Feathered Findings November 10th

Some of my favourite finds from our aborted bivvy on Loma de Pliege Tumbado.

After my illness cost us several good weather days, we decided to seize a narrow window for a hike. The climb was a grueling 1000 meters with heavy overnight packs, making "slow and steady" our only pace. For a birder like me, that’s perfect.

I’d hoped to birdwatch at specific spots on the way up and again the next morning, but as we’d soon learn, this trip had its own plans.

• Magellanic Woodpecker 
• Austral Parakeet 
• White-throated Caracara 
• Ocra-napped Ground Tyrant 

Our first real break was by a small pool, where a pair of Upland Geese and a Crested Duck were resting. As we drank water, I heard the unmistakable drumming of a Magellanic Woodpecker. I dropped my pack and slipped into the forest with my camera.

Within moments, I spotted the female high in a tree, busy extracting a grub. She was too obscured for a photo. Not far away, I found the striking male, who was much easier to observe. The pair eventually moved on, but the male paused one last time on a lower trunk—giving me the photo you see here.

I turned to leave, but was stopped in my tracks by an Austral Parakeet that seemed to demand a photoshoot. I obliged, but when I tried to leave, it began squawking urgently. For a moment, I worried it was warning me of a puma or a nearby nest. The real reason soon appeared: its friend had arrived, and I was required to take its portrait as well. Only then was I free to go!

We reached our chosen bivvy site with hours until sunset. While the Condors kept their distance that day, a pair of clever White-throated Caracaras came close. They’ve learned that human shelters often mean easy snacks. I didn't feed them, but sadly, someone else had—I found an empty Stella Artois can stashed in our shelter. (Who carries a full can up a mountain only to leave the lightweight empty one?) I crushed it and packed it out.

As the Caracaras entertained us, the mood shifted. Clouds rolled in, the wind picked up, and the temperature plummeted. After a quick conversation, Richard and I decided to make a run for home before nightfall.

So, there would be no early morning birding on the descent. But with wonderful encounters like these, the mountain had already given us its best.