As we were coming back into Arica Harbour at the end of the pelagic, there were plenty of species still hanging around.
Red-legged Cormorant: This was a species that had eluded me on my first short visit to the Valparaiso coastline in 2002
Neotropic Cormorant
Peruvian Pelican: Adult
Peruvian Pelican: Two immatures with Inca Terns
Grey Gull: They were a common species around Arica, albeit not as common as the Franklin's Gulls
Grey Gull
Franklin's Gull: This was the commonest Gull in the Arica area
Franklin's Gull
Kelp Gull: This first year seems to be the only one I bothered to photograph or note
Inca Tern: I saw at least five hundred around the harbour or close inshore
Inca Tern: Adult. This is a common coastal Tern which occurs as far South as Chiloe Island in Chile
Inca Tern: Immature
Inca Tern: They must be the best Tern
Fishing boats in the harbour
Fishing boats in the harbour: This one had half a dozen Turkey Vultures feeding on it
Turkey Vultures
Inca Terns resting on these fishing boats in the harbour
South American Sealion: They are a friendly species & generally happy to wave when awake
South American Sealion: There is also a chance of a Juan Fernandez Fur Seal appearing along the Arica coastline. They would be a lot smaller with a very pointed snout, whereas, South American Sealions have a very square-nosed snout
South American Sealion: The breakwater was perfectly designed for chilling out
South American Sealion: A big male catching the rays
Silver Explorer: This is a high luxury cruise ship masquerading as an expedition ship. It's not a ship I would enjoy going on. There seems to be too much focus on comfort & not enough on expedition for my liking. I'm surprised on of the Brexit gang hasn't insisted on a bloody big British flag like the one being flown on the hillside, being flown over both ends of the channel tunnel as part of the Brexit deal
Turnstone
Grey Gulls & Franklin's Gulls offshore from the harbour
Band-tailed Gull: Non-breeding adult. Breeding birds have white heads
There were also good numbers of South American Sealions, both lazing around offshore & around the harbour breakwater.
Once I was back at the car, I had a final few hours around Arica before my evening flight to Santiago. I decided to have a final crack for Chilean Woodstar at the Hummingbird garden at San Miguel de Azapa. I will cover that in the next Post.