Birds Archives

Travel is Also About People

January 18, 2026December 26, 2025Posted in bicycling, Birds, blogging, Travel, writingTagged birds, travel, wildlife4 Comments

It is wonderful to see different scenery and eat new foods, but another fun aspect of travel is to meet people while on the road. People, and the opportunity to interact with people, add a dimension to the travel experience no photo or travel book can provide.

Let’s me start with my fellow travelers. They come from different USA states, with varying personalities and travel experiences. This allows me to enjoy understanding their perspective as we all look at new experiences while traveling together. It’s enlightening and I appreciate the daily interaction. What’s best too is the fact we have each other’s back while traveling; keep each other on-time, safe, aware of details and learning new things. I must admit I was pleasantly surprised when some of my fellow travelers joined in looking for birds while on a hike! It is always great to have more eyes on the scene. Maybe they enjoyed the opportunity to learn about some new birds too? Hope so!

Then there are the people I just happen to meet. Tables in South America are closer in hotels and restaurants than one would find in the USA. As a result, I met an older man at breakfast one morning … actually it was a couple of mornings since I arrived early to my tour. This 83 year old man from New York City was reading Agatha Christie. Somehow we started to talk and I learn he was to meet his friend for travel in Chile, yet his friend died a few days ago. The friend was almost 20 years younger than him. So now this man was here to attend a funeral.

I am a good listener and I think it is why we talked again the next morning at breakfast. Yet I learned much from him. He had traveled for a month in Japan visiting 9 cities recently and hired Uber drivers per city. I walked away from the conversation realizing 83 years old is still young! Wow! (And then my fellow travelers show up and there are three 80 plus year old people!)

Someday I hope to get my touring bicycle out and ride again, whether across a state or country, whatever. So whenever I see touring bicyclists I am always drawn to find out about their adventure. Here I was on Chiloé Island, Chile talking with bicyclists from Belgium! They were bicycling 5 weeks in Chile, their last week on Chiloé Island and having a wonderful time. Amazing!

Bicyclists from Belgium; one fully loaded bicycle!

Many people make a tour interesting. We had a couple of home-hosted meals and spent time with a family for a day so we could talk with local people. Whether it’s the couple explaining how to tango and showing us their professional dancing ability, or an indigenous person talking about their culture and goals to protect their sovereignty, or an employee demonstrating how to make a Pisco sour … they all add to my travel experience. Plus with the help of our trip guide, when necessary to translate another, we have an opportunity to learn quite a lot. In many locations we also had local guides, so plenty to ask of them!

Demonstration on how to make a Pisco sour.

Mapuche tribe member and our guide translating for him.

And then sometimes you see something you have never seen before. So I include this; as we are carted off to a boat for observation of penguins, etc at Puñihuil Wildlife Reserve. (It is the only place where Magellanic and Humboldt penguins nest near each other.) Anyway, it was fascinating how half of our group stood on a platform that was rolled out to the boat. We could then board the boat and not get our feet wet! These employees are rolling people out to a boat, and back from the boat, numerous times in a day. Fascinating! Never saw this before and appreciated having dry feet.

Sure there were beautiful scenes, but it was about sharing them with others as we stood together looking at it. There were also individual moments when a conversation started with someone I never knew. It’s a joy to interact with people; it adds to my travel experience and I am always grateful!

Birds Observed in Argentina in 2025

January 15, 2026December 26, 2025Posted in Animals, Birds, blogging, environment, Travel, wildlife, writingTagged birds, travel, wildlifeLeave a comment

I am amazed for a trip, not being a birding trip, I saw 61 different species of birds while visiting Argentina! No surprise then for 37 bird species to be new ones for my life list of birds! Yes!

Here are some of the birds I saw. The Patagonian mockingbird reminded me of mockingbirds at my home. They are constantly calling and changing their calls.

An easy gull to identify:

Shovelers have a distinct bill. I just needed to learn the one I saw is a red shoveler:

Arriving at a lagoon, I saw this swan and immediately knew it was a new species for me!

Coscoroba swan, the smallest of swan species

I loved looking at this bird’s eye:

This bird I almost didn’t capture with my camera and knew it would be a new species for me:

Look closely in center for tufted tit-tyrant

I’ve seen ibises, but here was a black-faced ibis:

There were many other birds I photographed; however, I would have loved my larger zoom lens to truly have better photos. Yet, it was not birding trip so I think my smaller zoom did okay! A great trip with my fellow travelers sharing in the joy of seeing birds as we learned about each country we visited. What fun each day! If you missed the birds I saw in Chile, then click here.

Birds Observed in Chile in 2025

January 8, 2026December 24, 2025Posted in Birds, blogging, environment, Travel, writingTagged birds, Nature, travel, wildlife2 Comments

This was not a birding trip. I purposely chose an adventure where I could learn about the Chilean culture, eat the food, interact with local people and learn the history of the country. Yet, I did observe 55 different bird species while in Chile; 36 of them new to me! So here are a few I saw.

I know house sparrows can be found throughout the world; however, I saw this very cute sparrow and wondered what it was. A rufous-collared sparrow … a bird I will see often.

There are some birds you have an idea of what they may be because of their sounds/calls. These two I knew immediately: Chilean mockingbird and monk parakeet.

One day I took a walk to a park, not really expecting to see anything new. Along a grassy edge of a pond I saw this bird and guessed it to be a rail. Yes it was! A plumbeous rail:

While on Rapa Nui, Easter Island, there was a bird I wanted to keep my eyes open for before I left the islands. I mentioned it to a park guide and our local guide. Both said it is a difficult bird to see. However with more eyes searching, a day later a fellow traveler pointed to a bird and the guides confirmed its identification.A fellow traveler, Charlie, captured this photo of the bird for me. It is a Chilean tinamou.

Chilean tinamou, photo courtesy of Charlie G.

We have caracaras and finches flying around in southwest USA; however, here was a Chimango caracara and a diuca finch. I’ll see them often.

We hopped a raft and saw birds on a rocky island offshore from the Chilean coast. My first time seeing a flightless steamer duck, 2 more types of penguins, and a kelp goose.

I already knew of 2 types of cormorants and now I was to learn of 2 more … Guanay cormorant and a red-legged cormorant.

It’s interesting when you get other people noticing birds and they are sharing their observations with you. Many times it happened; however, two in particular stick out for me. A fellow traveler was eating breakfast and noticed a bird out the window. She shares the information with me so I went to look at the bird. Realizing I had never seen this bird before, I took a quick photo and we used Merlin Bird ID app to identify it as a rufous-tailed plant cutter:

My trip guide knew I was a birder. He would often ask about a bird as he learned with some of my identifications. One morning I got a text about his observation of a woodpecker. Off I went and found the bird in a slightly different location. This beautiful Magellanic woodpecker was an arm’s length away from me when I crept up to get this photo:

Amazing bird sightings for a trip that was not a birding trip! I loved Chile. The pace of life was calming, especially on Rapa Nui and Chiloé Island. I loved the fact drivers of vehicles would stop whenever one stepped onto the road. At times they even flashed their lights ahead of the fact so you knew they were stopping. The fish and wine were delicious, even the Pisco sour! Of course the mountains in Torres del Paine were wonderful to see and I wished we could have even done more hiking … yet without a 40 plus mph wind, if that was possible. Maybe not, as it is Patagonia! Visit Chile if you ever get an opportunity!

Returning to El Calafate, Argentina 12 Years Later, Part 1 of 2

December 26, 2025December 22, 2025Posted in Animals, Birds, blogging, environment, non-profit organization, Travel, wildlifeTagged birds, environment, Nature, travel, wildlifeLeave a comment

We left Torres del Paine National Park, Chile to drive to El Calafate, Argentina, but first I must share a photo of the view we saw when leaving the park!

It was a beautiful end to our park visit! We had quick border crossings at Chile and then Argentina and arrived along the bank of Argentina Lake at the town of Calafate. So, 12 years ago there was a population of about 5 thousand people. Now, 30 thousand! The town thrives on tourism! It looked so different to me since my last visit!

Our group visited a local estancia/Patagonian ranch to learn about the gaucho lifestyle. Our host talked of his family’s history on this ranch where he grew up, demonstrated the sheep herding routine with his dog and hand-shearing of sheep. While this happened, the BBQ fire was cooking the lamb we would eat a couple of hours later.

As he talked, he drank mate, from a gourd with a filtered, metal straw. Mate contains antioxidants and is a social ritual in this country.

Lamb with vegetables served at our lunch at the ranch.

We learned and tried to throw the bola. It is a weapon to entangle the legs of the animal you need to get. Quite a challenge throwing the bola with any accuracy and distance.

Back at Calafate, a couple of my fellow travelers joined me on a birding hike. The wind was constantly blowing so it was impossible to use Merlin ID for sound recordings. Fortunately I had my camera to photograph many. Of the 22 birds species we saw at Laguna Nimez Reserve, 11 were new birds for my life list. I’ll have a blog posts simply on birds another time.

Entrance to trail. A NGO has helped protect this lake frontage from wild dogs for the last 12 years. As we looked beyond the fencing, 2 dogs were wanting to get at the birds within.

Important protecting this area for birds!

Torres del Paine National Park, Chile!!!

December 22, 2025December 20, 2025Posted in Birds, blogging, environment, Mountains, Travel, writingTagged birds, environment, hiking, national parks, Nature, travel, wildlifeLeave a comment

The mountain-lover in me was thrilled to see these mountains Torres del Paine National Park with its 3 granite peaks, “blue towers”, was fantastic! So many travelers do not see the towers because clouds stop their view. All of our days at the national parks we skirted away from rain and were so fortunate. The wind however was another story!

I remember Patagonia with wind. While hiking on 3 different trails, we experienced many levels of wind in our face and at our back, pushing us every which way at times. One day we had a hike and it was beautiful scenery with wind. The next day we had a hike to Salto Grande, a glacier-blue green waterfall, and we had less wind, but still wind.

Another hike we saw Grey Glacier and the wind was a monster!! We hiked down to the beach, yes with wind. Hiked across the beach with wind at our back and pushing me sideways at times. A fellow traveler grabbed me at one moment while I was going sideways. We then hiked a rocky trail to its end. Now to hike back, the beach part was the worst! Forty-one mph winds slamming our body! Even when without those gusts, the wind was constant and at us. My body was warm and air temperature was okay, but the wind made it cooler. It was then I doubled up on my hat as the wind made the air colder on my head. My mountain windbreaker jacket was perfect and we got nice, varied views of the glacier. Between the 2 days with 3 hikes, I think we did about 12 miles total. As I sit and write this, the wind is still blowing and I think it gets stronger as the day goes on.

Grey Glacier in the distance. Guide measured 41 mph wind speed.

Torres del Paine National Park was established in 1959 and is an UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. We did see guanacos and on our way to the park we saw Andean condors. We stayed at Grey Hotel which has comfortable rooms, nice dining area, bar and small gift shop. WiFi is at the reception area and not consistent in rooms. But rooms do have nice hot showers!

There are hikes and the “W” and “O” were most talked about as they are multi-day hikes to huts or tenting along the way. The “O” circuit was the trail where people lost their lives. They were in backcountry and were hit with sudden snow storm and winds at 70mph at least from what I understand. It was hard enough on a good weather day for me to maneuver in 40 mph wind. I cannot imagine how disorienting it would be with higher winds and snow!

I saw a beautiful bird here. It was within an arm’s length of me.

I am so happy to have finally visited this national park. We had flown from Puerto Varas to Punta Arenas and drove hours to get here, but worth it! Why have I not thought ahead and continued this trip to Antarctica? I guess it will be Mendoza, Argentina, Atacama Desert in Chile and onto Antarctica the next time I head to South America. Although a fellow traveler told be of a place to visit in Bolivia … wow! So many places to experience and people to interact with as I learn about their culture.

Next we drive from Chile to Argentina across the Patagonian steppe. I am visiting El Calafate, Argentina again. I wonder how it has changed since I was last there in 2013? Will write again in a couple of days.

Update: I just heard 2 of three trails our group hiked have been closed by the national park because winds are over 60 mph. We truly are weather-fortunate!!

Chile’s Chiloé Island, Here I Come! Part 1 of 2

December 18, 2025December 14, 2025Posted in Birds, blogging, environment, Travel, writingTagged birds, environment, travel, wildlifeLeave a comment

After an hour’s drive from Puerto Varas, we took a ferry to Chiloé Island. It actually is an archipelago of 40 islands many miles south on the west coast of Chile. We headed to Castro, the major town in the middle of the 19 mile long island. The controversial bridge being built, since the 1970’s, is still not completely built. Locals seem to not want the bridge as they fear it will change the island vibe.

Everything operates on “island time” here, meaning nothing is rushed. Whether waiting for service or talking with a local, all will be accomplished eventually. It was a change of pace I enjoyed.

It was great seeing birds at Puñihuil Wildlife Reserve. To get closer to the reserve, were carted off to a boat in the water. Never got our feet wet! From there we boated near some rocky islands to view Humboldt and Magellanic penguins! We saw many other birds, plus a sea lion and 3 otters!

Notice the stand they pushed us out to the boat on!

We stopped at a market and saw some HUGE, truly huge garlic … size of my 2 fists! Eventually we got to the town of Castro and our hotel. Beautiful view of the bay, part of the Pacific Ocean, and in the distance we can see some houses on stilts.

What’s Not to Love about Bariloche, Argentina?

December 13, 2025December 7, 2025Posted in Birds, blogging, environment, history, Mountains, Travel, writingTagged birds, environment, national parks, Nature, travel, wildlife2 Comments

Two hour flight from Buenos Aires to Bariloche, Argentina was informative as my plane neighbor was arriving in the area for a 3 day, 18 mile per day run or walk, and camp each night competition. He has been training for the past year; very excited to participate in the upcoming activity! And don’t you know, a few days later when we drove to Puerto Varas, Chile we see the runners. I knew exactly what they were up to!

Bariloche I loved! It is the “Gateway to Patagonia” or the “Gateway to the Lake District” and the “Heart of the National Park”. The national park has grown around this town… all of it beautiful! It reminds me of Park City, Utah, USA with the mountains, a walkable downtown with outdoor clothing and gear shops, restaurants and breweries. The architecture though reminds me of Swiss chalets and some refer to the town as the “Switzerland of South America”. True to what I remember of my 2013 trip in Patagonia, the wind is always blowing. Locals refer to little wind as no wind. I walked the lakeshore and did see a variety of birds!

Nahuel Huapi National Park is the oldest national park in Argentina, established in 1922 and reconfigured in 1934. Our guide mentioned Teddy Roosevelt encouraged people in Argentina to protect this land. Glad they did!

Bariloche on a huge lake and mountain scenery

We met with a Mapuche tribe member. Their love of the land and nature surely reminds me of many native tribes around the world. Unfortunately too are the atrocities they persevered. His message: dependent on the political system in power, then determined if they were considered human or not. Only then could some constitutional changes be made. Their fight continues; however, they also believe all native tribes are keeping the rest of the world in balance.

Mapuche tribal member and our guide translating.

Our local guide provided a demonstration of their drinking Yerba mate. The cup with metal straw in the mate and hot, not boiling water, was a refresher for me. I wondered if I had kept my cup from my past trip. What’s also fascinating is the Argentinians easily pass it from one person to another to drink the tea. Americans could never imagine sharing a drink from one cup with another person; I’m sure!

What fun! We had a horseback trail ride. Thankfully my horse knew where it was to go as I watched 2 European hare run off in the distance. This activity was part of a home visit. Our “home host” family was originally from Germany in 1850 and ranched 1000’s of acres of land. They were very generous with their time as we rode the horses, asked many questions about their life, and enjoyed a BBQ of lamb, beef and sausage… and delicious German-style potato salad!

Another activity, another day, was a hike through a forested area to a viewpoint. It was wonderful to stretch our legs each day we stayed in this area. We saw a very expensive hotel as we looked down from the top of a hill. On another mountainside we took a chairlift up and down. Everywhere one looked, it was beautiful and the weather truly cooperated for us!

We spend a good amount of time in Bariloche to enjoy meals… I did try wild boar which was tender meat, … chocolate and craft beer. We also had a speaker tell us about the Nazi war criminals caught decades later in Argentina. One was caught at the speaker’s school when she was just a young teacher. It was interesting to see the magazine and newspaper headlines as she told us the facts.

There are many universities in Bariloche. Universities provide free education for all. Brazilians come here to see the snow in winter. Argentinians go to Brazil for their beaches. Many Chilean school groups were visiting now on their summer vacation. Don’t come mid-May to mid-June as that is the rainy season. Also, look both ways when crossing the road, make eye contact with driver, as they don’t slow down otherwise!

Some of my fellow travelers floated the Limay River. I did not. My time was instead walking along the lakeshore. Many yellow-billed teal, 2 ashy-headed geese and a Patagonian tyrant were now new birds to my life list. How wonderful to also see some birds again: chimango caracara, neotropic cormorant, and black-faced ibis.

I’ll write again in a few days as we travel by land from Bariloche, Argentina over the Andes Mountains to Puerto Varas, Chile.

Solo Time in Santiago

December 2, 2025November 22, 2025Posted in Birds, blogging, environment, Travel, wildlife, writingTagged birding, birds, parks, solo travel, travel, wildlife4 Comments

Santiago can be walked if you are a patient person. I decided to walk to the Costanera Center, the tallest building in the city and maybe in South America. Next door was a five floor shopping mall. I had no interest in going to the sky deck bar at the very top of the center to see the entire city. I continued my walk to a Japanese Garden, an area of the huge city park.

The uphill walk to the Japanese Garden was worth it. Long and hot weather today. Soon it will be summer here. At the Japanese Garden you walk along paths passing quiet pools of water with lily pads, waterwheels, streams and sculptured trees.

Very pleasant place as I also listened for birds. Another new bird: white-crested elaenia.

On my way down the hill, I interacted with employees putting up insect traps in fruit trees. Not knowing any Spanish on my part, my apologies to them, I photoed an information sheet so I could know what fly they are trying to capture.

So many places to eat in the city! I settled on my tour guide’s recommendation for a meal: pastel de jaiba… a crab cake … and as I write this, the electricity went out in one-third of the restaurant. I have my water, bread with butter and salsa, wine and meal so I am set… and then the electricity was back on! Unfortunately the chocolate cake has strawberry layer within, so glad I mentioned no strawberry please, so I’ll finish my wine with flan. Ah yes, I now remember that dessert is a South American staple!

I walked to Parque Bicentenario where hundreds of start-up tech and other companies had displays. Further along I spent time at a pond. Much to my surprise, I saw a plumbeous rail walking along the pond’s edge onto grass. Rails are typically hidden from sight. To see this one so easily was amazing!

Two other birds were new to me: yellow-billed pintail and yellow-winged blackbird … a male and a female. I was happy to have my camera available for these observations.

Then I was looking at this next bird wondering is that a mockingbird? Yup.

Finally, I had been hearing the rufous-collared sparrow and the noisy monk parakeets. Now I had photos! My bird life list has grown by 8 new birds. Soon off to Easter Island in the mid-Pacific Ocean!

Monk parakeet landed on the ground. Usually in the trees.

I’ll be back in a few days after I discover Easter Island!

Chile & Argentina … Here I Come!

November 29, 2025November 21, 2025Posted in adventure travel, Animals, Birds, blogging, environment, Travel, wildlife, writingTagged Mountains, Nature, travel, wildlife4 Comments

Chile is a new country for me to visit! Argentina is smack-dab right next door to Chile, just look at the map below:

Argentina hugs Chile, or is the other way around!?!

My last adventure to this area of the world was a hiking trip in Argentina where I fell in love with the mountains near El Chalten. This trip I’ll be in the Andes again with an opportunity to visit more of the area: Easter Island, Chiloé Island, Torres del Paine and Iguassu (Iguazu) Falls from the Brazilian and Argentinian sides. When I was in Buenos Aires, so many years ago, Pope Francis was selected Pope … and the people of his church celebrated here! I also remember seeing tango dancing and on this trip I may even get a tango lesson!

Plenty of history to be learned, wildlife to view, UNESCO sites to visit, hikes to enjoy, wines, craft beer and food to taste, local and indigenous people to meet, and new birds for me to discover! Now for the adventure to begin!

Travel, Prayer and Life …

November 27, 2025November 21, 2025Posted in Birds, blogging, Travel, writingTagged birds, prayer, travel4 Comments

My memories of travel to China and India have remained with me decades later. Both countries are enormous in size and with plenty of history. As a result of my visiting Tibet and northern India where Tibetan refugees live, I have been encouraged in how 700 nuns have pursued self-sufficiency. The Tibetan Nuns Project was established in 1987. The prayer flags I purchase are handmade by the Buddhist nuns in India. Their goal is to improve standards of food, sanitation, medical care and basic education in existing nunneries. My purchase of the flags is a small contribution toward their projects.

My prayer flags fly in our backyard. A new string of flags are put up before each major trip, another world adventure, I take. It is a way for my prayer per flag to travel on the wind. Each prayer is released to the universe every day. My hope for peace, health and happiness for all are only a few of my prayers. There are more prayers since I have one per colored flag. Old prayer flags never come down. I have watched ground squirrels and birds make use of old threads.

If you are unfamiliar with prayer flags, please know that on the basic level: blue flag represents the sky, white flag – clouds, red flags – space, green flag – water and the yellow flag – earth. While we each may have our personal prayer to a “higher power”, I have always wanted my prayers lifted even on the slightest breeze. So my use of prayer flags continues. I especially like the prayer flags being between our bird feeders; it all simply connects prayer and life for me, especially as I embark on another world adventure.

Please know I may write more often than my 2 times per week while on this next adventure.