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Reserva Rio Clarillo



  1. Entrance
  2. Rio Clarillo
  3. Rodeo Creek
  4. Trail
  5. Interpretive Center
  6. White-throated Tapaculo
  7. Dusky Tapaculo
  8. Gully with Creek

Rio Clarillo reserve is near Pirque, south of the main part of Santiago. You will have to drive or take a bus (from Vicuña Mackena) to the town of Puente Alto, from there proceed by crossing the bridge across the Rio Maipo. From there it gets tricky, you need to ask for the reserve or look for signs, there are a few small ones along this road. Once across the bridge you will have to ask the locals to tell you where the reserve is. The reserve is roughly 22 km from Puente Alto. I have gone there on a bus from Puente Alto, it was an easy trip to do and was able to arrive at the reserve quite early in the morning. If you take a bus, just make sure you confirm when the last bus to Puente Alto is. Take the bus from calle Gandarillas, half a block from the plaza in Puente Alto. The buses leave roughly every three hours, so make sure you know when to get there for the early bus, schedules change so it is worthwhile checking. The best way to get some of this information would be to contact the CONAF (Corporacion Nacional Forestal) office in Santiago, or the SERNATUR tourist office. The benefit of getting to Rio Clarillo is that it is a close and bus accessible site where you can see several Chilean endemics including the Dusky Tapaculo and White-throated Tapaculo as well as Chilean Tinamou and the common Chilean Mockingbird. The site to look for the two tapaculos is the trail that loops around the back of the park office, you may be able to find the local naturalist Carlos Sarmiento Sequel who may give you hand with locating birds. The sites for the tapaculos are noted in the map.

Birds of Interest at Rio Clarillo

CHILEAN TINAMOU ** ENDEMIC **
Common in shrubby and grassland areas particularly just outside the reserve. You may need to get there early or stay late in order to have a better chance of seeing one of these, you will certainly hear their sharp whistle.

ANDEAN CONDOR
Not common, but I have seen them over the reserve, just above the interpretive center.

BLACK-CHESTED BUZZARD EAGLE
Common.

TORRENT DUCK
Not uncommon, check the Rio Clarillo.

CHILEAN PIGEON
Common, at least in September.

SLENDER-BILLED PARAKEET ** ENDEMIC **
Known from the reserve (I have not seen one). Probably only a winter visitor. Also beware of confusion with the Austral Parakeet.

GIANT HUMMINGBIRD
Common, look for it along gullies. Listen for a sharp "chip" call.

BAND-WINGED NIGHTJAR
Common in the reserve and just outside of it, strictly nocturnal.

DUSKY-TAILED CANASTERO
Common, listen for calls.

MOUSTACHED TURCA ** ENDEMIC**
Common up rocky gullies, more often heard than seen. Listen for a descending series of hollow whistles.

WHITE-THROATED TAPACULO **ENDEMIC**
See map. Not common, but it is here. You may need patience to track down the calls.

DUSKY TAPACULO **ENDEMIC**
See map. Listen for the "Chreeen" call.

RUFOUS-TAILED PLANTCUTTER
Uncommon. Listen for a long, weird rasping call.

CHILEAN MOCKINGBIRD ** ENDEMIC **
Common in the reserve and along the route.

AUSTRAL BLACKBIRD
Common.

Note that the reserve is extensive and covers quite an altitudinal range. The birds I have mentioned are found in the lower parts of the reserve, those that are easily accessible. Most of this reserve is not accessible easily, and many other species are to be found in these far off corners of the park, for example Diademed Sandpiper Plovers are known from the upper reaches of Rio Clarillo.

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