Bird watching in Uruguay - February 2026

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ORIGIN late 18th cent.: of unknown origin.

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E ni Svenskar och inte förstår Engelska så ska ni skämmas. J och Björn, med det menar jag inte att alla mina stavfel ska ältas varje gång vi träffas.

Well, the flag of Skåne, just a BONUS flag.

February 2026

Uruguay – Punta del Este

Punta del Este, in addition to beautiful beaches, has a great diversity of birds since there are several different environments in a short distance such as lagoons, rivers and native forests. Very close to the city is the Maldonado River surrounded by swamps to add to the environment. additional to the area.

A few kilometres to the east are the José Ignacio Lagoon, where you can observe the Chilean Flamenco. Another interesting access point is Laguna del Diario, a lagoon where dozens of water birds are found. We propose to tour the area for the full day to observe around 80 species of birds during the tour.

I am booked with Sandpiper Birding & Tours in Argentina. I could not find any Guide for Montevideo and they arranged two days for me in Montevideo

eBird lifers: 1750
Species with photos: 1460 / 83.43%
Species with audio: 397 / 22.68%

Tuesday 3 ^rd of February 2026 and my alarm goes off at 4 o'clock. My last day of birding in Uruguay and I will fly to Santiago, Chile tomorrow.

My Guide will be here at quarter past 7. I went for breakfast 10 minutes before 7 to prepare my tea so this would be ready when the food was ready and I had prepared myself for a breakfast without any hot food.

Yesterday it was about 20 minutes after 7 before the hot food came out. Lo and behold, the food was ready when I came down 10 minutes before 7.

So, I was ready with the breakfast in a very good time before the Guide would be here to pick me up. It was nice to have time to relax with my tea.

Heading east

Heading east

Greater Rhea

Greater Rhea

Greater Rhea

Greater Rhea

Greater Rhea

We are driving along the highway towards east when I ask the Guide if they have ostriches in Uruguay. He said no and he told me that they had Greater Rhea. We make a U-turn to see if we can get some pictures.

We find the birds, not too far away from the road, but they are between us and the sun. But I gave it a try to get some pictures.

We continue towards our first stop, the eBird hotspot: Laguna del Diario . We spot one Glittering-bellied Emerald along the dust road going down to the lake. The dust road ends at the lake and there is a family fishing.

We get out of the car and we can see many Snail Kites. One Southern Screamer is walking around in the vegetation on the other side of the lake, too far away but I try to get a picture.

There is also one Maguari Stork, way too far away.

Southern Screamer

Turkey Vulture

Snail Kite

Snail Kite

Roadside Hawk

Roadside Hawk

Sooty Tyrannulet

Sooty Tyrannulet

Looking for birds on the lake

Looking for birds on the lake

Souvenir

The family had a young son and he was a little bit shy. He had one of them toy cameras, like a polaroid camera and a strip of paper came out with the picture.

It took him some time, but he finally asked us if he could take a picture of us.

He was happy to take a picture assisted by his mom and he gave me and my Guide a picture each.

eBird Report

Laguna del Diario, Maldonado, UY
Feb 3, 2026 08:49 - 09:36
Protocol: Traveling
0.205 kilometer(s)
20 species

Southern Screamer 1
Picazuro Pigeon 2
Glittering-bellied Emerald 1
Giant Wood-Rail 1
American Moorhen 1
Black-necked Stilt 5
Southern Lapwing 2
Wattled Jacana 1
Brown-hooded Gull 5
Maguari Stork 1
Turkey Vulture 1
Snail Kite 4
Roadside Hawk 1
Green-barred Woodpecker 1
Sooty Tyrannulet 1
Great Kiskadee 1
Brown-chested Martin 1
Southern Rough-winged Swallow 1
Blue-and-white Swallow 2
Yellow-winged Blackbird 3

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S297840755

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)

I can put a few “LIFERS” under my belt when we leave for the next eBird hotspot: Arroyo Maldonado--Ruta Perimetral A huge wetland and we are driving along the highway when I spot two Chimango Caracaras sitting on the fence next to the highway.

I ask my Guide to stop and start my eBird app. When the car is stopped, we are next to one Burrowing Owl and I get a picture before we get the car in to reverse.

One of the Chimango Caracaras take off, but I got one picture of the second Chimango Caracara before it takes off. But it lands on the ground and I get another picture.

Burrowing Owl

Chimango Caracara

Chimango Caracara

I stop my eBird app without knowing that we are stopping again after 50 meters, we have reached the eBird hotspot: Arroyo Maldonado--Ruta Perimetral I start a new eBird checklist and I add the Burrowing Owl and the Chimango Caracara

We walk along the fence to a water hole with some horses. We cannot get in to the wetland so we have to stay outside the fence. We spot one Rusty-collared Seedeater

Two Plumbeous Rails were sneaking around in the reeds and I was very lucky to get pictures. There was a lot of birds, but impossible to get good pictures as the sun was shining straight in our faces.

There was one Cinereous Harrier flying very low over us, but the bird was gone when I had my camera ready.

Rusty-collared Seedeater

Poor picture, kept for ID purposes only

Plumbeous Rail

Plumbeous Rail

Straight-billed Reedhaunter

eBird Report

Arroyo Maldonado--Ruta Perimetral, Maldonado, UY
Feb 3, 2026 10:05 - 10:33
Protocol: Traveling
0.135 kilometer(s)
16 species

Yellow-billed Teal 5
Plumbeous Rail 2
Giant Wood-Rail 1
Southern Lapwing 1
White-faced Ibis 1
Striated Heron 1
Cinereous Harrier 1
Burrowing Owl 3
Campo Flicker 1
Chimango Caracara 2
Monk Parakeet 4
Straight-billed Reedhaunter 1
Common Starling 5
Shiny Cowbird 40
Saffron Finch 1
Rusty-collared Seedeater 1

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S297849483

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)

We left the hotspot and I asked my Guide to drive slowly along the highway, Route 39 - Anillo Perimetral and we kept an eye on the wetland next to the highway. I had my eBird app running to records the birds we spotted.

We stopped after a couple of hundred meters to get out to have a look in the creek. And there was a lot of birds.

All the birds are way too far away for any pictures, but we use my Guide's scoop and he is amazing to find birds in the wetland. There was a lot of new “LIFERS” for me, but they were too far away for any pictures.

We stop again

We stop again

Black-necked Stilt

Yellow-billed Teal

Black-necked Stilt

Lesser Yellowlegs

Snowy Egret

Great Kiskadee

eBird Report

Route 39 - Anillo Perimetral, Maldonado, UY
Feb 3, 2026 10:38 - 10:57
Protocol: Traveling
0.421 kilometer(s)
14 species

Silver Teal 2
Chiloe Wigeon 5
Yellow-billed Pintail 5
Yellow-billed Teal 3
Red-gartered Coot 3
Black-necked Stilt 3
Southern Lapwing 11
Lesser Yellowlegs 1
Neotropic Cormorant 3
Snowy Egret 1
Cocoi Heron 1
Crested Caracara 2
Great Kiskadee 1
Shiny Cowbird 24

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S297854193

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)

Next stop is the eBird hotspot: Esteros del Aº Maldonado--El Tesoro along the River Aº Maldonado and the first birds we spot are one Crested Caracara and one Chimango Caracara.

I do not know how I managed to DUCK UP, but many of my pictures were erased back in my hotel room in the evening.

There were many shore birds on the mud flats, but too far away for any pictures.

Black Skimmer

Black Skimmer

Bare-faced Ibis

Bare-faced Ibis

Bare-faced Ibis

eBird Report

Esteros del Aº Maldonado--El Tesoro, Maldonado, UY
Feb 3, 2026 11:39 - 11:44
Protocol: Traveling
0.197 kilometer(s)
16 species

Yellow-billed Teal 4
Black-necked Stilt 13
American Golden Plover 7
Southern Lapwing 2
Hudsonian Godwit 2
Willet 1 RARE BIRD ALERT Resting on the beach
Greater Yellowlegs 2
White-rumped Sandpiper 23
Brown-hooded Gull 18
Black Skimmer 11
Neotropic Cormorant 13
Bare-faced Ibis 4
Great White Egret 1
Crested Caracara 1
Chimango Caracara 1
Monk Parakeet 4

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S29786224

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)

We continue towards NE along the coast. Sand beach all the way and it is a huge tourist area. It is now summer holiday from the schools so the beaches are full. In the winter all the houses are empty and not many people around.

Restaurants and pubs that are all closed during the winter. And of course, all the houses and condos are very expensive.

We will make a stop at one more eBird hotspot: Laguna José Ignacio--Área sur y Desembocadura and we will start to move back towards Montevideo.

And we are getting hungry so we want to stop at a steak house in Punte del Este.

There are hundreds of birds on the mudflats and I did not take one single picture as the birds was very far away and my Guide's scoop came in very handy.

Many birds on the mudflats

eBird Report

Laguna José Ignacio--Área sur y Desembocadura, Maldonado, UY
Feb 3, 2026 12:14 - 12:34
Protocol: Traveling
0.082 kilometer(s)
14 species

American Oystercatcher 1
American Golden Plover 3
Hudsonian Godwit 7
White-rumped Sandpiper 5
Kelp Gull 65
Yellow-billed Tern 1
Snowy-crowned Tern 1
Sandwich Tern 44
Royal Tern 2
Neotropic Cormorant 400 At least 400
Cocoi Heron 1
Turkey Vulture 1
Grey-breasted Martin 1
Chalk-browed Mockingbird 1

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S297871660

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)

Driving back to Punte del Este and my Guide knew a BBQ restaurant, El Viejo Tonel. The city was full of cars and we got a nice constitutionalwalking from the car to the restaurant.

We got a table and I ordered a sirloin and lamb chops, no sides. The did not have avocado, or rosemary. But they had tea from a proper cup.

I had asked for Filet Mignon, and they did not have Filet Mignon and I learned that this is not good for BBQ. But the sirloin was excellent, same with the lamb chops.

Sirloin and lamb chops

We were full when we left, the food had been very good. My Guide told me that I could wait at the restaurant and he would go to pick up the car. But I am not afraid of a goodconstitutional after a good meal.

We will have a look at the marina, Puerto Punta del Este before heading west and Montevideo. We were working our way through the city and the beach was full of people.

Punta del Este beach

Punta del Este beach

Punta del Este beach

We stop to have a look for birds at the water front

The marina is huge and it is also an eBird hotspot. I was running my eBird app and we parked at the water front to get out to have a look for birds.

The rocks were full of terns and gulls. Big groups of Kelp Gulls and Sandwich Terns. My Guide spot one tern and he think it is an Elegant Tern.

I told him that I would report it as an Elegant Tern and then we will see what eBird says. He told me that he was working for eBird Uruguay and that it would be him to check the report.

American Golden Plover

American Golden Plover + Lesser Yellowlegs

American Golden Plover

American Golden Plover

Lesser Yellowlegs

Lesser Yellowlegs

Lesser Yellowlegs

Kelp Gull, Sandwich Tern and Elegant Tern

Kelp Gull, Sandwich Tern and Elegant Tern

Kelp Gull, Sandwich Tern and Elegant Tern

eBird Report

Puerto Punta del Este, Maldonado, UY
Feb 3, 2026 14:18 - 14:38
Protocol: Traveling
1.296 kilometer(s)
12 species

Feral Pigeon 3
American Golden Plover 1
Southern Lapwing 1
Lesser Yellowlegs 2
Greater Yellowlegs 1
Brown-hooded Gull 6
Kelp Gull 17
Sandwich Tern 8
Elegant Tern 1 RARE BIRD ALERT
Royal Tern 1
Snowy Egret 2
Great Kiskadee 1

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S297895403

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)

It was darn hot and it was nice to get in to the AC in the car. Now next stop, to look for a White-faced Ibis. I have not managed to get the bird on picture. We leave Punta del Este and it will be nice to come back to Hampton By Hilton Montevideo Carrasco.

We pass the eBird hotspot: Laguna del Diario , where we had started this morning. My Guide spot some rails on the road and we get down to check it out.

There were 3 Giant Wood-Rail and I couple of small rails, I never saw the small rails so I could not report them to eBird. I got a picture of the Southern Screamer and the Maguari Stork on the other side of the lake.

We spent a couple of minutes in the lake area before we continued towards Montevideo

Maguari Stork and Southern Screamer

Giant Wood-Rail

Giant Wood-Rail

Giant Wood-Rail

Striated Heron

Rufous Hornero

eBird Report

Laguna del Diario, Maldonado, UY
Feb 3, 2026 15:15 - 15:19
Protocol: Traveling
0.092 kilometer(s)
9 species

Southern Screamer 1
Picazuro Pigeon 1
Eared Dove 2
Giant Wood-Rail 3
Maguari Stork 1
Striated Heron 1
Monk Parakeet 6
Rufous Hornero 1
Tropical Kingbird 1

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S297902338

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)

On the highway heading towards west and we expect to be at Hampton By Hilton Montevideo Carrasco around 5 o'clock in the afternoon. My Guide have planned a stop at the eBird hotspot: Guazuvirá--Circuito Norte

It is a small pond close to the highway.

We take off the highway and we end up on a gravel road. We stop after 20 meters, there is one Plumbeous Ibis next to the road. I try to take pictures and we discover two Cattle Egrets.

One Picazuro Pigeon is landing next to the ibis, and of course, there is a Southern Lapwing.

We continue on the gravel road towards the pond and we pass one Red-crested Cardinal. Sitting in the top of a bush, but the bird is gone when we get back to have a picture.

We see three different species of ibis in the pond:
White-faced Ibis
Bare-faced Ibis
Plumbeous Ibis

Plumbeous Ibis

Cattle Egret

Brazilian Teal

White-faced Ibis

White-faced Ibis

Plumbeous Ibis

Plumbeous Ibis

eBird Report

Guazuvirá--Circuito Norte, Canelones, UY
Feb 3, 2026 16:07 - 16:22
Protocol: Traveling
2.819 kilometer(s)
13 species

Brazilian Teal 5
Yellow-billed Teal 8
Picazuro Pigeon 1
Picui Ground Dove 4
Guira Cuckoo 1
Black-necked Stilt 1
Southern Lapwing 1
White-faced Ibis 4
Bare-faced Ibis 1
Plumbeous Ibis 2
Western Cattle-Egret 2
Rufous Hornero 1
Red-crested Cardinal 1

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S297913130

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)

Today's species count:

71

Today's “LIFER”

19

Today's species
Red-crested Cardinal
Rufous Hornero
Western Cattle-Egret
Plumbeous Ibis
Bare-faced Ibis
White-faced Ibis
Southern Lapwing
Black-necked Stilt
Guira Cuckoo
Picui Ground Dove
Picazuro Pigeon
Yellow-billed Teal
Brazilian Teal
Tropical Kingbird
Monk Parakeet
Striated Heron
Maguari Stork
Giant Wood-Rail
Eared Dove
Southern Screamer
Great Kiskadee
Snowy Egret
Royal Tern
Elegant Tern
Sandwich Tern
Kelp Gull
Brown-hooded Gull
Greater Yellowlegs
Lesser Yellowlegs
American Golden Plover
Chalk-browed Mockingbird
Grey-breasted Martin
Turkey Vulture
Cocoi Heron
Neotropic Cormorant
Snowy-crowned Tern
Yellow-billed Tern
White-rumped Sandpiper
Hudsonian Godwit
American Oystercatcher
Chimango Caracara
Crested Caracara
Great White Egret
Black Skimmer
Willet
Shiny Cowbird
Red-gartered Coot
Yellow-billed Pintail
Chiloe Wigeon
Silver Teal
Rusty-collared Seedeater
Saffron Finch
Straight-billed Reedhaunter
Campo Flicker
Burrowing Owl
Cinereous Harrier
Plumbeous Rail
Yellow-winged Blackbird
Blue-and-white Swallow
Southern Rough-winged Swallow
Brown-chested Martin
Sooty Tyrannulet
Green-barred Woodpecker
Roadside Hawk
Snail Kite
Wattled Jacana
American Moorhen
Glittering-bellied Emerald
Greater Rhea

Today's “LIFER”
Plumbeous Ibis
Yellow-billed Tern
Bare-faced Ibis
White-rumped Sandpiper
Hudsonian Godwit
Red-gartered Coot
Yellow-billed Pintail
Chiloe Wigeon
Silver Teal
Rusty-collared Seedeater
Straight-billed Reedhaunter
Cinereous Harrier
White-faced Ibis
Plumbeous Rail
Yellow-winged Blackbird
Sooty Tyrannulet
Maguari Stork
Southern Screamer
Greater Rhea

eBird lifers: 1750

Species with photos: 1460 / 83.43%

Species with audio: 397 / 22.68%

eBird hotspot: Guazuvirá--Circuito Norte was my last bird watching in Uruguay and I was happy, I got to see the White-faced Ibis, and I got pictures even though the birds were far away.

Last birding in Uruguay and I can make an eBird Trip Report.

eBird Trip Report

Since April 2023 eBird offer a new feature, to create Trip Reports. At least this is when I first heard of this feature and I have decided to make the eBird Trip Reports instead of my list of OBSERVED birds.

And of course, this also means that I will HAVE TO go back and do the same for my old birding adventures, WHEN I HAVE THE TIME!

Today's Trip Report: Uruguay - Bird watching with Sandpiper Birding & Tours | Click HERE

Download | PDF

Lifers
Icons for lifers used in the eBird trip reports

Species lifer:First time that someone observes a species in their life

Photo lifer:First time that someone photographs a species in their life

Audio lifer:First time that someone audio records a species in their life

Exotic species
Exotic species flags differentiate locally introduced species from native species.

Naturalized:Exotic population is self-sustaining, breeding in the wild, persisting for many years, and not maintained through ongoing releases (including vagrants from Naturalized populations). These count in official eBird totals and, where applicable, have been accepted by regional bird records committee(s).

Provisional:Either: 1)member of exotic population that is breeding in the wild, self-propagating, and has persisted for multiple years, but not yet Naturalized; 2)rarity of uncertain provenance, with natural vagrancy or captive provenance both considered plausible.

When applicable, eBird generally defers to bird records committees for records formally considered to be of "uncertain provenance". Provisional species count in official eBird totals.

Escapee:Exotic species known or suspected to be escaped or released, including those that have
bred but don't yet fulfil the criteria for Provisional. Escapee exotics do not count in official eBird totals.

My Guide dropped me at Hampton By Hilton Montevideo Carrasco just after 5 o'clock. He had to come back after a couple of hours, I discovered that I had forgotten my phone in his car.

My last evening in Uruguay and I spent the evening in my room drinking tea and eating blue berries, I will soon have my V-shaped torso.

I will leave for the airport after breakfast, Latam Airlines Flight LA8118 are leaving for Santiago de Chile at 11:35 and I think I will have Chilean steak tomorrow night.

Click HERE to find out!

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