March 01: Fabrice Schmitt and Steve Howell from their ongoing cruise, Valparaiso to Buenos Aires
The primary focus of this trip is, of course, the true seabirds, and our first day out from Valparaiso produced great looks at Stejneger’s Petrel (here), along with Juan Fernandez and De Filippi’s Petrels, plus a surprise Cook’s Petrel.
Even more surprising that day were White-faced Storm-Petrel (here) and White-bellied Storm-Petrel, both somewhat south of their usual (or at least known) ranges.
The commonest albatross, which we’ve seen every day at sea, is the beautiful Black-browed, here an immature (top left) and an adult.
We’ve also seen good numbers of the ‘great albatrosses,’ such as this Southern Royal...
And this confiding Snowy Wandering Albatross.
One afternoon we saw numbers of the recently described and enigmatic Pincoya Storm-Petrel
Stops on shore have produced birds ranging from rheas to tapaculos, plus the subject of our attention here in Patagonia...
...this adult and spangle-backed juvenile Magellanic Plover, along with an Austral Negrito (a tiny terrestrial tyrant-flycatcher).
In Tierra del Fuego we enjoyed a sunny picnic lunch overlooking the Beagle Channel...
Followed by walk-away views of the stunning Magellanic Woodpecker, here a male.
Viewing conditions have been generally excellent (from a stable and comfortable cruise ship!), with the worst weather being as we rounded Cape Horn Island, where of course we saw the famous albatross monument. And now into the Atlantic...
Posted: March 01, 2017