@keelebirder.bsky.social
My final birding and tick of the trip - an excellent pelagic off Valparaiso: Good numbers of the recently described Andean Storm-petrel (potential Wilsons split), but the highlight was a brief Juan Fernandez Petrel ✅. 2x Chatham Albatross were also notable.
December 14, 2025 at 11:45 AM
My final birding and tick of the trip - an excellent pelagic off Valparaiso: Good numbers of the recently described Andean Storm-petrel (potential Wilsons split), but the highlight was a brief Juan Fernandez Petrel ✅. 2x Chatham Albatross were also notable.
Although there were no new birds involved, I could not resist the temptation to do a little night birding on our last night up in the Andes. Pleased we made the effort, with great views of Band-winged Nightjar & Lesser Horned Owl. 🪶
December 12, 2025 at 10:21 PM
Although there were no new birds involved, I could not resist the temptation to do a little night birding on our last night up in the Andes. Pleased we made the effort, with great views of Band-winged Nightjar & Lesser Horned Owl. 🪶
Just spent 4 nights in the Andes east of Santiago, based in Farellones, a ski resort town. Great birding & nobody around. One of the highlights has been getting great views of Crag Chilia a central Chile endemic.🪶
December 11, 2025 at 11:08 PM
Just spent 4 nights in the Andes east of Santiago, based in Farellones, a ski resort town. Great birding & nobody around. One of the highlights has been getting great views of Crag Chilia a central Chile endemic.🪶
Finally, on our 3rd morning of trying, and as we were about to give up again - we scored on our 8th new and our final Tapaculo of the trip: White-throated Tapaculo. Chile is the place to see some of the best members of this brilliant family.🪶
December 11, 2025 at 10:36 AM
Finally, on our 3rd morning of trying, and as we were about to give up again - we scored on our 8th new and our final Tapaculo of the trip: White-throated Tapaculo. Chile is the place to see some of the best members of this brilliant family.🪶
My 2 most wanted species on our Chile trip were the Black-throated & Chestnut-throated Huet-huets. We had decent albeit brief sightings of Black-throated a few days ago but no photos. I was hoping Chestnut-throated would improve on this. Happily it did directly outside our lodge! 🪶
December 6, 2025 at 9:39 PM
My 2 most wanted species on our Chile trip were the Black-throated & Chestnut-throated Huet-huets. We had decent albeit brief sightings of Black-throated a few days ago but no photos. I was hoping Chestnut-throated would improve on this. Happily it did directly outside our lodge! 🪶
Over the past few weeks we have tried for Austral Pygmy-Owl on numerous occasions to no avail, so much so, I was starting to believe we were going to miss it completely. Today that worry was removed - well and truly removed! 🪶
December 3, 2025 at 11:06 PM
Over the past few weeks we have tried for Austral Pygmy-Owl on numerous occasions to no avail, so much so, I was starting to believe we were going to miss it completely. Today that worry was removed - well and truly removed! 🪶
A brilliant days birding around Puerto Montt, with 3 new Tapaculos in the bag. The highlight though was the night birding, with a superb Rufous-legged Owl, which eventually put in an excellent performance, after a fruitless couple of hours. 🪶
December 2, 2025 at 10:55 AM
A brilliant days birding around Puerto Montt, with 3 new Tapaculos in the bag. The highlight though was the night birding, with a superb Rufous-legged Owl, which eventually put in an excellent performance, after a fruitless couple of hours. 🪶
Our last full day in Patagonia, which we had set aside to hike up Mount Tarn. It did not disappoint (although my left knee would disagree), with stunning views of White-bellied Seedsnipe, by far the hardest Seedsnipe to see and which completes the family (of 4) for us.
November 29, 2025 at 11:08 PM
Our last full day in Patagonia, which we had set aside to hike up Mount Tarn. It did not disappoint (although my left knee would disagree), with stunning views of White-bellied Seedsnipe, by far the hardest Seedsnipe to see and which completes the family (of 4) for us.
Just spent 24 hours on Tierra del Fuego, primarily to get Short-billed Miner, for Linda to see her first King Penguins and to pick up a few seabirds on the ferry crossings. We were successful on all accounts.🪶
November 28, 2025 at 10:53 PM
Just spent 24 hours on Tierra del Fuego, primarily to get Short-billed Miner, for Linda to see her first King Penguins and to pick up a few seabirds on the ferry crossings. We were successful on all accounts.🪶
Just finished 3 days in the Torres del Paine National Park, in Patagonia. Both target birds seen (White-throated Caracara & Yellow-bridled Finch) and finally on our last morning - Puma 😀.🪶
November 25, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Just finished 3 days in the Torres del Paine National Park, in Patagonia. Both target birds seen (White-throated Caracara & Yellow-bridled Finch) and finally on our last morning - Puma 😀.🪶
A day spent catching up with our last 2 targets on our Northern section of the trip: Rufescent Flycatcher & Tschudi's Nightjar, coincidently both species which we looked for & missed in Peru last year.
November 20, 2025 at 10:24 AM
A day spent catching up with our last 2 targets on our Northern section of the trip: Rufescent Flycatcher & Tschudi's Nightjar, coincidently both species which we looked for & missed in Peru last year.
A brilliant days birding in the Andean puna above San Pedro de Atacama. Nailed both my targets with a bonus (3) Puna Tinamou thanks to a tip off from @DaleHornsea . The highlight was 2 pairs of the smart Red-backed Sierra Finch with showed well after several hours of searching.
November 18, 2025 at 9:59 AM
A brilliant days birding in the Andean puna above San Pedro de Atacama. Nailed both my targets with a bonus (3) Puna Tinamou thanks to a tip off from @DaleHornsea . The highlight was 2 pairs of the smart Red-backed Sierra Finch with showed well after several hours of searching.
Today was another travel day, driving the 500km from Iquique to San Pedro de Atacama, through the Atacama desert. We manage to get the highly localised Tamarugo Conebill on the journey which was only described as recently as the 1970's.
November 17, 2025 at 12:31 AM
Today was another travel day, driving the 500km from Iquique to San Pedro de Atacama, through the Atacama desert. We manage to get the highly localised Tamarugo Conebill on the journey which was only described as recently as the 1970's.
Enjoyable albeit slightly disappointing pelagic off Iquique this morning. Finally caught up with Peruvian Diving-Petrel, but the highlight were the 200 or so Elliot's Storm-petrels. Only a very brief Markham's and no hoped for Ringed stormies.
November 16, 2025 at 12:08 AM
Enjoyable albeit slightly disappointing pelagic off Iquique this morning. Finally caught up with Peruvian Diving-Petrel, but the highlight were the 200 or so Elliot's Storm-petrels. Only a very brief Markham's and no hoped for Ringed stormies.
Chile day 8: Today was mostly a driving day, 460kms from Putre to Iquique. We did manage an hours birding on route where we connected with the endangered and range restricted Chilean Woodstar. We were fortunate to find a female at nest.
November 14, 2025 at 11:25 PM
Chile day 8: Today was mostly a driving day, 460kms from Putre to Iquique. We did manage an hours birding on route where we connected with the endangered and range restricted Chilean Woodstar. We were fortunate to find a female at nest.
Chile day 7: After loosing a days birding yesterday due to having to return to Arica to replace the tyre (10 hour round trip), it was great to get a full days birding in today. The highlight was a really showy pair of White-throated Earthcreepers.🪶
November 14, 2025 at 12:11 AM
Chile day 7: After loosing a days birding yesterday due to having to return to Arica to replace the tyre (10 hour round trip), it was great to get a full days birding in today. The highlight was a really showy pair of White-throated Earthcreepers.🪶
Chile day 5: Picked up the hire car and drove 3.5 hours up to Putre. Unfortunately we only managed 2 hours, birding before we got a puncture, needing a new tyre. We now have to return to Arica in the morning to get its sorted😡. Bird of the day: Straight-billed Earthcreeper
November 12, 2025 at 9:09 AM
Chile day 5: Picked up the hire car and drove 3.5 hours up to Putre. Unfortunately we only managed 2 hours, birding before we got a puncture, needing a new tyre. We now have to return to Arica in the morning to get its sorted😡. Bird of the day: Straight-billed Earthcreeper
Chile day 4: A day spent around Arica, with no hire car due to arriving a day earlier than planned & non being available. So, we hired a taxi to take us a few miles down the coast to look for Seaside Cinclodes. Result - with 4 finally seen, after an hours searching.🪶
November 10, 2025 at 11:43 PM
Chile day 4: A day spent around Arica, with no hire car due to arriving a day earlier than planned & non being available. So, we hired a taxi to take us a few miles down the coast to look for Seaside Cinclodes. Result - with 4 finally seen, after an hours searching.🪶
Chile day 3: Only managed a few hours birding as we had to return the car due to the smashed window & catch our new flight to Arica - 24 hours earlier than originally planned. But it was a great few hours birding - scoring on 2x singing Stripe-backed Bitterns.🪶
November 10, 2025 at 1:49 AM
Chile day 3: Only managed a few hours birding as we had to return the car due to the smashed window & catch our new flight to Arica - 24 hours earlier than originally planned. But it was a great few hours birding - scoring on 2x singing Stripe-backed Bitterns.🪶
Day 2 in Chile, was not good: Attempted car break in (smashed window, nothing taken) followed by our flight north cancelled with 48 hours notice. So half the day spent sorting these issues out; booking new flights, car hire & hotel😡. Only tick of the day: Moustached Turca.
November 9, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Day 2 in Chile, was not good: Attempted car break in (smashed window, nothing taken) followed by our flight north cancelled with 48 hours notice. So half the day spent sorting these issues out; booking new flights, car hire & hotel😡. Only tick of the day: Moustached Turca.
A thoroughly enjoyable first full days birding in Chile and all within 2 miles of our accommodation. My highlight was Dusky Tapaculo. Not the prettiest of species, but I always enjoy the challenge of seeing any Tapaculo well & hopefully getting a photograph.
November 8, 2025 at 8:41 AM
A thoroughly enjoyable first full days birding in Chile and all within 2 miles of our accommodation. My highlight was Dusky Tapaculo. Not the prettiest of species, but I always enjoy the challenge of seeing any Tapaculo well & hopefully getting a photograph.
We've arrived in Chile for our next adventure. Only managed a couple of hours birding around our accomodation at Santo Domingo, but still managed to get one of my most wanted species of the trip: Rufous-tailed Plantcutter, my third and final Plantcutter.
November 6, 2025 at 10:45 PM
We've arrived in Chile for our next adventure. Only managed a couple of hours birding around our accomodation at Santo Domingo, but still managed to get one of my most wanted species of the trip: Rufous-tailed Plantcutter, my third and final Plantcutter.
Went to bed last night thinking I was going down to Calshot nr Southhampton for Great-tailed Grackle, woke up this morning to find it had turned into a Boat-tailed Grackle! The bird showed really well, wild but clearly ship assisted, so destined to never be added to the UK list🤔
November 3, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Went to bed last night thinking I was going down to Calshot nr Southhampton for Great-tailed Grackle, woke up this morning to find it had turned into a Boat-tailed Grackle! The bird showed really well, wild but clearly ship assisted, so destined to never be added to the UK list🤔
It's the end of our Shetland trip. Our last night was spent at Skaw, Unst my favourite Shetland location. Its the most northerly house (uninhabited) in the UK, so when we stay here we are the most northerly people on land in Britain. The birding highlight was 3 rostrata Redpoll.
October 23, 2025 at 6:10 PM
It's the end of our Shetland trip. Our last night was spent at Skaw, Unst my favourite Shetland location. Its the most northerly house (uninhabited) in the UK, so when we stay here we are the most northerly people on land in Britain. The birding highlight was 3 rostrata Redpoll.
We have had easterly winds on our last few days on Fetlar, but unfortunately no eastern gems🙁They did produce a number of island rarities such as Jackdaw(8)Greenfinch, Goldfinch & my 1st Island Woodcock and a late Garden Warbler. Enjoyable birding tinged with disappointment. #ukbirding
October 22, 2025 at 8:44 AM
We have had easterly winds on our last few days on Fetlar, but unfortunately no eastern gems🙁They did produce a number of island rarities such as Jackdaw(8)Greenfinch, Goldfinch & my 1st Island Woodcock and a late Garden Warbler. Enjoyable birding tinged with disappointment. #ukbirding