CHILE. 1 Birdquest Detailed Tour Itinerary: Chile Endemics, Seabirds & The World s Most Spectacular Scenery

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1 1 Birdquest Detailed Tour Itinerary: Chile 2011 CHILE Endemics, Seabirds & The World s Most Spectacular Scenery Sunday 20th November Saturday 3rd December 2011 (14 days) Juan Fernández Pre-Tour Extension from Thursay 17th November (3 days) Southern Chile Post-Tour Extension to Thursday 8th December (5 days) Leader: Mark Pearman Group Size Limit: 10 Tour Category: Easy to Moderate Chile is surely unique amongst the countries of the world! Some 2500 miles (4000km) long, yet never more than 120 miles (200km) wide, this remarkable land snakes southwards down the spine of South America. Dominated throughout by the mighty Andes, Chile is home to many of the highest mountains in South America: a land of endless icy peaks that stand sentinel over vast glaciers and icefields. Chile is also a land of breathtaking variety, with many other habitats such as the Atacama desert (punctuated by stripshaped oases along the rivers debouching from the Andes), puna grasslands and Patagonian steppes, primeval Araucaria and Nothofagus beech forests, isolated volcanoes of almost perfect symmetry that send out plumes of white steam into the blue heavens, and, of course, the long, deeply indented coastline with its surf-swept Diademed Sandpiper-Plover (Nik Borrow) headlands battered by the cold waters of the Humboldt Current. Chilean scenery is acknowledged to be amongst the finest in the world and indeed, once one has experienced its awesome magnificence, it is hard to imagine that it could be surpassed. Throughout the length of the country are some of South America s most beautiful and well managed national parks protecting a diversity of habitats and wildlife. We shall visit several of these during the course of our stay as we seek out the many exciting endemics and restricted-range specialities, including numerous birds belonging to monotypic genera, an outstanding selection of seabirds, and puna and Nothofagus forest specialities, in this fascinating part of our world. Ours is the most comprehensive Chile bird tour itinerary available, producing more specialities than any other. Not only is Chile a wonderful place for experiencing nature but also a modern, well developed country which makes exploring a pleasure. From the smallest town to the capital Santiago, everything is clean, safe and attractive, and well connected by good roads and a fine internal airline network, and this is not even to mention the good food and wine! This modernization has not resulted in any loss of character, however, as we shall find out when we encounter Chile s bustling ports, small fishing villages and atmospheric Andean towns and villages. We start our travels in the capital, Santiago, but are soon on our way to the nearby Pacific coast where we will see spectacular concentrations of seabirds, including several Humboldt Current endemics. Before returning to Santiago we visit the coastal mountain range where we will encounter our first Chilean landbird specialities including such marvellously-named endemics as Crag Chilia and Moustached Turca, not to mention the large, skulking Chestnut-throated Huet-huet (Chile s least known tapaculo). Next we shall explore the rugged central Andes with special emphasis placed on finding the rare and enigmatic Diademed Sandpiper-Plover. Leaving central Chile behind, we visit the northernmost part of the country, initially birding in the Atacama desert near Arica and in the oasis-like valleys of the Lluta and Azapa Rivers. From here we climb again into the Andes until we reach the bird-rich puna grasslands and lakes of Lauca National Park where the snow-capped Payachatas volcanoes form a formidable backdrop. He we will concentrate on high Andean and puna birding, encountering Lesser Rhea, Puna Tinamou, Giant Coot, Andean Avocet and Rufousbellied Seedsnipe, to mention but a few of the spectacular birds of this fantastic area. On our way back south, we will visit the port of Iquique, where a second pelagic could turn up Elliot s, Wedge-rumped, Whitebellied, Markham s and Hornby s Storm-Petrels, as well as Stejneger s and Juan Fernández Petrels, while inland we should find the localized Tamarugo Conebill. We then head further south to the wind-swept Isla de Chiloé, haunt of Magellanic Penguins and Fuegian (or Flightless) Steamer-Ducks, and the cool temperate southern beech (Nothofagus) forest in the lake district of southern-central Chile, home to no less than

2 2 Birdquest Detailed Tour Itinerary: Chile species endemic to the Southern Cone of South America (and some restricted purely to Chile). Some of the most sought-after of these include the splendid Magellanic Woodpecker (South America s largest woodpecker) and the curious Des Murs s Wiretail (a tiny and enigmatic bird with just six elongated narrow tail feathers). The optional pre-tour extension provides an unusual opportunity to visit the remote Juan Fernández archipelago, some 420 miles (670km) off the Chilean coast, in search of Masatierra Petrel, Juan Fernández Firecrown and the jaunty Juan Fernández Tit- Tyrant, species that very few birders have ever seen. During the optional post-tour extension we will explore the far south of the country, including the windswept Patagonian steppes around Punta Arenas and remote and dramatic Tierra del Fuego, home to Darwin s Rheas, Flying Steamer-Ducks, handsome Upland, Ashyheaded, Kelp and Ruddyheaded Geese, the strange Magellanic Plover (the sole representative of its family), Tawny-throated Dotterel, Paleheaded (or Snowy) Sheathbill, Buller s Albatrosses (Nik Borrow) Austral Canastero, Patagonian Yellow-Finch and many other special birds. Finally we visit spectacular Torres del Paine National Park, the veritable Land of the Condor, where superlatives fail to describe the stalagmite-like granite massifs, the thundering waterfalls and huge glaciers. Birdquest has operated tours to Chile since Itinerary Day 1 The tour begins this morning at Santiago airport, from where we shall drive to Quintero on the Pacific coast for an overnight stay, stopping en route at a large, sedgelined lake in a quiet protected reserve. Here we shall find a good selection of waterbirds including Great and Whitetufted Grebes, Black-necked Swan, Lake Duck, Yellowbilled Pintail, Red Shoveler, Southern Wigeon and Redgartered, Red-fronted and White-winged Coots. We will also be looking for the local Black-headed Duck, the worlds only exclusively parasitic duck species. The extensive sedge beds hold Wren-like Rushbird and the smart Many-coloured Rush- Tyrant, and with luck we will see Stripe-backed Bittern. We will also explore estuaries, bays and rocky stretches of coastline where we should encounter the endemic Chilean Seaside Cinclodes, along with waders such as American and Blackish Oystercatchers and Surfbird, and look at some common Humboldt endemics such as Peruvian Pelican, Peruvian Booby and perhaps our first Inca Terns. Day 2 Today we shall take a boat trip out into the birdrich waters of the Humboldt Current. This cold water Antarctic current which surfaces off the Chilean coast is rich in nutrients and supports large fish and squid populations. Attracted to these are great numbers of seabirds, some endemic to these waters, some wanderers from further afield. Amongst the Humboldt endemics and more widespread residents we should encounter Humboldt Penguin, Peruvian Diving- Petrel, Guanay and Redlegged Cormorants, Kelp Gull and South American Tern. With growing excitement we shall scan amongst the hordes of Sooty and Pinkfooted Shearwaters for some of the other pelagic visitors including Blackbrowed, Salvin s and Buller s Albatrosses, White-chinned Petrel, Wilson s Storm-petrel and Red-necked Phalarope. If we are fortunate we will come across one or two of the scarcer pelagic species which include Northern Royal Albatross and Westland, Juan Fernández and Masatierra (or Defilippe s) Petrels. We should also see some South American Sealions. In the late afternoon we will drive a short distance into the coastal cordillera. We will stay overnight at the pleasant colonial town of Olmue near the entrance to La Campana National Park. Day 3 The morning will be spent birding La Campana National Park, so named because of the bell-shaped mountain which dominates the park. This impressive park contains some of the northernmost Nothofagus (Southern Beech) forest and also thorny scrub and cacti, resembling the chaparral country of California. We will take advantage of the considerable bird activity at first light to search for two secretive endemic tapaculos. With some judicial use of a tape recorder we should lure into view the large Whitethroated Tapaculo, whose loud, whooping song often reveals its presence. We will also endeavour to find the diminutive Dusky Tapaculo, a species restricted just to this mountain range. Plainmantled Tit-Spinetail and the endemic Dusky-tailed Canastero give themselves away by their trilling songs, while other birds we should encounter today are Giant Hummingbird, the inquisitive Thorn-tailed Rayadito, White-crested Elaenia (of the southern form chilensis), Tufted Tit-Tyrant, Fire-eyed Diucon, Austral Thrush, Chilean Mockingbird (a widespread endemic), Chilean and Blue-and-white Swallows, Common Diuca- Finch, Austral Blackbird and Black-chinned Siskin. Other target species include the impressive Moustached Turca (a large tapaculo endemic to central Chile) and Crag Chilia (a sleek rock-loving furnariid of outcrops and escarpments), although there will be further opportunities to see both of these. When we finally tear ourselves away from the forest, we will drive back to Santiago for a two nights stay, stopping en-route at some sedge-lined pools to search for the impressive South American Painted-Snipe and have a second chance for Stripe-backed Bittern. Day 4 Santiago is dominated by the magnificent Andes and on clear days there are inspiring views from every part of the city. Rising from the vineyards and farms of the central valley and soaring to 22,834ft (6960m) at the summit of Aconcagua

3 3 Birdquest Detailed Tour Itinerary: Chile 2011 (the highest mountain in the Americas), they are as accessible here as anywhere on the continent. Winding mountain roads with hairpin bends lead from one breathtaking view to another. Today s birding is strictly Andean, although there will be no need to ascend higher than about 8200ft (2500m). We will be covering a variety of montane habitats including bushy valleys, jagged rocky outcrops, scree slopes and boggy grasslands where we should encounter the remarkable Diademed Sandpiper-Plover (one of the world s most attractive, yet least known, waders), Grey-breasted Seedsnipe, White-sided Hillstar, Rufousbanded Miner, Scale-throated Earthcreeper, Sharp-billed Canastero, good numbers of ground-tyrants including White-browed, Ochre-naped and Cinereous Ground- Tyrants, the localized Blackfronted Ground-Tyrant, Grey-hooded, Mourning and Band-tailed Sierra-Finches, the local Greater Yellow-Finch and Yellow-rumped Siskin. Andean Condors often soar overhead and we will keep a close eye on sections of rushing meltwater rivers for Torrent Duck. Day 6 This morning we will drive southwards to Talca for an overnight stay, Moustached Turca (Nik Borrow) stopping en route to look for the secretive and endemic Chilean Tinamou. In the afternoon we will explore the extensive Nothofagus forest in the Andean foothills. In particular we will be listening for the nasal scolding and squeaky toy voice of Chile s least known tapaculo, the Chestnut-throated Huet-huet. Until recently this species was sometimes lumped with its close relative the Blackthroated Huet-Huet, but DNA and vocalization studies have now shown that these are indeed separate species. This large skulker favours bamboo undergrowth in shady forest where it scrapes the forest floor with its outsized tarsus. With patience and some careful manoeuvring we should have a good chance of seeing it. We will also be looking for Rufoustailed Plantcutter (a large and showy cotinga-like bird of uncertain affinities) and more Nothofagus forest endemics such as Austral Parakeet (the worlds most southerly parrot species), the plump Chucao Tapaculo with its explosive voice, Magellanic Tapaculo, Striped Woodpecker, Chilean Flicker, the tree hugging, chisel-billed White-throated Treerunner and Patagonian Sierra-Finch. After dusk we will attempt to locate the striking Rufous-legged Owl (now a Patagonian endemic following the splitting off of Chaco Owl). Day 7 After some final birding in the Talca area, during which we will concentrate on seeking out the rare Spectacled Duck, we will return to Santiago and take a flight to Arica in northern Chile for an overnight stay. We should arrive in time to witness the impressive Grey Gull roost by our coastal hotel, along with Band-tailed Gulls, and Inca and Elegant Terns. Day 8 A bustling port and frontier town, Arica stands on the coast only a few miles from the Peruvian border. In what used to be Peruvian territory until the War of the Pacific, this is land-locked Bolivia s gateway to the world with just a single train travelling daily to La Paz. Here, in the Atacama desert, one of the driest regions on earth, flow several rivers the most well known being the Lluta and the Azapa. Although only small rivers carrying melt-water down from the Andes, their well-cultivated flood plains form a rich oasis in this harsh environment. Our most important target species will be the spectacular and very localized Piedcrested Tit-Tyrant and a trio of hummingbirds; the sturdy Oasis Hummingbird, the entertaining, tail-wagging Peruvian Sheartail and the diminutive Chilean Woodstar (one of Chile s rarest and most threatened birds, whose world population is now believed to number no more than 200). We will also have our first chance for the rare Tamarugo Conebill, and we shall also be searching for the impressive Peruvian Thick-knee, Pacific Dove (split from Whitewinged), Croaking Ground- Dove, Groove-billed Ani, Burrowing Owl, Andean Swift, White-crested Elaenia (the form here is sometimes split as Peruvian Elaenia), Vermilion Flycatcher, the local race of Bran-coloured Flycatcher (a strong candidate for a future split), Cinereous Conebill, Chestnut-throated Seedeater, Blue-black Grassquit, Slenderbilled Finch and Peruvian Meadowlark. Later we shall drive out of the Lluta Valley, climbing through the desert foothills into the relatively verdant high Andes. The first vegetation we encounter are striking stands of candelabra cacti which gradually give way to incredibly silent, nitrate-rich deserts and stony, scrub-filled gullies. We will be making a couple of stops en route, primarily for Greyish Miner and Straight-billed Earthcreeper, before reaching Putre, our base for the next three nights and gateway to Lauca National Park. Days 9-10 Waking up in the sleepy Andean town of Putre at 11,500ft (3500m), where Aymara Indian town folk go about their daily business, we walk the cobbled streets through a maze of white-washed buildings and thatched roofs to a deep shrub-filled gulley. Here we hope to feast our eyes on a good variety of Andean slope birds including Variable Hawk, Bare-faced and Blackwinged Ground-Dove, Andean Hillstar, Giant Hummingbird, White-throated and Plainbreasted Earthcreepers, Barwinged and White-winged Cinclodes, Streaked Tit- Spinetail, Dark-winged and Canyon Canasteros, Yellowbilled Tit-Tyrant, D Orbigny s and White-browed Chat- Tyrants, Chiguanco Thrush, Black-throated Flowerpiercer, Blue-and-yellow Tanager, Golden-billed Saltator, Blackhooded and Ash-breasted Sierra-Finches, Greenish Yellow-Finch and Band-tailed Seedeater. We will also search for Peruvian Pygmy-Owl, a species which was described as new to science in Because of the altitudes involved we will only make our first visit to Lauca in the afternoon of the first day in order to allow time for acclimatization and the afternoon s birding will see us reach a maximum altitude

4 4 Birdquest Detailed Tour Itinerary: Chile 2011 Magellanic Woodpeckers (Nik Borrow) of 14,100ft (4300m). Lauca National Park is a place of outstanding natural beauty. The towering snow-capped volcanoes of Pomerape and Parinacota soar to over 20,700ft (6300m) and reflect perfectly in the deep blue waters of Chungara and Cotocotani Lakes. A relatively short drive from Putre sees a rapid change of scenery as we penetrate above 13,100ft (4000m) and we find ourselves in another surreal world, the altiplano, which extends through parts of Chile and Argentina and much of Bolivia and Peru. This harsh landscape of puna tussock grasslands, desert and shrubby steppe, dotted with numerous small lakes, pools and cushionplant bogs, is home to a large number of high Andean specialities including Puna Tinamou, Puna Ibis, Andean Goose, Puna Teal, Giant Coot (which can be seen tending their enormous nest mounds), Mountain Caracara, Andean Lapwing, Puna Plover, Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe, Andean Avocet, Andean Gull, Andean Flicker, Puna Miner, Puna and White-fronted Ground-Tyrants, Andean Negrito, the impressive Whitewinged Diuca-Finch and White-throated Sierra-Finch. Diademed Sandpiper-Plover also occurs here, so we will have a second chance to observe this outstanding wader, just in case it proved elusive in central Chile. When water levels are right all three flamingo species (Chilean, Andean and the rare Puna or James s) can be found in large numbers, although in some years their numbers diminish when changing feeding conditions force many of them to move elsewhere. Mountain Viscacha (a giant chinchilla) and large numbers of grazing Vicuña are a common sight and we should encounter Guanaco at lower altitudes, while there is even a good possibility of seeing the threatened Peruvian Huemul (or Taruca), a rare deer of the pre-puna slopes. Amongst the many more widespread birds we may see here are Lesser Rhea (one of two puna races), Silvery Grebe (of the high Andean race juninensis which is a potential split), Black-crowned Night Heron, Crested and Torrent Ducks, Speckled Teal, Aplomado Falcon, Greater Yellowlegs, Baird s Sandpiper, Blackbilled Shrike-Tyrant, Andean Swallow, Bright-rumped Yellow-Finch, Plumbeous Sierra-Finch, and Black and Yellow-rumped Siskins. Our second day s birding in the park will begin with a dawn search for Ornate Tinamou. We will then be heading for South America s highest lake, Lago Chungara at 14,800ft (4500m), where we expect to see good numbers of Andean Coot and Andean Duck. Much of the birding will be a continuation of the previous day, with many good birds to look at, although we will also dedicate some time to two of the rarer species, Puna Snipe and White-tailed Shrike- Tyrant. In the late afternoon we shall, road conditions permitting, have the chance to visit a remote Polylepis woodland where we will hope to encounter Giant Conebill and Thick-billed Siskin (two Polylepis specialists). Day 10 Returning to Arica, we will be seeking out any missed birds on the Putre road and in the oasis strips. In the evening we will catch a flight to Iquique, situated not far south of Arica on Chile s north coast, for an overnight stay. Day 11 The continental shelf lies not far offshore at Iquique and this morning we will take a boat trip in search of pelagic seabirds. As we are now around 1150 miles (1850km) north of the Valparaiso area, we can expect a very different combination of species today. Possibilities here include Cook s Petrel, Buller s Shearwater and Elliot s, Wedge-rumped, White-bellied, Markhams s and Hornby s Storm-Petrels, as well as better chances for Stejneger s and Juan Fernández Petrels given that these species tend to feed in warmer waters. In the afternoon we will have the chance to visit some Tamarugo (Prosopis tamarugo) woodlands inland in search of the poorly-known Tamarugo Conebill, a species found only in northernmost Chile and southern Peru, if we missed it around Arica, and in the evening we will fly back to Santiago for an overnight stay. Day 12 This morning we shall take a flight to Puerto Montt in south-central Chile, a thriving port with Chile s largest salmon farms forming the mainstay of the local economy. The picturesque Isla de Chiloé lies just a short distance away and the ferry crossings should provide good opportunities to observe Magellanic Penguin, Magellanic Diving-Petrel, Imperial and Red-legged Cormorants, Snowy-crowned Tern and hopefully some pelagic visitors. During our brief stay on the island we will search for Fuegian (or Flightless) Steamer-Duck and Magellanic Oystercatcher, two Patagonian endemics. After returning to the mainland we will drive northwards to the beautiful Chilean lake district, enjoying (providing it is a clear day) the spectacular views of Volcan Osorno, one of the most photographed volcanoes in the Southern Cone of South America. Blackfaced Ibis flocks become a familiar sight with their farcarrying trumpeting calls, and in this pleasant countryside ox-carts are still a familiar sight, while the pace of life is refreshingly slow. En route to Puyehue National Park, where we will overnight, we shall endeavour to locate the handsome Slender-billed Parakeet, which is endemic to south-central Chile. This localized species has a specially adapted long maxilla for extracting Araucaria (monkey puzzle) seeds when in season, but it spends the rest of the year amongst crops and orchards. Eventually we will reach our comfortable Andean hotel, which has its own thermal hot springs and is surrounded by Valdivian forest (the wettest evergreen sector of the Nothofagus belt). Day 13 The spectacular Puyehue National Park is dominated by the maximum diversity of Nothofagus species, under which a dense undergrowth of Chusquea bamboo conceals a multitude of exciting but secretive tapaculos. One of the most spectacular is the huge Blackthroated Huet-huet, 10 inches (26 centimetres) of black and chestnut plumes, which has a scolding, onomatopoeic call and a bird which positively vibrates as it broadcasts its deeply resonant song. We will also be searching for the bamboo-dwelling Ochre-flanked Tapaculo, yet

5 5 Birdquest Detailed Tour Itinerary: Chile 2011 another monotypic genus and endemic to the Nothofagus forest. Having played hideand-seek with these enigmatic birds we will spend the rest of our time exploring this atmospheric reserve. Here we aim to find some outstanding species including a number of specialities such as Chilean Hawk, Chilean Pigeon, Austral Pygmy-Owl, Green-backed Firecrown, the much soughtafter Magellanic Woodpecker (South America s largest woodpecker), the tiny restless Des Murs s Wiretail and the poorly-known Patagonian Tyrant. Higher up, at the crater of the Volcan Raihuen, we will search for Dark-faced Ground- Tyrant and the striking Yellowbridled Finch, providing weather conditions permit. Later in the day we will return to Puerto Montt for overnight. Day 14 Today we take a morning flight to Santiago where the tour ends. Southern Chile Post-Tour Extension Itinerary Day 14 We will take a morning flight from Puerto Montt to Punta Arenas where we stay overnight. This spectacular flight follows the Andes southwards over uninhabited terrain marked by volcanoes, hundreds of ice-encrusted peaks, glaciers and inaccessible lakes before Magellanic Plover (Nik Borrow) the mountains give way to the flat steppes of Patagonia. On our arrival in Punta Arenas we shall strike out across the wilderness in search of Lesser Rhea (a different form to the one we will likely have seen in Lauca and sometimes split as Darwin s Rhea), Twobanded Plover, Rufous-chested Dotterel, White-rumped Sandpiper, Least Seedsnipe, Common Miner, Austral Negrito and Correndera Pipit. Along the section of coast we will explore, Magellanic Penguins have a colony and we shall be able to watch the birds amongst their burrows. Day 15 This morning we board a ferry bound for a destination Charles Darwin described in The Voyage of the Beagle as a scene of savage magnificence Tierra del Fuego. We shall make for Porvenir where we will stay overnight. Once again the number of seabirds testify to the richness of these waters. Black-browed Albatrosses and Southern (or Common) Giant-Petrels are common. The handsome Dolphin Gull frequents the harbours and Rock Cormorant and Chilean Skua can also be seen. The northern part of Tierra del Fuego (it was named the Land of Fire by Magellan after the local Indians lit fires to warn each other of his arrival) is a wild, open land dotted with lakes. During our time here we shall seek out the specialities of this southernmost tip of South America. Upland Goose is common here and Kelp Goose fairly easy to find. With luck we will also encounter Ruddy-headed Goose, a species now nearly extinct in South America proper and only holding its own in the Falkland Islands. The curious Magellanic Plover is another little-known bird with a distribution restricted to this area. Although inconspicuous, it can be remarkably tame and we shall make a concerted effort to locate this interesting species, which is now placed in its own monotypic family. Other species we may well see today are Flying Steamer- Duck, Tawny-throated Dotterel, South American Snipe, the strange Palefaced (or Snowy) Sheathbill, Short-billed Miner, Austral Canastero, Cinnamon-bellied Ground-Tyrant, the strange Chocolate-vented Tyrant and Patagonian Yellow-Finch, along with some of South America s most southerly House Sparrows! Day 16 After a second day in Tierra del Fuego we shall return to Punta Arenas for an overnight stay. Day 17 Today we shall drive northwards across the Patagonian Plain, stopping for any raptors, wildfowl or other open-country birds of interest that we may encounter. We will keep an eye open for Guanacos, another relative of the Llama, which are plentiful in this region. We are bound for the famous Torres del Paine National Park, where we shall stay overnight. Thrusting abruptly over 6600ft (2000m) out of the flat Patagonian Plain, the Torres del Paine are perhaps South America s most dramatic mountain landscape. Surrounded by glaciers and stunted forests these granite towers (torres being Spanish for towers, though the origin of Paine is still debated) dominate the majestic scenery. Meltwater from the glaciers plunges over vertical cliffs, forming rushing rivers which feed a multitude of azure lakes surrounded by meadows full of foxgloves and daisies. From every angle the awesome spires offer a different yet equally dramatic aspect and we shall surely have difficulty deciding when to call a halt to the scenic photography! This is Andean Condor country par excellence and one of the few places where this marvellous bird of prey remains truly common. Often to be found on the ground in the early morning, when the up-draughts start we shall see them in all their splendour as they unfurl their mighty wings, take to the air and rapidly gain height above our heads. On the lakes and rivers we shall look for elegant Coscoroba Swans and Ashy-headed Geese. Here we should also see Cinereous Harrier, Black-chested Buzzard- Eagle, Southern Crested- Caracara and Peregrine. If we are in luck we will come across Lesser Canastero, the uncommon Great Shrike-Tyrant or Patagonian Mockingbird. Day 18 After some more birding in Torres del Paine National Park we will return to Punta Arenas for an overnight stay. Day 19 Morning flight to Santiago where the extension ends. Juan Fernández Pre-Tour Extension Itinerary Day 1 The extension begins in the morning at Santiago. From here we will take a flight to Masatierra, or Isla Robinson Crusoe as it is also known (in honour of Alexander Selkirk, who was voluntarily marooned on the island in the early 18th century, and who inspired the eponymous novel by Daniel Defoe), in the remote Juan Fernández archipelago for a two nights stay. After the two-and-a-half hour flight from Santiago we transfer from the airstrip by

6 6 Birdquest Detailed Tour Itinerary: Chile 2011 offshore by charter boat in order to get great views of Masatierra (or Defilippe s) Petrel. We will also see some of the species that will feature on our pelagic off the central Chilean coast, including Juan Fernandez Petrel, as well as Kermadec Petrels returning to their nest sites on the steep cliffs and the endemic Juan Fernández Fur Seal. Day 3 After some final birding at Robinson Crusoe we will fly back to Santiago for an overnight stay. wiped out centuries ago when the inhabitants cut down all the forest, but a visit is still a fascinating experience. If any participants would like to visit Easter Island, either before or after the tour, we can easily make the arrangements for them. Please contact us for further information. Accommodation & Road Transport: The hotels are of normal Birdquest standard throughout. Road transport is by small coach or minibus and roads are good. motorboat to the island s only town, San Juan Bautista. The journey provides a first opportunity to see Masatierra (or Defilippe s) Petrel, which only breeds here and on two uninhabited islands. Once ashore it is just a short distance to our very pleasant family-run hotel which serves delicious food. Day 2 Masatierra lies some 420 miles (670km) off the coast of central Chile and is the only permanently Andean Condor (Nik Borrow) inhabited island in the group. During our stay on this unforgettable island, lush with tree ferns, windweathered sandalwoods and giant Gunnera (rhubarb-like plants), we will be able to admire the large and magnificent Juan Fernández Firecrown and the jaunty Juan Fernández Tit-Tyrant. Both of these endemics are threatened and, by virtue of their location, some of the world s most seldom seen birds. Today we will travel Day 4 We will transfer to Santiago airport this morning to meet up with those arriving for the main tour. (This is Day 2 of the main tour.) Easter Island Option: There can be few people who are unaware of the extraordinary stone statues of Easter Island, or Rapa Nui as it is known to its Polynesian inhabitants, one of the archaeological wonders of the world. Easter Island is governed by Chile and Santiago is the nearest airport, although the island lies some 2375 miles (3800km) from the mainland! The endemic avifauna was Walking: The walking effort is easy to moderate. Climate: In central and northern Chile, temperatures range from warm or fairly hot at lower altitudes, to cool and fairly cold at night and early in the morning at high altitude. Dry and sunny weather is the rule at this season. In southern Chile, temperatures are typically cool or quite cold, and it is frequently rainy (it can even snow occasionally in the far south). Bird Photography: Opportunities are quite good.