Brazil; Itatiba 22.08.2020 - 02.09.2020

  With the end of my Soil Hill updates, as a result of the COVID-19 restrictions, comes a new series of updates from slightly more adventurous climes. With Brazil deciding, for some bizarre reason, that it was a good idea to open their borders I made a move to visit Lia, and so will be spending the next two months in Brazil, not travelling, but enjoying some fieldwork in the farm where we used to work. Obviously, although not mandatory in Brazil, I need to quarantine first, and so the first days have been spent in Lia’s parents house doing some work and generally relaxing, but also having a socially distanced daily walk where there have been a few nice bits to see in Lia’s neighborhood.

  The first bird of note was, unbelievably, a lifer for me; White-rumped Swallow. Nothing overly exciting but still a new bird in a year which really did not look like it was going to offer me much in the way of lifers. Other cool birds we have recorded around here are Saphire-spangled Emerald, Sharp-tailed Streamcreeper, White-crested Tyrannulet, Crested Oropendula, Plush-crested Jay and the usual common species. We have also set a trap every day in the hope that we might catch something, and we did; A really smart Rufous Hornero.

  With my quarantine drawing to a close, it will not be long before I am able to offer more frequent updates due to our work in the farm, a fantastic area of pristine habitat. I already can’t wait.

-Yellow-chinned Spinetail

-Chestnut-vented Conebill

-Eared Dove

-White-rumped Swallow

-Chalk-browed Mockingbird

-White-eyed Parakeet

-Sick's Swift

-Sharp-tailed Streamcreeper

-Rufous Hornero

-Creamy-bellied Thrush

-Capybara

Species List:

Itatiba - Lagoa do Jardim Leonor: Brazilian Teal, Picazuro Pigeon, Ruddy Ground Dove, Eared Dove, Smooth-billed Ani, Squirrel Cuckoo, Sick's Swift, Planalto Hermit, Glittering-bellied Emerald, Swallow-tailed Hummingbird, Sapphire-spangled Emerald, Common Gallinule, Southern Lapwing, Wattled Jacana, Anhinga, Neotropic Cormorant, Rufescent Tiger Heron, Great Egret, Western Cattle Egret, Striated Heron, Green Ibis, Buff-necked Ibis, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Savanna Hawk, Roadside Hawk, White-tailed Hawk, Short-tailed Hawk, Toco Toucan, White-barred Piculet, Campo Flicker, Red-legged Seriema, Southern Crested Caracara, Yellow-headed Caracara, Yellow-chevroned Parakeet, Blue-winged Parrotlet, White-eyed Parakeet, Barred Antshrike, Narrow-billed Woodcreeper, Rufous Hornero, Sharp-tailed Streamcreeper, Yellow-chinned Spinetail, Common Tody-Flycatcher, Cliff Flycatcher, Southern Beardless Tyrannulet, Yellow-bellied Elaenia, White-crested Tyrannulet, White-rumped Monjita, Masked Water Tyrant, Short-crested Flycatcher, Cattle Tyrant, Great Kiskadee, Boat-billed Flycatcher, Social Flycatcher, Rufous-browed Peppershrike, Plush-crested Jay, Blue-and-white Swallow, Southern Rough-winged Swallow, Grey-breasted Martin, White-rumped Swallow, House Wren, Chalk-browed Mockingbird, Pale-breasted Thrush, Rufous-bellied Thrush, Creamy-bellied Thrush, House Sparrow, Purple-throated Euphonia, Hooded Siskin, Rufous-collared Sparrow, Crested Oropendola, Variable Oriole, Shiny Cowbird, Hooded Tanager, Ruby-crowned Tanager, Sayaca Tanager, Palm Tanager, Chestnut-vented Conebill, Saffron Finch, Blue-black Grassquit, Double-collared Seedeater, Bananaquit, Capybara, Gulf Fritillary, Mimosa Yellow, Statira Sulphur, Cloudless Sulphur, Great Southern White,