Brazil 29.01.2019 - 31.01.2019

Brazil Day 19 29.01.2019
Having been the cinema the previous evening we decided to have a bit of a later start, leaving the field center around 08.00 to do some nest searching and territory experiments. We searched the river where we spent the afternoon of my first day. There was not a great deal about, just a couple of Helmeted Manakin sightings, and the usual Sharp-tailed Streamcreepers. The Brazilian Teal were once again on the dam overflow, but as usual they were very shy and flew off as we pulled up. I spent much of the morning photographing the various insects along the river, finally cataloging the enormous range of butterflies and Odonata I have seen.

-Butterfly sp.

-Grassland Yellowfinch

I gave the afternoon walk a miss, too hot and not enough birds. Our evening consisted of opening the nets once again. The nets were not overly productive, and the surrounding forest and Cerrado was also fairly quiet, but the one flock that I did encounter I was thrilled to find a new species in; Spot-backed Puffbird. As I was out photographing butterflies at the time, I only had my 300 lens, but fortunately the bird sat still and I was able to grab some fairly decent photos.

-Praying Mantis

-Spot-backed Puffbird

Species List:
Brasilia: Brazilian Teal, Black Vulture, Roadside Hawk, Southern Caracara, Aplomado Falcon, Red-legged Seriema, Southern Lapwing, Ruddy Ground Dove, Picazuro Pigeon, Blue-fronted Amazon Parrot, Squirrel Cuckoo, Fork-tailed Palm Swift, Swallow-tailed Hummingbird, Spot-backed Puffbird, Toco Toucan, Sharp-tailed Streamcreeper, Gray-hooded Flycatcher, Southern Antpipit, Yellow-olive Flycatcher, White-throated Spadebill, Piratic Flycatcher, Tropical Kingbird, Helmeted Manakin, Masked Gnatcatcher, Pale-bellied Thrush, Black-goggled Tanager, Burnished-buff Tanager, Guira Tanager, Rufous-collared Sparrow, Saffron Finch, Grassland Yellowfinch, Black-blue Grassquit, Yellow-bellied Seedeater, White-bellied Seedeater, White-bellied Warbler, Flavescent Warbler, Epaulet Oriole, House Sparrow,

Brazil Day 20 30.01.2019
Today had an excellent start when I spotted my most outstanding species of the trip so far perched up in the Cerrado just outside our digs; Boat-billed Flycatcher. Strikingly similar to Great Kiskadee, but with a more unusual bill shape. It was good to finally see this species.
We spent the morning putting up nets along a stretch of river to use another time. This did mean that I did not see many species at all, in fact Sharp-tailed Streamcreeper was the only species that I saw in the forest. Fortunately we finished fairly early so had some time to bird around the farm in the afternoon. I was rewarded with my second new species for the day; Varigated Flycatcher, which was travelling round with a nice flock including Burnished-buff Tanager and Narrow-billed Woodcreeper. For lunch we headed into the nearby village, where we had views of only my second Blue-and-yellow Macaw, perched up high in the tree.

-Variegated Flycatcher

-Greta sp. Butterfly

In the afternoon we headed out to do more territory experiments with the Helmeted Manakins, so we had some fun with them but there were not many other birds. I did get a new species of mammal though, as the canopy became alive with Black-striped Capuchin. They were difficult to see, but still inquisitive, looking down on me from the canopy. On the way back from the fieldwork Lia dropped me off at the dam to walk back. I finally got some photos of the Brazilian Teal, and some nice photos of the Capybara swimming. I also got a new species of Pigeon; Pale-vented Pigeon. It was a very nice evening birding session.

-Capybara

-Brazilian Teal

Species List:
Brasilia: Brazilian Teal, Cattle Egret, Whistling Heron, Black Vulture, Roadside Hawk, Southern Caracara, American Kestrel, Aplomado Falcon, Red-legged Seriema, Southern Lapwing, Ruddy Ground Dove, Scaled Dove, Gray-fronted Dove, Picazuro Pigeon, Pale-vented Pigeon, Blue-and-yellow Macaw, Peach-fronted Parakeet, Yellow-faced Amazon Parrot, Blue-fronted Amazon Parrot, Guira Cuckoo, Burrowing Owl, Sick's Swift, Fork-tailed Palm Swift, Fork-tailed Woodnymph, Glittering-throated Emerald, Ringed Kingfisher, Toco Toucan, Narrow-billed Woodcreeper, Rufous Hornero, Sharp-tailed Streamcreeper, Sepia-capped Flycatcher, Cattle Tyrant, Piratic Flycatcher, Great Kiskadee, Boat-billed Flycatcher, Variegated Flycatcher, Tropical Kingbird, Helmeted Manakin, Blue-and-white Swallow, Southern House Wren, Pale-breasted Thrush, Chalk-browed Mockingbird, Black-goggled Tanager, White-lined Tanager, Sayaca Tanager, Burnished-buff Tanager, Guira Tanager, Rufous-collared Sparrow, Saffron Finch, Grassland Yellowfinch, Blue-black Grassquit, Yellow-bellied Seedeater, Double-collared Seedeater, White-bellied Seedeater, Red-crested Finch, Tropical Parula, Shiny Cowbird, Violaceous Euphonia, House Sparrow, Capybara, Black-striped Capuchin,

Brazil Day 21 31.01.2019
Due to Lia's car breaking down our morning fieldwork was cancelled. I took the oportunity to go for a morning walk to the dam, to see if any new birds may be around before the day heated up. Whilst there were lots of birds to see, the only new species for me was ring outside the field school, and what a species it was; Long-tailed Tyrant, which was flycatching from the canopy.

-Long-tailed Tyrant

-Rufous-tailed Jacamar

-Southern Lapwing

In the afternoon we opened the nets along the river. I was hoping that we catch a Sharp-tailed Streamcreeper, but in the end there was no need, as we found an individual that was so approachable I could stand less than a metre away and the bird would not be phased. We caught a few nice bits; Saffron-billed Sparrow and Yellow-bellied Seedeater the standouts besides three new Helmeted Manakins.

-Sharp-tailed Streamcreeper

Species List:
Brasilia: Whistling Heron, Black Vulture, Southern Caracara, Aplomado Falcon, Southern Lapwing, Ruddy Ground Dove, Scaled Dove, Picazuro Pigeon, White-eyed Parakeet, Blue-fronted Amazon Parrot, Smooth-billed Ani, Burrowing Owl, Sick's Swift, Fork-tailed Palm Swift, Swallow-tailed Hummingbird, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, Toco Toucan, White-wedged Piculette, Narrow-billed Woodcreeper, Sharp-tailed Streamcreeper, Sepia-capped Flycatcher, Yellow-olive Flycatcher, Long-tailed Tyrant, Great Kiskadee, Boat-billed Flycatcher, Variegated Flycatcher, Tropical Kingbird, Helmeted Manakin, Blue-and-white Swallow, Southern House Wren, Pale-bellied Thrush, Chalk-browed Mockingbird, Bananaquit, Black-goggled Tanager, White-lined Tanager, Sayaca Tanager, Guira Tanager, Rufous-collared Sparrow, Saffron Finch, Blue-black Grassquit, Yellow-bellied Seedeater, Saffron-billed Sparrow, Green-winged Saltator, Common Waxbill, House Sparrow, Capybara,

Brazil 26.01.2019 - 28.01.2019

Brazil Day 16 26.01.2019
To compensate for yesterdays early start we headed out a little later to open the nets. It was a much slower mornings ringing, with just one Helmeted Manakin compared to the nine we caught the previous day. The Bicoloured Hawk also made an appearance but otherwise it was a fairly slow morning.
The afternoon began with torrential rain, and I was beginning to get the impression that today may be the first day with no new species. When the rain passed, at around 15.00, I decided to head out around the farm to see what the rain had brought out, sensing it could be good when I had a Grey-necked Wood Rail on the grass outside my room window. It was not crawling with birds but I enjoyed a very good hours birding in the cerrado adjacent to the farm. Without doubt the highlight was a stunning male Red-crested Finch that was happily singing from an exposed perch, and I did manage to find a new species; Grey Monjita, a common species that I had somehow missed throughout my stay so far. Otherwise the species I saw were generally common, but it was still a really enjoyable walk.

-Double-collared Seedeater

-Guira Cuckoo

-Chalk-browed Mockingbird

-Red-crested Finch

-Swallow-tailed Hummingbird

-Grey Monjita

Our afternoons planned feildwork, and any alternative birding, was cut out as a consequence of a tropical that came through late afternoon and persisted for the remaining daylight hours. It was some storm, and it's exciting to be sat here typing while lightening flashes around me.

Species List:

Brasilia: Buff-necked Ibis, Bicoloured Hawk, Roadside Hawk, Southern Caracara, Aplomado Falcon, Grey-necked Wood Rail, Red-legged Seriema, Southern Lapwing, Ruddy-Ground Dove, Scaled Dove, Picazuro Pigeon, Yellow-chevroned Parakeet, Blue-fronted Amazon Parrot, Smooth-billed Ani, Guira Cuckoo, Sick's Swift, Fork-tailed Palm Swift, Swallow-tailed Hummingbird, Toco Toucan, Campo Flicker, Olivaceous Woodcreeper, Rufous Hornero, Sooty-fronted Spinetail, Gray-hooded Flycatcher, Southern Beardless-tyrannulet, Grey Monjita, White-rumped Monjita, Great Kiskadee, Tropical Kingbird, Pale-bellied Tyrant Manakin, Helmeted Manakin, Blue-and-white Swallow, Chalk-browed Mockingbird, White-lined Tanager, Rufous-collared Sparrow, Saffron Finch, Grassland Yellowfinch, Blue-black Grassquit, Yellow-bellied Seedeater, Double-collared Seedeater, Red-crested Finch, Buff-throated Saltator, Shiny Cowbird, House Sparrow, 

Brazil Day 17 27.01.2019

Since it has been over ten days since we last checked areas for active nests, today we resumed our search, revisiting areas that we had been to previously. Todays destination was the stream that we visited on my first full day. That, of course, meant Sharp-tailed Streamcreepers in abundance. Otherwise the number of birds was pretty low but towards the end we encountered quite a large flock with a number of species; Streaked Xenops, Yellow-olive Flycatcher and Little Woodpecker the highlights. 

In the afternoon, between putting up some nets at a new location, I headed out to explore the farm, and then the Cerrado later in the evening. Lia and Lucas joined me, and we had a very enjoyable few hours birding. The farm was enjoying the previous nights rainfall, with good numbers of herons and flycatchers. During the morning I missed out a lifer when a green ibis species fly off from a field before I was able to determine which of the two possibilities it was. But we made up for it in the afternoon. As soon as we set off we picked up a large roaming flock which had goodies like Narrow-billed Woodcreeper, Tropical Parula and a new bird for me in Hooded Tanager, with both male and female in the flock. Further into the farm and we had many of the birds I had enjoyed the previous day; Grey Monjita, Red-crested Finch and only my second White-throated Kingbird of the trip. 

-Narrow-billed Woodcreeper

-Great Kiskadee

-Red-crested Finch

-White-rumped Monjita

In the Cerrado I finally got my first Tinamou, when a ruslting in the leaflitter alerted us to its presence, it then scuttled out into the middle of the road where it sat for a few seconds before flying off into the scrub; Small-billed Tinamou. We also got a cracking young male Barred Antshrike, which really was a stunning bird. 

-Barred Antshrike

Species List:

Brasilia: Small-billed Tinamou, Cattle Egret, Whistling Heron, Black Vulture, Pearl Kite, Southern Caracara, American Kestrel, Gray-necked Wood Rail, Red-legged Seriema, Southern Lapwing, Ruddy Ground Dove, Scaled Dove, Picazuro Pigeon, White-eyed Parakeet, Peach-fronted Parakeet, Blue-fronted Amazon Parrot, Smooth-billed Ani, Guira Cuckoo, Sick's Swift, Fork-tailed Palm Swift, Glittering-throated Emerald, Toco Toucan, Little Woodpecker, Campo Flicker, Barred Antshrike, Plain Antvireo, Black-capped Antwren, Narrow-billed Woodcreeper, Rufous Hornero, Pale-breasted Spinetail, Sharp-tailed Streamcreeper, Streaked Xenops, Sepia-capped Flycatcher, Yellow-olive Flycatcher, Grey Monjita, White-rumped Monjita, Piratic Flycatcher, Great Kiskadee, White-throated Kingbird, Tropical Kingbird, Helmeted Manakin, Curl-crested Jay, Blue-and-white Swallow, Southern House Wren, Masked Gnatcatcher, Pale-breasted Thrush, Chalk-browed Mockingbird, Bananaquit, Hooded Tanager, Black-googled Tanager, Sayaca Tanager, Burnished-buff Tanager, Rufous-collared Sparrow, Grassland Sparrow, Saffron Finch, Grassland Yellowfinch, Blue-black Grassquit, Plumbeous Seedeater, Yellow-bellied Seedeater, Double-collared Seedeater, White-bellied Seedeater, Red-crested Finch, Buff-throated Saltator, Tropical Parula, Flavescent Warbler, Shiny Cowbird, House Sparrow, 

Brazil Day 18 28.01.2019

We started our day early to open the nets we had erected the previous day. We had a productive morning; in addition to the two new Helmeted Manakins we also caught a number of forest species, the highlights being Plain Antvireo, Southern Antpipit and a cracking Saffron-billed Sparrow. I ringed my first birds; a Pale-bellied Thrush and a Greenish Schiffornis. The Thrush was awesome, as it shared so much with our thrushes, which makes sense given that they are both Turdus. 

The afternoon warmed up substantially, and despite it being breezy it was still a little too hot to be out birding. Still I gave it a go but did not find anything different. A White-throated Kingbird was probably the highlight. 

-Saffron-billed Sparrow

-White-throated Kingbird

-Rufous Hornero

In the afternoon we headed out to do some territorial experiments with the Helmeted Manakin. We did not see much during the experiments, a parent Pale-bellied Tyrant Manakin feeding its fledgling was probably the highlight. By the time we got back to the car it was already evening and I had written off my chances of getting a new bird today. However, just as we were getting into the car a stunning white Collard Forest-Falcon flew overhead. We had heard one in the same location the previous evening but still awesome to finally see. Then, on the drive back, a Capped Heron flew across the road. It perched up but by the time we managed to locate it the bird flushed, a shame as this stunning bird was a species that I had really wanted to see and photograph. Still a cracking bird. 

Species List:

Brasilia: Rusty-margined Guan, Cattle Egret, Whistling Heron, Capped Heron, Black Vulture, Roadside Hawk, White-tailed Hawk, Southern Caracara, Collared Forest-Falcon, Red-legged Seriema, Southern Lapwing, Ruddy Ground Dove, Scaled Dove, Picazuro Pigeon, Gray-fronted Dove, Peach-fronted Parakeet, Blue-fronted Amazon Parrot, Smooth-billed Ani, Squirrel Cuckoo, Burrowing Owl, Sick's Swift, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, Toco Toucan, Campo Flicker, Variable Antshrike, Plain Antvireo, Rufous Hornero, Southern Antpipit, Cattle Tyrant, Great Kiskadee, White-throated Kingbird, Tropical Kingbird, Pale-bellied Tyrant-Manakin, Greenish Schiffornis, Helmeted Manakin, Blue-and-white Swallow, Masked Gnatcatcher, Pale-breasted Thrush, Chalk-browed Mockingbird, Black-goggled Tanager, Sayaca Tanager, Burnished-buff Tanager, Guira Tanager, Rufous-collared Sparrow, Grassland Sparrow, Grassland Yellowfinch, Saffron Finch, Blue-black Grassquit, Yellow-bellied Seedeater, Saffron-billed Sparrow, Shiny Cowbird, Common Waxbill, House Sparrow,

Brazil 23.01.2019 - 25.01.2019

Brazil Day 13 23.01.2019
We had an early start today, opening the nets at the new location we set up the previous evening. On our drive over we saw the Capybaras again, this time the whole group was sat in the water of the reservoir. An outstanding sight. The area we were ringing in yielded zero Helmeted Manakins, but there were a lot of birds in the surrounding Cerrado. I finally connected with a Short-crested Flycatcher, and got an additional three new species; Olivaceous Elaenia, Purple-throated Euphonia and Stripe-tailed Yellowfinch. The bushes around remained busy until around 08:30 when the sun emerged from behind the clouds, bringing with it the heat that we have become accustomed to over the last few days. In the nets themselves were just three birds; A Greenish Schifornis, Olivaceous Woodcreeper and a cracking adult male Burnished-buff Tanager.

-Olivaceous Elaenia

During the afternoon I decided to walk to the nearby village to photograph a Burrowing Owl with no yellow pigment in its eyes, leaving two haunting black voids on its face. Sure enough the individual was there and easy to find, allowing me to get some pictures of this particularly interesting individual. The village itself was fairly quiet for birds, but the walk back produced two new species; Black-faced Tanager and Bran-coloured Flycatcher, the latter surprisingly smart given its name.

-Burrowing Owl

-Southern Lapwing

Species List:

Brasilia: Whistling Heron, Black Vulture, King Vulture, White-tailed Kite, Short-tailed Hawk, Southern Caracara, American Kestrel, Red-legged Seriema, Southern Lapwing, Ruddy Ground Dove, Scaled Dove, Picazuro Pigeon, White-eyed Parakeet, Yellow-chevroned Parakeet, Blue-fronted Amazon Parrot, Squirrel Cuckoo, Smooth-billed Ani, Burrowing Owl, Sick's Swift, Fork-tailed Palm Swift, Ringed Kingfisher, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, Varibale Antshrike, Black-capped Antwren, Olivaceous Woodcreeper, Ochre-cheeked Spinetail, Olivaceous Elaenia, Bran-coloured Flycatcher, Piratic Flycatcher, Tropical Kingbird, Short-crested Flycatcher, Helmeted Manakin, Greenish Schifornis, Blue-and-white Swallow, Masked Gnatcatcher, Rufous-bellied Thrush, Chalk-browed Mockingbird, Bananaquit, Black-faced Tanager, White-lined Tanager, Burnished-buff Tanager, Blue Dacnis, Guira Tanager, Rufous-collared Sparrow, Stripe-tailed Yellowfinch, Blue-black Grassquit, Yellow-bellied Seedeater, Southern Yellowthroat, Purple-throated Euphonia, House Sparrow, Capybara, Black-tufted Marmoset, 

Brazil Day 14 24.01.2019

To compensate for our extra early starts the last couple of days, today we set off a little later, but it did mean that we did not open the nets until 09.00. There were still good numbers of birds in the bushes but I saw very few of them, most of the time just restricted to fleeting glimpses. The only new bird was a Green-winged Saltator, and the only birds we caught were a single Greenish Schiffornis and finally a Helmeted Manakin. 

-Greenish Schiffornis

My afternoon walk was during the peak heat of the day, and the limited cloud cover to do much to mitigate the stifling heat. As a result the amount of active birdlife was really quite limited but I did get fantastic views of Campo Flicker calling above my head. In the evening we installed mist-nets at a new location and we saw very little in the way of birdlife, although it looks promising for tomorrow. 

-Campo Flicker

Species List:

Brasilia: Cattle Egret, Whistling Heron, Black Vulture, Roadside Hawk, White-tailed Hawk, Southern Caracara, Red-legged Partridge, Southern Lapwing, Ruddy Ground Dove, Scaled Dove, Picazuro Pigeon, Yellow-chevroned Parakeet, Blue-fronted Amazon Parrot, Squirrel Cuckoo, Smooth-billed Ani, Sick's Swift, Fork-tailed Palm Swift, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, Campo Flicker, Rufous Hornero, Great Kiskadee, Tropical Kingbird, Helmeted Manakin, Greenish Schiffornis, Blue-and-white Swallow, Chalk-browed Mockingbird, Bananaquit, Rufous-collared Sparrow, Grassland Sparrow, Saffron Finch, Grassland Yellowfinch, Blue-black Grassquit, Yellow-bellied Seedeater, Double-collared Seedeater, Green-winged Saltator, Common Waxbill, House Sparrow, 

Brazil Day 15 25.01.2019

Due to there being more of a walk from the car to the nets we had decided to stay in the field all day, but this plan was cut short by my first experience of a tropical rainstorm, which was quite the spectacle. The ringing was good this morning, with in excess of ten different birds captured including Helmeted Manakin, Grey-hooded Flycatcher, Ochre-cheeked Spinetail and the undoubted highlight a White-throated Spadebill. There was also a new species for me in Bicolour Hawk, which was calling frequently from the trees around us before we eventually saw it. 

-Rufous-crowned Motmot

-White-throated Spadebill

In the afternoon we revisited the nets and once again enjoyed some fantastic birds; Russet-mantled Foliage Gleaner and Plain Antvireo were the undoubted highlights, and in the last light of the day we also caught the first adult male Helmeted Manakins of my time here. On our walk back, in the dark, we tried for a number of owls and nightjars but only succeeded with the two species most featured during my stay; Tropical Screech Owl and Little Nightjar. 

-Tropical Screech Owl

Species List:

Brasilia: Whistling Heron, Black Vulture, Pearl Kite, Bicoloured Hawk, Roadside Hawk, Southern Caracara, Ruddy Ground Dove, Scaled Dove, Picazuro Pigeon, Yellow-chevroned Parakeet, Squirrel Cuckoo, Tropical Screech Owl, Burrowing Owl, Little Nightjar, Sick's Swift, Fork-tailed Palm Swift, Rufous-capped Motmot, Plain Antvireo, Ochre-cheeked Spinetail, Russet-mantled Foliage Gleaner, Grey-hooded Flycatcher, Sepia-capped Flycatcher, White-throated Spadebill, Eulers Flycatcher, Tropical Kingbird, Helmeted Manakin, Greenish Schifornis, Blue-and-white Swallow, Buff-breasted Wren, Masked Gnatcatcher,  Rufous-collared Sparrow, Saffron Finch, Blue-black Grassquit, Yellow-bellied Seedeater, White-bellied Warbler, White-striped Warbler, House Sparrow, Brown Rat, 

Brazil 20.01.2019 - 22.01.2019

Brazil Day 10 20.01.2019
We had another early start, with the aim of hopefully catching something good in our nets. Sadly we caught very little throughout the morning, just a handful of common tanager species. However during our net rides I got to explore the Cerrado before the heat of the sun had driven all the birds to cover. I started to pay more attention to the parrots and parakeets that I saw and was rewarded with two new birds; A Yellow-faced Amazon Parrot intermingled with the regular Blue-fronted Amazon Parrots, and White-eyed Parakeet. My Cerrado exploration also yielded Tropical Parula, a bird I had really wanted to see. During one of my visits to the ringing station we got a real surprise when two Rusty-margin Guans came wandering through the woods. Although always obscured, we did get clear views, albeit briefly, at various points, a real treat to see these shy birds.

-Toco Toucan

-Toco Toucan & Blue-fronted Amazon Parrot

-Yellow-faced Amazon Parrot

During the afternoon break I set off wandering through the farm. The heat made the birding extremely difficult, but I was still able to enjoy a good hour or so of photographing the commoner birds of the park. And I managed another new bird; with a Pearl Kite, a cracking diminutive raptor, sat up in a rather tall tree being buffeted by the wind.

-Cattle Tyrant fledgling

-Scaled Dove

In the evening we set up mist-nets at a new location. There were not many birds around during the evening, presumably put off by the heat. A pair of Brazilian Teal at the edge of the large dam were nice, but the days highlight came when an Aplomado Falcon was hunting right in front of us, evening dropping onto what we think was a frog just meters from the car. A shame that it was in the evening gloom, as it would have made for some amazing photos.

Species List:
Brasilia: Brazilian Teal, Rusty-margined Guan, Cattle Egret, Great Egret, Whistling Heron, Buff-necked Ibis, Turkey Vulture, Black Vulture, Pearl Kite, White-tailed Hawk, Short-tailed Hawk, Southern Caracara, Yellow-headed Kestrel, Aplomado Falcon, Red-legged Seriema, Southern Lapwing, Ruddy Ground Dove, Scaled Dove, Eared Dove, Picazuro Pigeon, Gray-fronted Dove, White-eyed Parakeet, Yellow-cheveroned Parakeet, Peach-fronted Parakeet, Blue-fronted Amazon Parrot, Yellow-faced Amazon Parrot, Smooth-billed Ani, Burrowing Owl, Sick's Swift, Fork-tailed Palm Swift, Fork-tailed Woodnymph, Glittering-throated Emerald, Sooty-fronted Spinetail, Gray-hooded Flycatcher, Cattle Tyrant, Great Kiskadee, Crowned Slaty Flycatcher, Tropical Kingbird, Pale-bellied Tyrant Manakin, Helmeted Manakin, Curl-crested Jay, Blue-and-white Swallow, Gray-breasted Martin, Southern House Wren, Pale-breasted Thrush, Chalk-browed Mockingbird, Bananaquit, Black-goggled Tanager, Burnished-buff Tanager, Blue Dacnis, Guira Tanager, Rufous-collared Sparrow, Grassland Sparrow, Saffron Finch, Blue-black Grassquit, Yellow-bellied Seedeater, Tropical Parula, White-bellied Warbler, Shiny Cowbird, House Sparrow,

Brazil Day 11 21.01.2019
It was a much slower day today. We visited the nets that we had set up the previous evening but only caught two birds, although one of those was a Helmeted Manakin, the other an Olivaceous Woodcreeper. Other birds were really thin on the ground, but the undoubted highlight was a cracking adult male Scissor-tailed Nightjar that we flushed from the road on our drive over in the early morning darkness. The birds full streamers were on full display as it took off, an absolute stunner.
In the late afternoon/early evening I headed off for a walk. I decided to walk to the reservoir that we have driven past a number of times, hoping to photograph the Brazilian Teal there. Sadly there was no sign of them, but exploration of the vegetation surrounding the outflow yeilded a number of new species; Southern Yellowthroat, Rusty-margined Flycather and White-bellied Seedeater. There was also a new hummingbird; White-vented Violetear, which showed nicely. The only other incident of note was when I dive-bombed by a number of Sick's Swifts. I was nowhere near any suitable swift breeding habitat but either way I made a hasty exit. I also called off to see the Brasilia Tapaculo on the way back, and whilst it did not come out into the open, through the bracken I got really nice views of it singing.

-White-vented Violetear

-Aplomado Falcon

-Brasilia Tapaculo

Species List:
Brasilia: Black-crowned Night Heron, Whistling Heron, Black Vulture, King Vulture, Southern Caracara, Aplomado Falcon, Red-legged Seriema, Southern Lapwing, Ruddy Ground Dove, Scaled Dove, Picazuro Pigeon, Gray-fronted Dove, Blue-fronted Amazon Parrot, Squirrel Cuckoo, Little Nightjar, Scissor-tailed Nightjar, Sick's Swift, Fork-tailed Palm Swift, Swallow-tailed Hummingbird, White-vented Violetear, Fork-tailed Woodnymph, Rufous-crowned Motmot, Rufous Jacamar, White-wedged Piculet, Brasilia Tapaculo, Olivaceous Woodcreeper, Sharp-tailed Streamcreeper, Rusty-margined Flycatcher, Tropical Kingbird, Helmeted Manakin, Blue-and-white Swallow, Grey-breasted Martin, Masked Gnatcatcher, Pale-breasted Thrush, Chalk-browed Mockingbird, Sayaca Tanager, Guira Tanager, Rufous-collared Sparrow, Saffron Finch, Blue-black Grassquit, White-bellied Seedeater, Southern Yellowthroat, Common Waxbill, House Sparrow,

Brazil Day 12 22.01.2019
Once again we opened the nets and spent the morning trying but failing to catch Helmeted Manakins. The only birds we caught were a Southern Antpipit and a Pale-breasted Thrush. The woods were generally very quiet again, with the only birds of note being a pair of Plain Antvireo, a new species for me. On the drive over we encountered a small group of Capybara on the road. Unlike last time we were able to drive right up to them, and all they did was stand there. There were two young individuals as well, an awesome encounter.

-Capybara

-Southern Antpipit

In the evening, once the scorching midday sun had set, I set off for a walk around the farms fields. Unfortunately the light was awful for phorography, which was a real shame as I had a great time with a number of species that I had only seen once before; White-rumped Monjita, Rufous-winged Antshrike, Hepatic Tanager and a cracking pair of Red-crested Finches. There also seemed to be a lot of activity from common species, with good numbers of Rufous Hornero and Guira Cuckoos being very active. Despite being almost two weeks into my stay, I still managed a new species; Chopi Blackbird, a large, scruffy Cowbird, one of the least exciting birds I have seen on my stay.

-Yellow-chevroned Parakeet

-Gray-necked Wood-Rail

Species List:
Brasilia: Brazilian Teal, Whistling Heron, Turkey Vulture, Black Vulture, White-tailed Kite, Roadside Hawk, White-tailed Kite, Southern Caracara, American Kestrel, Aplomado Falcon, Grey-necked Wood-Rail, Red-legged Seriema, Southern Lapwing, Ruddy Ground Dove, Scaled Dove, Picazuro Pigeon, White-eyed Parakeet, Blue-fronted Amazon Parrot, Squirrel Cuckoo, Guria Cuckoo, Smooth-billed Ani, Burrowing Owl, Sick's Swift, Fork-tailed Palm Swift, Swallow-tailed Hummingbird, Glittering-throated Emerald, Ringed Kingfisher, Rufous-capped Motmot, White-wedged Piculette, Little Woodpecker, Campo Flicker, Rufous-winged Antshrike, Variable Antshrike, Plain Antvireo, Black-capped Antwren, Olivaceous Woodcreeper, Rufous Hornero, Sepia-capped Flycatcher, Southern Antpipit, White-rumped Monjita, Cattle Tyrant, Piratic Flycatcher, Greak Kiskadee, Tropical Kingbird, Helmeted Manakin, Curl-crested Jay, Blue-and-white Swallow, Grey-breasted Martin, Masked Gnatcatcher, Pale-breasted Thrush, Chalk-browed Mockingbird, Bananaquit, Black-goggled Tanager, Hepatic Tanager, White-lined Tanager, Blue Dacnis, Rufous-collared Sparrow, Saffron Finch, Blue-black Grassquit, Yellow-bellied Seedeater, Red-crested Finch, Chopi Blackbird, Shiny Cowbird, House Sparrow, Capybara,