Brazil; Serra da Canastra 19.03.2020 - 21.03.2020

Day 35 19.03.2020

As a result of the developing Coronavirus situation we had to decide our next steps carefully. In the end we continued with our original plan of trying to see the Brazilian Merganser in the Serra de Canastra national park. Unfortunately the park itself closed due to the virus but the duck should be possible to see outside the park according to our guide. We arrived at the park late afternoon and birded a small marsh near the town we were staying in. We managed a long list but it was mainly common birds, except that I finally, FINALLY, connected with the stunning Streamer-tailed Tyrant when a pair of birds showed extremely well close to us displaying. It was a fantastic end to a day that was otherwise just driving.

-Streamer-tailed Tyrant

Species List:

São Roque de Minas Marsh: Pale-vented Pigeon, Picazuro Pigeon, Ruddy Ground Dove, Smooth-billed Ani, Sick's Swift, Grey-necked Wood Rail, Buff-necked Ibis, Black Vulture, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, Toco Toucan, Southern Crested Caracara, Aplomado Falcon, Yellow-chevroned Parakeet, Blue-winged Parrotlet, Peach-fronted Parakeet, White-eyed Parakeet, Rufous Hornero, Rufous-fronted Thornbird, Spix's Spinetail, Yellow-bellied Elaenia, Crested Black Tyrant, Streamer-tailed Tyrant, Long-tailed Tyrant, Great Kiskadee, Social Flycatcher, Piratic Flycatcher, Tropical Kingbird, Blue-and-white Swallow, Chalk-browed Mockingbird, Pale-breasted Thrush, Rufous-bellied Thrush, Creamy-bellied Thrush, Crested Oropendola, Giant Cowbird, Chopi Blackbird, Golden-crowned Warbler, Sayaca Tanager, Palm Tanager, Burnished-buff Tanager, Blue Dacnis, Saffron Finch, Blue-black Grassquit, Bananaquit, Green-winged Saltator,

Brazil Day 36 20.03.2020

We had one full day in Canastra to try and find the critically endangered Brazilian Merganser. We hired a local guide who monitors the birds for a living, and set off to scan the lower courses of the Sao Francisco river. Heavy rainfall overnight had put something of a dampener on the whole day, as cloudy water would mean it would be harder to find the birds. Still we drove up and down the river checking various access points hoping that a duck might be showing. Alas it was not to be. Even with our guide leading us to former nest sites and usual locations for sightings we were unable to find any Mergansers.

The birding along the river was still fun and we saw a few nice species along the way. Black-throated Saltator, Plush-crested Jay, Sooty Tyrannulet and Green-billed Toucan were all highlights for me. It was just unfortunate that we could not find a Merganser to round the day off nicely.

-Green-billed and Toco Toucan

-Red-legged Seriema

-Rufous-tailed Jacamar

Species List:

Sao Francisco River: Rusty-margined Guan, Pale-vented Pigeon, Picazuro Pigeon, Ruddy Ground Dove, Scaled Dove, Guira Cuckoo, Smooth-billed Ani, Squirrel Cuckoo, White-collared Swift, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Savanna Hawk, Roadside Hawk, Ringed Kingfisher, Amazon Kingfisher, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, Toco Toucan, Green-billed Toucan, Red-legged Seriema, Southern Crested Caracara, Yellow-headed Caracara, Aplomado Falcon, Peach-fronted Parakeet, Pale-legged Hornero, White-bearded Manakin, Sepia-capped Flycatcher, Sooty Tyrannulet, Crested Black Tyrant, White-rumped Monjita, Streamer-tailed Tyrant, Masked Water Tyrant, Social Flycatcher, Tropical Kingbird, Plush-crested Jay, Blue-and-white Swallow, Southern Rough-winged Swallow, House Wren, Rufous-collared Sparrow, Crested Oropendola, Chestnut-capped Blackbird, Yellow-rumped Marshbird, Sayaca Tanager, Blue Dacnis, Saffron Finch, Blue-black Grassquit, Yellow-bellied Seedeater, Black-throated Saltator,

Brazil Day 37 21.03.2020

We decided to spend our final morning in Canastra checking over the sections of river that we had visited the previous day. It would only be a quick check but since we were already here, we decided it was worth it. We had some hope, as the weather was nicer than it was supposed to be and the river seemed clearer but alas, once again we were unable to find the Merganser. The other birds in the area remained much the same as the previous day which helped make our post lunch departure easier, although an Armadillo that scuttled across the road was a nice surprise. From Canastra we headed back to Itatiba, where we would spend the last week of our trip safe from any potential lockdown or state closure.

-Cliff Flycatcher

Species List:

Sao Francisco River: Picazuro Pigeon, Ruddy Ground Dove, Scaled Dove, White-tipped Dove, Guira Cuckoo, Smooth-billed Ani, Planalto Hermit, Blackish Rail, Grey-necked Wood Rail, Southern Lapwing, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Roadside Hawk, Ringed Kingfisher, Toco Toucan, Red-legged Seriema, Southern Crested Caracara, Yellow-headed Caracara, Blue-winged Parrotlet, Peach-fronted Parakeet, Rufous Hornero, White-bearded Manakin, Cliff Flycatcher, Crested Black Tyrant, Yellow-browed Tyrant, White-rumped Monjita, Masked Water Tyrant, Brown-crested Flycatcher, Social Flycatcher, Tropical Kingbird, Curl-crested Jay, Chalk-browed Mockingbird, Variable Oriole, Flavescent Warbler, Sayaca Tanager, Burnished-buff Tanager, Saffron Finch, Blue-black Grassquit, Yellow-bellied Seedeater, Bananaquit, Black-throated Saltator,