About 3 weeks ago, I returned from a 4 week trip to Chile, Antarctica, the Farallon Islands, Uruguay and Argentina where I joined a group of 14 people for birding on land and at sea. After leaving Santiago, Chile, we boarded a Princess cruise ship for a trip into the Magellan Straits, then down to the Antarctic Peninsula. After several days around the Antarctic Peninsula, we turned North and enjoyed a day on the Farallons, especially enjoying the Penguin colonies, before sailing up to Montevideo and finally Buenos Aires. At sea we birded from the prow of the Sapphire Princess, probably 50' above the ocean. Temperatures in Santiago and Buenos Aires were summery 80-90 degrees F while we had snow, sleet, and temperatures as low as 30 degrees F below the South Pole. I returned with around 5,000 images, mostly of birds, and have spent the past 3 weeks winnowing that down to prepare a slice show requested by a birding friend...so far down to about 400 photos, including both wildlife and landscapes. Here is the first set of photos to be shared with UHH members. Hope you enjoy.

White Monjita: Widespread in central Argentina, the White Monjita caught our attention at dusk on the day before we returned home.

Yellow-billed Cardinal: One of three Cardinal species in Argentina, this one has a strong, yellow, Tanager-like bill but no crest.

Hummingbird (species to be determined): This hummingbird with its green back and two-toned bill, was one of several species we saw in Argentina and Chile, including the Giant Hummingbird (8" - 9" long) and Gilded Sapphire. So far I have been unable to pin down the name of this hummer. Any suggestions?

Burrowing Owls: These were just two of at least a dozen Burrowing Owls we saw out on the Argentine Pampa east of Buenos Aires. The yellow eyes are hypnotic. Burrowing Owls used to be common seasonal visitors to Southern California, but the numbers have dwindled as environments have been destroyed by development, so to see so many in Argentina was really exciting.

Cocoi Heron: This is the "Great Blue Heron" of Chile and Argentina, occupying similar environmental niches and approximately the same size. Still it was a majestic bird occupying wetlands and shores above the Antarctic Circle.

I have lots more species to share as time permits. Still trying to reduce the number of photos in my slideshow as well as getting out to do some birding and photography now that I'm back in SoCal. Hope you enjoy these and future postings. I saw close to 200 new species of birds on this trip as well as other species.

About 3 weeks ago, I returned from a 4 week trip to Chile, Antarctica, the Farallon Islands, Uruguay and Argentina where I joined a group of 14 people for birding on land and at sea. After leaving Santiago, Chile, we boarded a Princess cruise ship for a trip into the Magellan Straits, then down to the Antarctic Peninsula. After several days around the Antarctic Peninsula, we turned North and enjoyed a day on the Farallons, especially enjoying the Penguin colonies, before sailing up to Montevideo and finally Buenos Aires. At sea we birded from the prow of the Sapphire Princess, probably 50' above the ocean. Temperatures in Santiago and Buenos Aires were summery 80-90 degrees F while we had snow, sleet, and temperatures as low as 30 degrees F below the South Pole. I returned with around 5,000 images, mostly of birds, and have spent the past 3 weeks winnowing that down to prepare a slice show requested by a birding friend...so far down to about 400 photos, including both wildlife and landscapes. Here is the first set of photos to be shared with UHH members. Hope you enjoy.

White Monjita: Widespread in central Argentina, the White Monjita caught our attention at dusk on the day before we returned home.

Yellow-billed Cardinal: One of three Cardinal species in Argentina, this one has a strong, yellow, Tanager-like bill but no crest.

Hummingbird (species to be determined): This hummingbird with its green back and two-toned bill, was one of several species we saw in Argentina and Chile, including the Giant Hummingbird (8" - 9" long) and Gilded Sapphire. So far I have been unable to pin down the name of this hummer. Any suggestions?

Burrowing Owls: These were just two of at least a dozen Burrowing Owls we saw out on the Argentine Pampa east of Buenos Aires. The yellow eyes are hypnotic. Burrowing Owls used to be common seasonal visitors to Southern California, but the numbers have dwindled as environments have been destroyed by development, so to see so many in Argentina was really exciting.

Cocoi Heron: This is the "Great Blue Heron" of Chile and Argentina, occupying similar environmental niches and approximately the same size. Still it was a majestic bird occupying wetlands and shores above the Antarctic Circle.

I have lots more species to share as time permits. Still trying to reduce the number of photos in my slideshow as well as getting out to do some birding and photography now that I'm back in SoCal. Hope you enjoy these and future postings. I saw close to 200 new species of birds on this trip as well as other species.

About 3 weeks ago, I returned from a 4 week trip to Chile, Antarctica, the Farallon Islands, Uruguay and Argentina where I joined a group of 14 people for birding on land and at sea. After leaving Santiago, Chile, we boarded a Princess cruise ship for a trip into the Magellan Straits, then down to the Antarctic Peninsula. After several days around the Antarctic Peninsula, we turned North and enjoyed a day on the Farallons, especially enjoying the Penguin colonies, before sailing up to Montevideo and finally Buenos Aires. At sea we birded from the prow of the Sapphire Princess, probably 50' above the ocean. Temperatures in Santiago and Buenos Aires were summery 80-90 degrees F while we had snow, sleet, and temperatures as low as 30 degrees F below the South Pole. I returned with around 5,000 images, mostly of birds, and have spent the past 3 weeks winnowing that down to prepare a slice show requested by a birding friend...so far down to about 400 photos, including both wildlife and landscapes. Here is the first set of photos to be shared with UHH members. Hope you enjoy.

White Monjita: Widespread in central Argentina, the White Monjita caught our attention at dusk on the day before we returned home.

Yellow-billed Cardinal: One of three Cardinal species in Argentina, this one has a strong, yellow, Tanager-like bill but no crest.

Hummingbird (species to be determined): This hummingbird with its green back and two-toned bill, was one of several species we saw in Argentina and Chile, including the Giant Hummingbird (8" - 9" long) and Gilded Sapphire. So far I have been unable to pin down the name of this hummer. Any suggestions?

Burrowing Owls: These were just two of at least a dozen Burrowing Owls we saw out on the Argentine Pampa east of Buenos Aires. The yellow eyes are hypnotic. Burrowing Owls used to be common seasonal visitors to Southern California, but the numbers have dwindled as environments have been destroyed by development, so to see so many in Argentina was really exciting.

Cocoi Heron: This is the "Great Blue Heron" of Chile and Argentina, occupying similar environmental niches and approximately the same size. Still it was a majestic bird occupying wetlands and shores above the Antarctic Circle.

I have lots more species to share as time permits. Still trying to reduce the number of photos in my slideshow as well as getting out to do some birding and photography now that I'm back in SoCal. Hope you enjoy these and future postings. I saw close to 200 new species of birds on this trip as well as other species.