Seabirds from dry land
Black-browed Albatross is today’s highlight. We birded the peninsula of Punto Rasa, an area of pampas, dunes, lagoons and open beach. Standing at the furthest point on a windswept beach, we were watching Snowy-crowned Terns when an albatross swept into view just offshore. Panic as we tried to locate the bird in the scope – it was so close in that it was moving past us very quickly. A beautiful Black-browed Albatross made a wonderful sight as it glided effortlessly over the waves on its colossal wingspan. As it happened, we needn’t have panicked too much as just minutes later, another Black-browed Albatross flew south, followed by another and another. The whole time we were at the point, albatrosses continued to pass at a rate of about one a minute! Amazingly, these huge seabirds were passing just beyond the breakers allowing wonderfully close views. Two other species of seabird also flew south: an Antarctic Giant Petrel right alongside an albatross for close comparison, and a Brown Skua, again right over the breakers. Other birds on the beach here included a very confiding Great Pampa-finch, Two-banded Plovers and a pair of Olrog’s Gulls.
Moving back to San Clemente, a pool on the outskirts of the town provided Yellow-billed Pintail and Silver Teal. We then headed off west, where roadside birds included Yellow-winged Blackbird and Brown-and-yellow Marshbird. An area of mudflats produced three Rufous-chested Dotterel. Soon after this, a strong cold wind picked up and brought with it a thick cloaking fog, bringing our birding to a premature end for the day.
Bird species list: 2641
Posted 4th July, San Clemente, Argentina
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