Noir Island & Western Patagonia Birding Expedition. Isla Noir is a wild, remote and unknown offshore island of the western Patagonian archipelago, in southern Chile. It remains as one of its most well-kept secrets and during the southern spring and summer, this unforgiving island is virtually teeming with wildlife. Literally, thousands of Rockhopper, Macaroni and Magellanic penguins breed here, finding at Noir Island, suitable nesting grounds, in an unusual mixture of dwarf, entangled patches of forests and steep slopes, covered by dense tussock grasslands. Large numbers of penguins are constantly moving, back and forth, from their nesting grounds to the vast open ocean in order to feed and get nourishment for their offspring. In the hectic process, several end up in the jaws of opportunistic hunters, South American Sea Lions, which wait for the penguins, well hidden behind the large kelp fronds, which cover the entire shoreline. Southern Giant Petrels breed also here by the hundreds, and are constantly patrolling the surrounding ocean, the coast and the island’s interior for carcasses of seabirds and pinnipeds. Noir Island is a stronghold for Slender-billed Prion population; tens of thousands breed among the tussock grasses, arriving back in the late evening, together with Sooty Shearwater and Fuegian Storm-petrel. Who knows which other species of tuberoses also breed here! The coastal grasslands offer great chances to watch and photograph an interesting set of sub-Antarctic species including the inquisitive Striated Caracara and the Blackish Cinclodes.
We will have several days to explore the protected Patagonian Western Archipelago looking for the rare and cryptic Fuegian Snipe, as well as several other specialties of the area, including Kelp Goose and Flightless Steamer Duck. This region forms part of the Francisco Coloane Marine Park which is a prime area for whale-watching, particularly Humpback and Sei Whales as well as Peale’s and Chilean Dolphin.
This is a dedicated birding expedition, carried out in a sturdy steel boat, designed and built for the conditions of the rugged Patagonian archipelago. The accommodations are comfortable and with shared facilities aboard the brand new M/V Estoa.
