PUNTA ARENAS & LIST 
CHILE

Region (s)

Lat:00o00´S/00o00´W ha topography msl 
Protected/registered status 
Best Time for visit (14-17th April, 2005)

 

Birding Site Guide

Punta is the most southerly mainland town in Chile. From the bus on the way down from the border, Lesser Rhea and Chilean flamingo were seen aswell as Upland and Ashy-headed Goose. We birded nearby in the Reserva Forestal Magallanes which had few species but did have the Magellanic Woodpecker. The reserve is about 8km out of town and has no public transport. It is possible to hitch or take a colectivo some of the way. Go straight along Independencia. After leaving the town, the gravel road continues up hill and finally comes to a fork. The 2 roads lead to different sectors of the reserve. We took the right fork. At the gate you may be asked to pay 1000 pesos entry although we were let in for free. There are 2 trails. One straight along and up to a viewpoint and the other branching off-right down towards a small stream. We saw the woodpeckers a few hundred metres after the fork and they were very easily located by their loud, jay-like calls. We also birded along the coast near town and also 20km further north passed the airport. I 40 saw species. 


Species seen 

  • Lesser Rhea Rhea pennata Near-threatened
  • White-tufted Grebe Rollandia rolland
  • Black-browed Albatross Thalassarche melanophris
  • Antarctic Giant Petrel Macronectes giganteus Vulnerable
  • Southern Fulmar Fulmarus glacialoides
  • Neotropic Cormorant Phalacrocorax brasilianus
  • Rock Shag Phalacrocorax magellanicus
  • Imperial Shag Phalacrocorax atriceps
  • Black-faced Ibis Theristicus melanopis
  • Chilean Flamingo Phoenicopterus chilensis Near-threatened
  • Upland Goose Chloephaga picta Seen nearby
  • Kelp Goose Chloephaga hybrida
  • Ashy-headed Goose Chloephaga poliocephala
  • Flying Steamerduck Tachyeres patachonicus
  • Chiloe Wigeon Anas sibilatrix
  • Speckled Teal Anas flavirostris
  • Crested Duck Anas specularioides
  • Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle Geranoaetus melanoleucus
  • Variable Hawk Buteo polyosoma
  • Southern Caracara Caracara plancus
  • Chimango Caracara Milvago chimango
  • American Kestrel Falco sparverius
  • American Oystercatcher ? Haematopus palliatus
  • Southern Lapwing Vanellus chilensis
  • Rufous-chested Dotterel Charadrius modestus
  • White-rumped Sandpiper Calidris fuscicollis
  • Dolphin Gull Larus scoresbii
  • South American Tern Sterna hirundinacea
  • Rock Dove Columba livia Introduced
  • Magellanic Woodpecker Campephilus magellanicus
  • Dark-bellied Cinclodes ? Cinclodes patagonicus
  • Bar-winged Cinclodes Cinclodes fuscus
  • Thorn-tailed Rayadito Aphrastura spinicauda
  • Tufted Tit-Tyrant Anairetes parulus
  • Fire-eyed Diucon Xolmis pyrope
  • Austral Thrush Turdus falcklandii
  • Gray-hooded Sierra-Finch Phrygilus gayi
  • Patagonian Sierra-Finch Phrygilus patagonicus
  • Rufous-collared Sparrow Zonotrichia capensis
  • House Sparrow Passer domesticus Introduced


Other Fauna 
A total of -- species of mammals. 

There are -- recorded species of amphibians and reptiles. 

Flora 

Author: Charles Hesse

 

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