Chile Day 6 – 18 December 2015 – Torres del Paine
Today we woke up in the most beautiful of locations, Torres del Paine National Park. Stunningly, snow-capped granite mountains and turquoise fjords made this place really awesome.
First was a drive to try for Austral Rail, keeping our eyes peeled for Puma, with no apparent luck. Then suddenly Rodrigo saw a Japanese birder he knew filming up on the hillside above the road. He stopped to see if they were looking at anything interesting. Within 30 seconds we were clambering up the steep slope and then being rewarded by two Puma not far from us, which we watched for about an hour. This park is the only reliable place in the world for Puma but is still rarely seen.
Puma, Torres del Paine, Chile
Photograph taken by and copyright Rodrigo Silva of Albatross Birding Tours
Puma
Photograph taken by and copyright Young Birder Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig
We spent the rest of the day birding in this beautiful National Park, surrounded by glaciers. We felt really high up but most of the time we were only at 500 metres, with the tops if the glaciers being at 2500 metres.
Torres del Paine, Chile
Photo taken by Rodrigo Silva of Albatross Birding Tours
Torres del Paine, Chile
Photo taken by Rodrigo Silva of Albatross Birding Tours
After a full day of birding, we travelled back to Puerto Natales for the night. It had been another long day but a brilliant one. Puma, nothing can be better here.
Torres del Paine NP, Chile
Photograph taken by and copyright Young Birder Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig
Best birds and animals of the day:
Great Shrike Tyrant
Spectacled Duck
Austral Rail
Yellow-bridled Finch
2 Puma