Sunday 26 September 2021

Brazil; Legado das Aguas; day 2

   We started our morning early in the hopes of seeing a Pavonine Cuckoo that had been reported the previous day. Alas we were not able to see it, although we heard it later in the day, but the early start meant we were already in the forest for when things began to liven up. We had a brilliant mixed flock of commoner Antbirds and Tanagers, including a Fawn-breasted Tanager, only the second one I have ever seen and the first that actually showed well. The flocks continued in fine form throughout the morning, mostly composed of commoner species but with a few nice additions, such as a cracking female Robust Woodpecker, only the second I have ever seen, a pair of Spot-billed Toucanets, a pair of Crescent-chested Puffbirds and at the end of the walk, a Bay-ringed Tyannulet. Frustratingly, the identification did not click until the next day, which is frustrating given how difficult this bird can be.

After a breakfast enjoying the feeders again we took a steady walk down the road where we finally saw the bird that initially brought us to this reserve, the Black-headed Berryeater. We heard one call distantly but after a little playback failed to produce anything we gave up until after 20 minutes it called again in the forest next to us. With some persuasion the bird then came out and showed rather well in the sub-canopy above us, finally laying to rest my demons with this species.

After the catharsis that was finally connecting with this endangered cotinga, we spent a relaxed lunchtime enjoying the feeders and scanning for raptors. A Bat Falcon was a nice surprise, although we were informed that they were breeding nearby, and a very high up White-necked Hawk drifted over. The tanagers at the feeder were very cheeky, with some of the Green-headed Tanagers even stealing food from our lunch and taking fruit from our hands. There was also a troop of Black Capuchin monkeys that visited us, taking food from the feeders, and an enormous Argentine Black-and-white Tegu wandered casually along the road. This reserve really is incredible.

On the way out, it being mid to late afternoon we did not record so many species but I did manage to get my 700th Brazilian bird! We stopped off at one of the hydroelectric dams on the road in the hope of spotting the White-thighed Swallow. Although common in the Amazon, this species is tricky to come by in the Atlantic Forest and only a few sites regularly have it. Although not common here, it had been seen enough to make me think we had a chance but we had never spotted it, until now when one flew over us calling. Fortunately, it did a couple of flybys so I was able to grab some record shots, confirming the identification, but sadly it never perched or flew particularly close for anything more. Still, a fantastic end to the weekend on the birding front, with 3 new species for me, and a brilliant birthday weekend for Lia.

-Spot-billed Toucanet
-Robust Woodpecker
-Plain Parakeet
-Azure-shouldered Tanager
-Black-headed Berryeater
-White-thighed Swallow
-Turkey Vulture

Species List:
Legado das Aguas: Solitary Tinamou, Brown Tinamou, Spot-winged Wood Quail, Plumbeous Pigeon, Grey-rumped Swift, Saw-billed Hermit, Festive Coquette, Violet-capped Woodnymph, Slaty-breasted Wood Rail, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, East Brazilian Pygmy Owl, Rufous-capped Motmot, Crescent-chested Puffbird, Spot-billed Toucanet, Channel-billed Toucan, Ochre-collared Piculet, White-spotted Woodpecker, Robust Woodpecker, Yellow-throated Woodpecker, Bat Falcon, Plain Parakeet, Scaly-headed Parrot, Cobalt-rumped Parrotlet, Spot-backed Antshrike, Star-throated Antwren, Spot-breasted Antvireo, Rufous-margined Antwren, Ferruginous Antbird, White-shouldered Fire-eye, Squamate Antbird, Spotted Bamboowren, White-breasted Tapaculo, Olivaceous Woodcreeper, Plain-winged Woodcreeper, Lesser Woodcreeper, Sharp-tailed Streamcreeper, Black-capped Foliage-gleaner, Buff-fronted Foliage-gleaner, White-eyed Foliage-gleaner, Blue Manakin, Pin-tailed Manakin, Black-headed Berryeater, Bare-throated Bellbird, Greenish Schiffornis, Chestnut-crowned Becard, Black-tailed Myiobius, Grey-hooded Flycatcher, Sao Paulo Tyrannulet, Oustalet's Tyrannulet, Bay-ringed Tyrannulet, Yellow-lored Tody-Flycatcher, Yellow-olive Flatbill, Cliff Flycatcher, Planalto Tyrannulet, Euler's Flycatcher, Long-tailed Tyrant, Short-crested Flycatcher, Great Kiskadee, Piratic Flycatcher, Tropical Kingbird, Chivi Vireo, Blue-and-white Swallow, White-thighed Swallow, Southern Rough-winged Swallow, Grey-breasted Martin, House Wren, Pale-breasted Thrush, Yellow-legged Thrush, White-necked Thrush, Rufous-bellied Thrush, Violaceous Euphonia, Chestnut-bellied Euphonia, Rufous-collared Sparrow, Red-rumped Cacique, Shiny Cowbird, Golden-crowned Warbler, Riverbank Warbler, Olive-green Tanager, Red-crowned Ant Tanager, Ruby-crowned Tanager, Fawn-breasted Tanager, Sayaca Tanager, Azure-shouldered Tanager, Golden-chevroned Tanager, Palm Tanager, Green-headed Tanager, Red-necked Tanager, Blue Dacnis, Green Honeycreeper, Double-collared Seedeater,

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