We had met our group the evening before for introductions and dinner at the Hotel Diego de Almagro Airport in Santiago. There were 15 people, two of whom were leaders, on a WINGS birding tour. There was also one non-birding spouse who joined us for dinner but did not go on any of the birding excursions. Most of the 15 were quite experienced birders and travelers, much more experienced and knowledgeable than James and I were. Our trip leader was Fabrice Schmidt who we had birded with in Peru several years ago.
We left the hotel at 6:30. Also with us for the next three day was a local guide, Fernando. We drove to the ski areas east of Santiago with several stops on the way to look for birds. On the way up we found some flowers similar to ones in California, mulleins in particular, but others that were very different.
The ski areas included Farellones Ski Area, Parva Ski Area, and Valle Nevado. The weather was a little warm and sunny but breezy. The top at a elevation of 9500 feet was dry and barren.
We went to the ski areas primarily to see Andean condors that were quite spectacular as they glided by and roosted on the tops of the buildings. James got a few good photos of them as they flew by.
We saw the holes and heads of a dark colored rodent, the Coruro, also spelled Cururo, that looks like a gopher and lives in colonies like prairie dogs. We were also able to observe and photograph at close range a very cooperative and confiding creamy rumped miner.
We got back to the hotel at about 5:00 tired but happy. We had enough time to clean up before meeting again for the listing ritual and then dinner.
The group as a whole saw more species than I did, but here are the birds I saw and observed this day.
Andean Condor
Variable Hawk
Black-chested Buzzard-eagle
Mountain Caracara
American Kestrel
Black-winged Ground-dove
Eared Dove
Chilean Flicker
Moustached Turca
Magellanic Tapaculo
Creamy-rumped Miner
Crag Chilia
Buff-winged Cincloides
Gray-flanked Cincloides
Plain-mantled Tit-spinetail
White-crested Elaenia
White-browed Ground-Tyrant
Black-billed Ground-Tyrant
Rufous-tailed Plantcutter
Blue-and-White Swallow
Austral Thrush
Chilean Mockingbird
Gray-hooded Sierra-Finch
Mourning Sierra-Finch
Band-tailed Sierra-Finch
Common Diuca Finch
Greater Yellow-Finch
Rufous-collared Sparrow
Austral Blackbird
Long-tailed Meadowlark
Black-chinned Siskin
Others saw California Quail, Peregrine Falcon, White-sided Hillstar, Dusky-tailed Canastero, Black-fronted Ground Tyrant, House Wren, House Sparrow.
Creamy Rumped Miner! LOL!
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