Argentina Wildlife Safari - The South

Clark Expediciones – EVT Leg. 11.197 Mariano Moreno 1950 – V San Lorenzo – Salta – Argentina Tel- +54 387 154 890 118 - email- [email protected]

Argentina Wildlife Safari - The South The real Patagonia exists and it is located in southern Argentina, south of the Colorado river between the Andes range on the west and the Atlantic shoreline on the East... dramatic scenery of granite peaks framing glaciers and rivers that rush down into ancient beech forest creating huge lakes from where fantastic rivers flow eastwards across the Patagonian steppe reaching an inspiring coastline teeming with wildlife. The aim of this tour is to explore the most stunning areas of Andean Cordilleras, the wildest and isolated corners of the steppe and the magnificent Patagonian coast to sample some of the superlative landscape and wildlife described below. The list of potential species for the tour ranges from Orca and Andean Condor to endemic birds and reptiles. Of particular note are chances to see Southern Right Whales teaching juveniles in shallow waters, the extraordinary still-growing Moreno Glacier and the enigmatic Magellanic Plover. This tour is run in comfortable minibus and accompanied by the best local guides so as to ensure you the best chances and conditions to observe and photograph the wildlife. Breakfasts taken in the field and several night outings in different habitats offer further possibilities for encounters with some of the most attractive wildlife in southern South America. Day 1 - Buenos Aires Morning arrival to the cosmopolitan capital of Argentina and transfer to our downtown located hotel. Afternoon visit to a wonderful reserve just a short distance from the city centre. Costanera Sur is a remnant of the marshes which once extended the length of the River Plate and is preserved as perhaps the most exciting urban bird sanctuary in the world.Within sight of the city buildings we enter a wilderness of lagoons, marsh and scrub inhabited by a host of wetland species. Coypu's sprawl in the sun or graze the reed-bed margins, Black-necked Swans sail serenely on the open water and Snail Kites are plentiful over the marshes. Limpkin, Southern Screamer, Wattled Jacana, Monk Parakeet, Rufous Hornero and Yellow-winged Blackbird are amongst the long list of possibilities. In the evening we will visit one of the many excellent restaurants in Buenos Aires to enjoy a traditional 'asado' barbeque. Night in BA. Day 2 - Valdes Peninsula Early transfer to local airport and fly BA to Trelew in northern Patagonia region. After arrival we drive northwards and take two nights accommodation in Puerto Pirámides located on the coast of Nuevo Gulf and at the base of Valdes Peninsula. The journey will take approximately two hours on the long roads typical of the area around Trelew but our first sightings of Lesser (Darwin´s) Rhea and family parties of Elegant CrestedTinamous running along the roadside will keep us busy. From the windows of our hotel

we will have our first views of Southern Right Whales near the shore. Afternoon excursion by boat in the Golfo Nuevo waters to get close views of this fantastic cetaceans. Day 3 - Valdes Peninsula Full day tour to Valdes Peninsula by driving to the various attractive spots and beaches to include Elephant Seal rookeries at Caleta Valdes and the Southern Sea Lions colonies. All along the coast we will be able to spot more Whales jumping but also we stand good chances of finding Orcas patrolling the shoreline in search of prey while Giant Petrels and Black-browed Albatrosses fly by. In Punta Norte we´ll scan the beach where the famous BBC footage on Orcas attacking Sea Lions was filmed and will follow local intelligence about the presence of these impresive creatures. These grasslands hold several couples of the scarce Darwin´s Nothura that we hope to find, but ¨Peludo¨ Larger Hairy Armadillo and the Pampas Cat are likely sightings in the area as well. Night in Puerto Pirámides Day 4 - Punta Tombo / Camarones Today we visit a couple of hidden small bays where the Whales take juveniles for teaching them in shallow waters. We hope to witness the spectacle of mothers swimming with cubs from close range but soon we keep on driving south to the famous Punta Tombo. We spend the afternoon at this large concentration of Magellanic Penguins involved in their nesting activities. Other Mammal attractions in this amazing setting will include ¨Mara¨ Patagonian Cavy and Southern Dwarf Cavy but we´ll also look out for the endemic White-headed Steamer-Duck. Then we proceed southwards along the coast in order to reach the small town of Camarones and our hotel there for a good night sleep. Day 5 - Puerto Deseado Another full day exploring patagonian steppe and the coast around Camarones to include yet another Magellanic Penguin colony on a different setting of rocky outcrops. Then we keep on moving south along road 3 via Comodoro Rivadavia. Evening arrival to Puerto Deseado where we take comfortable accommodation for two nights in magnificent coastal setting. Day 6 - Deseado river Today we´ll embark on a fantastic boat trip exploring along the Deseado river and the coast to the south including small islands and rocky cliffs occupied by nesting colonies of Rockhopper Penguin, Dolphin Gull, Magellanic Oystercatcher, Red-legged Cormorant and King Cormorant while other unique species such as Blackish Oystercatcher, Snowy Sheathbill and Royal Tern will be seen. We will also visit colonies of both Southern Fur Seal and Southamerican Sea Lion while in the waters we search for the beautiful Commerson´s Dolphin and the larger Fitz Roy´s Dolphin. Night in Puerto Deseado. Day 7 - Patagonian coast and steppe Depending on weather conditions and perhaps missing species we might head northwards to Cabo Blanco or southwards to Laura Bay plus the Petrified Forest Natural Monument. Everywhere we are certain to see good numbers of Guanacos and Argentine Gray Fox but we also stand good chances for Patagonian Weasel and the always

unpredictable Puma. Afternoon drive back to Comodoro Rivadavia for some good seafood and rest. Day 8 - Ushuaia In the morning we take a two hours flight from Comodoro Rivadavia to Ushuaia, down south in Tierra del Fuego. On arrival we drive a short distance to our hotel located on the shores of the Beagle Channel where we take accommodation for two nights. The presence of Giant Petrels, Dolphin Gulls, Flightless Steamer Ducks and Great Skuas give a flavour of the sub-Antarctic avifauna, but in the afternoon we plan to visit the mountains and glaciers area overlooking the city where we take a very scenic hike while we look for several fueguian specialities such as Ochre-naped Ground-Tyrant, Bicolored Hawk, the beautiful Yellow-bridled Finch and the scarce White-bellied Seedsnipe. Day 9 - Tierra del Fuego National Park This southernmost National Park just outside Ushuaia is a magnificent beech wooded area with fast flowing rivers rushing down from the nearby mountains creating meadows and lagoons surrounded by peatbogs. The impressive and confiding Magellanic Woodpecker is one of the star birds found in the park but other attractions include Thorn-tailed Rayadito, Tufted Tit-Tyrant and Rufous-backed Negrito. Wet grasslands are inhabited by family parties of Upland and Ashy-headed Geese and a small lake contains Chiloe Wigeon, Flying Steamer Ducks and the scarce Spectacled Duck. Amongst mammals we will be particularly looking for Culpeo Andean Red Fox and the scarce Southern River Otter that is sometimes seen on rocky shores along the Beagle Channel. The Beaver was introduced in Tierra del Fuego many years ago and has thrive in fragile habitat creating a complex situation hard to control and to explain to poorly informed people. Overnight in Ushuaia. Day 10 - Beagle Channel / El Calafate Today we take a cruise on the Beagle Channel to the small islands in front of Harberton Bay. Great opportunity to obtain close views of various seabirds including Giant Petrel, Black-browed Albatross, Magellanic Diving Petrel, Rock Cormorant and Imperial Shag but it is also a voyage of stunning scenery as snow capped mountains and evergreen forest fringe both shores of the Channel. A small colony of Magellanic Penguins on one sandy headland shows the added attraction of being joined by several Gentoo Penguins and few King Penguins as wanderers from further south. Along the shore we will see pairs of the attractive Kelp Geese, many Upland Geese and colonies of South American Tern located on rocky walls. Sea Lions and Fur Seals can be seen at several places often sharing their nursery with the localized Blackish Cinclodes, Dolphin Gulls and Snowy Sheathbills. Late afternoon short flight northwards to El Calafate on western Santa Cruz province and transfer to a nice hotel overlooking the impressive Argentino Lake where we spend three nights. Day 11 - Los Glaciares National Park The mountains surrounding Calafate are patrolled by a number of Andean Condors and the presence of a dead sheep can attract impressive numbers with up to thirty birds gathered around the carcass. The sight of Condor soaring over the mountain ridges epitomises the Andes and hopefully we will be able to enjoy several encounters during the day.The road into the Glaciares National Park presents stunning vistas at every turn as it weaves through stretches of ancient Nothofagus forest and follows the course of a

wide river valley flanked by high mountains. Southern bird species sightings here will include Magellanic Woodpecker, Chilean Flicker, Austral Parakeet and Austral PygmyOwl. Hares are the most conspicuous mammals, another case of invasive species introduced from Europe thriving in the new environment. Eventually the Moreno Glacier appears in the distance and as we draw nearer the scale of this fantastic ice-field becomes apparent. Although the National Park embraces twelve other glaciers, the Perito Moreno is the most spectacular; a wall of ice 70 metres high stretching for over four kilometres to jagged snow-capped peaks at the head of the valley. The inexorable advance of the glacier causes the ice to crack and groan and periodically large sections break off to fall in the lake below with an impressive splash. A viewing area allows spectators to stand opposite the glistening ice cliffs and we can stand and marvel at the subtle changes in the colour of the glacier, as it alternates from white to blue according to light conditions and age of the ice. Further birding in the surrounding forest could produce Austral Blackbird and Rufous-tailed Plantcutter. Later in the day we will pay another visit to the town lake or perhaps indulge in a little shopping at one of the many gift shops in this busy little tourist centre before enjoying a Patagonian barbeque of roast lamb at one of the town's best known restaurants. Day 12 - Viedma Lake and Fitzroy Mount Full day devoted to explore distinctive steppe habitat northwards from El Calafate. Superficially lacking in variety of vegetation or wildlife and looking not unlike a stretch of Scottish moorland, the steppe is in fact populated by a surprising diversity of small flowers, butterflies and some exciting birds. We are likely to see both Tawny-throated and Rufous-chested Dotterels, Least and Grey-breasted Seedsnipes, Upland Goose and the beautiful Chocolate-vented Tyrant, Lesser Rhea, the scarce Patagonian Tinamou, Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle and the spectacular Long-tailed Meadowlark. A few roadside lagoons are always worth scrutiny being a magnet for waders including Twobanded Plovers, White-rumped and Baird's Sandpipers.The very rare and endangered Hooded Grebe was first discovered not long ago in this area and still nests here in years when the water level suits its precise habitat requirements, so we will devote some time looking for it. As we drive north the snowy peaks of the Andes can be discerned in the distance and gradually assume more clarity as we head towards them. Highest is Mount Fitzroy which can be clearly identified among the peaks, a patagonian landscape emblem that we will reach at the little town of El Chalten. During our afternoon return and all along the road we will keep on seeing Guanacos but even Pichy Armadillo, Patagonian Skunk and Puma are likely encounters for today. Day 13 - Argentino Lake / Buenos Aires This morning we visit a small lagoon and bird sanctuary at the edge of town on the shores of the glaciel, huge, Lago Argentino. Cinereous Harriers nest in the waterside vegetation here and are amazingly indifferent to human spectators as they indulge in aerial displays and food passes over the chosen nest sites. Coscoroba Swan, Andean Ruddy Duck and Red Shoveler are amongst the over 100 species in this place. Magellanic Plovers can be found around the shoreline along with Magellanic Oystercatchers, Two-banded Plovers, Baird's and White-rumped Sandpipers. Out on the water of the lake we may see Black-necked Swans, Silvery Grebes, Crested Ducks and Flying Steamer Ducks. After lunch we embark on a mid-afternoon flight back to BA for one night in the capital of Tango and there will be an optional night outing to one of the many authentic bars where they dance tango and invite visitors to join the lessons !

Day 14 - Otamendi Nature Reserve / Fly back home Early morning tour northwards of the big city to a protected area covering hundreds of hectares of wetlands, riverine forest and Tala (mesquite type) woodland along the mouth of Paraná river. We give a birding walk along the well kept trails of the Reserve that eventually take us to a lookout point over the marshes where we will scan for Marsh Deer, Coypu, Southern Screamer, Rufescent Tiger-Heron, White-necked Heron and many more. We will also visit reed bordered ponds in search of two speciacilities: Curve-billed and Straight-billed Reedhaunters but other atractive birds include Giant Wood Rail, Red-winged Tinamou and Rufous-sided Crake. After lunch at an authentic ¨parrilla¨ barbeque place we return to our hotel for freshing-up before leaving to international airport for flight back home.

Clark Expediciones – EVT Leg. 11.197 Mariano Moreno 1950 – V San Lorenzo – Salta – Argentina Tel- +54 387 154 890 118 - email- [email protected]