Birding to El Zurdo
Trip overview
Río Gallegos is one of the southernmost cities on the South American continent and it is home to more than 120 species of birds. It is located at the confluence of the Gallegos and Chico Rivers, in Santa Cruz Province, Argentina.
Together, these rivers form a rich estuary where the tides shape biodiversity. Wide marshes are developed on its southern coast, covered with Sarcocornia sp. and Suaeda spp. Grasslands and shrubs occupy the higher terrain.
Patagonian, Nearctic, and Antarctic birds can be found in this mosaic of environments, and many of them are of particular interest for both conservation and birding, such as Ruddy-headed Goose, Hooded Grebe, Magellanic Plover, Red Knot and Austral Canastero.
Therefore, the Río Gallegos Estuary in its entirety is an IBA (BirdLife International) and it is also recognized as an International Important Site by the WHSRN.
J. La Grotteria
Tour details
Target birds for the area
Lesser Rhea, Ruddy-headed Goose, Flying Steamer-Duck, Silver Teal, Chiloe Wigeon, Chilean Flamingo, Austral Rail, Tawny-throated Dotterel, Rufous-chested Dotterel, Two-banded Plover, Magellanic Oystercatcher, Magellanic Snipe, Least Seedsnipe, Cinereous Harrier, Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle, Short-eared Owl, Austral Canastero, Tufted Tit-Tyrant, Chocolate-vented Tyrant, Chilean Swallow, Patagonian Yellow-Finch, White-bridled Finch.
Number of species expected: 50 - 55.
Mammal highlights
Guanaco, South American Gray Fox, Humboldt´s Hog-nosed Skunk and Dwarf Armadillo.
Inclusions
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All ground transportations in a private vehicle
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Guided services: local birding guide
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Spotting scope: Vortex Diamondback HD 65mm
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Box lunch
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Drinking water (for refill private bottles)
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Personal insurances
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Communication support in remote areas
Exclusions
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Flight tickets
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Alcoholic drinks
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Tips
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Extra services or anything not mentioned in this page
Itinerary
06:00 AM: Departure from the meeting point
Hotel pick up and drive to El Zurdo area. Look for the Austral Rail and White-bridled Finch.
09:00 AM: Exploration in the Bella Vista area
Transfer back to Lesser Gallegos river area and look for the Cordilleran Canastero and waterfowl.
11:00 AM: Robles creek
Transfer to Arroyo Robles and nearby areas in search of the Chocolate-vented Tyrant and other terrestrial birds.
12:00 PM: Lunch
Lunch break in the field.
01:00 PM: Urban reserve
Transfer back to Río Gallegos (an urban reserve area) and search for the threatened Ruddy-headed Goose and Austral Canastero.
05:30 PM: End of the tour
Return to the starting point. Drop-off. End of the tour.
Notes
Itinerary may be changed due to force majeure, accommodation availability, or unforeseen circumstances.
More information
Habitats
Sea coast, marshes, lagoons, shrublands, grasslands
(Argentine Sea and Magellanic Steppe)
Climate
Cold, semi-arid
Tour category
Birdwatching, with good opportunities to take photographs
Max group size
6 + 1 local guide (ask for larger groups)
Physical requirements
The physical difficulty of this tour is low (easy to moderate terrain).
Recommended equipment
Woolly hat, cap, sunscreen (+30), polarized sunglasses, layered clothing, waterproof jacket, trekking shoes.
Departures
This tour is available anytime from October to March. It requires prior reservation.
Price
If you want a quote for this tour, please contact us
Combined with
This tour can be combined with:
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Hooded Grebe tour (5 days / 4 nights) | Read more [+]
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Patagonian forest tour (4 days / 3 nights) | Read more [+]
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Monte León NP (4 days / 3 nights) | Read more
