CHILE DAY 6: To Santiago

On our final day, we had just enough time to do one more exploration, which was horse riding again. We stopped at a lagoon where there was a Magellanic oystercatcher with babies, many upland geese, a few Chiloe wigeons and two crested ducks. Due to the fact I didn't have a camera on me, I got no photographs. When we got back we saw 3 Andean condors flying around, as if saying goodbye!

These Andean condors provided spectacular views as they flew

Then it was time for the long drive back, but this time we were allowed more stops! Our first stop was in Puerto Natales, where the seaside is a reliable place to see black-necked swans. It did not disappoint and also provided us with kelp gulls, brown-hooded gulls, upland geese and a single feral goose. After stopping in Puerto Natales we kept driving, stopping again for a flock of 3 southern caracaras feeding on a dead fox. After eating lunch, we stopped once more for a lesser rhea, then stopped again at a large lagoon holding red shovelers, Chiloe wigeons, crested ducks, silvery grebes, white-tufted grebes and Chilean flamingoes. From this lagoon onwards those birds were fairly common in the roadside lakes. After this there were no more stops.

Black-necked swans are again much more elegant than their Australian cousins

This southern caracara and 3 of his friends were feasting on some roadkill

As we neared Punta Arenas lesser rheas became commoner

After this we flew to Santiago and arrived at 10:30 pm.