Brazil; Lagoa do Jardim Lenor

For the last three weeks of 2020 I returned to Brazil to spend Christmas and New Years with Lia and her family. Although most of my time was spent in quarantine or with other festivities, we did go out to Lia's local patch most days and there were a few nice bits that we saw. The beauty of the tropics is that every day is different, with the species composition always changing and always providing the opportunity for something new. 
Although most of the birds we saw were common species, there were a few species that I had only seen a few times before. The first of these was White-spotted Woodpecker, which I only saw breifly when we visited Intervales, but here showed very nicely. Next up was a Hook-billed Kite, a species I also only saw once before but in the summer at FAL. Ochre-collared Piculette was also nice to see well, having only seen a few times in Parana. We also found a Rufous-sided Crake in the reedy margins of the estates housing estate. Although the latter is a common species, its always good to see a crake at a new site. 

-Anhinga


-Hook-billed Kite

-Saffron Finch

-Narrow-billed Woodcreeper

-Black-throated Mango

-Masked Water Tyrant

-Ochre-collared Piculette


-Rufous-sided Crake


-White-spotted Woodpecker

Species List:

Lagoa do Jardim Leonor: Brazilian Teal, Picazuro Pigeon, Ruddy Ground Dove, White-tipped Dove, Eared Dove, Guira Cuckoo, Smooth-billed Ani, Squirrel Cuckoo, Sick's Swift, Planalto Hermit, Black-throated Mango, Swallow-tailed Hummingbird, Sapphire-spangled Emerald, Slaty-breasted Wood Rail, Common Gallinule, Rufous-sided Crake, Southern Lapwing, Wattled Jacana, Anhinga, Neotropic Cormorant, Rufescent Tiger Heron, Great Egret, Western Cattle Egret, Whistling Heron, Black-crowned Night Heron, Green Ibis, Buff-necked Ibis, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Hook-billed Kite, Savanna Hawk, Roadside Hawk, White-tailed Hawk, Tropical Screech Owl, Ringed Kingfisher, Amazon Kingfisher, Green Kingfisher, White-barred Piculet, Ochre-collared Piculet, White Woodpecker, White-spotted Woodpecker, Lineated Woodpecker, Green-barred Woodpecker, Campo Flicker, Red-legged Seriema, Southern Crested Caracara, Yellow-headed Caracara, Aplomado Falcon, Yellow-chevroned Parakeet, Blue-winged Parrotlet, White-eyed Parakeet, Barred Antshrike, Narrow-billed Woodcreeper, Rufous Hornero, Sharp-tailed Streamcreeper, Yellow-chinned Spinetail, Common Tody-Flycatcher, Yellow-olive Flatbill, Cliff Flycatcher, Southern Beardless Tyrannulet, Yellow-bellied Elaenia, White-crested Tyrannulet, White-rumped Monjita, Streamer-tailed Tyrant, Masked Water Tyrant, Cattle Tyrant, Great Kiskadee, Boat-billed Flycatcher, Social Flycatcher, Streaked Flycatcher, Piratic Flycatcher, Variegated Flycatcher, White-throated Kingbird, Tropical Kingbird, Fork-tailed Flycatcher, Rufous-browed Peppershrike, Blue-and-white Swallow, Southern Rough-winged Swallow, Grey-breasted Martin, White-rumped Swallow, House Wren, Chalk-browed Mockingbird, Pale-breasted Thrush, Rufous-bellied Thrush, Creamy-bellied Thrush, Common Waxbill, House Sparrow, Purple-throated Euphonia, Hooded Siskin, Grassland Sparrow, Rufous-collared Sparrow, Variable Oriole, Shiny Cowbird, Chestnut-capped Blackbird, Tropical Parula, Hooded Tanager, Orange-headed Tanager, Sayaca Tanager, Palm Tanager, Burnished-buff Tanager, Swallow Tanager, Blue Dacnis, Chestnut-vented Conebill, Saffron Finch, Blue-black Grassquit, Lined Seedeater, Double-collared Seedeater, Bananaquit, Capybara, Black-penciled Marmoset,

Brazil; Serra do Japi

We had one day out during our time in Itatiba. We visited a nearby fragment of Atlantic Forest where there were a few nice bits, but it was just nice to be out birding in some natural habitat. The mountains are covered in forest, athough there are large stands of Eucalyptus due to previous coal mining activites. There were a few species we wanted to see, but we missed all of them. It was good to see some Atlantic Forest tanagers like Brassy-breasted again, as well as a few Antbirds and Hummingbirds. On the drive up we also spotted a few Dusky-legged Guans on the side of the road, which was good to see.

-Brassy-breasted Tanager

-Scaly-headed Amazon

-White-throated Spadebill

Species List:
Serra do Japi: Dusky-legged Guan, Pale-vented Pigeon, Picazuro Pigeon, White-tipped Dove, Smooth-billed Ani, Squirrel Cuckoo, Black Jacobin, Glittering-bellied Emerald, White-throated Hummingbird, Slaty-breasted Wood Rail, Southern Lapwing, Black Vulture, Plumbeous Kite, Roadside Hawk, Campo Flicker, Yellow-headed Caracara, Scaly-headed Parrot, White-eyed Parakeet, Spot-backed Antshrike, Variable Antshrike, Rufous-winged Antwren, White-shouldered Fire-eye, Rufous Gnateater, Olivaceous Woodcreeper, Streaked Xenops, Rufous Hornero, Rufous-capped Spinetail, White-bearded Manakin, Greenish Schiffornis, White-throated Spadebill, Sepia-capped Flycatcher, Yellow-olive Flatbill, Cliff Flycatcher, Southern Beardless Tyrannulet, Swainson's Flycatcher, Boat-billed Flycatcher, Social Flycatcher, Streaked Flycatcher, Tropical Kingbird, Fork-tailed Flycatcher, Rufous-browed Peppershrike, Chivi Vireo, Blue-and-white Swallow, House Wren, Pale-breasted Thrush, Creamy-bellied Thrush, Rufous-collared Sparrow, Shiny Cowbird, Golden-crowned Warbler, White-rimmed Warbler, Ruby-crowned Tanager, Sayaca Tanager, Burnished-buff Tanager, Brassy-breasted Tanager, Blue Dacnis, Blue-black Grassquit, Lined Seedeater, Double-collared Seedeater, Bananaquit, Green-winged Saltator,

Halifax biridng; Week 4

It has been another fairly standard week for birding given that autumn is now over and winter is here. It really felt like it too, with a serious snowfall on the 04^th that made conditions seriously challenging. Although the snow had cleared significantly on the 6^th there was still more than 50% cover in the Soil Hill area.
There have been a few highlights during the week. An afternoon visit on the 2^nd was a waste of time until the last hour of daylight when a Common Buzzard flew past and a Barn Owl appeared, hunting the Ned Hill Track. Was good to chat to AC on the same date. With the snowfall on the 4th, birds were few and far between, but a male Stonechat on Taylor lane was nice. The snowfall also meant the local Jack Snipes were very reluctant to flush, even by their standards. The bird on the 4^th was almost underneath my foot when it went, and both birds on the 5^th went at similar proximity. A few Common Snipe were also around, including a flock of four together on the 5^th. On the 6^th a solitary Siskin that flew over was probably the highlight, although there was a good performance from a Northern Raven. But the standout of the week has to be the various groups of Pink-footed Geese that have flown by at various points. On the afternoon of the 2^nd one of these flocks reached nearly 200 birds.

	15	East	09:09:00	01.12.2020
	172	West	15:00:00	02.12.2020
	120	West	15:30:00	02.12.2020
	24	West	11:36:00	05.12.2020
	69	West	11:43:00	06.12.2020

I made another visit to Lower Gorple and was rewarded with some nice birding. A single drake Teal was still present and a Great Black-backed Gull also flew over, which was a yeartick for me. During the week I also visited Mixenden, Cold Edge and Ogden with fairly limited success. A drake Goldeneye on Cold Edge was probably the standout, although there is always a nice assortment of woodland species at Ogden.

On the morning of the 2^nd I also paid a visit to Elland Gravel Pits. I was really hopeful for a Water Rail but sadly there was nothing doing in the small area of reedbed there. Was some nice birding however, with small groups of Siskin and Lesser Redpoll flying around, as well as a single Raven and good numbers of Goosander. But the real highlight was 3 Whooper Swans were on the Ski Lake. At around 10:20 another flock of 5 birds arrived, circled the lake three times and then flew off towards Brighouse. The 3 birds on the lake then took off a few minutes later and flew towards Elland. Not what I was expecting this morning, but very much appreciated. 

-Jack Snipe

-Pink-footed Geese

-Whooper Swans

Species List:
Soil Hill: Pink-footed Goose, Canada Goose, Mallard, Red-legged Partridge, Common Pheasant, Grey Partridge, Feral Pigeon, Stock Dove, Common Wood Pigeon, Common Moorhen, Northern Lapwing, Jack Snipe, Common Snipe, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, European Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Common Buzzard, Western Barn Owl, Little Owl, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Common Kestrel, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Northern Raven, Goldcrest, Eurasian Wren, Common Starling, Song Thrush, Common Blackbird, European Robin, European Stonechat, Dunnock, House Sparrow, Meadow Pipit, Common Chaffinch, Eurasian Bullfinch, European Goldfinch, Eurasian Siskin
Lower Gorple: Mallard, Eurasian Teal, Common Pheasant, Red Grouse, Stock Dove, Northern Lapwing, Great Black-backed Gull, Western Barn Owl, Little Owl, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Eurasian Magpie, Carrion Crow, Northern Raven, Eurasian Wren, Common Starling, Mistle Thrush, European Robin, Grey Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Common Chaffinch, European Goldfinch,
Elland Gravel Pits: Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Whooper Swan, Mallard, Common Merganser, Little Grebe, Stock Dove, Common Wood Pigeon, Common Moorhen, Black-headed Gull, Mew Gull, European Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Cormorant, Grey Heron, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Eurasian Jay, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Northern Raven, Coal Tit, Eurasian Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Goldcrest, Eurasian Nuthatch, Eurasian Wren, Song Thrush, Common Blackbird, European Robin, Grey Wagtail, Common Chaffinch, Eurasian Bullfinch, Lesser Redpoll, European Goldfinch, Eurasian Siskin, Common Reed Bunting,
Mixenden Reservoir: Mallard, Common Goldeneye, Common Moorhen, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, European Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Coal Tit, Eurasian Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Goldcrest, Eurasian Nuthatch, Eurasian Wren, Common Starling, Common Blackbird, European Robin, Dunnock, House Sparrow, Common Chaffinch, Eurasian Bullfinch,
Ogden Water LNR: Mallard, Black-headed Gull, Mew Gull, European Herring Gull, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Eurasian Magpie, Carrion Crow, Coal Tit, Eurasian Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Goldcrest, Eurasian Nuthatch, Eurasian Treecreeper, Eurasian Wren, Common Blackbird, European Robin, Dunnock, Common Chaffinch, European Goldfinch,
Cold Edge Dams: Canada Goose, Mallard, Common Goldeneye, Common Pheasant, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Common Kestrel, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Goldcrest, Eurasian Wren, Mistle Thrush, Common Blackbird, European Robin, Dunnock, House Sparrow, Meadow Pipit,

Halifax birding; Week 3

With November drawing to a close there were only a few highlights on Soil Hill this week. There continued to be reasonable numbers of Common Snipe around, as well as the occasional Jack Snipe thrown in for good measure. On the 27^th 71 Pink-footed Geese flew south distantly in awful conditions, and on the 28^th 53 flew north. Also on the 27^th a female Goosander flew over the Hill, allowing me grab a photo of this species for the eBird illustrated checklist. Passerine wise the week was fairly uneventful, with a single Lesser Redpoll flying over on the 25^th and a couple of Ravens blogging on the 27^th and 29^th.
On the 26^th I had an afternoon birding around Walshaw Dean and Lower Gorple. Walshaw Dean was quiet except for a flock of 38 Pink-footed Geese that flew Northwest up the valley. Lower Gorple was nice, with 10 teal roosting on the back of the reservoir, which was a Halifax yeartick for me. 

-Grey Wagtail

-Northern Raven

-Goosander

-Pink-footed Geese

Species List:
Soil Hill: Greylag Goose, Pink-footed Goose, Canada Goose, Mallard, Goosander, Common Pheasant, Feral Pigeon, Common Wood Pigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Common Moorhen, Northern Lapwing, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, European Herring Gull, Grey Heron, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Common Kestrel, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Northern Raven, Eurasian Blue Tit, Great Tit, Goldcrest, Eurasian Wren, Common Starling, Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush, Common Blackbird, Fieldfare, European Robin, European Stonechat, Dunnock, Meadow Pipit, Common Chaffinch, Eurasian Bullfinch, Common Linnet, Lesser Redpoll, Common Reed Bunting
Walshaw Dean: Pink-footed Goose, Mallard, Common Pheasant, Red Grouse, Common Wood Pigeon, Northern Lapwing, Common Buzzard, Common Kestrel, Northern Raven, Goldcrest, Eurasian Wren, Common Starling, Mistle Thrush, Common Blackbird, Fieldfare, European Robin, European Stonechat, Dunnock, Common Chaffinch, Common Reed Bunting,
Lower Gorple: Mallard, Eurasian Teal, Common Pheasant, Red Grouse, Northern Lapwing, Common Buzzard, Western Barn Owl, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Eurasian Wren, Common Starling, Common Blackbird, European Robin, European Stonechat, Grey Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Common Chaffinch,

Halifax birding; Week 2

It being November the Hill was fairly quiet overall with only a few notable bits from the week. That said, there were some real standouts, most notable two different Snow Buntings; the first on the 16^th which was flushed from the summit before flying south not to be refound, and the second on the 22^nd which spent a bit more time circling the summit before flying north. A Jack Snipe was the only other notable bird, on the 21^st. Common Snipes continue to be around, although the locations they take up have been changeable and has often been tricky to find them. The 22^nd was a brilliant day; in addition to the Snow Bunting there was able a skein of 54 Pink-footed Geese, a small passage of 144 Woodpigeons and a flock of 52 Fieldfare. Was also good to see CK up there.

On the 18^th the weather truly was atrocious and I had no plans to head out at all, but made an afternoon visit to Ogden to look for a Wigeon and Teal that BS had found. Compounding the misery, I dipped on both. A handful of commoner woodland species was all I could muster.

On the 19^th I headed out for a full days birding, with a classic November winters day with bright sunshine but brisk conditions. My first stop was Derby Delph Quarry where there were two Twite perched on the wires that stretch above the feeding station. There could have been more in the quarry itself but I failed to pick them out. Continuing up the road towards the M62 I made my first visit to Green Withens Reservoir. The air was full of Red Grouse calls and, despite the overall lack of birds, I had a brilliant time there, with a flock of 56 Pink-footed Geese going over, a group of 17 Twite showing nicely and the highlight of the day, a Water Pipit by the boathouse. It initially showed well but after proved elusive. A quick stop at Ringstone Edge mid-morning produced a Whooper Swan, and an even quicker visit to Whiteholme produced a pair of Raven. I ended the day at Lower Gorple where I had a flock of 10 Whooper Swans fly SE. A brilliant way to end a really enjoyable days birding. 

-Snow Bunting 1


-Snow Bunting 2

-Lapwing


-Water Pipit

-Pink-footed Goose


-Twite

-Whooper Swan


-Whooper Swans

Species List:

Ogden Water LNR: Mallard, Common Wood Pigeon, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, European Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Coal Tit, Eurasian Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Goldcrest, Eurasian Nuthatch, Eurasian Treecreeper, Eurasian Wren, White-throated Dipper, Common Blackbird, European Robin, Eurasian Bullfinch, European Goldfinch,
Green Withens Reservoir: Pink-footed Goose, Red Grouse, Common Kestrel, Carrion Crow, Northern Raven, Eurasian Wren, Common Starling, Pied Wagtail, Water Pipit, Twite,
Ringstone Edge Reservoir: Whooper Swan, Mallard, Common Moorhen, Northern Lapwing, Black-headed Gull, Mew Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Eurasian Magpie, Rook, Carrion Crow, Common Starling,
Lower Gorple Reservoir: Greylag Goose, Whooper Swan, Mallard, Common Pheasant, Red Grouse, Stock Dove, Black-headed Gull, European Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Common Kestrel, Eurasian Wren, Common Starling, Mistle Thrush, European Robin, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Common Chaffinch, 
Soil Hill: Greylag Goose, Pink-footed Goose, Canada Goose, Mallard, Common Pheasant, Feral Pigeon, Stock Dove, Common Wood Pigeon, Common Moorhen, Northern Lapwing, Common Snipe, Jack Snipe, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, European Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Little Owl, Common Kestrel, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Northern Raven, Goldcrest, Eurasian Wren, Common Starling, Song Thrush, Common Blackbird, Fieldfare, European Robin, Dunnock, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Common Chaffinch, Eurasian Bullfinch, Common Linnet, European Goldfinch, Snow Bunting, Common Reed Bunting, 

Halifax birding; Week 1

Having returned from Brazil and now fully quarantined it was back to the patch to try and boost my patch list during the end of the Autumn migration. While the start of the week was bright and sunny the end was unsurprisingly wet and windy which hampered the birding a great deal.
There were good numbers of migrant Pink-footed Geese earlier in the week, and I also managed a single Whooper Swan which I was fortunate not to miss. Skeins passed over on two days, one in particular was very low. Always a fantastic sight at the end of the autumn, really enjoyable birding. Passerine migration was much slower, with a handful of Chaffinches being the best of it. Meadow Pipits have clearly already finished, but there were a good group gathering at the bottom of the North Slope. Thrushes and Woodpigeons have also been moving on some mornings, but not in massive numbers.
Grounded birds have been somewhat hit and miss, with some days feeling very lively and other days extremely quiet. Blackbird numbers did seem to build up towards the end of the week, with a couple of very smart 1^st winter males in the North Slope Treeline. Fieldfares and Redwings have been present most mornings, often flying over in large groups but sometimes around the bushes as well. A smart ‘Icelandic’ Redwing was on Taylor Lane one foggy morning. A single Song Thrush has been lingering in the North Slope Treeline. A very nice treat was a day roosting Tawny Owl perched right out in the open, allowing my to get some pictures of a species I have previously only heard on the hill during a night visit. I left the bird there, but it had gone by the time JJL came up to look for it.
Despite being the end of autumn I still managed two patch ticks this week; Long-tailed Tit and Woodcock. The Long-tailed Tits was in the North Slope Treeline and numbered around 15 birds, but it was difficult to get an accurate count due to them constantly drifting back and forth. Woodcock was a long overdue species for me, and after JJL had one, I knew that they were on their way. The first one I flushed flew far and into the quarry, taking me by surprise, but the second dropped down only around 50 meters from where I first flushed it. This gave me time to gather my camera and set myself, resulting in a couple of crappy flight shots.
And finally, it was nice to find three Jack Snipe earlier in the week, although I have been unable to find them since. A flyover Lesser Redpoll was also a bonus, and a flock of seven Dunlin that flew past was something of a surprise. Overall a quality week in inland birding during November. Hopefully a few more bits will appear before the winter sets in. 

I did also have a venture to a couple of other sites, first Ogden to see a smart male Mandarin that was there, and the Mixenden Reservoir where I had three of BS 6 Ring-necked Parakeets, plus a yeartick of Goldeneye. 

-Tawny Owl

-Pink-footed Goose

-Whooper Swan

-Long-tailed Tit

-Woodcock

-Mandarin

Species List:
Soil Hill: Greylag Goose, Pink-footed Goose, Canada Goose, Whooper Swan, Mallard, Red-legged Partridge, Common Pheasant, Grey Partridge, Feral Pigeon, Stock Dove, Common Wood Pigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Common Moorhen, European Golden Plover, Northern Lapwing, Dunlin, Jack Snipe, Eurasian Woodcock, Common Snipe, Black-headed Gull, Mew Gull, European Herring, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Grey Heron, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Little Owl, Tawny Owl, Long-eared Owl, Great Spotted Woodpecker, European Green Woodpecker, Common Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Northern Raven, Eurasian Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Goldcrest, Eurasian Wren, Common Starling, Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush, Redwing, Common Blackbird, Fieldfare, European Robin, European Stonechat, Dunnock, House Sparrow, White Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Common Chaffinch, Eurasian Bullfinch, Common Linnet, Lesser Redpoll, European Goldfinch, Common Reed Bunting,
Ogden Water: Mandarin Duck, Mallard, Goosander, Common Wood Pigeon, Black-headed Gull, Mew Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Eurasian Magpie, Carrion Crow, Coal Tit, Eurasian Blue Tit, Great Tit, Goldcrest, Eurasian Wren, Common Blackbird, European Robin, Dunnock, Common Chaffinch, European Goldfinch, Eurasian Siskin,
Mixenden Reservoir:  Mallard, Common Goldeneye, Black-headed Gull, Mew Gull, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Rose-ringed Parakeet, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Great Tit, Goldcrest, Eurasian Wren, Common Starling, Common Blackbird, European Robin, Common Chaffinch, European Goldfinch,