Thursday, February 19, 2009 - Windy day in the Straits of Magellan, Chile
Straits of Magellan, Chile | February 14, 2009.
South American Tern - A very windy summer day in Patagonia; strong westerly gales reach speeds over 75 miles per hour and the Straits of Magellan appearance is unusually stormy. A large flock of South American Tern, comprising at least 400 individuals, look for the protection of a sheltered rocky spit while many other individuals still fly around, struggling with the wind force. Late summer is the time for a new cohort of terns to start their flight training in these very difficult conditions. The juvenile terns are easily distinguished by the darkish appearance and buffy wash on the underparts. Many adults are also turning into their winter plumage with their characteristic snow-white crowns.
Crested Duck - This heavily-built duck is one of the commonest waterfowl of the Patagonian region, occurring not just on inland freshwater and brackish lagoons and ponds, but also along the seashores of the Patagonian and Fuegian channels and fjords, all the way down to the Cape Horn. During the breeding season is a highly territorial species and is not a rare event seen it attacking intruder individuals and even other duck species. This dabbling duck is very active by night, at least on the sea, where it feeds on large plankton right on the water's surface.
White-rumped Sandpiper - Mono-especific small flocks of up to 50 WRS were seen this day. This Calidris is a long-distance migrant which nests in the high Arctic tundra regions of Canada and United States and winters in coastal areas and inland brackish lagoons of Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego. This species can be seen in quite large flocks along the Straits of Magellan, sometimes associating with the similar Baird's Sandpiper and other local plover species. It actively feeds in rocky beaches and stranded patches of kelp searching for marine worms and other invertebrates; in inland ponds and coastal mudflats in probs the ground very close to the water edge.
© Photos by Claudio F. Vidal, Fantastico Sur Expeditions, Chile
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