The stunning Many-colored Rush Tyrant gave amazing views during the tour (all photos by DLV). ULTIMATE CHILE 12 - 26 / 31 OCTOBER 2019 LEADER: DANI LOPEZ-VELASCO 1 BirdQuest Tour Report: Ultimate Chile 2019 www.birdquest-tours.com This year´s Chile tour was quite possibly our most successful ever to this fantastic country. Once again, our Ultimate Chile tour produced all of the mainland Chilean endemics, with great views of both Chestnut-throated and Black-throated Huet-Huets, an astonishing wader spectacle of 41 (¡!) species, including Diademed Sandpiper-Plover, Magellanic Plover, Peruvian Thick-knee, Tawny-throated and Rufous-chested Dotterels and Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe. Our two main pelagics, and various ferry crossings, delivered 19 species of tubenoses with highlights of Southern and Northern Royal and Buller´s Albatrosses, many Pincoya Storm- Petrels off Chiloe and hundreds of Markham´s and a single Ringed (Hornby´s) Storm-Petrels off Iquique. Seeing all 4 possible tinamous, including the extremely rare Patagonian, as well as Ornate, Puna and Chilean, was a real highlight too. In all, we observed an all-time record 321 species, plus some 21 species of mammal, amongst which a total of 11 (yes, ELEVEN) PUMAS clearly stands out. As we travelled almost the entire spine of Chile we sampled three major biomes including several vast wilderness areas, from the Atacama desert to the high Andes and through Patagonian forests to the Magellanic and Fuegian tundra steppe. Other unforgettable highlights, from north to south, included, the critically endangered Chilean Woodstar, the recently discovered in Chile Raimondi´s Yellow Finch, the very rare Peruvian Martin, Tamarugo Conebill, White-throated and Straight-billed Earthcreepers, Tschudi´s Nightjar, Pacific (Peruvian) Pygmy Owl, Andean and James's Flamingos, White-throated Sierra Finch, Golden-spotted Ground Dove, White-tailed Shrike- Tyrant, Thick-billed Siskin, Slender-billed Parakeet, Moustached Turca, Austral Pygmy Owl, Chucao, White- throated, Magellanic and Ochre-flanked Tapaculos, Magellanic Woodpecker, Creamy-rumped Miner, Crag Chilia, Rosy-billed Pochard, Many-colored Rush Tyrant, Chilean Seaside Cinclodes, Burrowing Parrot, Spectacled Duck, White-throated Hawk, Rufous-legged and Magellanic Horned Owls, Des Murs’ Wiretail and the recently split Patagonian Forest Earthcreeper, amongst others. For many, the extension was the cherry topping, with a visit to South America's only King Penguin colony, Ruddy-headed Goose, Magellanic Plover, both dotterels, White-bridled and Yellow-bridled Finches, Band-tailed Earthcreeper, Chocolate-vented Tyrant, White-throated Caracara and Great Shrike-Tyrant, not to mention the impressive scenery of Torres del Paine. We enjoyed good weather almost throughout including the notorious extreme south. Accommodations were very comfortable, our logistics ran smoothly in spite of the incidents taking place in the country at the same time as the tour, and we enjoyed tasty local cuisine and fine wines which lead to a hugely successful tour. 2 BirdQuest Tour Report: Ultimate Chile 2019 www.birdquest-tours.com The birding started out of Iquique (after a long dicussion when trying to get some coffee at the airport), making a stop along the coast to see our first Belcher´s and Grey Gulls, Red-legged Cormorants, Peruvian Boobies, a brief Chilean Seaside Cinclodes and a small group of Humboldt Penguins, amongst other things. After a short drive we reached the tamarugo woodlands surrounded by barren Atacama desert. Our prime target was the very localized Tamarugo Conebill which was singing in the nearest tree as soon as we stepped out of the bus. After enjoying many views of several birds, we shot back to the coast where there was plenty of action with Blackish and American Oystercatchers, vast numbers of mewing Grey Gulls, as well as Belcher's and a few Kelp Gulls. Peruvian Boobies and Elegant and Inca Terns flew past as we scoped Whimbrels, with some Surfbirds mixed with Ruddy Turnstones and Willets. A feeding frenzy close to shore had a lot of seabirds, terns and gulls in attendance, including hundreds of phalaropes and a small flock of Sabine´s Gulls, first picked out by Matthew. Red-legged Cormorants 3 BirdQuest Tour Report: Ultimate Chile 2019 www.birdquest-tours.com We went on a very enjoyable pelagic trip next morning. Colourful Inca Terns and Red-legged Cormorants adorned the port as we departed in calm seas which is typical at this latitude. Peruvian Diving Petrels were the first tubenoses to show and we managed to see some very, very well this morning. As we cruised to deeper waters, good numbers of Peruvian Boobies, Peruvian Pelicans, a couple of Parasitic Jaegers, a distant adult Long-tailed Jaeger, Red and Red-necked Phalaropes and Sooty Shearwaters all flew past the boat, and we soon added some Pink-footed Shearwaters. Numbers of storm petrels started to increase, first with a few Elliot's Storm Petrels, followed, as we reached deeper water, by hundreds (yes, an estimated 800+ during the trip) of Markham´s Storm Petrels. Flocks of this usually rare bird were everywhere, and much to our surprise, and delight, I found a cracking Ringed (Hornby´s) Storm Petrel mixed with them, which gave great views. This is a very rarely seen species here, so we were extremely happy with our sighting. Our chum pulled in 2 Salvin's Albatrosses too, as well as a White-chinned Petrel, amongst others things. South American Terns, Chilean Skuas, an adult Sabine´s Gull, some Guanay Cormorants and, best of all, a flock of Peruvian Terns, provided the supporting cast on our return to port. We checked the nearby rocky shoreline and found a nice Chilean Seaside Cinclodes. Heading north through the bleak, and astonishing, Atacama, we finally reached a birdy oasis valley. Here, a smart Pied-crested Tit-Tyrant and some Slender-billed Finches were found at the first stop. A second stop finally us a much wanted Chilean Woodstar, which gave terrific views. We went deeper in the valley, and eventually found some large flocks of Raimondi´s Yellow Finch. This species was thought to be an uncommon Peruvian endemic until they were found here a couple years ago. Also in the area we saw Barn and American Cliff Swallows and Sand Martins and Spot-billed Ground Tyrant. Markham´s Storm Petrel off Iquique. Soon after dawn, we visited the Lluta river mouth, which was alive with birds. Thousands of Elegant Terns and Grey, Belcher´s and Kelp Gulls sat on the beach, while Cinnamon Teal, Great Egret, Little Blue Heron, Black- crowned Night Heron, Common Gallinule, Semipalmated, American Golden and Grey Plovers, Killdeer, Sanderling, Semipalmated, Least and Spotted Sandpipers, Greater Yellowlegs, Andean Gull and Peruvian Meadowlark were all present. Of special note was a first winter Solitary Sandpiper that dropped from the sky and gave great views, as it was only the 4th for Chile! 2 Roseate Spoonbills and an immature Grey-hooded Gull were good additions too, but definitely the best bird here was Peruvian Martin. A flock of 7 birds appeared with some hirundines flying over the bridge, giving terrific and close views for a couple of minutes, before dissapearing. We then checked some nearby fields, where a Peruvian Thick-knee gave excellent views. The 4 BirdQuest Tour Report: Ultimate Chile 2019 www.birdquest-tours.com Azapa valley was our next port of call where we had fantastc views of male and female Peruvian Sheartails, as well as Oasis Hummingbird. Other birds seen included Hooded Siskin, Vermillion Flycatcher, Bran-colored Flycatcher and Chestnut-throated Seedeater. A bit higher up, we spent considerable time looking for Pacific (Peruvian) Pygmy Owl, to no avail. Further on we came across some Greyish Miners. Reaching the Andean shrub zone, the birding became much more prolific with Bare-faced Ground Dove, Mourning and Ash-breasted Sierra Finches, Canyon and Dark-winged Canasteros, Straight-billed Eathcreeper, Streak-backed Tit- Spinetail, Yellow-billed Tit Tyrant and Greenish Yellow Finch. Then, in the town of Putre we quickly connected with Spot-winged Pigeons. Peruvian Thick-knee from Arica. Early next morning we birded around town, seeing several Andean Hillstars, a pair of uncommon and very cooperative White-throated Earthcreepers, Cream-winged Cinclodes, Chiguanco Thrush, Black-throated Flowerpiercer, Blue-and-yellow Tanager, Black-hooded Sierra Finch, Yellow-billed Tit Tyrant, Band-tailed Seedeater and amazing Giant Hummingbirds; often mistaken for a bird not remotely related to hummingbirds e.g. a martin or even a falcon. Lauca National Park was next, and it certainly didn´t dissapoint. On the way up, we managed to find some Ornate Tinamous next to the road. At the first stop, we already located one of our major targets, a pair of White-throated Sierra Finches, that gave great views. Next to them, a single Grey- breasted Seedsnipe and a flock of Rufous-bellied Seedsnipes delighted us, and then Tonya found us a family of much-wanted Puna Tinamous. Briliant! We moved on, and thankfully It didnt take long to have an iconic Diademed Sandpiper-Plover, picked out by Alain, set in the scope for full-frame views. This fantastic species was the most-wanted bird of the trip for some of the participants, and luckily we enjoyed terrific views of an adult in a bog amidst some very impressive scenery. Pressure off, especially now that El Yeso, the traditional site for the species in Central Chile, is not accessible anymore. 5 BirdQuest Tour Report: Ultimate Chile 2019 www.birdquest-tours.com White-throated Sierra Finch and Golden-spotted Ground Dove at Lauca NP. 6 BirdQuest Tour Report: Ultimate Chile 2019 www.birdquest-tours.com The first lakes held Andean Gull, Andean Goose, Crested Duck, Puna Ibis and Yellow-billed Teal, while Andean Flicker, White-winged Cinclodes, Puna and White-fronted Ground Tyrants, Puna Miner, Andean Negrito, Black Siskin and White-winged Diuca Finches were also spotted.