Sunday 6 February 2022

Brazil; ESEC Murici - Day 9

  The day started with a nice surprise when we found a stunning Boa Constrictor bathing behind our lodging. It was not the largest individual I have ever seen, being about a meter long, but was very docile and allowed for us to spend some time watching it. It was still there when we left for the field.

  This was a hard day in the field. We started early so that we could make the most of our day in the area where the territory of the Alagoas Antwren was. This was quite a trek from our base so we set off straight after breakfast. Helpfully, or not, there were few distractions along the way and we arrived in the area by mid-morning. No sooner had we reached the limit of where we wanted to be, than a mixed group of Silvery-flanked Antwren and Alagoas Antwren moved through. We certainly saw the male Alagoas, but the views were not good enough, for me at least, to recognize how many female-types were there. We followed this group for around an hour or so, but they were mobile and we frequently lost them before spotting them again. As before, the Alagoas Antwren was very mobile in the canopy, and I was not able to manage any good photos.

  We had planned to visit this area to check on the territory of the Alagoas Antwren, but also because by walking a little further we might be able to find the Black-tailed Leaftosser, a very rare inhabitant of the forest here. It was quite a trek, including a very steep descent down to a river valley. We were in position by late afternoon, and sure enough, we were able to see the bird in the area as Herminio had said. It was typically elusive and reclusive in dark areas, but we were able to get some good views of the birds feeding, largely by looking through the vines and spotted leaves being tossed.

  It was quite a walk back, and it was already getting dark. We made a call at the banana farm and here we had good views of a few hummingbird species, notably Black-eared Fairy and Long-tailed Woodnymph before the darkness came. In the evening dusk, we had a nice silhouetted view of a Short-tailed Nighthawk fly over us, but that was all for nightbirds. 

-Boa Constrictor
-White-bellied Tody-Tyrant
-Alagoas Antwren
-Olivaceous Flatbill
-Black-tailed Leaftosser
-Marmosini sp.

Species List:
ESEC Murici: Scaled Pigeon, Short-tailed Nighthawk, Pauraque, Black Jacobin, Reddish Hermit, Planalto Hermit, Black-eared Fairy, Long-tailed Woodnymph, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Black Hawk-Eagle, Short-tailed Hawk, Black-necked Aracari, Golden-spangled Piculet, Red-stained Woodpecker, Crested Caracara, Silvery-flanked Antwren, Alagoas Antwren, Rusty-winged Antwren, Scaled Antbird, East Amazonian Fire-eye, Black-cheeked Gnateater, Black-tailed Leaftosser, Ceara Woodcreeper, Plain Xenops, Blue-backed Manakin, Red-headed Manakin, Screaming Piha, Brown-winged Schiffornis, White-throated Spadebill, Ochre-bellied Flycatcher, White-bellied Tody-Tyrant, Olivaceous Flatbill, Bright-rumped Attila, Greyish Mourner, Social Flycatcher, Variegated Flycatcher, Tropical Kingbird, Southern Rough-winged Swallow, Trilling Gnatwren, Moustached Wren, Violaceous Euphonia, Yellow-green Grosbeak, Palm Tanager, Opal-rumped Tanager, Seven-colored Tanager, Green Honeycreeper, Buff-throated Saltator, 

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