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Chile, Land of Condors and King Penguins PDF Print E-mail
Written by Jos   

Dolphin Gull

 

Chile is an epic country - stretching over 4300 km from vast deserts in the north to sub-Antarctic islands in the south, names leap off the map that long ago stirred my earliest childhood dreams: Tierra del Fuego, Strait of Magellan, Atacama Desert, Patagonia. Long had I harboured desires to visit this country, not least to enjoy the spectacle of Andean Condors to the backdrop of 6500 metre peaks, to see King Penguins and to seek out iconic species such Diademed Sandpiper-Plover and Magellanic Plover.

 

Last Updated ( Saturday, 04 March 2017 )
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Part One. Central Chile. PDF Print E-mail
Written by Jos   

Diameded Sandpiper-Plover

 

 

Starting and finishing in Santiago, this superb circuit encompassed various sites in the high Andes, the woodlands of Altos de Lircay and the nearby Lake Colban, as well as the coastal strip, including the endemic-rich La Campana National Park and quite a number of sites along the Pacific coast. In this part of the trip, I also ventured out into the rich waters of the Humboldt Current on an excellent pelagic trip.

Last Updated ( Saturday, 25 February 2017 )
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Part Two. Patagonia & Tierra del Fuego PDF Print E-mail
Written by Jos   

Guanaco

 

 

Covering the superb Patagonian grasslands and Torres del Paine National Park, along with sites on Tierra del Fuego, this was very much the highlight of the trip to Chile. Amongst the iconic species seen, a mouthwatering array of birds including King Penguins, Patagonian Mockingbird and Magellanic Plover, while mammals included two fantastic Mountain Lions, a couple of Big Hairry Armadillos and numerous Hog-nosed Skunks.

Last Updated ( Wednesday, 01 March 2017 )
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Part Three. Chiloe Island PDF Print E-mail
Written by Jos   

Chimango Caracara

 

 

 

A short stop on this island in southern Chiloe, very much planned as a break between Patagonia and the far north. As it turned out however, an excellent couple of days with plenty of waterbirds on the dramatic coasts and both Black-throated Huet-huet and a good range of tapaculos in the temperate forests.

Last Updated ( Friday, 03 March 2017 )
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Part Four. Arica & The North PDF Print E-mail
Written by Jos   

Andean Flicker

 

 

Based in Arica, this was the excellent finale to the trip, capturing a slice of birds more typical of neighbouring Peru. Visiting desert oasis in the Azapa and Chaca Valleys, coastal localities in the Arica area and the superb high-altitude sites of Putra and Lauca in the Andes, this was truly a grand experience, not only for birds and mammals, but scenery too.

Last Updated ( Saturday, 04 March 2017 )
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