Our tour Andean Foothills and Batuco Wetlands begins with birding the Mediterranean matorral shrublands on the outskirts of Santiago. Here we’ll be searching for some Chilean endemics: White-throated Tapaculo, Moustached Turca, Dusky Tapaculo, and Dusky-tailed Canastero. But also for more widespread species like: Striped Woodpecker, Austral Pygmy-owl,Plain-mantled Tit-Spinetail, Tufted Tit-Tyrant, White-crested Elaenia, Rufous-tailed Plantcutter, Common Diuca-Finch, among other common central Chilean species.

From here will drive to the Batuco wetland complex just north Santiago. Here we’ll have our picnic lunch and spend the rest of the day.

This wetland complex is the largest and one of the last remaining inland wetlands in central Chile. The Batuco Lake has a nice boardwalk where we can scan for many waterfowl species; including some specialties like Black-headed Duck and Rosy-billed Pochard. More than 150 species have been recorded in these wetlands, making it one of the most species-rich hotspots of central Chile. In the extensive reedbeds we can find Many-colored Rush-Tyrants, Wren-like Rushbirds and Yellow-winged Blackbirds. In winter months, this area congregated a large winter population of Andean Geese and it’s possible to find Stripe-backed Bittern.

Andean Foothills and Batuco Wetlands can easily be combined with our other tours around Santiago.