 The Nahuel Huapi National Park and the surrounding area offer a wonderful range of spectacular scenery and also cover a significant variety of habitats. From the high-andean through wet forest and transition forest to the Patagonian steppe we can see up to around 110 native bird species. 24 from these are endemic of the Patagonian Andes. Below you´ll find three half-day programs. The module 1 and 2 cover different habitats and will show us a big variety of species. These two modules can be done either independently or together, having this way a full day field trip. The third module focuses on the Andean Condor and requires flexibility. There are different places to go if your main interest is this species and some work better than others depending on the season and on the weather. See also our image gallery, there you´ll find many nice pics of some of our birds. Module 1 BIRDING + WALKING. HALF-DAY PROGRAM. WET FOREST AND LAKE. Difficulty: Easy (50-100 meters/ 150-300 feet of elevation gain, around 5 km/ 3 miles walk) some 2 hours of walking. Please ask for easier tailored variations if necessary.  Start at 8:30 AM. Return at around 12 PM. Guide: private English/Spanish speaking professional birdwatching guide Transfer: private vehicle / no transfer involved if you are staying at the Llao Llao Hotel Description: visit the area of the Llao Llao Hotel and it´s golf course, then the bay of Puerto Pañuelo (lake Nahuel Huapi) continue the search for different species in the Nothofaghus forest nearby. In this itinerary we have good chances to see : Chimango caracara (polyborus/milvago chimango) Crested caracara (caracara plancus) Black vulture (coragyps atratus)  Green-backed firecrown (sephanoides galeritus) Black-throated huet-huet (pteroptochos tarnii) Endemic Chucao tapaculo (scelorchilus rubecula) Endemic Fire-eyed diucon (pyrope/xolmis pyrope) Endemic Rufous-backed negrito (lessonia rufa) Chilean swallow (tachycineta leucopyga) Austral thrush (turdus falcklandii) Black-chinned siskin (carduelis barbatus) Endemic  Patagonian sierra-finch (phrygilus patagonicus) Endemic Chilean pigeon (columba araucana) Endemic Rufous-collared sparrow (zonotrichia capensis) Austral blackbird (curaeus curaeus) Endemic Black faced ibis (theristicus melanopis) White-tufted grebe (podiceps rolland) Great grebe (podiceps major) Ashy-headed goose (chloephaga poliocephala) Yellow-billed pintail (anas georgica)  Speckled teal (anas flavirostris) Flying steamer duck (Tachyeres patachonicus) Red-gartered coot ( fulica armillata) Southern lapwing (vanellus chilensis) Austral parakeet (enicognathus ferrugineus / microsittace ferruginea) Endemic Magellanic woodpecker (campephilus magellanicus) Endemic Dark-bellied cinclodes (cinclodes patagonicus) Endemic Thorn-tailed rayadito (aphrastura spinicauda) Endemic White-throated treerunner (pygarrhichas albogularis) Endemic and others. Tips for clothing: Due to the changing weather, and to enjoy your experience we recommend you bring the following items: - A little backpack, to carry your water, food and jacket if necessary  - A windbreaker jacket and a fleece - Comfortable shoes, hiking shoes or trekking boots - Sunscreen and hat - Binoculars Private guiding service, private transportation, snacks, spotting scope, guide-books and birds check-list included. Module 2 BIRDING + WALKING. HALF-DAY PROGRAM. PATAGONIAN STEPPE AND TRANSITION FOREST. Difficulty: Easy. Tailored variations. We could walk uphill or not, it´s up to you.  Guide: private English/Spanish speaking birdwatching guide Transfer: private vehicle Description: We head East into the Patagonian Steppe and visit a small and shallow lake and its surroundings. Perhaps this is the best place to go birding in the entire region. where we will see more species than everywhere else. In this outing we have good chances to see :  Andean condor (vultur gryphus) Black-chested buzzard eagle (geranoaetus melanoleucus) Red-backed hawk (buteo polyosoma) Chimango caracara (polyborus/milvago chimango) Crested caracara (caracara plancus) Aplomado falcon (falco femoralis) American kestrel (falco sparverius) Black vulture (coragyps atratus) Austral pigmy owl (glaucidium nanum) Endemic Chilean flicker (colaptes pitius) Endemic Black-billed shrike tyrant (agriornis montana) Fire-eyed diucon (pyrope/xolmis pyrope) Endemic Rufous-backed negrito (lessonia rufa) Common diuca-finch (diuca diuca)  Chilean swallow (tachycineta leucopyga) Austral thrush (turdus falcklandii) Black-chinned siskin (carduelis barbatus) Endemic Grey-hooded sierra-finch (phrygilus gayi) Rufous-collared sparrow (zonotrichia capensis) Long-tailed meadowlark (sturnella loyca) Austral blackbird (curaeus curaeus) Endemic Black faced ibis (theristicus melanopis) Chilean flamingo (phoenicopterus chilensis) Black-crowned night-heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) Silvery grebe (podiceps occipitalis) White-tufted grebe (podiceps rolland) Upland goose (chloephaga picta) Yellow-billed pintail (anas georgica)  Andean ruddy duck (oxyura ferruginea) Speckled teal (anas flavirostris) Red-gartered coot ( fulica armillata) Southern lapwing (vanellus chilensis) Dark-bellied cinclodes (cinclodes patagonicus) Endemic and others Tips for clothing: Due to the changing weather, and to enjoy your experience we recommend you bring the following items: - A little backpack, to carry your water, food and jacket if necessary - A windbreaker jacket and a fleece - Comfortable shoes, hiking shoes or trekking boots - Sunscreen and hat - Binoculars Private guiding service, private transportation, snacks, spotting scope, guide-books and birds check-list included.  click on the image to see these photos Module 3 IN SEARCH OF THE ANDEAN CONDOR.  Difficulty: Variable. Tailor made programs. Guide: private English/Spanish speaking birdwatching and mountain guide Transfer: private vehicle   There are different places to go if your main interest is this species and some work better than others depending on the season and on the weather. Tailor made programs range from half-day to multi day. All content © copyright by Facundo Jose / Trek Patagonia. All rights reserved. |
