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Birding along the Chilean Coast near Santiago

On Chilean Pacific coast, around 60 km south of Valparaíso and just 1.5 hours from Santiago, several wetlands and coastal sites offer excellent opportunities for birdwatching and seawatching. A series of small towns stretches along the coast, including El Quisco, El Tabo, Las Cruces, San Sebastián, Cartagena, San Antonio, and Santo Domingo. But both within and around these towns, natural areas provide important habitats for birds. From the wetlands of Cartagena to the rocky headland of Punta de Tralca, this stretch of coastline is home to a wide variety of waterbirds, including ducks, gulls, shorebirds, and many more!

How to clean Binocular Lenses without damaging them?

It would be a shame to own a pair of binoculars worth several hundred (or even several thousand) euros and not take proper care of them, wouldn’t it? Yet we rarely scratch our lenses intentionally. It usually happens through laziness, rushing, a lack of attention, or simply because we don’t know the right techniques. Wiping a lens covered in dust, quickly using a T-shirt to remove a fingerprint, or cleaning it with the wrong product can all lead to the first micro-scratches appearing. Over time, these tiny scratches can become permanent marks on the glass. In this article, I’ll explain how to properly care for and clean your binocular lenses without damaging them. Some of these practices may seem obvious to experienced users, but they’re not always followed. The result? Scratched lenses that can eventually affect the optical performance of your Swarovski, Leica, Zeiss, or Nikon binoculars.

8×42 or 10×42 Binoculars for Birdwatching ?

When I started taking birdwatching a little more seriously, my first pair of binoculars was an 8×42. For several years, they accompanied me everywhere, whether on local outings or during my travels. Then came the time to replace them. After years of use, they had finally reached the end of their life, and the question arose: should I buy another pair of 8×42 binoculars or switch to 10×42?

Birding in Chiloé Island

At the gateway to the glaciers of Patagonia, in southern Chile, Chiloé Island attracts many tourists with its famous palafitos, colorful houses built on stilts, and its wooden churches, which are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Located between the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of Ancud, this wild island is home to remarkable wildlife that is well worth discovering.

Birding in Vilches & Altos de Lircay

If you look at guided birdwatching tours in central Chile, there is a good chance that they will include a short detour to Altos de Lircay National Reserve. Compared with other countries in South America, Chile does not have an especially high diversity of species, and this is even more true in this particular area. Nevertheless, a few endemic birds that are well worth the trip can be found here, such as the spectacular Magellanic Woodpecker (Campephilus magellanicus) or the elusive Chestnut-throated Huet-huet (Pteroptochos castaneus).

Birdwatching in Concepción & the Biobío Region

Concepción is a small coastal city located roughly halfway between Santiago and Puerto Montt. While it may not be an essential stop on a classic Chile itinerary, it is well worth a visit for birdwatchers looking to add a few Pacific coast specialties to their list. If you’re planning some birdwatching in the Biobío Region, here are some of the best birding hotspots around Concepción.

Birding in Pucón

In our article about Concepción and the Biobío Region, we explained that this destination offers excellent birdwatching opportunities but is somewhat less appealing from a sightseeing perspective. Around Pucón, it’s quite the opposite. Surrounded by volcanoes and lakes, the Villarrica region and the town of Pucón are among the must-see destinations when travelling through central Chile. Bird diversity here is not particularly outstanding, but several charming species can still be found. We therefore wanted to share with you the best birdwatching spots around Pucón.

Self-birding Trip Report : New Zealand North Island

After spending more than two weeks exploring New Zealand’s South Island, we continued our birdwatching journey on the North Island. Following our crossing of Queen Charlotte Sound, we picked up our campervan and began our adventure in the country’s capital city: Wellington.

Birding at Dunedin & Otago Peninsula

The Otago Peninsula lies just outside the city of Dunedin on New Zealand’s South Island. It is an essential destination for nature lovers and especially birdwatchers! This 20-kilometre peninsula is home to an exceptional birdlife that is often easier to observe here than anywhere else in the country. Among its highlights are iconic species of penguins and albatrosses.

Birding at Pukorokoro Miranda Shorebirds Center

On New Zealand’s North Island, the Firth of Thames is a particularly interesting area for observing shorebirds. It’s not a very touristy place, but if you’re into birdwatching, you should definitely stop at the Miranda Shorebird Centre! Here, you can observe a fascinating endemic species: the Wrybill (Anarhynchus frontalis). Although this plover can be seen in other parts of the country depending on the season, this is where you’ll find some of the largest concentrations.

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