Thursday, 17 January 2019

Brazil 14.01.2019 - 16.01.2019

Brazil Day 4 14.01.2019
The morning was spent ringing in the area of forest that we set up the previous evening. There was very limited action in the nets but every species was interesting. We caught three Helmeted Manakins, our target, and then a number of species that I had not yet seen; Euler's Flycatcher, Green Schiffornis and Pale-bellied Tyrant-Manakin. Between net rounds we explored the forest looking for Helmeted Manakin nests. Once again we failed to find any but were fortunate enough to encounter a large mixed flock, which had a number of new species in it; Buff-breasted Wren, Buff-fronted Foliage Gleaner, Rufous-bellied Thrush and Black-capped Antwren were all new.
In the afternoon break I finally caught up with my first, identifiable, Hummingbird; a very nice male Fork-tailed Woodnymph. There were also a family of four Black-tufted Marmosets in the same area, as well as a dazzling pair of Saffron Finches.
-Fork-tailed Woodnymph
-Black-tufted Marmoset
In the afternoon we spent a short while looking for nests in a new area. We did not find any and because the sun was so hot there were not a great deal of birds around. A Buff-throated Saltator was the only new bird, but it was nice to see a Veery on the wintering grounds.
Because we had finished so early we headed out into the Cerrado for some birding, and here I enjoyed a plethra of new species; Chalk-browed Mockingbird, Wedge-tailed Seedfinch, White-tailed Hawk, King Vulture and Campo Flicker. It was a really enjoyable hour exploring a new habitat.
-Black Vulture
-King Vulture
-Campo Flicker
-Plain-crested Elaenia
Afterwards we headed into the nearby village for supplies. Since it was still daylight I took to opportunity to bird around and had a great time with the Burrowing Owls, as well as Epaulet Oriole and Yellow-cheveroned Parakeet both being new species. The day was topped off when two Red-legged Seriema came and visited us during our dinner.
-Burrowing Owl
-Aplomado Falcon
In the evening we were joined by the biggest Toad I have ever seen, although the species remains a mystery. We also had some success with the Tropical Screech-Owl which came and paid us a visit. 
-Toad
-Tropical Screech-Owl

Species List:
Brasilia: Black Vulture, King Vulture, Roadside Hawk, White-tailed Hawk, Southern Caracara, Aplomado Falcon, Southern Lapwing, Red-legged Seriema, Ruddy Ground Dove, Picazuro Pigeon, Blue-fronted Amazon Parrot, Yellow-cheveroned Parakeet, Squirrel Cuckoo, Smooth-billed Ani, Burrowing Owl, Sick's Swift, Campo Flicker, Little Woodpecker, Fork-tailed Woodnymph, Variable Antshrike, Black-capped Antwren, Olivaceous Woodcreeper, Buff-fronted Foliage Gleaner, Euler's Flycatcher, Plain-crested Elaenia, Great Kiskadee, Piratic Flycatcher, Pale-bellied Tyrant Manakin, Helmeted Manakin, Green Schiffornis, Buff-breasted Wren, Masked Gnatcatcher, Veery, Rufous-bellied Thrush, Chalk-browed Mockingbird, Blue-and-white Swallow, Bananaquit, Black-goggled Tanager, Burnished-buff Tanager, Blue Dacnis, Rufous-collared Sparrow, Saffron Finch, Blue-black Grassquit, Yellow-bellied Seedeater, Epaulet Oriole, Flavescent Warbler, White-bellied Warbler, House Sparrow, Black-tufted Marmoset,

Brazil Day 5 15.01.2019
In the morning we headed out to the same area of forest that we had visited on our first day. We made rather swift tracks through the woods collecting the fake nests that had been put out on our last visit, and encountered rather little in the way of forest birds. A very showy White-throated Spadebill was the highlight, with a new bird in the form of a female White-lined Tanager. In the Cerrado before we entered the Gallery forest we also had a new hummingbird, only the second of the trip; Versicolor Emerald. During the afternoon Lia and myself searched a river for Manakin nests but we failed to find any new active nests. Birding on the whole was fairly quiet, with the Sharp-tailed Streamcreeper the highlight, and White-striped Warbler the only new species.
-Versicolor Emerald
-White-throated Spadebill
-Plumbeous Kite
-Dragonfly
We wrapped up our afternoon fairly early, and were back at the digs at around 17.00. I decided to head out and explore the farm a bit more, way out to the back where we had purchased some bananas at lunchtime. It was an amazing birding experience, as the farmers had just cut the fields, leaving them open for birds to come and scavenge. In the end I recorded 12 new species; Scaled Dove, Guira Cuckoo, Violaceous Euphonia, Whistling Heron, Buff-necked Ibis, Yellow-headed Caracara, Hepatic Tanager, Shiny Cowbird, Swallow-tailed Hummingbird, Rufous-browed Peppershrike, Grey-necked Wood-rail and Peach-fronted Parakeet. I think the farm has great potential for future birding, and I'm optimistic that there will be more new birds around there.
-Violaceous Euphonia
-Whistling Heron
-Buff-necked Ibis
-Smooth-billed Ani
-Yellow-headed Caracara
-Red-legged Seriema
-Rufous Hornero

Species List:
Brasilia: Whistling Heron, Buff-necked Ibis, Black Vulture, Plumbeous Kite, Southern Caracara, Yellow-headed Caracara, Gray-necked Wood-Rail, Red-legged Seriema, Southern Lapwing, Ruddy Ground Dove, Scaled Dove, Picazuro Pigeon, Peach-fronted Parakeet, Yellow-cheveroned Parakeet, Blue-fronted Amazon Parrot, Smooth-billed Ani, Guira Cuckoo, Sick's Swift, Swallow-tailed Hummingbird, Versicolor Emerald, Ringed Kingfisher, Rufous-capped Motmot, Campo Flicker, Variable Antshrike, Rufous Hornero, Ochre-cheeked Spinetail, Sharp-tailed Streamcreeper, White-throated Spadebill, Piratic Flycatcher, Great Kiskadee, Tropical Kingbird, Helmeted Manakin, Rufous-browed Peppershrike, Blue-and-white Swallow, Chalk-browed Mockingbird, Bananaquit, Hepatic Tanager, White-lined Tanager, Burnished-buff Tanager, Blue Dacnis, Rufous-collared Sparrow, Saffron Finch, Blue-black Grassquit, Yellow-bellied Seedeater, White-bellied Warbler, White-striped Warbler, Shiny Cowbird, Violaceous Euphonia, House Sparrow,

Brazil Day 6 16.01.2019
We had a more relaxed day today, with the morning spent ringing before taking an extended break during the midday heat before running some chores around Brasilia, allowing me to get to see the city that I have called home this last week.
The ringing was slow with just a single new Helmeted Manakin, a green individual. The only other bird we caught was a female hummingbird; a Glittering-throated Emerald, which was a pretty bonkers bird to look at. There were a number of new species in the Cerrado during the morning; Sayaca Tanager, Chivi Vireo, White-winged Becard, Red-crested Finch, Curl-crested Jay, Streaked Xenops, but the highlight was a very boistrous pair of Crimson-crested Woodpeckers which spent the morning around the ringing station.
-Crimson-crested Woodpecker
During our afternoon break I explored the farmland around the field centre, but the heat of the day had clearly taken its toll on the birdlife. The undoubted highlight, of course, was finally adding Cattle Egret to my Brazil list. The best new bird was a very nice White-tailed Kite, although a couple of Grassland Yellowfinches were also pretty smart.
-Grassland Yellowfinch
-Black-tufted Marmoset
-Red-legged Seriema
-White-tailed Kite
It was cool to explore the city during the late afternoon. I have to say that Brasilia is very well organised, which makes sense given how recently the city was developed.

Species List;
Brasilia: Cattle Egret, Whistling Heron, Black Vulture, White-tailed Kite, Southern Caracara, Red-legged Seriema, Southern Lapwing, Ruddy Ground Dove, Scaled Dove, Feral Pigeon, Picazuro Pigeon, Peach-fronted Parakeet, Yellow- cheveroned Parakeet, Blue-fronted Amazon Parrot, Squirrel Cuckoo, Smooth-billed Ani, Burrowing Owl, Little Nightjar, Sick's Swift, Fork-tailed Palm Swift, Glittering-throated Emerald, Fork-tailed Woodnymph, Crimson-crested Woodpecker, Variable Antshrike, Black-capped Antwren, Rufous Hornero, Streaked Xenops, Gray-hooded Flycatcher, Piratic Flycatcher, Great Kiskadee, Tropical Kingbird, Helmeted Manakin, White-winged Becard, Chivi Vireo, Curl-crested Jay, Blue-and-white Swallow, Southern House Wren, Black-goggled Tanager, Gray-headed Tanager, White-lined Tanager, Sayaca Tanager, Burnished-buff Tanager, Blue Dacnis, Guira Tanager, Rufous-collard Sparrow, Saffron Finch, Grassland Yellowfinch, Blue-black Grassquit, Yellow-bellied Seedeater, Red-crested Finch, Violaceous Euphonia, House Sparrow, Black-tufted Marmoset,

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