BIRDING ECOTOURS
We specialize in planning and operating customized birding ecotours around Puerto Madryn and the Península Valdés region. Whether you come on a cruise ship or on your own, we will gladly organize a trip according to your travel expectations, the species you wish to see, and your desired pace of travel. So, private custom birding tours offer the freedom to design an itinerary around your specific needs. We will explore steppes, canyons, towering cliffs, shingle beaches, sandy shores, mudflats, lakes and other habitats, searching for a wealth of the specialties of Eastern Patagonia. Despite its vast territory, Argentina harbors only 15 endemic bird species, most of which are restricted to the Monte desert. Our region is considered an ecotone that contains elements from both the Monte and Patagonian phytogeographic provinces. Thus, it is possible to find 5 of the endemic species during our tours: Patagonian Canastero, White-throated Cacholote, Carbonated Sierra Finch, Rusty-backed Monjita, Sandy Gallito; also near-endemics or "breeding endemics" such as: Band-tailed Earthcreeper, Lesser Shrike-Tyrant, Black-crowned Monjita, Burrowing Parakeet, Elegant Crested-tinamou, Straneck’s Tyrannulet, etc. Unfortunately, many bird species are globally threatened. As good stewards of the earth, it is our responsibility to help protect them and their habitats. Birding Puerto Madryn actively takes part in this mission by supporting NGOs through donations and memberships. Our tours are for a limited number of participants (up to 3) in order to minimise the impact on the birds and the environment. We also adhere to and insist on ethical birding conduct which is why we strictly stick to the American Birding Association's Principles of Birding Ethics. |
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Patagonian Canastero
Pseudasthenes patagonica
Carbonated Sierra Finch
Rhopospina carbonaria
White-throated Cacholote
Pseudoseisura gutturalis
Sandy Gallito
Teledromas fuscus
Elegant Crested-tinamou
Eudromia elegans
Rusty-backed Monjita
Neoxolmis rubetra
Burrowing Parakeet
Cyanoliseus patagonus
White-banded Mockingbird
Mimus triurus
Steinbach's Canastero
Pseudasthenes steinbachi
Patagonian Yellow-finch
Sicalis lebruni
Black-crowned Monjita
Neoxolmis coronatus
Greater Wagtail-tyrant
Stigmatura budytoides
THE GUIDE

AGUSTIN ESMORIS
BIRDING GUIDE & PROFESSIONAL WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER
Join Argentinean birding guide and professional wildlife photographer, Agustín Esmoris, on a custom tour in Eastern Patagonia.

Agustín has led hundreds of professional birding and nature tours throughout Patagonia and Central Argentina.

Agustin will customize your private tour to meet your needs, whether you spend one day in the field or several for a more comprehensive tour.

Agustin's passion and love for wildlife comes through in his photography which has appeared in publications including: magazines, calendars and books by National Geographic, Natural History Magazine, Lynx Edicions, etc.
Photographer Portfolio:
http://www.PatagoniaPhotos.com
BOOK & PUBLICATIONS
- First nesting record of the Rusty-backed Monjita (Neoxolmis rubetra) in the province of Chubut, Patagonia, Argentina. Description of nest and eggs.
- First nesting record of the Checkered Woodpecker (Veniliornis mixtus) in the province of Chubut, Patagonia, Argentina.
- First nesting record of the Black-crowned Monjita (Neoxolmis coronatus) in the province of Chubut, Patagonia, Argentina.
- First nesting record of the Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus) in Chubut, Patagonia, Argentina.
- First nesting record of the White-banded Mockingbird (Mimus triurus) in the province of Chubut, Patagonia, Argentina.
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"For visitors to the Peninsula Valdes, site of a famous Magellanic Penguin colony, swirling clouds of Red Knots, and the enigmatic Magellanic ‘‘Plover,’’ this book is a long-awaited and stunning photographic introduction to the peninsula and coastal Chubut Province. The gorgeous photos delight the eye for their artistic beauty and composition, offer accuracy for help in identifying species encountered, and capture spectacular behavioral displays. The book’s emphasis is on the birds of the area, but the keen naturalist author could not resist tossing in photos of several mammals and herps as well. Painstaking search of the literature and records of museum specimens, published sightings, eBird, and personal correspondence makes this volume a valuable, updated documentation of the Valdes/Chubut avifauna."
— DOUGLAS E. GILL The Wilson Journal of Ornithology, USA "This highly informative and beautifully photographed book greatly expanded my knowledge of a biological wonderland and sets a new standard for regional guides. It makes me eager for a return visit." — JOSEPH R. JEHL, Jr. National Museum of Natural History, USA MORE INFORMATION |

A friend and I were lucky enough to have Agustín as a guide in November 2022. We could not have had a more knowledgeable and personable guide than Agustín. His in-depth knowledge of the birds of the Valdés Peninsula was astonishing and he shared it with us willingly. I would recommend him as a guide for anyone who loves birds and nature and wants to explore this unique area in Argentina with an expert. For three days he not only located and identified the endemic and special birds of the area but also shared their behaviors and natural histories. I cannot recommend him highly enough."
"My birding friend and I booked Augustin Esmoris for thee days in late November 2022 to explore the special birds in the Valdes Peninsula area. Augustin Esmoris is the author and photographer for the excellent book "Birds of the Valdes Peninsula". He has extensive field experience and detailed knowledge of birds, their habitat and behaviors. He is an active ornithologist who contributes scientific field studies, but also a practical guide who was good for me, a very mediocre birder, and my friend who is a very experienced birder. He speaks excellent English, has a comfortable vehicle, and provides your preferred lunch box with hot and cold drinks. We enjoyed talking with Augustin to share birding and travel experiences. I highly recommend Augustin, you'll have a great experience with him. Get his book before you go to see beautiful color pictures of the birds, plus some mammals and reptiles of this region."

Diane my wife and myself are avid Birders from South Africa. While enjoying a 15 day South America Cruise; (departing from Santiago (Chile) and ending in Buenos Aires (Argentina)). We found Agustin to be the most likeable, professional and knowledgeable bird guide. He knows the local environment and birds very well and within seven hours we had found 56 local birds including some of the very tough endemics like the Patagonian Canastero, White-throated Cacholote, Carbonated Sierra-finch and the rare Band-tailed Earthcreeper.
What we enjoyed the most was the fact that he was so professional and so well prepared. He knew exactly where to take us, to enable us to successfully find the tough birds mentioned above. We enjoyed the pace of the trip and we never felt rushed and we would definitely recommend Agustin to anyone wishing to bird in the area of Puerto Madryn and Patagonia."
Agustin knows the local endemics —and where to find them— like the back of his hand. As an ear birder on my home turf, I especially appreciated how he could zero in on the slightest sound. And on top of it all, he’s a super-friendly guy. It’s an unbeatable combination."

Thank you for a wonderful day birding in the Puerto Madryn and Trelew area. Your knowledge of the local habitats and birds to be found in each area was extensive and enabled us to see some really great birds, with very good views of many. I enjoyed seeing some nesting birds and the Burrowing Parrot wall. You worked very hard to find the endemic birds in the area and other specialities. I really appreciate your efforts. I got 23 new birds for my trip list."

I visited Puerto Madryn as my final destination in my travel to Antarctica, Chile and Argentina. Before heading back home and booked a full day with Agustin. In 6 weeks I saw a total of 124 species, while on a single day with Agustin I saw 73 species. Agustin is very knowledgable about the area and its birds, and knows with almost pinpoint precision where to find them. It was very interesting to see the nesting sites of the Rufous Hornero, Burrowing Parrot, Turkey Vulture, Chimango caracara and Southern Crested Caracara. I would have never found these on my own and there lies Agustin's added value. He did his best to accomodate my wishes and the day was a very pleasant experience. I would recommend his services to anyone that wants to go birding in the rich and diverse area around Puerto Madryn."

Agustin Esmoris is the perfect host for a birder in the Puerto Madryn area. His background as a photographer makes him very conscious of how to get the best views of the birds, and his infinite patience ensures that no species are missed, if they are around. He is both gentle and interesting, and the six hours in his company just flew by. I would recommend him to any serious birder in the area. You will not be disappointed."

I did "long one day" birding with Agustin Esmoris. We started the day with Golfo Nuevo area - the coast near Puerto Madryn and subsequently visited the valley area. We birded at diverse habitats - canyons, cliffs, lakes, and so on.
Even though the day was less than perfect, it rained most of the time, at times bit heavy, we continued birding and managed to spot the expected species at each location. Agustin has intimate and up-to-date knowledge of the area which is very crucial for visiting birders like me who have limited time (in my case I only had a day at Puerto Madryn). This was my first time birding not just in Argentina but in neotropical region. It was fun and interesting to compare and contrast habits and behavior of "old world" species and that of neotropics. Thank you Agustin for a very rewarding birding day!"
We really enjoyed birdwatching with Agustin in the Puerto Madryn / Chubut / Peninsula Valdes area of Argentina. We were visiting Patagonia from North America and he was able to show us a number of new birds. Some of our favorites were Burrowing Parrots, the Magellanic Horned Owl, and King, Imperial and Magellanic Cormorants (nesting). Augustin is a wonderful guide. He is a nature enthusiast, knowledgeable, and an excellent teacher. We appreciated the time he spent with us. We were even able to spend a time checking out a hairy armadillo during our travels that day. We would love to go out with Augustin again someday and would definitely recommend this birdwatching tour to people of all abilities. He is willing to go the extra mile to give you the best experience possible. Thank you Augustin for an amazing day 🦉!"

Thank you Agustin for a great day!! The tour far exceeded my expectations. I was very pleased with the number and variety of birds we saw. Thank you for ensuring we explored so many different environments in such a short time. I was particularly pleased to see the burrowing parrots, the flying steamer ducks, the tufted tit-tyrant and the white-banded mockingbird. We fully enjoyed our day. Thank you for sharing your experience with us! "

Agus - thank you once again for such a fantastic day out birding in Puerto Madryn! Your skill as a birding guide is absolutely spectacular. Ted and I appreciated your excellent communication and detailed itinerary prior to our trip, your ability to identify every bird we saw, and your flexibility throughout our day together to take more time at some locations and less at others. We highly recommend your services!"
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