It felt
like forever since we were last out birding, but in reality it had only been a
week. After our initial weekend plans, a pelagic, fell through, we found
ourselves at something of a loss as to how to spend our day. We initially
decided to visit a nearby Cerrado park that we had not visited before, but then
at the last minute we saw that the Warbling Doradito that we had missed at Parque
Linear Nove de Julho on our last visit had been seen again the previous day.
Since the site is closer and the bird is very rare in Sao Paulo we decided to
try again.
It was an
inspired decision in the end. We had a phenomenal morning. At first the weather
was overcast and gloomy, with rain in the forecast. But two Red-crested
Cardinals landed on one of the rough football pitches, only the second time I
have seen this species, that livened things up. Then weather then began to
clear and our hot streak began.
As we
crossed an area of rough grassland to the mud where we hoped to find waders, we
flushed a bird in front of us. It called twice, which initially drew our attention
to it. Clearly a wader, its bizarre body structure and short bill meant it could
only really be one species; Upland Sandpiper. We followed to where it landed
and tried to approach, but it flushed when we were still quite distant. It flew
around us, allowing us to have a good view of the bird, as well as grab some photos.
This was the pattern it followed for some time, as despite our best efforts we
could not manage to see the bird on the deck. After a while we decided it was
no longer worth it and we would only tire a bird that has clearly just arrived
from North America. Still, this was my most wanted wader tick and a species I
have wanted to see for some time. It is rare in Brazil, especially in Sao Paulo,
so to find one was an excellent result. We were buzzing.
Next we
reached the mud where we had initially hoped to find some wading birds.
Although at first we struggled, we then picked out a group of small waders that
were not the local Lesser Yellowlegs. Through the bins it was clear that two of
them were Pectoral Sandpipers, a Brazil tick for me, but the other birds I was
less sure of. It was only once we were closer that I felt confident with the
identification of White-rumped Sandpiper. This was confirmed not long after when
the birds flushed revealing their white rumps. Two juvenile White-rumped Sandpipers
and an adult and juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper. A better result than we could
possibly have hoped for. Brilliant birding.
Now we had
only one thing left to do, find the Warbling Doradito that we had initially come
here to see. In the end we spent a good hour checking patches of waterside vegetation
before we eventually found it right next to where we had been viewing the
waders from. It was a very elusive bird, not easy to see and generally not
vocal. We had some good views of it when it did decide to perch up, but it
would then drop back in before we could grab some photos. Still, it was good to
see what is a Sao Paulo mega and can be difficult to find even within its
range.
Add in a
brilliant backup cast including the resident Great Grebe and Red-fronted Coot,
as well as a smart selection of commoner waterbirds. In the park trees we found
a Small-billed Elaenia, only the second time I have ever seen this species, and
the grasslands were full of Yellowish Pipits. It was absolutely fantastic, and
all in the middle of Sao Paulo city.
Parque Linear Nove de Julho: White-faced Whistling Duck, Black-bellied Whistling Duck, Brazilian Teal, White-cheeked Pintail, Great Grebe, Picazuro Pigeon, Ruddy Ground Dove, White-tipped Dove, Eared Dove, Guira Cuckoo, Smooth-billed Ani, Squirrel Cuckoo, Sick's Swift, Ash-throated Crake, Common Gallinule, Red-fronted Coot, Rufous-sided Crake, White-backed Stilt, Southern Lapwing, Wattled Jacana, Upland Sandpiper, White-rumped Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, South American Snipe, Lesser Yellowlegs, Neotropic Cormorant, Cocoi Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Western Cattle Egret, Bare-faced Ibis, Black Vulture, Snail Kite, Burrowing Owl, White Woodpecker, Crested Caracara, Yellow-headed Caracara, Plain Parakeet, Turquoise-fronted Amazon, Cobalt-rumped Parrotlet, Rufous Hornero, Yellow-chinned Spinetail, Common Tody-Flycatcher, Warbling Doradito, Yellow-bellied Elaenia, Small-billed Elaenia, Masked Water Tyrant, Cattle Tyrant, Great Kiskadee, Streaked Flycatcher, Variegated Flycatcher, Fork-tailed Flycatcher, Blue-and-white Swallow, Southern Rough-winged Swallow, Grey-breasted Martin, Barn Swallow, House Wren, Chalk-browed Mockingbird, Rufous-bellied Thrush, House Sparrow, Yellowish Pipit, Shiny Cowbird, Chestnut-capped Blackbird, Southern Yellowthroat, Red-crested Cardinal, Ruby-crowned Tanager, Sayaca Tanager, Saffron Finch, Capybara,
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