Birding in Tierra del Fuego

! EXCEPTIONALLY GOOD NEWS !

In the north of Tierra del Fuego, there were quite a lot of rain this fall, as well as good snowfall, providing more water, in the salty lagoons of northern Tierra del Fuego, habitat of the Magellanic Plover.

! WE SUGGEST THE SPECIAL PROGRAM TO SEE MAGELLANIC PLOVER!

This program has the peculiarity of touring different ecosystems such as the coast, lakes, forest, steppe as high altitude vegetation. This implies a wide variety of bird species. The MB215 program is an interesting variant to observe Magellanic Plover, White-bellied Seedsnipe, Magellanic Woodpecker, etc.

BIRDING IN TIERRA DEL FUEGO

Day 1: Rio Grande. Arrival at the local airport. Transfer to the hotel. The dinner is not included. Overnight in Rio Grande.

Magellanic Plover

In the afternoon: Half day Tour to the northern grassland of Tierra del Fuego, one of the best areas to see the Ruddy-headed Goose and Magellanic Plover. At the zone beside the Atlantic coast, the birding of several birds will be possible. The box lunch will be provided. Overnight in Rio Grande. The dinner is not included. Total number of kilometers for this day: 150.

Birds: Ruddy-headed Goose, Rufous-chested Dotterel, Two-banded Plover, Tawny-throated Dotterel, Bird’s Sandpiper, Least Seedsnipe, Common Miner, Short-billed Miner, Chocolate-vented Tyrant, Cinnamon-bellied Ground-Tyrant, Greenish Yellow–Finch, etc.

Day 2: Rio Grande. The breakfast provided by the hotel. Transfer to Ushuaia travelling through different landscapes: grassland with sheep farming, lagoons inhabited by waterfowl, the wide transition area with sceneries of peat bogs and low deciduous Beech Forest. After Fagnano and Escondido Lakes, the crossing of the Fuegian Andes takes place. On the way we will make some stops to see different species of birds. The box lunch will be provided. Overnight in Rio Grande. The dinner is not included. Total number of kilometers for this day: 230.

Birds: Black-face Ibis, Coscoroba Swan, Black-necked Swan, Kelp-Goose, Ashy-headed Goose, Upland Goose, Flightless Steamers-Duck, Crested Duck, Yellow-billed Pintail, Speckled Teal, Chiloe Wigeon, Cinnamon Teal, Red Shoveler, Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle, Southern Caracara, Chimango Caracara, American Kestrel, White-winged Coot, Southern Lapwing, Magellanic Oystercatcher, Magellanic Plover, Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, Whimbrel, Hudsonian Godwit, Sanderling, Bird’s Sandpiper, South American Snipe, Wilson’s Phalarope, Chilean Skua, Dolphin Gull, Austral Parakeet, Austral Canastero, Austral Negrito, Correndera Pipit, Austral Blackbird, Long-tailed Meadowlark, etc.

Day 3: Ushuaia. The breakfast provided by the hotel.

In the morning: Birding tour to Martial Glacier area. Reaching the High Andes vegetation, several species of birds can be seen. Passing the timberline there is a good chance to see the White-bellied Seedsnipe (habitat: 600 / 900 over see level). The lunch box is not included.

Birds: White–bellied Seedsnipe, Gray-flanked Cinclodes, Buff-winged Cinclodes, Ochre-naped Ground-Tyrant, Dark-faced Ground-Tyrant, Austral Thrush, Yellow-bridled Finch, etc.

In the afternoon: Boat tour in the Beagle Channel up to the Magellanic Penguin colony. Different kinds of marine birds will accompany us throughout the trip. Return and overnight in Ushuaia. The dinner not included. Duration: 6 hours.

Birds: Black-browed Albatross, Southern Giant Petrel, Southern Fulmar (spring), Magellanic Diving-Petrel, Magellanic Penguin, Gentoo Penguin, Rock Cormorant, Imperial Cormorant, Snowy Sheathbill, Chilean Skua, Dolphin Gull, South American Tern, Blackish Cinclodes (rare), etc.

Day 4: Ushuaia. The breakfast provided by the hotel. Birding tour to the Tierra del Fuego National Park where Giant Woodpeckers, Ibis and other birds can be seen at the Southern Beech Forests the coastal areas offer also the birding of some seabirds like Kelp Geese and Steamer Ducks. The box lunch will be provided during the tour. Overnight is in Ushuaia. The lunch box will be provided. The dinner is not included. Duration: 8 hours. Total number of kilometers for this morning: 60.

Birds: Great Grebe, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Flying–Steamer Duck, Spectacled Duck, Andean Condor, Chilean Hawk, Blackish Oystercatcher, Plumbeous Rail, Magellanic Horned Owl, Austral Pygmy–Owl, Ringed Kingfisher, Magellanic Woodpecker, Dar-bellied Cinclodes, White-throated Treerunner, Thorn-tailed Rayadito, Magellanic Tapaculo, Austral Negrito, Patagonian Tyrant, Fire-eyed Diucon, White-crested Elaenia, Tufted Tit-Tyrant, Patagonian Sierra-Finch, Black-chinned Siskin, etc.

Day 5: Ushuaia. The breakfast provided by the hotel. Transfer to the local airport. End of our services.