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Highlights from the Cape Horn Cruise

Posted Apr 2, 2025 by Fabrice Schmitt and Stephen Menzie
Fabrice Schmitt - square.jpg

Fabrice Schmitt

Leader
stephen-menzie.jpg

Stephen Menzie

Leader

Learn more about the Cruise: Around Cape Horn tour

From Buenos Aires to Santiago via the Falklands, the Patagonian steppe, Cape Horn and the lush forests of central Chile – there can be few trips that offer such diverse stops as the Cape Horn cruise with Fabrice Schmitt and Stephen Menzie, and that’s before taking into account the two oceans that we traversed through on this tour and the dozen of seabird species seen.

All members of the group joined the Ciebas pre-tour extension, where we caught up with a number of Chaco-dwelling species, such as this Ashy-coloured Cuckoo.
All members of the group joined the Ciebas pre-tour extension, where we caught up with a number of Chaco-dwelling species, such as this Ashy-coloured Cuckoo.
Stephen Menzie
In Buenos Aires, a trip to the wetlands close to the port brough a host of showy species, such as this Rosy-billed Pochard…
In Buenos Aires, a trip to the wetlands close to the port brough a host of showy species, such as this Rosy-billed Pochard…
Stephen Menzie
…this Southern Yellowthroat…
…this Southern Yellowthroat…
Stephen Menzie
…and the ubiquitous, city-centre-dwelling Rufous Hornero.
…and the ubiquitous, city-centre-dwelling Rufous Hornero.
Stephen Menzie
Our first port of call abord the Sapphire Princess was Montevideo, Uruguay, where a day’s birding produced a large number of birds not seen elsewhere on the tour, such as this White Monjita…
Our first port of call abord the Sapphire Princess was Montevideo, Uruguay, where a day’s birding produced a large number of birds not seen elsewhere on the tour, such as this White Monjita…
Stephen Menzie
…and the rare Chestnut Seedeater.
…and the rare Chestnut Seedeater.
Stephen Menzie
Our first at-sea day was dominated by albatrosses, with good numbers of both Atlantic Yellow-nosed and (shown here) Black-browed.
Our first at-sea day was dominated by albatrosses, with good numbers of both Atlantic Yellow-nosed and (shown here) Black-browed.
Stephen Menzie
Mammals were also apparent, with Southern Right Whale, Sei Whale and pods of handsome Peale’s Dolphins (shown here) seen.
Mammals were also apparent, with Southern Right Whale, Sei Whale and pods of handsome Peale’s Dolphins (shown here) seen.
Stephen Menzie
Arriving in the Falklands, we made the long, bumpy but ultimately worthwhile journey to Volunteer Point, home to a colony of King Penguins…
Arriving in the Falklands, we made the long, bumpy but ultimately worthwhile journey to Volunteer Point, home to a colony of King Penguins…
Stephen Menzie
…as well as Gentoo and (shown here) Magellanic Penguins.
…as well as Gentoo and (shown here) Magellanic Penguins.
Stephen Menzie
Leaving the Falklands and sailing to Ushuaia, we passed Cape Horn.
Leaving the Falklands and sailing to Ushuaia, we passed Cape Horn.
Stephen Menzie
In Ushuaia, we were lucky enough to encounter five Magellanic Woodpeckers…
In Ushuaia, we were lucky enough to encounter five Magellanic Woodpeckers…
Stephen Menzie
…as well as a handful of White-throated Caracaras.
…as well as a handful of White-throated Caracaras.
Stephen Menzie
Continuing west along the Magellanic Straight, we reached the Chilean town of Punta Arenas, where we caught up with dozens of roadside Lesser Rheas…
Continuing west along the Magellanic Straight, we reached the Chilean town of Punta Arenas, where we caught up with dozens of roadside Lesser Rheas…
Stephen Menzie
…and enjoyed a magical experience with a pair of Lesser Horned Owls.
…and enjoyed a magical experience with a pair of Lesser Horned Owls.
Stephen Menzie
Traversing rough seas, we reached Puerto Montt, where we caught up with the elusive Chucao Tapaculo…
Traversing rough seas, we reached Puerto Montt, where we caught up with the elusive Chucao Tapaculo…
Stephen Menzie
…as well as a noisy group of Slender-billed Parakeets.
…as well as a noisy group of Slender-billed Parakeets.
Stephen Menzie
Our final day of sailing took us along the Pacific coast of Chile and through a region chocked full of seabirds, such as this White-chinned Petrel (left) and this presumed Andean Storm-petrel (right) – the taxonomy and at-sea identification of the white-rumped storm-petrels in this region remains to be confirmed!
Our final day of sailing took us along the Pacific coast of Chile and through a region chocked full of seabirds, such as this White-chinned Petrel (left) and this presumed Andean Storm-petrel (right) – the taxonomy and at-sea identification of the white-rumped storm-petrels in this region remains to be confirmed!
Stephen Menzie

Reaching the central Chilean port of San Antonio, two members of the group continued on the second leg of the cruise, four headed back home, and eight took three days to enjoy some birding in central Chile with our post-cruise tour.