Dolphin Gull, Larus scoresbii
The Dolphin Gull, Larus scoresbii, is found on the coasts of Chile and Argentina down through Tierra del Fuego. These images were taken in Tierra del Fuego, in the Argentine sector. Their bright red bill, light eye combined with soft gray plumage makes them a very striking looking species.
The first image below shows a first year bird with its grey hood.
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Fire-eyed Diucon, Xolmis pyrope
The Tyrant Flycatchers are the largest family of birds and they are found from the far north of North America to Tierra del Fuego in the far south of South America.
The Fire-eyed Diucon, Xolmis pyrope, is one of the members that can be found in Tierra del Fuego. It is an impressive bird that often stands on a favored perch, its bright eye gleaming. Like many flycatchers it darts from this perch to catch insects.
Fire-eyed Diucon, Xolmis pyrope
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Common Diving-Petrel, Pelecanoides urinatrix
The Common Diving-Petrel, Pelecanoides urinatrix, is one of four members of the Diving-Petrel family, all small fish eating birds found in the southern hemisphere.
It ranges widely including Australia, New Zealand, the Falklands, and the Magellanic straits of Argentina and Chile. This image was taken in the Beagle Channel, Tierra del Fuego.
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Magellanic Diving-Petrel, Pelecanoides magellani
The Magellanic Diving-Petrel, Pelecanoides magellani, is one of four members of its family. It is similar in appearance to the Auks of the Northern Hemisphere, a case of convergent evolution fueled by the fact that both groups are ocean dwelling fish eaters.
This image was taken in the Beagle Channel, Tierra Del Fuego.
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Antarctic Giant Petrel, Macronectes giganteus
The Antarctic Giant Petrel, Macronectes giganteus , sometimes known as the Southern Giant-Petrel is a huge member of the petrel family. It is a resident of the southern and antarctic oceans and found as far south as the pack ice.
They often feed on dead carcasses and will take chicks from penguin colonies.
It is very similar to the Hall’s or Northern Giant-Petrel. It is best separated from it by the green rather than pink tip of the bill. Both species come in several color morphs.
The birds in these images are likely juveniles and were taken in Tierra del Fuego.
 Antarctic Giant Petrel, Macronectes giganteus |
 Antarctic Giant Petrel, Macronectes giganteus |
 Antarctic Giant Petrel, Macronectes giganteus |
 Antarctic Giant Petrel, Macronectes giganteus |
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The Chilean Skua, Stercorarius chilensis, is a common bird in the Beagle Channel at Tierra del Fuego. It is typical of the family in its behavior, harassing other birds for their meal. It is said also to occasionally hunt in groups.
It is best told by its darker cap.
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The Black-browed Albatross, Thalassarche melanophrys, is the most common and widespread of the family That it is also listed as endangered by the IUCN Red List is a reflection of the desperate state of all the Albatross species.
It is a widespread breeder in the southern oceans and a circumpolar migrant there. It also has a tendency to wander into the North Atlantic.
For a gorgeous ARKive video, click on the following:
Yesterday I posted about the dire state of the Albatross family who are facing extinction due to long line fishing practice.
Some recent news from Argentina is excellent. The Argentinean Federal Fisheries Council has started to require measures to reduce seabird mortality from long lining. These include:
These items are fairly straight forward and should not cause economic burden to the fishing business but they go a long way towards solving the problem.
This, of course, is not effective against those who ignore the law, and that is another part of the solution. Policing of regulations.
See Birdlife Internationals article on the Argentina measures.
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The flight from Buenos Aries to Ushuaia in Tierra Del Fuego parallels the Andes to the east. First, a simple snowy white line on the horizon, but gradually, hour after hour, becoming larger in my vision. Huge spires and crags can be seen until, at cloudy covered Ushuaia, we begin to descend, peaks jutting up through the clouds, until we break through. The city is below us as we come into land, stretched out along the Beagle Channel, and we drop into that bowl, huge mountains all around us. (more…)
One of the things visiters to the tip of South America notice is the quality of the light, very clean and clear, with soft pastels showing nicely.
For a gallery of Tierra Del Fuego landscapes, please follow:
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