Uruguay River Birding and North Ravines Tour

North Ravines and Birding the Uruguay River Tour

This 5-day Uruguay River Birding and North Ravines Tour is a leisurely-paced trip available on request where you can expect to see around 160 species of bird, including two endemics (depending on the season and luck!) and other wildlife species. This Uruguay River Birding itinerary runs across the far north of Uruguay, the wildest and pristine Uruguay, the genuine gaucho’s land that is made for a beautiful landscape of wet ravines and sierras-grassland.

Esteros de Farrapos National Park

During this Uruguay River birdwatching tour, you will spend two days birding in the Esteros de Farrapos National Park, which is an Important Bird Area because of the presence of several endangered bird species like the Saffron-cowled Blackbird, Black-and-white Monjita and the Chestnut Seedeater; and other large numbers of waterbird species that occur here.

The west banks of the Uruguay River, which runs through this National Park, is an interesting mixture of wet grassland, small lagoons, river forest and park-like forest called Algarrobal which is an extension of the Chaco sited inland of the continent.

North Ravines

Located in the northwest of the country, we will only focus on the Laureles’ River Valley site in the Cuchilla de Haedo’s mountain range. This is a special area for birdwatching due to the well-preserved habitats offering an amazing landscape of upland meadows and ravines

Uruguay River Birding and North Ravines Tour highlights include

Over 160 bird species in 5 days, including the Saffron-cowled Blackbird, Black-and-white Monjita and the Chestnut Seedeater
Visit the unique Esteros de Farrapos National Park, including the Uruguay River
Rustic rural accommodation hosted by local family serving local cuisine
Two days exploring the North Ravines, in the northwest of Uruguay

Do you have more time to spend exploring on your wildlife holiday? The Birding The Uruguay River To The Atlantic Coast Tour is an 8-day tour sure to satisfy your desires.

Alternative Tour Name: North Ravines And The Banks Of The Uruguay River

Day 1

Day 1 - Arrival & Esteros de Farrapos National Park Birding

You will be picked up (Montevideo or Airport) and we will drive for 6 hours (550 km) from Montevideo to the Department of Río Negro, in the banks of the River Uruguay, in the west of the country.

Here is found one of the largest wetland reserves, nearby the waters of the river. The Esteros de Farrapos National Park protects a territory of 20,205 hectares that includes not only wetlands but also different kinds of forests and some islands of the Uruguay River.

It is also an Important Bird Area because of the presence of several endangered bird species like the Saffron-cowled Blackbird, Black-and-white Monjita and the Chestnut Seedeater; and because of the large numbers of waterbird species that occur here.

Accommodation in a local Estancia rural hotel.

Day 2

Day 2 - Esteros de Farrapos National Park Birding

We will spend all day around the area. Birding early in the morning, before breakfast, around the Estancia rural hotel.

After breakfast, we will spend a full day birding in the Esteros de Farrapos National Park Birding. We will back to Estancia for having lunch. We will continue birding in the afternoon around the area.

Dinner and overnight at the Estancia

Day 3

Day 3 - North Ravines

After breakfast, we will drive for 3 hours (260 km) to the north ravines, in the Department of Tacuarembó.

We will be welcomed by a gauchos’ family at their home where we will spend two nights.

The family has great knowledge about the local flora and fauna and they will guide us through his property to show us the amazing landscape where they live. We will arrive for lunch and after a short rest we will check the area around.

Dinner and overnight at the Estancia.

Day 4

Day 4 - North Ravines

We will spend all day in the area for birding and other optional activities (horseback riding and involvement in farm working).

Lunch, dinner and overnight at the Estancia.

Day 5

Day 5 - Departure

We will dedicate first lights for birding around the Estancia. After breakfast we will drive back to Montevideo. Birding on route. Arrival at afternoon.

Wildlife species expected to see:

Wet Lands: Lagoons, ponds and Reed-beds. Southern Screamer, Coscoroba Swan, Brazilian Teal, Yellow-billed Pintail, Yellow-biled Teal, Silver Teal, White-tufted Grebe, White-faced Ibis, Whistling Heron, Long-winged Harrier, Giant Wood-Rail, Plumbeous Rail, Roseate Spoonbill, White-winged Coot, Wattled Jacana, Spot-flanked Gallinule, South American Stilt, Spectacled Tyrant, Long-tailed Reed-Finch, Great Pampa-Finch, Wren-like Rushbird, Sooty Tyrannulet, White-and black Monjita, Southern Rough-winged Swallow, Black-and-rufous Warbling-Finch, Masked Yellow-throat, Yellow-winged Blackbird, Saffron-cowled Blackbird, Scarlet-headed Blackbird, Yellow-rumped Marshbid,Prairies (and mixed environments): Greater Rhea, Spotted Tinamou, Red-winged Tinamou, Buff-necked Ibis, Whistling Heron, Yellow-headed Caracara, Red-legged Seriema, Savanna Hawk, Picui Ground-dove, Monk Parekeet, Guira Cuckoo, Burrowing Owl, Field Flicker, White Woodpecker, Picazuro Pigeon, Firewood-gatherer, Rusted-collared Seedeater, Vermillion Flycatcher, Fork-tailed Flycatcher, White-and black Monjita, Crested Black-tyrant, Cattle Tyrant, Short-billed Pipit, Correndera Pipit, Lesser Grass-finch, Grassland Sparrow, Grassland Yellow-finch, Double-collared Seedeater, Red-crested Cardinal, Native Forest: Ravine-Sierras forest and Park-like woodlands: Spot-winged Pigeon, White-eyed Parakeet, Mottled Piculed, White-spotted Woodpecker, Green-barred Woodpecker, Striped Cuckoo, Dark-billed Cuckoo, Guira Cuckoo, Blue-tufted Starthroat, Glittering-bellied Emerald, Gilded Hummingbird, White-throated Hummingbird, Variable Antshrike, Narrow-billed Wood-creeper, Scimitar-billed Woodcreeper, Striped-crowned Spinetail, Lark-like Brushrunner, Sharp-tailed Streamcreeper, Brown Cachalote, Spix’s Spinetail, Tufteed Tit.spinetail, Shirt-billed Canastero, Firewood Gatherer, Bran-colored Flycatcher, Mottled-cheeked Tyrannulet, Rufous-browed Peppershrike, Red-eyed Vireo, Masked Gnatcatcher, Golden-billed Saltator, Tropical Parula, Golden-crowned Warbler, Chestnut-backed Tanager, Diademed Tanager, Blue-and-yellow Tanager, Hepatic Tanager, Glaucous-blue Grosbeak, White-rimmed Warbler.

Write a Review Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published.

I certify that this Wildlife Review is based on my own experience and is my genuine opinion of this tour. I understand that Blue Sky Wildlife has a zero-tolerance policy on fake reviews.

Thank you for posting a Wildlife Review. It will appear live after Blue Sky Wildlife approves it.

Please fill all the fields.

Tours*

Wildlife*

Guides*

Conservation*

Location*

Value*

Uruguay River Birding and North Ravines Tour - 5 Days