Fabrice Schmitt and David Fisher on their recently concluded tour to Chile

Above Santiago we experienced the wonderful sceneries of the Andes while looking for (and finding!) Diademed Sandpiper-Plover, Grey-breasted Seedsnipe, Greater Yellow-Finch and other mountain specialists. One of the most amazing encounters was the group of 20 condors coming to roost on the roof of the Valle Nevado Ski resort, giving us an extraordinary show and very close views of these giants.

Birding the mountains above Santiago

An Andean Condor coming to roost at Valle Nevado

Other giants were these Northern Royal Albatross following our boat during our pelagic trip off Quintero, together with Peruvian Pelicans, White-chinned Petrels, the elegant Inca Terns and many others.

A splendid Northern Royal Albatross following our boat

The unique Inca Tern seen during our pelagic trip off Quintero

And after spending a few days in Central Chile, we finished our trip in Lauca National Park at the Northern tip of the country. The weather was fantastic as were the views of snowcapped volcanoes, high altitude lakes covered with birds, three species of Flamingoes feeding together with Andean Avocet and very close looks at Mountain Viscachas (a kind of cute hybrid between rabbit and kangaroo!).

Our group posing in front of the superb Parinacota Volcano

The Mountain Viscacha, a particular rodent of the Andes