Join me in 2013 – Birding and Wine – Chile and Argentina. Andean Condor Chile-1 Symbolic of the Andes is the Andean Condor. This tour is unique in so many ways, but one is that we cross the Andes and visit east and west slopes of the most rugged section of these amazing mountains. Sauvignon Blanc Mendoza Argentina-1 The focus of the tour is birds, but you also get a "minor" in wine study. There is lots to learn, lots to experience and tons of goodies for your taste buds! Magellanic Woodpecker AJ Some iconic birds of the south are possible on this tour like this Magellanic Woodpecker female. Burrowing Parrot On the 2012 trip we enjoyed an amazing flock of frolicking Burrowing Parrots (I guess officially they are Parakeets now). These are of the bloxami subspecies endemic to Chile which show the whitish breast band. Jorge our driver It's a team effort, Ricardo Matus a fantastic guy, and superb birder from Patagonia joins us as second guide. Jorge Osses, our long time driver pictured here is always a crowd favorite. Jorge is a gem! Reserva Montes Oh my, all this for me? Villa Montes, Colchagua, Chile. Grapes Chile Carmenere, the signature grape of Chile. Malbec is Argentina's homologue. Elegant Vina Casa Silva Chile The wineries are varied in their age, style, and methodology used in wine making. This is Casa Silva, in the Colchagua Valley of Chile, one of the older and more elegant of the wineries. Dusky Tapaculo endemic to Chile Because of the latitude we visit, this trip has the possibility of a large number of Chilean and Argentine endemics! This is the Chilean specialty, the Dusky Tapaculo. Humboldt Penguins Cachagua Chile Yes, you do not have to go to Antarctica to see penguins! These are Humboldt Penguins, one of the northernmost of all members of this family. Amazon Black Skimmer Chile Curiously the Black Skimmers in Chile have dark underwings, narrow trailing edges to wings and little white on the tail. This clarifies that they are of the subspecies cinarescens. What is amazing is that these breed in the Amazon, and in the non-breeding season they venture to Peru and Chile - where they cross the Andes is anyone's guess. No one has seen them do it! Kelp Gull Chile Gulls can be pretty, you just have to see an adult. Salvin's Albatross Chile One of the various species of albatross possible on the Chilean pelagic. This is a Salvin's Albatross, a species which breeds in New Zealand islands. Juan Fernandez Petrel The "Juan" is an endemic breeder to Chile, it only breeds on Isla Selkirk or "Masafuera" island in the Juan Fernandez Archipelago. This time of year is a great time to find this species, we saw several in 2012. Cellar of the Devil - Concha y Toro winery-1 Concha y Toro is one of the world's largest wineries! It's most commonly known wine is the Casillero del Diablo or "Cellar of the Devil." We actually went to the cellar of the devil and heard the story of why it is called that. Want to find out? Well, then you will just have to head down there and hear it from the devil himself. Aconcagua tallest mountain in the Americas-1 Aconcagua! The highest mountain in the Americas. It is an absolutely massive piece of rock. White-browed Ground-Tyrant Santiago Andes White-browed Ground-Tyrant, a flycatcher that is more comfortable on the ground than sallying up in the air for bugs. Uspallata Mendoza Argentina-1 The Argentine sector we visit is mainly desert, but with a rich and surprising avifauna. But part of the fun is how pretty the colors of the mountains and valleys are, it is like Utah or Northern Arizona at times. Vina Santa Cruz chile Santa Cruz, Chile. Pamela our wine guide in Mendoza-1 Pamela was our knowledgeable Mendocina wine expert. It was a great change of pace to have the wine days mixed in with the birding, really a nice balance and in the end we felt that we saw more of the place, the culture, and understood each country better than if it had been a 100% birding trip. I look forward to our next version in 2013. Vina Cobos Mendoza Argentina-1 One of the top wineries in Mendoza, Vina Cobos. White Monjita San Juan Argentina-1 Red or white was asked many times on this trip, but not while birding. This time we had a choice of White Monjita or the red of Vermilion Flycatcher. Vina Casa Silva This is the really old stuff! Luckily most of its survived the quake of a few years ago. Casa Silva, Chile. Tasting at Casa Silva Chile Fun!!! This is what it is all about. Chatting with friends, doing a little birding and some great food and vino to top it off. Life is good. Ricardo in Mendoza-1 Ricardo Matus at the aroma room of Belasco de Baquedano in Mendoza. Vina Matetic Chile Organic and tasty wine - Vina Matetic near the coast south of the Casablanca Valley. Yellow-billed Tit-Tyrant Mendoza Argentina-1 One of the many flycatchers of this tyrant rich trip, the Yellow-billed Tit-Tyrant. Part flycatcher, part chickadee, part kinglet! Potrerillos Mendoza Argentina-1 The colorful hills and fresh snow on the mountains of Potrerillos, Argentina. Charles Darwin was here Mendoza Argentina-1 We birded in the footsteps of Charles Darwin! Wow, can you believe that. Ellen with world's best steak-1 Ellen shows us that it is not all birds and wine, there is the food aspect too. This is not a cheese sandwich type of trip, we do it right! This is absolutely the best steak you will have in your life. Andean Condor close up-1 The female Andean Condor who greeted us back into Chile towards the end of the tour. She was a beauty! Alvaro at Montes I hope to see you in March 2013. alvarosadventures.com and click on the tours tab!!!
