Brazil; Reserva Bicudinho-do-brejo 11.03.2020 - 13.03.2020

Brazil Day 27 11.03.2020

Today we left Curitiba and headed to the reserve of Bicudinho-do-brejo. This reserve is a private reserve only accessible by over an hour on a boat from a dock, two hours from Curitiba city, and we would be there on our own. Because Lia had stayed before and had contacts, she arranged access to this very special place. We arrived at the docks at just after 09.00, ready to board. The reserve is named after the Parana Antwren, a species first discovered there, but is possible to find along the waterway. We tried a quick playback and had a pair respond even whilst we waited at the dock.

The boat journey took over an hour but we made various stops for birds along the way. The best of these was the stunning Many-coloured Rush-Tyrant. Although the bird did not show particularly well, it was still enough to appreciate just how stunning it was. Also on the boat trip we had Blackish Rail and excellent views of Roseate Spoonbill.

-Parana Antwren

-Many-coloured Rush-Tyrant

-Roseate Spoonbill

-Neotropic Cormorant

Once at the reserve we cooked a quick lunch before heading out. The first flock we encountered had Kaepfers Tody-Flycatcher in it, one the reserves specialty species, and just up the track we found a few Restinga Tyrannulets, which are another. It being late afternoon the birding was slow, but I managed what is my 15^th Tapaculo species in White-breasted Tapaculo, in addition to the few species moving in flocks. But the real highlight was a flock of Spot-winged Wood-Quail that we picked up moving through the leaf-litter. 

-White-breasted Tapaculo

-Kaempfers Tody-Flycatcher

-Restinga Tyrannulet

After dark I went to town on the Owls and managed three species; Brazilian Pygmy Owl, which is a lifer, Mottle Owl, a Brazil tick and Black-capped Screech-Owl. It was a pretty exciting first day.

-East Brazilian Pygmy-Owl

-Black-capped Screech-Owl

-Mottled Owl

Species List:

Baía de Guaratuba: Ruddy Ground Dove, Smooth-billed Ani, Squirrel Cuckoo, Blackish Rail, Southern Lapwing, Kelp Gull, Neotropic Cormorant, Cocoi Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Little Blue Heron, Western Cattle Egret, Bare-faced Ibis, Roseate Spoonbill, Turkey Vulture, Ringed Kingfisher, Green Kingfisher, Parana Antwren, Many-colored Rush Tyrant, Great Kiskadee, Tropical Kingbird, Southern Yellowthroat,

Bicudinho-do-brejo: Spot-winged Wood Quail, Versicolored Emerald, Glittering-throated Emerald, Black-crowned Night Heron, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Black-capped Screech Owl, East Brazilian Pygmy Owl, Mottled Owl, Blond-crested Woodpecker, Variable Antshrike, Unicolored Antwren, Marsh Antwren, White-breasted Tapaculo, Yellow-chinned Spinetail, Rufous-capped Spinetail, Restinga Tyrannulet, Kaempfer's Tody-Tyrant, Yellow-lored Tody-Flycatcher, Long-billed Wren, Pale-breasted Thrush, Violaceous Euphonia, Golden-crowned Warbler, Riverbank Warbler, Brazilian Tanager, Sayaca Tanager,

Brazil Day 28 12.03.2020

This was our only full day in Bicudinho-do brejo so we had to make the most of it. It started off brilliantly with a pair of Azure Jays, a regional endemic, perched in the tree outside our lodgings. We spent the morning birding the trail that led into the forest. Although the insane numbers of mosquitos made it hard work, we managed to see some excellent birds. Squamate Antbird was a particular standout, whilst the mixed flocks held good species such as White-eyed Foliage-Gleaner, Ochre-necked Piculette and Unicolored Antwren.

-Azure Jay

-Unicolored Antwren

-Squamate Antbird

-Ochre-collared Piculette

-Green-backed Trogon

-Restinga Tyrannulet

After lunch we stayed around our lodgings. The warm weather meant birding was slow but I tried to scan for raptors and was rewarded with a stunning adult King Vulture. In the late evening we went down to the river next to the reserve where we had stunning views of the Parana Antwren showing incredibly well, whilst flocks of Barn Swallows travelled overhead. After dark I one again dabbled in owls and had the Black-capped Screech-Owl and Mottled Owl once again.

-Parana Antwren

-Black-capped Screech-Owl

Species List:

Bicudinho-do brejo: Brazilian Teal, White-tipped Dove, Saw-billed Hermit, Dusky-throated Hermit, Violet-capped Woodnymph, Little Blue Heron, Western Cattle Egret, King Vulture, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Rufous-thighed Hawk, Black-capped Screech Owl, Mottled Owl, Green-backed Trogon, Ochre-collared Piculet, Blond-crested Woodpecker, Variable Antshrike, Unicolored Antwren, Parana Antwren, Scaled Antbird, White-shouldered Fire-eye, Squamate Antbird, Black-cheeked Gnateater, Rufous Gnateater, Plain-winged Woodcreeper, Lesser Woodcreeper, Black-capped Foliage-gleaner, White-eyed Foliage-gleaner, Rufous-capped Spinetail, Blue Manakin, Greenish Schiffornis, Restinga Tyrannulet, Kaempfer's Tody-Tyrant, Yellow-lored Tody-Flycatcher, Tropical Kingbird, Azure Jay, Grey-breasted Martin, Barn Swallow, Long-billed Wren, Pale-breasted Thrush, White-necked Thrush, Violaceous Euphonia, Chestnut-bellied Euphonia, Red-rumped Cacique, Unicolored Blackbird, Golden-crowned Warbler, Riverbank Warbler, Red-crowned Ant Tanager, Brazilian Tanager, Palm Tanager, Green-headed Tanager, Red-necked Tanager, Saffron Finch, Bananaquit,

Brazil Day 29 13.03.2020

We spent the morning birding around our lodge in Bicudinho-do-brejo in the hopes of finding some last-minute lifers. After two days of trying with no success, today we finally managed to find ourselves a Spotted Bamboowren. This bizarre Tapaculo species is more obviously marked and apparently showier than most of its compatriots. A Great Black Hawk flew over very low but all too briefly and we got incredible views of Squamate Antbird showing brilliantly.

-Parana Antwren

-White-shouldered Fire-eye

-Squamate Antbird

-Spotted Bamboowren

Our boat came to retrieve us at 09.30 and he was not late. Our journey back had a number of nice bits to keep us happy including a lifer in Unicolor Blackbird and a Brazil tick for me in Osprey. The assortment of herons and wading birds was still excellent, although it being low tide, they were much more spread out than they had been previously.

-Blackish Rail

-Western Osprey

Species List:

Bicudinho-do brejo: White-collared Swift, Saw-billed Hermit, Violet-capped Woodnymph, Turkey Vulture, Great Black Hawk, Ochre-collared Piculet, Plain Parakeet, Rufous-winged Antwren, Parana Antwren, Scaled Antbird, White-shouldered Fire-eye, Squamate Antbird, Rufous Gnateater, Spotted Bamboowren, Lesser Woodcreeper, Plain Xenops, Rufous-capped Spinetail, Greenish Schiffornis, Sepia-capped Flycatcher, Restinga Tyrannulet, Kaempfer's Tody-Tyrant, Social Flycatcher, Tropical Kingbird, Grey-breasted Martin, Long-billed Wren, Pale-breasted Thrush, Rufous-bellied Thrush, Chestnut-bellied Euphonia, Red-rumped Cacique, Southern Yellowthroat, Tropical Parula, Golden-crowned Warbler, Riverbank Warbler, Ruby-crowned Tanager, Brazilian Tanager, Blue Dacnis,
Baía de Guaratuba: White-tipped Dove, Blackish Rail, Grey-necked Wood Rail, Magnificent Frigatebird, Neotropic Cormorant, Cocoi Heron, Little Blue Heron, Striated Heron, Roseate Spoonbill, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Western Osprey, Amazon Kingfisher, Yellow-headed Caracara, Great Kiskadee, Tropical Kingbird, Azure Jay, Red-rumped Cacique, Unicolored Blackbird, Brazilian Tanager,