TonyQ: Big Year 2023

[TonyQ]

We headed from Punta Arenas towards Torres del Paine for our Puma tracking. Puerto Natales is a small town on the way where we stopped for lunch.

 

469.C.130 Black-necked Swan  Cygnus melancoryphus          

Puerto Natales            15/11/2023

[TonyQ]

470.C.131 Magellanic Oystercatcher  Haematopus leucopodus       

Puerto Natales            15/11/2023

[TonyQ]

and a bit further on

 

471.C.132 Crested (Southern) Caracara  Caracara plancus      

Near Puerto Natales   15/11/2023

Chicks on nest, Near Puerto Natales   15/11/2023

[PeterHG]

As before, beautiful photos and very interesting species! Those King Penguins are impressive birds. Did the Giant Petrel venture so close to the coast or does the rental company allow you to take the car out on a pelagic  ?

[JimS]

1 hour ago, TonyQ said:

Magellanic Oystercatcher

 

Was this named after Ferdinand Magellan, the Portuguese explorer? Our 2 nearby neighbour galaxies, the Magellanic Clouds, are named after him... but there are recent voices calling to rename them, in part because of accusations of murder and enslavement of native people he encountered on this travels. Maybe this Oystercatcher will be another bird to get renamed.

 

An aside, new observations have led to a suspicion that the smaller of them (the Small Magellanic Cloud - even astronomers follow Galana's Law) is actually 2 galaxies along the same line of sight from us. It's good to know there are still new things out there to be discovered.

 

 

[TonyQ]

@PeterHGthank you -close to the coastal road

@JimSIndirectly named after Magellan. The Southern Region of Chile is called the Magellanes Region. It is the largest and least populated region of Chile. The Straits of Magellan are also named after him as he passed through them on his journey round the world. A number of other birds are also called Magellanic (e.g.Penguin, Cormorant, Snipe).

Interesting to hear about the Magellanic clouds.

[Peter Connan]

4 hours ago, JimS said:

... but there are recent voices calling to rename them, in part because of accusations of murder and enslavement of native people he encountered on this travels. Maybe this Oystercatcher will be another bird to get renamed.

 

This nonsense really needs to end.

 

How will we remember and learn from past mistakes if we eradicate all mention of them?

 

Sorry @TonyQfor sullying your magnificent effort with my mini-rant.

[Galana]

What @Peter Connansays x 10.

What I want to know is who elected these people to make decisions of such importance? When are they due for re-election? It is worth mentioning that Europeans were doing ornithology and Natural History long before Columbus. Those now attempting to re-write history should make some attempt to learn it first.

 

To jump on a popular protest chant "Not MY Committee", I think that Thunberg girl mentioned a suitable destination last year.

Edited January 8 by Galana

[TonyQ]

As far as I am aware, no one has suggested changing the name of the Magellanic Oystercatcher (or penguin, snipe, cormorant). 

[JimS]

11 hours ago, TonyQ said:

471.C.132 Crested (Southern) Caracara  Caracara plancus 

This looks a magnificent bird, is it as large & robust in reality as the photo makes it appear?

[TonyQ]

@JimSit is indeed a big, solid bird

Up to 60cm with a wingspan up to 133cm.

Weight up to 1.6kg. Bigger than a Buzzard in the UK

[Galana]

A timely link sent this to my attention.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-67298103

 

The subject deserves a thread of its own.

Apologies once more @TonyQ

[Kitsafari]

Excellent additions - I've never made up my mind over whether the caracara is an ugly or a good-looking one - but it sure is quite a fascinating looking bird. come to think of it, so are a lot of South American birds that you have portrayed so beautifully.  

[TonyQ]

thank you @Kitsafari - I think it is a good looking bird!

And now the final postings for Chile and 2023. Just as Matt has started the 2024 BIg Year.

 

472.C.133 Patagonian Sierra Finch  Phrygilus patagonicus    

(F), to show rear markings,Torres del Paine         15/11/2023

(M) Torres del Paine         15/11/2023

[TonyQ]

473.C.134 Lesser Rhea  Rhea pennata        

Torres del Paine         16/11/2023

Torres del Paine         16/11/2023

Great to see this bird. We saw the Greater Rhea when were in Brazil

[TonyQ]

474.C.135 Cinereous Harrier  Circus cinereus           

Torres del Paine         16/11/2023

[TonyQ]

475.C.136 Cinnamon-bellied Ground-Tyrant  Muscisaxicola capistratus      

Torres del Paine         16/11/2023

Torres del Paine         16/11/2023

[TonyQ]

476.C.137 Least Seedsnipe  Thinocorus rumicivorus    

Torres del Paine         17/11/2023

[TonyQ]

And finally

477.C.138 Torrent Duck  Merganetta armata

Torres del Paine         17/11/2023

We were really pleased to see this amazing duck

 

So that is it for 2023. We saw more birds in Chile than we expected - 138 species and 132 of those were LIfers for us. We really enjoyed the variety. We didn't do much birding in the Torres del Paine section as we were focussed on Puma.

 

THe overall total (477) is pleasing - our second highest. The UK total  (143) was our fourth highest. Most importantly a very enjoyable year and hopefull see you all in the 2024 thread!

[Soukous]

13 hours ago, Galana said:

A timely link sent this to my attention.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-67298103

[Soukous]

A fantastic haul from Chile. So many lifers for you and vicarious lifers for me too. 

[Zim Girl]

Really interesting collection of birds from Chile, Tony, and very good overall total.  Looking forward to 2024!

[Tdgraves]

Well done. Going to a different continent is great for lifers!

[PeterHG]

Beautiful Chile collection and a very good birding score, both for this trip and the overall number. 132 lifers out of 138 species seen is very special indeed. Looking forward to your 2024 contributions.

[Galana]

I am enjoying this x 2 so double the enjoyment.

Congratulations on an excellent year.