the following optional extensions:

• Birding Patagonia & Tierra del Fuego (8 days | 7 nights), birding journey in the Straits of Magellan and Torres del Paine National Park,

• Northern Chile (5 days | 4 nights), birding adventure in the productive coast of the Atacama Desert, oasis valleys and the altiplano, and

• Robinson Crusoe (4 and 5 days), where we pursue a quest for its endemic hummingbird and rare petrels of the subtropics.

Map & Itinerary

Birding Central Chile - Trip Code CHL04

NOTE: As we have an early start on Day 1, we strongly recommend our guests to arrive to Santiago the prior day of the beginning of this birding trip.

Day 1 • Full day exploring El Yeso Valley

You will have an early start after meeting your birding guide at your hotel approximately at 6am. We will have a full day exploring the surroundings of El Yeso reservoir in the Andean foothills, where will hopefully be rewarded with sightings of the endemic Crag Chilia plus our first Andean Condors, Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle, and several other Andean specialities such as Black-winged Ground-Dove, Grey-flanked Cinclodes, Black-billed Shrike-Tyrant, Grey-hooded Sierra-Finch and Yellow-rumped Siskin. Careful scanning of grasslands and streams may produce the stunning Diademed Sandpiper-plover, our main target species for the day. This is a lovely mountain spot where we will also have chances to see the cryptic-colored Grey-breasted Seedsnipe and sometimes flocking Mountain Parakeets.

Hotel Leonardo da Vinci or similar, Santiago (3*). (L,D)(G).

Day 2 • Morning trip to Farellones and Valle Nevado | Drive to Olmue through La Dormida Pass

Today is a Condors & Penguins Day! During the morning we will search in the vicinity of Farellones, in the Andes above Santiago, for several Andean species including Mountain Caracara, White-sided Hillstar, Rufous-banded and Creamy-rumped Miners, Cinereous, Black-fronted, White-browed and Rufous-naped Ground-tyrants plus Greater Yellow-Finch, and Band-tailed Sierra-Finch. Condors are quite abundant here as well. We will also look for the endemic Chilean Tinamou and Chilean Mockingbird and we might have the chance of seeing Red-backed (Variable) Hawk and Aplomado Falcon. Later, we will head down towards the coast!  During the afternoon we will explore the coastal areas north of Valparaiso, visiting a protected breeding colony of Humboldt Penguin; we hope to be able to see here the scarce and range-restricted Southern Sea Otter. Before ending the day will stop in a coastal marsh to see a variety of waterfowl including Red Shoveler, Yellow-billed Pintail, Speckled Teal and Chiloe Wigeon, all three lowland coot species, Spot-flanked Gallinule and Plumbeous Rail, which surprisingly is a rallid quite easy to spot as often walks in the open.

Day 3 • La Campana National Park | Montemar

Early in the morning, we will visit La Campana National Park, where we will look for an interesting array of passerines, all endemic to Chile, Dusky-tailed Canastero, Moustached Turca, Dusky Tapaculo and White-throated Tapaculo. La Campana NP is a productive birding area, with slopes and gullies covered by cacti and Puya (endemic bromeliad) and abundant chaparral scrubby vegetation. We hope to see here Chilean Pigeon together with Striped Woodpecker, Giant Hummingbird and Green-backed Firecrown. During sunset and before heading back to Quintero, we will inspect the productive rocky coastal areas as well as the Aconcagua rivermouth. Here we shall search for the endemic Chilean Seaside Cinclodes and endemic seabirds of the Humboldt Current such as Red-legged and Guanay Cormorants, Peruvian Booby, Grey Gull and the stunning Inca Tern.

Hotel Yachting, Quintero (3*). (B,L,D)(G).

Day 4 • Montemar | Laguna El Peral Nature Reserve | Maipo rivermouth

During the morning we will visit the Maipo rivermouth and surrounding coastal wetlands, including the exceptional El Peral Nature Reserve, where we will concentrate in finding the cryptic-coloured Stripe-backed Bittern, the brood-parasitic Black-headed Duck and the striking Many-colored Rush-Tyrant. We will also have a chance to find the scarce and local Warbling Doradito. After a rewarding birding day we will aim to Santiago where our trip ends. (B,L)(G).

NOTE: A pelagic trip can be arranged as part of this itinerary on request. This activity can be accomodated (at extra cost) either on the morning of Day 3 or Day 4. See details and rates on the following link.

Codes: B=Breakfast; L=Lunch/Box-lunch; D=Dinner; G=Guide; *=Hotel Category.

Departures and Rates

Birding Central Chile - Trip Code CHL04

2009 | 2010 Dates:

Available from September 2009 through April 2010.

Meet/Depart: Santiago de Chile, Chile.

Rates for Custom departures (you choose the date):

NOTE: The above prices are per person in US Dollars, based in double occupancy. Rates in GBP and Euros are only for reference.

What the trip includes/excludes

The above price is per person in US$, based on double occupancy. All payments are in US Dollars.

Single supplement will be added if single accommodations are requested.

The trip price includes: All accommodations, meals and guide services as stated in the itinerary, private ground transportation during the tour, and park entrance fees. A daily bottle of mineral water is also included.

The trip price excludes: Tipping, travel insurance, entrance tax to Chile, excess baggage charges, private excursions, à la carte dishes, snacks, drinks, laundry, telephone calls and anything else of a purely personal nature.

Tour Registration: To register for this tour, complete the Fantástico Sur Expeditions registration form and return it (by fax or email) with a deposit of US$ 350 per person. Full payment of the tour fee is due 90 days prior to tour departure.

Cancellation Policy: Notice of cancellation can only be accepted IN WRITING from the person who signed the booking form and takes effect on the day such noticed is received by us.

Refunds are made according to the following schedule:

If cancellation is made 120 days or more before departure date, the deposit less US$ 200 is refundable.

If cancellation is made between 120 and 60 days before departure, the deposit is not refundable, but any payments covering the balance of the fee will be refunded.

If cancellation is made fewer than 60 days before departure date, no refund is available.

This policy and fee schedule also applies to pre-trip and post trip extensions, as well as any transfers from one tour to another. We strongly recommend the purchase of trip cancellation insurance to protect yourself.

Guides

Birding Central Chile - Trip Code CHL04

Enrique Couve has been birdwatching for over 40 years in his native country of Chile and is the author of the photographic guide "Birds of Patagonia, Tierra del Fuego and Antarctic Peninsula", among several other bird and nature photography field guides and books. He is extremely skilled in finding and identifying birds and is an excellent nature photographer, having one of the most complete portfolios of Chile’s birds and wildlife. Enrique has travelled extensivley throughout Chile, its oceanic islands and the Antarctic Peninsula, as well as in other countries of South America. He is partner and director of Fantastico Sur Expeditions and lives in Punta Arenas with his wife and their four children.

Claudio F. Vidal has been bird-watching since the age of 12 and he leads bird-watching and natural history tours throughout Chile. He is very keen on pelagic birdlife and marine mammals occurring in the Humboldt Current, Patagonia, and Antarctica as well as in photography, being particularly interested in photographying the wild flowers of desert and mediterranean regions of the world. Claudio is currently working on a field guide to the birds of Chile with other Chilean birders, and is co-author of the photographic guide "Birds of Patagonia, Tierra del Fuego & Antarctic Peninsula". He is involved in several nature-based tourism projects in Chile, and he is also partner and director of Fantastico Sur Expeditions. He lives in Punta Arenas, the most southerly city in Chile, with his wife Soledad.

Roberto Donoso has been part of our team since 2003, but he has been involved in the process of learning about birding and handling visitors to Chile and Patagonia since 1999. Roberto has an extensive experience leading birdwatching tours throughout Chile and Juan Fernandez islands, and his most recent trips has taken him to the Falkland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula. During the last couple of years he has developed an increasing interest in mammals, particularly cats, and he is responsible of developing some of the hard-core puma and mammal tours that we are currently carrying out with clients from the US and the UK. Rob is one of the Fantastico Sur favourite guides due to his kind and charismatic personality, his particular attention to detail and his involvement with the goals and interests of our clients. Roberto lives in Punta Arenas with his wife Vjera and their two lovely girls, Vjerita and Florencia.

Slide Show

Birding Central Chile - Trip Code CHL04

Check out our set of images from recent birding trips in Mediterranean Chile.

Coming soon!

Checklist

Birding Central Chile - Trip Code CHL04

Birds and mammals possible to be seen during this trip

Compiled by Claudio F. Vidal, Fantástico Sur Expeditions (2009)

Tinamous | Tinamidae

Chilean Tinamou Nothoprocta perdicaria

Penguins | Spheniscidae

Humboldt Penguin Spheniscus humboldti

Grebes | Podicipedidae

Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps

White-tufted Grebe Rollandia rolland

Great Grebe Podiceps major

Silvery Grebe Podiceps occipitalis

Pelicans | Pelecanidae

Peruvian Pelican Pelecanus thagus

Gannets & Boobies | Sulidae

Peruvian Booby Sula variegata

Cormorants | Phalacrocoracidae

Neotropic Cormorant Phalacrocorax brasilianus

Guanay Cormorant Phalacrocorax bougainvillii

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

Ducks, Geese & Swans | Anatidae

Black-necked Swan Cygnus melanocorypha

Coscoroba Swan Coscoroba coscoroba

Torrent Duck Merganetta armata

Chiloe Wigeon Anas sibilatrix

Speckled Teal Anas flavirostris

Crested Duck Anas specularioides

Yellow-billed Pintail Anas georgica

White-cheeked Pintail Anas bahamensis

Cinnamon Teal Anas cyanoptera

Red Shoveler Anas platalea

Rosy-billed Pochard Netta peposaca

Black-headed Duck Heteronetta atricapilla

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

Chimango Caracara Milvago chimango

American Kestrel Falco sparverius

Aplomado Falcon Falco femoralis

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

Blackish Oystercatcher Haematopus ater

American Oystercatcher Haematopus palliatus

Avocets & Stilts | Recurvirostridae

Black-necked Stilt Himantopus mexicanus

Plovers & Lapwings | Charadriidae

Southern Lapwing Vanellus chilensis

Snowy Plover Charadrius alexandrinus

Collared Plover Charadrius collaris

Diademed Sandpiper-Plover Phegornis mitchellii

Sandpipers & Allies | Scolopacidae

South American Snipe Gallinago paraguaiae

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

Seedsnipes | Thinocoridae

Gray-breasted Seedsnipe Thinocorus orbignyianus

Skuas & Jaegers | Stercoraridae

Chilean Skua Stercorarius chilensis

Gulls | Laridae

Band-tailed Gull Larus belcheri

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

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

Picui Ground-Dove Columbina picui

Black-winged Ground-Dove Metriopelia melanoptera

Parrots, Macaws & Allies | Psittacidae

Slender-billed Parakeet (E) Enicognathus leptorhynchus

Mountain Parakeet Psilopsiagon aurifrons

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

Woodpeckers & Allies | Picidae

Striped Woodpecker Picoides lignarius

Chilean Flicker Colaptes pitius

Ovenbirds | Furnariidae

Rufous-banded Miner Geositta rufipennis

Creamy-rumped Miner Geositta isabellina

Scale-throated Earthcreeper Upucerthia dumetaria

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

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

White-throated Treerunner Pygarrhichas albogularis

Tapaculos | Rhinocryptidae

Moustached Turca (E) Pteroptochos megapodius

White-throated Tapaculo (E) Scelorchilus albicollis

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

Warbling Doradito Pseudocolopteryx flaviventris

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

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 unicolor

Band-tailed Sierra-Finch Phrygilus alaudinus

Grassland Yellow-Finch Sicalis luteola

Greater Yellow-Finch Sicalis auriventris

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

Southern Grey Fox Pseudalopex griseus

Culpeo Fox Pseudalopex culpaeus

Marine Otter Lutra felina

Southern Sea Lion Otaria byronia