CHILE 5
We now arrived at the Lauca National Park at approx. 11,000 ft.
Entrance track to the National Park.
Volcanoes in Lauca National Park, whilst we were there
one started to smoke.
The motor track through the Park showing Parinacota
volcano which is 20,833 feet high.
View of Lago Chungara in Lauca National Park.
Lago Chungara in Lauca National Park.
JFC at Lago Chungra at about 14,000 feet
.
Moss covered rock in Lauca National Park.
Vicunas with the volcanoes as a back drop in Lauca Nat. Park.
Llamas in Lauca National Park.
Vizcacha near the entrance gate in Lauca National Park.
Although looking like a large rabbit, they are not closely related
to rabbits
Vicunas in Lauca National Park. They produce small amounts of extremely fine wool and it was against the law for anyone but royalty to wear vicuna garmets. The vicuna is the national animal of Peru.
Ornate Tinamou Nothoprocta cordillerana on the entrance track as we approached Lauca National Park.
Inhabits dry puna grasslands of extreme north at 3000-4000 m. The dark blackish brown crown including forehead always raised giving it an alarmed appearance.
Seen in both the early mornings and the evenings when we
were leaving, with as many as 14 on one occasion.
White-winged Cinclodes Cinclodes atacamensis Non migratory and present in the Andes 2500-5000 m.
Quite similar to Cream-winged Cinclodes but White-winged is noticeably larger and longer billed with more roufous underparts and more contrasting greyish crown. Were recorded in small numbers on all three days in Lauca National Park.
Excellent views obtained of the Giant Coot Fulica gigantea in Lauca Nat. Park.
Good numbers were seen with almost 100 present on Lago Chungara.
Giant Coot with young in Lauca Nat. Park
Diademed Sandpiper-Plover Phegornis mitchellii - the star bird of the trip.
Diademed Sandpiper-Plover, we located a pair in a marsh
on the left hand side as you entered Luaca Nat. Park.
Gave excellent views of this high altitude shorebird.
Diademed Sandpiper-Plover at Lauca Nat. Park.
Female Grey Breasted Seed-snipe Thinocorus orbignyianus of the race ingae at Lauca Nat. Park. Widespread throughout its range with the preferred habitat is Andean bogs.
Female Grey-breasted Seedsnipe
Male Grey-breasted Seedsnipe
Speckled Teal Anas flavirostris at Lauca Nat.Park. These belong to the altiplano race oxyptera.
Silvery Grebe beloning to the race juninensis which is the non-migratory race unlike the ones we saw at the start of the trip. Also it lacks the yellow ear patch. On this occasion we saw 60 on Lago Chungara.
Crested Ducks Lophonetta specularoides were found at several sites during our trip. Range: 0 to 4600 m
Andean Lapwing Vanellus resplendens Just one pair were seen in Lauca Nat. Park and this was our only sighting on this trip. Inhabits puna wetlands and rarely found at lower elvations. Its normal range is 3500-5000m.
Andean Gull with Speckled Teal in Lauca Nat. Park
Adult Andean Gulls Larus serranus Breeds in the Andes from southern Colombia to N. Chile. at altitude of 4000-5300m, in South of range down to 1200 m.
Andean Gull - During our trip, we recorded up to 12 daily in the Lauca National Park.
Andean Avocet - Recurvirostra andina. Restricted to saline lakes and ponds in the high Andes from 2500 to 5000 m. During our trip we had a total of 5 Andean Avocets in Lauca Nat. Park. This pair were breeding on a roadside pool and had a chick and they were present on all three days of our visit.
Andean Avocets breeding on a road-side pool and showing territorial behaviour.
Andean Goose - Chloephaga melanoptera Occurs in high Andean wetlands with abundant cusion plants or grass but they avoid marshes. They require nearby cliffs for breeding. During our trip, we recorded up to 40 Andean Geese in the Lauca National Park.
Andean Flicker - Colaptes rupicola Terrestrial, restricted to high elevations in the N. Andes from 3500-5000 m. They nest in holes in cliffs or road cuts. Up to 8 Andean Flickers on a day were seen in the Lauca National Park.
Cordilleran Canastero - Asthenes modesta Terrestrial running quickly on the ground with tail cocked and likes to perch on large rocks. Present on rocky slopes with scattered scrubs. In the Lauca National Park we found them in small numbers.
Bright-rumped Yellow-finch - Sicalis uropygialis present in the Altiplano in drier sites often near houses from 3500-4500 m. A long-winged finch with long primary extensions. We found 20 in the Lauca National Park.
White Winged Diuca Finch - Diuca speculifera Common altiplano species range from 3800 to 5000 m. An attractive species, and we only recorded small numbers and only in Lauca National Park.
White-throated Sierra-Finch - Phrygilus erythronotus Uncommon range 3800-4500 m. We only saw them in small numbers in Lauca National Park.
White Fronted Ground Tyrants - Muscisaxicola albifrons Chiefly restricted to moist habitat between 4000 to 5600 m. We only recorded them in Lauca National Park.
Puna Miner - Geositta punensis Common in altiplano at a range of 3500-5000m. Up to 25 Puna Miners on a day could be seen at the Lauca Nat. Park.
Black-crowned Night-Heron Nycticorax nycticorax of the sooty race obscurus on a dam.
Bar winged Clnclodes Cinclodes fuscus of the race known as albiventris was seen at various sites in Chile.
