Brazil; Mambucamba & Ubatuba 26.02.2020 - 28.02.2020

Brazil Day 13 26.02.2020

We failed to reach our final destination the previous evening, but it worked quite well as we managed to find a pousada in the town of Mambucamba, where we intended to spend the morning birding anyway. The town is the only place to find the critically endangered Black-hooded Antwren, and so we spent the morning here birding along a dirt track through the forest trying to find it.

We spent a very enjoyable hour birding. We managed to find a cracking pair of Black-hooded Antwrens, showing really well although always keeping in the vegetation and moving awful quickly for photos. Apart from these the birding was brilliant with Yellow-eared Woodpecker, Riverbank Warbler, Saw-billed Hermit and Buff-breasted Puffbird also lifers for me.  

-Band-tailed Hornero 

-Feruginous Antbird

-Fork-tailed Tody-Tyrant

-Riverbank Warbler

-Buff-bellied Puffbird

-Black-hooded Antwren

-Rufous-capped Spinetail

-White-barred Piculette

We then drove an hour and half to our lodge, Ninho do Cambacica, near Ubatuba, a large region of Atlantic forest along the coast in Sao Paulo State. The lodge was absolutely fantastic, with extremely busy hummingbird feeders boasting 8 different species. The undoubted standout of these was a gorgeous little Festive Coquette, a bird I really did not expect to see. We got brilliant views of at least five individuals. There were also some excellent none hummingbirds. Yellow-fronted Woodpecker was an absolute beauty, and it was nice to get good views of common tanager species coming to the feeders. In the evening I experimented with some owl calls and was rewarded with a responding Black-capped Screech-Owl. It took some work, but the bird eventually showed extremely well for us, right from the balcony of the lodge.

-Glittering-throated Emerald

-Festive Coquette

-Saw-billed Hermit

-Violet-capped Woodnymph

-Yellow-fronted Woodpecker

-Black-capped Screech-Owl

Species List:

Mambucamba: Picazuro Pigeon, Ruddy Ground Dove, Saw-billed Hermit, Reddish Hermit, Violet-capped Woodnymph, Magnificent Frigatebird, Black-crowned Night Heron, Black Vulture, Roadside Hawk, Buff-bellied Puffbird, White-barred Piculet, Yellow-eared Woodpecker, Scaly-headed Parrot, Chestnut-backed Antshrike, Spot-breasted Antvireo, Black-hooded Antwren, Ferruginous Antbird, White-shouldered Fire-eye, Lesser Woodcreeper, Band-tailed Hornero, Black-capped Foliage-gleaner, Rufous-capped Spinetail, White-bearded Manakin, Grey-hooded Flycatcher, Sepia-capped Flycatcher, Fork-tailed Tody-Tyrant, Cliff Flycatcher, Yellow-browed Tyrant, Long-tailed Tyrant, Boat-billed Flycatcher, Social Flycatcher, Variegated Flycatcher, Tropical Kingbird, Southern Rough-winged Swallow, Brown-chested Martin, Rufous-bellied Thrush, Chestnut-bellied Euphonia, Southern Yellowthroat, Riverbank Warbler, Brazilian Tanager, Palm Tanager, Green-headed Tanager, Red-necked Tanager, Blue Dacnis, Saffron Finch, Bananaquit,

Ninho da Cambacica: Grey-rumped Swift, Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift, Black Jacobin, Saw-billed Hermit, Black-throated Mango, Frilled Coquette, Festive Coquette, Amethyst Woodstar, Violet-capped Woodnymph, Sombre Hummingbird, Versicolored Emerald, Glittering-throated Emerald, Turkey Vulture, Black-capped Screech Owl, Green-backed Trogon, Yellow-fronted Woodpecker, Plain Parakeet, Black-cheeked Gnateater, Pale-breasted Thrush, Creamy-bellied Thrush, Violaceous Euphonia, Chestnut-bellied Euphonia, Crested Oropendola, Ruby-crowned Tanager, Brazilian Tanager, Golden-chevroned Tanager, Palm Tanager, Green-headed Tanager, Green Honeycreeper, Bananaquit,

Brazil 14 27.02.2020

Today it rained. It rained all morning, so much that the power went out. It only stopped mid-afternoon and it was a relentless tropical rain that made birding all but impossible. We managed a short walk around our Pousada, but otherwise spent the morning watching the hummingbirds fly around in torrential conditions. Swallow-tailed Kite was new for me, with two individuals flying over the fields south of the pousada. We managed a large number of commoner Atlantic Forest species travelling through the area in mixed flocks, which helped keep us busy during the downpours.

-Scaled Antbird

-Crowned Becard

In the afternoon we headed to a farm on the far side of Ubatuba. The rain had finally stopped and we enjoyed a pleasant afternoons birding with some really good species. The hummingbird feeders at the farm were really impressive, with excellent views of Festive Coquette and a new species for me in White-chinned Sapphire. We explored the surrounding forest, hopeful for a number of more difficult species and were rewarded with exceptional views of Rufous-capped Antthrush. It was a rather redeeming end to an otherwise frustrating day.

-Festive Coquette

-Glittering-throated Emerald

-Versicoloured Emerald

-Crowned Woodnymph

-Brazilian Ruby

-White-chinned Saphire

-Azure-shouldered Tanager

-Sao Paulo Tyrannulet

-Rufous-capped Antthrush

Species List:

Ninho da Cambacica: Grey-rumped Swift, Black Jacobin, Saw-billed Hermit, Black-throated Mango, Festive Coquette, Violet-capped Woodnymph, Sombre Hummingbird, Versicolored Emerald, Glittering-throated Emerald, Swallow-tailed Kite, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, Channel-billed Toucan, Yellow-throated Woodpecker, Plain Parakeet, Scaly-headed Parrot, Spot-breasted Antvireo, Ferruginous Antbird, Scaled Antbird, Plain-winged Woodcreeper, Band-tailed Hornero, Rufous Hornero, Crested Becard, Grey-hooded Flycatcher, Yellow-olive Flatbill, Euler's Flycatcher, Social Flycatcher, Streaked Flycatcher, Tropical Kingbird, Chivi Vireo, Blue-and-white Swallow, House Wren, Pale-breasted Thrush, Yellow-legged Thrush, Rufous-bellied Thrush, Violaceous Euphonia, Chestnut-bellied Euphonia, Rufous-collared Sparrow, Crested Oropendola, Southern Yellowthroat, Flame-crested Tanager, Ruby-crowned Tanager, Brazilian Tanager, Golden-chevroned Tanager, Palm Tanager, Green-headed Tanager, Swallow Tanager, Blue Dacnis, Green Honeycreeper, Rufous-headed Tanager, Lined Seedeater, Double-collared Seedeater, Bananaquit,

Sítio Folha Seca: Black Jacobin, Saw-billed Hermit, Festive Coquette, Brazilian Ruby, Violet-capped Woodnymph, Versicolored Emerald, Glittering-throated Emerald, White-chinned Sapphire, Rufous-winged Antwren, Black-cheeked Gnateater, Rufous-capped Antthrush, Olivaceous Woodcreeper, White-bearded Manakin, Whiskered Myiobius, Sao Paulo Tyrannulet, Violaceous Euphonia, Chestnut-bellied Euphonia, Red-rumped Cacique, Brazilian Tanager, Azure-shouldered Tanager, Green-headed Tanager, Red-necked Tanager, Blue Dacnis, Green Honeycreeper, Bananaquit, Guianan Squirrel,

Brazil Day 15 28.02.2020

Today was our last day in the Ubatuba area, and as such we had a few loose ends that we wanted to tie off, especially having missed a day previously with the rain. It was another dull day but it remained largely dry and we enjoyed some very pleasant birding. We started our day at Casa do Farina, an old mill where we hoped to find tawny-throated leaftosser, but we received no response from the bird. A Sharp-tailed Streamcreeper was obviously excellent compensation.

We then drove back to the farm we had visited the previous evening, to hopefully see Slaty Bristlefront. We had heard a bird the previous day but it had not materialized, so that was the area we tried again. Remarkably there was no response in that area. Facing down another dip it was starting to feel like one of those days. A little further on however we had a response from a different Bristlefront. I decided that we were not dipping this bird, so went into the scrub after it. The search involved a barb-wire fence, a steep bank and thick vegetation but against all the odds we managed to spot the bird showing brilliantly running up and down a fallen log. It was fantastic and completely unconcerned by our presence. We bumped into a few mixed flocks on our walk back with really smart birds such as Whiskered Myiobus, Spot-backed Anshrike, Green-backed Trogon and White-necked Thrush, as well as my first male Pin-tailed Manakin.

-Slaty Bristlefront

-Black-cheeked Gnateater

-Green-backed Trogon

-Blue Manakin

-Pin-tailed Manakin

-Whiskered Myiobius

This was all before lunch, so we decided to visit the island of Ilhabela about two hours drive south of Ubatuba. To get to the island we had to take a car ferry, but for 19 Reis how could we refuse. The island is the only place in the region where it would be possibly to see Southern Mealy Amazon Parrot, but the birds were apparently common, so we were optimistic in our afternoon adventure. And it paid off, with two small flocks of these large amazon parrots flying over the main town on the island, before we spotted two feeding in trees by the side of the road. It rounded off nicely our mixed time in Ubatuba. We also had a nice stop at the fishing marina, where there were no less than 19 Black-crowned Night Herons showing as well as feral pigeons.

-Southern Mealy Amazon 

-Black-crowned Night Heron

Species List:

Casa do Farinha: Picazuro Pigeon, Ruddy Ground Dove, Black Jacobin, Saw-billed Hermit, Violet-capped Woodnymph, Slaty-breasted Wood Rail, Channel-billed Toucan, Scaled Antbird, Black-cheeked Gnateater, Sharp-tailed Streamcreeper, Black-capped Foliage-gleaner, Blue Manakin, Boat-billed Flycatcher, Social Flycatcher, Variegated Flycatcher, Tropical Kingbird, House Wren, Crested Oropendola, Red-rumped Cacique, Riverbank Warbler, Brazilian Tanager, Sayaca Tanager, Saffron Finch, Blue-black Grassquit, Double-collared Seedeater, Bananaquit,

Sitio Folha Seca: Black Jacobin, Saw-billed Hermit, Reddish Hermit, Festive Coquette, Violet-capped Woodnymph, Versicolored Emerald, Glittering-throated Emerald, White-chinned Sapphire, Slaty-breasted Wood Rail, Green-backed Trogon, Spot-backed Antshrike, Spot-breasted Antvireo, Rufous-winged Antwren, Scaled Antbird, Black-cheeked Gnateater, Slaty Bristlefront, Olivaceous Woodcreeper, Plain-winged Woodcreeper, Lesser Woodcreeper, Blue Manakin, Pin-tailed Manakin, White-winged Becard, Whiskered Myiobius, White-necked Thrush, Violaceous Euphonia, Flame-crested Tanager, Brazilian Tanager, Azure-shouldered Tanager, Green-headed Tanager, Blue Dacnis, Rufous-headed Tanager, Bananaquit,
Ilhabela: Feral Pigeon, Ruddy Ground Dove, Semipalmated Plover, Kelp Gull, Magnificent Frigatebird, Little Blue Heron, Snowy Egret, Black-crowned Night Heron, Black Vulture, Southern Crested Caracara, Southern Mealy Amazon, Maroon-bellied Parakeet, Masked Water Tyrant, Great Kiskadee, Tropical Kingbird, Blue-and-white Swallow, Barn Swallow, Rufous-bellied Thrush, House Sparrow, Brazilian Tanager, Palm Tanager, Saffron Finch, Bananaquit,

Brazil; Rio de Janeiro state 23.02.2020 - 25.02.2020

Brazil Day 10 23.02.2020

After a few days in Rio enjoying the delights of carnival. Today we headed back into birding mode. We hoped to see a couple of Cotinga species in the mountains just north of Rio, and in order to maximise our chances, had hired a guide, Cirillo, who was a friend of Lias.

Although our first stop was supposed to be the famous reserve of REGUA, instead we took a morning detour to the north side of the mountains to look for Serra Antwren and Three-toed Jacamar at a site the guide knew. He was not wrong, as within a few minutes of arriving on site we had managed to connect with both species, both showing extremely well. There were some other nice species in the forest fragment as well, including Rufous Gnateater and Chestnut-backed Antshrike. We also had a strange mammal that had us wondering for some time before Lia’s friend that studies mammals identified it as a Bare-tailed Woolly Opossum.

-Serra Antwren

-Three-toed Jacamar

-Rufous Gnateater

-Chestnut-vented Conebill

-Uniform Finch

-Bare-tailed Woolly Opossum

We then headed to REGUA for the afternoon. The reserve is an area of reforested pasture, with an established network of ponds and wetlands. Unfortunately, it had become overcast and extremely humid, so bird activity was frustratingly low, specifically our target Cotingas. I did manage a few lifers however; Boat-billed Heron, Eye-ringed Tody-Flycatcher, Black-cheeked Gnatcatcher and Red-legged Honeycreeper. We tried for owls in the evening but sadly the only species I was able to manage was Ferruginous Pygmy Owl.

-Rufescent Tiger Heron

-Boat-billed Heron

-Black-cheeked Gnateater

Species List:

Carmo: Ruddy Ground Dove, Guira Cuckoo, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Black-and-white Hawk-Eagle, Roadside Hawk, Three-toed Jacamar, Southern Crested Caracara, Yellow-headed Caracara, American Kestrel, White-eyed Parakeet, Chestnut-backed Antshrike, Serra Antwren, Rufous Gnateater, Scaled Woodcreeper, White-winged Becard, Sepia-capped Flycatcher, Long-tailed Tyrant, Short-crested Flycatcher, Brown-crested Flycatcher, Social Flycatcher, Streaked Flycatcher, Chopi Blackbird, Sayaca Tanager, Burnished-buff Tanager, Blue Dacnis, Chestnut-vented Conebill, Uniform Finch, Double-collared Seedeater, Bare-tailed Woolly Opossum,

REGUA: Picazuro Pigeon, Ruddy Ground Dove, Squirrel Cuckoo, Common Gallinule, Southern Lapwing, Wattled Jacana, Rufescent Tiger Heron, Great Egret, Western Cattle Egret, Striated Heron, Whistling Heron, Black-crowned Night Heron, Boat-billed Heron, Black Vulture, Ferruginous Pygmy Owl, Ringed Kingfisher, Green Kingfisher, Chestnut-backed Antshrike, Black-cheeked Gnateater, Streaked Xenops, Band-tailed Hornero, Yellow-chinned Spinetail, Eye-ringed Tody-Tyrant, Masked Water Tyrant, White-headed Marsh Tyrant, Great Kiskadee, Rusty-margined Flycatcher, Social Flycatcher, Streaked Flycatcher, Blue-and-white Swallow, Southern Rough-winged Swallow, Red-rumped Cacique, Chestnut-capped Blackbird, Palm Tanager, Green-headed Tanager, Red-legged Honeycreeper, Chestnut-vented Conebill,

Brazil Day 11 24.02.2020

Today we spent the full day at REGUA with our guide, Cirillo. After failing the previous evening we headed off once again into the forest trail to try and find the Cotingas but with no luck. Again we struggled to find any real numbers of birds along the trail, but I had a new bird with Unicolored Antwren. It was also awesome to see Capybaras and a Broad-snouted Caiman on the wetlands that we passed through.

-Capybara

-Broad-snouted Caiman

-Reddish Hermit

-Micrathyria ocellata

After lunch we headed out to a few sites away from the immediate reserve but still in the general area. First we headed to an area of pasture where there were a few drainage ditches that Cirillo said was a good place for Ash-throated Crake. While we were optimistic of seeing the bird, we did not expect it to run across the road, showing incredibly well. Only my third South American crake.

-Ash-throated Crake

And then, just before dark, we headed to a flooded field where we hoped to see the one of my most wanted birds; Giant Snipe. Although we never managed to find one on the deck, we had excellent views of two individuals flying over calling. The marsh was alive with South American Snipe, another lifer, and we had a lot of fun seeing these birds fly around, as well as on the deck. Once it got dark we started hearing an owl from the woods behind the field. We started playback but the woods were distant and the bird did not approach, so we sacked it off. As a courtesy I turned on the torch to scan and there, in full view at the top of a stumped palm tree, was a stunning Tawny-browed Owl. What an absolute beauty of a bird and a fine end to a brilliant afternoon.

-South American Snipe

-Tawny-browed Owl

-Big-eared Opossum

Species List:

REGUA: Picazuro Pigeon, Ruddy Ground Dove, White-tipped Dove, Greater Ani, Smooth-billed Ani, White-collared Swift, Black Jacobin, Reddish Hermit, Swallow-tailed Hummingbird, Common Gallinule, Southern Lapwing, South American Snipe, Giant Snipe, Wattled Jacana, Ash-throated Crake, Neotropic Cormorant, Rufescent Tiger Heron, Western Cattle Egret, Striated Heron, Black-crowned Night Heron, Boat-billed Heron, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Roadside Hawk, Rufous-capped Motmot, Green Kingfisher, Channel-billed Toucan, White-barred Piculet, White Woodpecker, Yellow-headed Caracara, Tawny-browed Owl, Unicolored Antwren, Streak-capped Antwren, Olivaceous Woodcreeper, Lesser Woodcreeper, Band-tailed Hornero, White-bearded Manakin, White-winged Becard, Sepia-capped Flycatcher, Masked Water Tyrant, White-headed Marsh Tyrant, Grey-hooded Attila, Boat-billed Flycatcher, Social Flycatcher, Tropical Kingbird, Blue-and-white Swallow, Southern Rough-winged Swallow, House Wren, Moustached Wren, Pale-breasted Thrush, Common Waxbill, Violaceous Euphonia, Red-rumped Cacique, Chestnut-capped Blackbird, Green-headed Tanager, Big-eared Opossum, Capybara, Broad-snouted Caiman,

Brazil Day 12 25.02.2020

We set off early from REGUA to head to Pico de Caledonia to try and find the rare and extremely endemic Grey-winged Cotinga. Spoiler, it called at us four times distantly but we never saw it. That said we still had a fantastic day birding in the area, with Cirillo (Our guide) knowing some of the spots for some more difficult and elusive species.

On a day with so many highlights its difficult to pick out a particular species but the Giant Antshrike pair that we saw were absolutely stunning and real beauties. We also had excellent views of Mouse-coloured Tapaculo and a brilliant Rufous-tailed Anthrush, both of which are normally skulking species. The Rufous-tailed Antbird was a good bird to see, as it is quite range restricted in the mountains around Rio, as it Green-crowned Plovercrest which sadly never sat still for a photo.

-Rufous-tailed Antbird

-Orange-eyed Thornbird

-Diademed Tanager

Rufous-tailed Antthrush

-Giant Antshrike

-Brazilian Ruby

I also managed my 2000^th world bird, in a female Black-and-gold Cotinga. We did see a male but it was distant and the views were nothing to write home about. We also tried for the stunning Swallow-tailed Cotinga before heading off, but sadly we dipped that as well. We then embarked on a seven hour drive to our next location on the coast.

-Black-and-Gold Cotinga

Species:

Pico de Caledonia: Squirrel Cuckoo, Brazilian Ruby, Green-crowned Plovercrest, Slaty-breasted Wood Rail, Black Vulture, Roadside Hawk, Giant Antshrike, Rufous-tailed Antbird, Mouse-colored Tapaculo, Rufous-tailed Antthrush, Orange-eyed Thornbird, Pallid Spinetail, Black-and-gold Cotinga, Serra do Mar Tyrannulet, Rufous-browed Peppershrike, Rufous-bellied Thrush, Rufous-collared Sparrow, Golden-crowned Warbler, White-rimmed Warbler, Black-goggled Tanager, Diademed Tanager, Brassy-breasted Tanager,