Brazil
Day 30 14.03.2020
The
previous evening we had headed out to a university party and got absolutely
wrecked. As a result, we had something of a slow start, but since we only had
to travel today it was not a great loss. We were travelling to the legendary
park of Intervales, the flagship park of the Atlantic forest with an incredible
array of species. We did not arrive until dusk, but that meant plenty of time
for owls. Although we were knackered we still managed to get ourselves
Rusty-barred Owl, which is the last of the endemic Atlantic Forest owls that we
had not seen. It made us work for it, but in the end it showed extremely well
in an open cecropia tree. We also saw a deer, Grey Brocket, on the drive up,
which is my first in Brazil.
-Rusty-barred Owl
Species
List:
PE
Intervales: Pauraque,
Southern Lapwing, Rusty-barred Owl, Lineated Woodpecker, Grey Brocket,
Brazil
Day 31 15.03.2020
Intervales
is a magical place. Before we had heard so much about it but now having
experienced a full day it is safe to say that there is no exaggeration when
describing this place. We had a guide with us to allow us access onto the
trails and show us the feeding sites, but he was so sharp and without him we
may not have seen half the species that we did.
Our morning
walk took us down Carmo road, a famous track in the reserve. The mixed flocks
were incredible and seemingly never ending for the first few hours, although it
took some time for the fog to clear. Its hard to pick out highlights from a
morning with over 80 species but two encounters stand out in particular. One,
we found a pair of Streaked Flycatchers in great distress, and when we peered
through the vegetation we found an amazing Tiny Hawk with an obviously fresh
kill. It sat for some time staring at us with the most insane eyes, before it
flew off into the forest with the flycatchers in tow. And second, our guide
spotted a Bare-faced Bellbird in a cecropia next to the track. Even when these
birds are vocal they are difficult to see, and even then often distantly. At
the moment they are silent so finding one was not even considered a
possibility, never mind one feeding happily at the side of the track. Other
crazy birds included Black-fronted Piping Guan, Blue-bellied Parrot,
Ochre-rumped Antbird, White-bearded Antshrike and Saffron Toucanette.
-Black-fronted Piping-Guan
-Collared Forest Falcon
-Saffron Toucanette
-Tiny Hawk
-Bare-throated Bellbird
-Plain Parakeet
-Argentine Black-and-white Tegu
In the
afternoon we spent more time around the Pousada complex of the reserve,
visiting the feeding sites. Sadly a number of the sites have become inactive
due to the season or for other reasons but the Red-and-White Crake and
Spot-winged Wood-Quails were still putting on a great show. And at the
Wood-Quail feeder we managed to tape in a Short-tailed Antthrush, my last
Atlantic Forest Antthrush. And to finish off, just before dark we had simply
unbelievable views of Slaty Bristlefront crossing a grassy track. Absolutely
outstanding birding.
-Blackish Rail
-Rufous-sided Crake
-Red-and-white Crake
-Spot-winged Wood-Quail
-Slaty Bristlefront
Species
List:
PE
Intervales: Dusky-legged
Guan, Black-fronted Piping Guan, Spot-winged Wood Quail, Picazuro Pigeon, Eared
Dove, White-collared Swift, Black Jacobin, Dusky-throated Hermit, Festive
Coquette, Violet-capped Woodnymph, Versicolored Emerald, Blackish Rail, Slaty-breasted
Wood Rail, Rufous-sided Crake, Red-and-white Crake, Southern Lapwing, Black
Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Ornate Hawk-Eagle, Tiny Hawk, White-tailed Hawk, Surucua
Trogon, Black-throated Trogon, Ringed Kingfisher, Saffron Toucanet, Spot-billed
Toucanet, Yellow-fronted Woodpecker, White-spotted Woodpecker, Yellow-browed
Woodpecker, Collared Forest Falcon, Southern Crested Caracara, Plain Parakeet, Blue-bellied
Parrot, Blue-winged Parrotlet, Maroon-bellied Parakeet, Tufted Antshrike, White-bearded
Antshrike, Plain Antvireo, Ferruginous Antbird, Ochre-rumped Antbird, Dusky-tailed
Antbird, White-shouldered Fire-eye, Rufous Gnateater, Slaty Bristlefront, Short-tailed
Antthrush, Rufous-breasted Leaftosser, Olivaceous Woodcreeper, Planalto
Woodcreeper, Lesser Woodcreeper, Streaked Xenops, Rufous Hornero, White-collared
Foliage-gleaner, Black-capped Foliage-gleaner, Buff-fronted Foliage-gleaner, Rufous-capped
Spinetail, Red-ruffed Fruitcrow, Cinnamon-vented Piha, Bare-throated Bellbird, Greenish
Schiffornis, Chestnut-crowned Becard, Sharpbill, Black-tailed Myiobius, White-throated
Spadebill, Grey-hooded Flycatcher, Sepia-capped Flycatcher, Oustalet's
Tyrannulet, Bay-ringed Tyrannulet, Eared Pygmy Tyrant, Ochre-faced Tody-Flycatcher,
Yellow-olive Flatbill, Cliff Flycatcher, Grey Elaenia, Rough-legged Tyrannulet,
Planalto Tyrannulet, Euler's Flycatcher, Masked Water Tyrant, Long-tailed
Tyrant, Large-headed Flatbill, Swainson's Flycatcher, Short-crested Flycatcher,
Cattle Tyrant, Great Kiskadee, Boat-billed Flycatcher, Streaked Flycatcher, Tropical
Kingbird, Rufous-browed Peppershrike, Chivi Vireo, Blue-and-white Swallow, Southern
Rough-winged Swallow, Grey-breasted Martin, Chalk-browed Mockingbird, Yellow-legged
Thrush, White-necked Thrush, Rufous-bellied Thrush, Violaceous Euphonia, Rufous-collared
Sparrow, Golden-winged Cacique, Red-rumped Cacique, Golden-crowned Warbler, White-rimmed
Warbler, Olive-green Tanager, Brown Tanager, Magpie Tanager, Black-goggled
Tanager, Ruby-crowned Tanager, Azure-shouldered Tanager, Golden-chevroned
Tanager, Green-headed Tanager, Red-necked Tanager, Brassy-breasted Tanager, Blue
Dacnis, Rufous-headed Tanager, Uniform Finch, Saffron Finch, Lined Seedeater, Double-collared
Seedeater, Bananaquit, Black-throated Grosbeak,
Brazil
Day 32 16.03.2020
Intervales
continued to be amazing today, with our second and final day with the guide, he
decided to head down into the forest to the only site for Russet-winged Spadebill,
an elusive and local species of the Atlantic Forest. While the track we went on
was just, if not more, birdy than the previous day, most of the species we only
heard. That said, I still gathered up a host of lifers including Sharp-billed
Treehunter, Ruddy Quail Dove and Three-striped Flycatcher. It was also nice to
see another Short-tailed Antthrush, this time waddling about in the
undergrowth.
-Three-striped Flycatcher
Once we
reached the Spadebill site, it looked as though the bird was not there and it
took some time before a single individual did appear, silently arriving without
warning. It then proceeded to show extremely well for a short while before
scurrying back into the undergrowth. On the walk back to the car we tried with
a known Variegated Antpitta. Although the bird was singing, it looked for a
long time like it would not come in response to our playback. But then, once we
entered the vegetation ourselves, we got insane views as it came walking
extremely close. Our views were largely obscured by vegetation but they were
still more than excellent.
-Russet-winged Spadebill
-Variegated Antpitta
With now
almost all of our targets wrapped up, our guide decided to try for
Violet-crowned Plovercrest at a lek site. Although it was not season and we
were told the birds were almost certainly not there, we arrived to find two
individuals singing, including an absolutely stunning male. Sadly the sun was
hot and both birds were residing in the shadows, but it was excellent to
connect with another of our wanted species. We then drove around other birdy
sections of forest trying for a few of our targets a little further down the
list. We were largely successful and were rewarded with excellent encounters
with Serra do Marr Tyrant Manakin, Wing-barred Pipirites and Rufous-crowned
Antshrike.
-Wing-barred Piprites
-Purple-crowned Plovercrest
-Serra-do-marr Tyrant-Manakin
-Black-throated Trogon
-Rufous-crowned Antshrike
And we
still have almost two days left in the park and we already wrapped up our
targets. The park is, without doubt, worthy of the hype.
Species
List:
PE
Intervales: Rusty-margined
Guan, Dusky-legged Guan, Spot-winged Wood Quail, Picazuro Pigeon, Ruddy Quail-Dove,
Short-tailed Nighthawk, Grey-rumped Swift, Black Jacobin, Dusky-throated Hermit,
Brazilian Ruby, Glittering-bellied Emerald, Purple-crowned Plovercrest, Versicolored
Emerald, Blackish Rail, Slaty-breasted Wood Rail, Southern Lapwing, Black
Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Roadside Hawk, Tropical Screech Owl, Black-throated
Trogon, Ochre-collared Piculet, Southern Crested Caracara, Scaly-headed Parrot,
Maroon-bellied Parakeet, Rufous-capped Antshrike, Star-throated Antwren, Dusky-tailed
Antbird, White-shouldered Fire-eye, Squamate Antbird, Black-cheeked Gnateater, Rufous
Gnateater, Variegated Antpitta, Mouse-colored Tapaculo, Short-tailed Antthrush,
Rufous-breasted Leaftosser, White-throated Woodcreeper, Lesser Woodcreeper, Scalloped
Woodcreeper, Plain Xenops, Streaked Xenops, Rufous Hornero, Sharp-billed
Treehunter, Buff-fronted Foliage-gleaner, White-eyed Foliage-gleaner, Pallid
Spinetail, Grey-bellied Spinetail, Serra do Mar Tyrant-Manakin, Blue Manakin, Red-ruffed
Fruitcrow, Green-backed Becard, Chestnut-crowned Becard, Sharpbill, Wing-barred
Piprites, White-throated Spadebill, Russet-winged Spadebill, Oustalet's
Tyrannulet, Hangnest Tody-Tyrant, Cliff Flycatcher, Planalto Tyrannulet, Sibilant
Sirystes, Boat-billed Flycatcher, Social Flycatcher, Three-striped Flycatcher, Tropical
Kingbird, Chivi Vireo, Blue-and-white Swallow, Southern Rough-winged Swallow, Grey-breasted
Martin, Rufous-bellied Thrush, Blue-naped Chlorophonia, Rufous-collared Sparrow,
Golden-winged Cacique, Golden-crowned Warbler, Brown Tanager, Black-goggled
Tanager, Ruby-crowned Tanager, Azure-shouldered Tanager, Green-headed Tanager, Blue
Dacnis, Rufous-headed Tanager, Saffron Finch, Blue-black Grassquit, Double-collared
Seedeater,
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