Brazil; Legado das Águas

  It being Saturday, Lia had another day off from the lab, so we headed off to a new area of Atlantic Forest in the municipality of Miracatu. Here the forest is largely intact with some spectacular scenery, despite a number of the valleys being dammed for Hydroelectric power. There is a reserve in the area we had panned to visit, or bird along the road adjacent to it, but upon arrival we found that due to the COVID situation the reserve required prior booking. This did not mean that our day was a dead loss however, as there was ample forest, we could access but it did mean that we missed a lot of target species for the day. That said, we had a fantastic day birding.

  We pulled off the highway into the forest just after first light and almost immediately found our first target; the migrant Rufous-tailed Attila. Lia picked it up on call as we were driving past, but it proved a challenge to locate initially. However, after some effort we did manage to get it to show itself, albeit poorly. In the same area we also enjoyed some fantastic views of Swallow-tailed Kite, with up to eight individuals soaring over the hillside.

  We then drove along a dirt track for half an hour, passing through small communities and patches of excellent forest. Despite the breeding season being almost over, there were still a few Bare-throated Bellbirds singing, and we were lucky enough to pick one out, perched atop a Eucalyptus tree distantly. This is only the second time I have seen these extremely loud, but strangely difficult to see species.

  The final few kilometers before the reserve entrance were perhaps the best patches of forest, and it was here that we spent our morning once we realized that we couldn’t enter the main forest stretches. From here we found a number of species that I had only seen once or twice before; Ochre-rumped Antbird, Tufted Antshrike, Unicolored Antwren and Black-throated Grosbeak. Perhaps the bird of the day was a Cryptic Antthrush that showed fantastically well after some effort to locate. And in addition to all the birds, I also found a Painted Coral Snake in the undergrowth. Despite being the second most venomous snake in the world, they cause few fatalities due to the weak nature of their bite. Still, we did not get too close and only managed poor views as it disappeared into the undergrowth.

  In this forest section I also had another lifer, not one I was expecting today but one that had constantly eluded me; Black-legged Dacnis. It occurs in most Atlantic Forest patches, but is very rare and difficult to see due to its overwhelming similarities to Blue Dacnis. It was good to confirm this male with photos, showing clearly the black legs.  

-Swallow-tailed Kite

-Bare-throated Bellbird

-Ochre-rumped Antbird

-Unicoloured Antwren

-Black-throated Grosbeak

-Painted Coral Snake

-Black-legged Dacnis

-Cryptic Antthrush

 
Species List:
Legado das Águas: Brown Tinamou, Picazuro Pigeon, Ruddy Ground Dove, White-tipped Dove, Squirrel Cuckoo, White-collared Swift, Grey-rumped Swift, Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift, Black Jacobin, Southern Lapwing, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Swallow-tailed Kite, White-tailed Hawk, Crescent-chested Puffbird, Green-billed Toucan, Ochre-collared Piculet, Southern Crested Caracara, Plain Parakeet, Scaly-headed Parrot, Tufted Antshrike, Variable Antshrike, Spot-breasted Antvireo, Unicolored Antwren, Ferruginous Antbird, Ochre-rumped Antbird, White-shouldered Fire-eye, White-breasted Tapaculo, Cryptic Antthrush, Rufous-capped Spinetail, Bare-throated Bellbird, Black-tailed Tityra, Crested Becard, Whiskered Myiobius, White-throated Spadebill, Drab-breasted Bamboo Tyrant, Ochre-faced Tody-Flycatcher, Yellow-lored Tody-Flycatcher, Yellow-olive Flatbill, Euler's Flycatcher, Long-tailed Tyrant, Rufous-tailed Attila, Grey-hooded Attila, Great Kiskadee, Boat-billed Flycatcher, Streaked Flycatcher, Piratic Flycatcher, Rufous-browed Peppershrike, Chivi Vireo, Southern Rough-winged Swallow, Trilling Gnatwren, House Wren, Yellow-legged Thrush, White-necked Thrush, Rufous-bellied Thrush, Red-rumped Cacique, Golden-crowned Warbler, Black-goggled Tanager, Ruby-crowned Tanager, Golden-chevroned Tanager, Burnished-buff Tanager, Green-headed Tanager, Red-necked Tanager, Swallow Tanager, Black-legged Dacnis, Lined Seedeater, Double-collared Seedeater, Bananaquit, Black-throated Grosbeak, Painted Coral Snake,