Avifauna

Almost by chance we managed to assemble quite a bird list. Curiously, the birds seemed to have a predominantly black and white color scheme (perhaps due to the prevalence of ice fields): Black-necked Swans, Black-faced Ibis, Cormorants with white pot-bellies, Black-bibbed Plovers, etc.

In the mountains the Andean Condor seemed to be everywhere, like a fleet of predator drones scanning the earth below for opportunities. Our guide, Luis, warned us not to wander off from the group for a disco-nap, since a Condor would quickly descend for a nip and a poke.

The List:
Southern Lapwing
Darwin’s Rhea
Chilean Flamingo
Magellanic Oystercatcher
Black-faced Ibis
Black-necked Swan
Coscoroba Swan
Upland Goose
Ashy-headed Goose
Rufous-collared Sparrow
Austral Thrush
Rock Cormorant
Black-bibbed Plover
Patagonian Sierra-Finch
Andean Condor
Southern Caracara
Brown-hooded Gull
Rufous-tailed Hawk
South American Tern
Yellow-billed Pintail
Chiloe Wigeon