Having arrived the previous evening, we were up early and into Altos de Lircay National Reserve just up the road from our accommodation. Our main targets here were the tapaculos. We were very lucky to come across Chucao Tapaculo and Chestnut-throated Huet-huet very quickly in a near dry stream bed right beside the trackway. Between their secretive
behaviour and the low early morning light, they proved very challenging to photograph. Great birds all the same. We later managed to pick up a Magellanic Tapaculo at very close quarters beside a forest trail. Very mouse-like with their tiny size, all dark plumage and the creeping around in the ground. Ebird checklist. RN Altos de Lircay
In the afternoon we birded around the Lake Colbún area. Highlights here were probably the many Burrowing Parrots (mostly all in flight) and small numbers of Bronze-winged Ducks on the Maule River which runs into the lake. No sign of any Torrent Ducks despite suitable fast flowing rocky sections of the river. Summary of species seen around Lake Colbún.
In the afternoon we birded around the Lake Colbún area. Highlights here were probably the many Burrowing Parrots (mostly all in flight) and small numbers of Bronze-winged Ducks on the Maule River which runs into the lake. No sign of any Torrent Ducks despite suitable fast flowing rocky sections of the river. Summary of species seen around Lake Colbún.
Species | Count |
Bronze-winged Duck (Speculanas specularis) | 4 |
Chiloe Wigeon (Mareca sibilatrix) | 200 |
Yellow-billed Pintail (Anas georgica) | X |
Yellow-billed Teal (Anas flavirostris) | X |
Neotropic Cormorant (Phalacrocorax brasilianus) | X |
Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps) | 4 |
Great Grebe (Podiceps major) | 1 |
Kelp Gull (Larus dominicanus) | 1 |
Southern Lapwing (Vanellus chilensis) | X |
Snowy Egret (Egretta thula) | 20 |
Great Egret (Ardea alba) | 3 |
Red-gartered Coot (Fulica armillata) | X |
Chilean Pigeon (Patagioenas araucana) | 13 |
Andean Condor (Vultur gryphus) | 4 |
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) | 1 |
Variable Hawk (Geranoaetus polyosoma) | 1 |
Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle (Geranoaetus melanoleucus) | 1 |
Peregrine Falcon (South American) (Falco peregrinus cassini) | 1 |
Chilean Swallow (Tachycineta leucopyga) | 1 |
Burrowing Parrot (Cyanoliseus patagonus) | 31 |
Austral Parakeet (Enicognathus ferrugineus) | 3 |
Tufted Tit-Tyrant (Anairetes parulus) | 2 |
Chilean Elaenia (Elaenia albiceps chilensis) | 2 |
Black-chinned Siskin (Spinus barbatus) | 6 |
Common Diuca Finch (Diuca diuca) | 1 |
Variable Hawk |
Chilean Hawk |
Chilean Hawk |
Chimango Caracara |
Chimango Caracara |
Chimango Caracara |
Chimango Caracara |
Bronze-winged Duck |
Bronze-winged Duck |
Bronze-winged Duck |
Bronze-winged Duck |
Bronze-winged Duck |
Bronze-winged Duck |
Austral Pygmy Owl |
California Quail |
California Quail |
California Quail |
California Quail |
California Quail |
Chilean Flicker |
Chilean Flicker |
Chilean Flicker |
Chilean Flicker |
Green-backed Firecrown |
Green-backed Firecrown |
Austral Parakeet |
Austral Parakeet |
Austral Parakeet |
Austral Parakeet |
Austral Parakeet |
Magellanic Woodpecker |
Magellanic Woodpecker |
Magellanic Woodpecker |
Magellanic Woodpecker |
Magellanic Woodpecker |
Magellanic Woodpecker |
Magellanic Woodpecker |
Magellanic Woodpecker |
Chestnut-throated Huet-huet |
Chestnut-throated Huet-huet |
Chestnut-throated Huet-huet |
Chestnut-throated Huet-huet |
Chucao Tapaculo |
Chucao Tapaculo |
Chucao Tapaculo |
Chucao Tapaculo |
White-throated Treerunner |
White-throated Treerunner |
White-throated Treerunner |
White-throated Treerunner |
White-throated Treerunner |
White-throated Treerunner |
White-throated Treerunner |
White-throated Treerunner |
Thorn-tailed Rayadito |
Thorn-tailed Rayadito |
Chilean Elaenia |
Chilean Elaenia |
House Wren |
House Wren |
House Wren |