Brazil; PNM do Trabiju

 In addition to our weekend adventure we had also arranged to visit a nest of Atlantic Royal Flycatcher that Lia’s friend Alex had a stakeout for at a small park about two hours drive from Sao Paulo. Having travelled up the night before we were able to make a fairly relaxed start to our day and we arrived with the birds at around 07:30.

  This is the rarest of the four Royal Flycatcher species, having a low population size distributed over a large area. The nest is a hanging structure of sticks always hanging over water, so they can be easy to locate if they are in the area. We enjoyed brilliant views of the birds at close quarters as they flew around defending their territory and constructing their nest. Although the male was in constant attendance of the female we only saw the iconic display once, and badly obscured by foliage. Still, the quaking of the wings and raising of the crest were something to behold on this absolutely stunning bird. In total we spent three hours watching the birds as they fed and fussed around the nest.

  The park was extremely dry and more reminiscent of a MG dry forest. The birding was very pleasant with a number of cool species also seen such as displaying Crested Oropendula and Saffron Toucanets. There was a huge fire burning in another area of the park, so falling ash was a constant feature of our visit.  

-Atlantic Royal Flycatcher

-Proceratophrys boiei

Species List:
PNM do Trabiju: Squirrel Cuckoo, Violet-capped Woodnymph, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Savanna Hawk, White-tailed Hawk, Saffron Toucanet, Toco Toucan, White-barred Piculet, Yellow-throated Woodpecker, Crested Caracara, Maroon-bellied Parakeet, Star-throated Antwren, Plain Antvireo, Ferruginous Antbird, Olivaceous Woodcreeper, Lesser Woodcreeper, Streaked Xenops, White-collared Foliage-gleaner, Buff-fronted Foliage-gleaner, White-eyed Foliage-gleaner, Blue Manakin, Pin-tailed Manakin, White-bearded Manakin, Crested Becard, Atlantic Royal Flycatcher, White-throated Spadebill, Sepia-capped Flycatcher, Southern Antpipit, Yellow-olive Flatbill, Long-tailed Tyrant, Grey-hooded Attila, Sibilant Sirystes, Great Kiskadee, Piratic Flycatcher, Pale-breasted Thrush, Chestnut-bellied Euphonia, Crested Oropendola, Golden-crowned Warbler, Red-crowned Ant Tanager, Ruby-crowned Tanager, Sayaca Tanager, Palm Tanager, Green-headed Tanager, Swallow Tanager, Rufous-headed Tanager, Bananaquit,

Brazil; Arrozais de Tremembé

   A friend of Lias had found an active nest of a pair of Atlantic Royal Flycatchers in a park some two hours drive outside of Sao Paulo. With Lia’s working in the lab still being delayed by logistics we took a couple of days to travel over and see this very rare bird. In the end we decided to travel over the afternoon before, bird a nearby wetland and therefore not have to travel so far the subsequent morning to get to the park.

  The wetland we visited was the Arrozais de Tremembé, a network of rice fields and lagoons that we visited before. It has a great record of turning up rare species, so we were optimistic that there might be something interesting for us to see there. Alas, none of the species we had hoped for were available, but there was something equally unexpected; a blue Budgie, similar to smuggler from the autumn of 2016 at Spurn. It had taken up friendship with a large flock of White-eyed Parakeets and seemed to be doing well in their company.

  On the actual bird front we enjoyed some nice waterbirds. There was a single Southern Pochard on the lagoons, the only other time I have seen this species was the last time I visited this site. We also had two Comb Ducks fly low over us, which was a species found at this site we were hoping to see. The dry fields were filled with Grassland Yellow-Finches, I can’t ever remember seeing this many before, and there were ample wetland bird species such as Yellowish Pipit, Whistling Ducks and the common species of Herons.

-Budgerigar & White-eyed Parakeet 

-White-backed Stilt

-Comb Duck

Species List:
Arrozais de Tremembé: White-faced Whistling Duck, Fulvous Whistling Duck, Comb Duck, Muscovy Duck, Brazilian Teal, Southern Pochard, Feral Pigeon, Picazuro Pigeon, Ruddy Ground Dove, Eared Dove, Guira Cuckoo, Striped Cuckoo, Sick's Swift, Ash-throated Crake, Common Gallinule, White-backed Stilt, Southern Lapwing, Anhinga, Neotropic Cormorant, Pinnated Bittern, Cocoi Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Western Cattle Egret, Whistling Heron, Black-crowned Night Heron, Bare-faced Ibis, Black Vulture, Crested Caracara, White-eyed Parakeet, Band-tailed Hornero, Yellow-chinned Spinetail, Common Tody-Flycatcher, Yellow-bellied Elaenia, White-rumped Monjita, White-headed Marsh Tyrant, Masked Water Tyrant, Cattle Tyrant, Fork-tailed Flycatcher, Southern Rough-winged Swallow, White-rumped Swallow, House Wren, Common Waxbill, House Sparrow, Yellowish Pipit, White-browed Blackbird, Shiny Cowbird, Grassland Yellow Finch, Blue-black Grassquit, Capybara, Coypu,

Brazil; Legado das Aguas; day 2

   We started our morning early in the hopes of seeing a Pavonine Cuckoo that had been reported the previous day. Alas we were not able to see it, although we heard it later in the day, but the early start meant we were already in the forest for when things began to liven up. We had a brilliant mixed flock of commoner Antbirds and Tanagers, including a Fawn-breasted Tanager, only the second one I have ever seen and the first that actually showed well. The flocks continued in fine form throughout the morning, mostly composed of commoner species but with a few nice additions, such as a cracking female Robust Woodpecker, only the second I have ever seen, a pair of Spot-billed Toucanets, a pair of Crescent-chested Puffbirds and at the end of the walk, a Bay-ringed Tyannulet. Frustratingly, the identification did not click until the next day, which is frustrating given how difficult this bird can be.

After a breakfast enjoying the feeders again we took a steady walk down the road where we finally saw the bird that initially brought us to this reserve, the Black-headed Berryeater. We heard one call distantly but after a little playback failed to produce anything we gave up until after 20 minutes it called again in the forest next to us. With some persuasion the bird then came out and showed rather well in the sub-canopy above us, finally laying to rest my demons with this species.

After the catharsis that was finally connecting with this endangered cotinga, we spent a relaxed lunchtime enjoying the feeders and scanning for raptors. A Bat Falcon was a nice surprise, although we were informed that they were breeding nearby, and a very high up White-necked Hawk drifted over. The tanagers at the feeder were very cheeky, with some of the Green-headed Tanagers even stealing food from our lunch and taking fruit from our hands. There was also a troop of Black Capuchin monkeys that visited us, taking food from the feeders, and an enormous Argentine Black-and-white Tegu wandered casually along the road. This reserve really is incredible.

On the way out, it being mid to late afternoon we did not record so many species but I did manage to get my 700^th Brazilian bird! We stopped off at one of the hydroelectric dams on the road in the hope of spotting the White-thighed Swallow. Although common in the Amazon, this species is tricky to come by in the Atlantic Forest and only a few sites regularly have it. Although not common here, it had been seen enough to make me think we had a chance but we had never spotted it, until now when one flew over us calling. Fortunately, it did a couple of flybys so I was able to grab some record shots, confirming the identification, but sadly it never perched or flew particularly close for anything more. Still, a fantastic end to the weekend on the birding front, with 3 new species for me, and a brilliant birthday weekend for Lia.

-Spot-billed Toucanet

-Robust Woodpecker

-Plain Parakeet

-Azure-shouldered Tanager

-Black-headed Berryeater

-White-thighed Swallow

-Turkey Vulture

Species List:
Legado das Aguas: Solitary Tinamou, Brown Tinamou, Spot-winged Wood Quail, Plumbeous Pigeon, Grey-rumped Swift, Saw-billed Hermit, Festive Coquette, Violet-capped Woodnymph, Slaty-breasted Wood Rail, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, East Brazilian Pygmy Owl, Rufous-capped Motmot, Crescent-chested Puffbird, Spot-billed Toucanet, Channel-billed Toucan, Ochre-collared Piculet, White-spotted Woodpecker, Robust Woodpecker, Yellow-throated Woodpecker, Bat Falcon, Plain Parakeet, Scaly-headed Parrot, Cobalt-rumped Parrotlet, Spot-backed Antshrike, Star-throated Antwren, Spot-breasted Antvireo, Rufous-margined Antwren, Ferruginous Antbird, White-shouldered Fire-eye, Squamate Antbird, Spotted Bamboowren, White-breasted Tapaculo, Olivaceous Woodcreeper, Plain-winged Woodcreeper, Lesser Woodcreeper, Sharp-tailed Streamcreeper, Black-capped Foliage-gleaner, Buff-fronted Foliage-gleaner, White-eyed Foliage-gleaner, Blue Manakin, Pin-tailed Manakin, Black-headed Berryeater, Bare-throated Bellbird, Greenish Schiffornis, Chestnut-crowned Becard, Black-tailed Myiobius, Grey-hooded Flycatcher, Sao Paulo Tyrannulet, Oustalet's Tyrannulet, Bay-ringed Tyrannulet, Yellow-lored Tody-Flycatcher, Yellow-olive Flatbill, Cliff Flycatcher, Planalto Tyrannulet, Euler's Flycatcher, Long-tailed Tyrant, Short-crested Flycatcher, Great Kiskadee, Piratic Flycatcher, Tropical Kingbird, Chivi Vireo, Blue-and-white Swallow, White-thighed Swallow, Southern Rough-winged Swallow, Grey-breasted Martin, House Wren, Pale-breasted Thrush, Yellow-legged Thrush, White-necked Thrush, Rufous-bellied Thrush, Violaceous Euphonia, Chestnut-bellied Euphonia, Rufous-collared Sparrow, Red-rumped Cacique, Shiny Cowbird, Golden-crowned Warbler, Riverbank Warbler, Olive-green Tanager, Red-crowned Ant Tanager, Ruby-crowned Tanager, Fawn-breasted Tanager, Sayaca Tanager, Azure-shouldered Tanager, Golden-chevroned Tanager, Palm Tanager, Green-headed Tanager, Red-necked Tanager, Blue Dacnis, Green Honeycreeper, Double-collared Seedeater,

Brazil; Legado das Aguas; day 1

  It’s been five months since I left Brazil, so it was well overdue that I finally made it back. There were some difficulties due to the pandemic but with some careful planning I managed to arrive with no hiccups. My arrival was to coincide with Lia’s birthday on the 25^th, and we had planned a weekend away with her family at the brilliant Legado das Aguas reserve a couple of hours outside Sao Paulo.

  The journey to the reserve takes a couple of hours along the main rain and then another 90 minutes through a dirt road that runs directly through the forest. Progress along this road is often slow due to the fact that it is not uncommon to encounter interesting species as we travel. And so it was today. First we encountered a South American Snipe in a small marsh on the side of the road, which was a tricky customer but eventually gave itself up! But then we had a real surprise thanks to Lias fantastic call recognition. From our moving car she heard and recognised the call of Buffy-fronted Seedeater, a species that neither of us has ever seen due to its nomadic habits. We jumped out of the car and with a little playback the bird showed remarkably well, allowing us to get some excellent views of this difficult species. A stunning male Temmincks Seedeater also dropped in but due to being short on time we could not linger longer to obtain better views.

  Once we arrived at the lodging we spent the afternoon around the restaurant feeders and the adjacent forest. The feeders here were extremely lively compared to the last time we were here. Now, in addition to the commoner Tanager species present, there was also Olive-green Tanager, which is a species I have seen only twice before and never visiting feeders like this. There were a few Saffron Toucanets in the forest as well, which showed nicely in the gloomy conditions. We also heard a few Tinamous as well as other forest species, and as dusk fell we had a Short-tailed Nighthawk fly low over us.

-Buffy-fronted Seedeater

-Palm Tanager

-Red-necked Tanager

-Olive Green Tanager

-Plumbeous Pigeon

-Saffron Toucanet

Species List:
Legado das Aguas: Solitary Tinamou, Brown Tinamou, Spot-winged Wood Quail, Plumbeous Pigeon, White-tipped Dove, Short-tailed Nighthawk, White-collared Swift, Violet-capped Woodnymph, South American Snipe, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Black-capped Screech Owl, East Brazilian Pygmy Owl, Saffron Toucanet, Channel-billed Toucan, Lineated Woodpecker, Yellow-headed Caracara, Plain Parakeet, Scaly-headed Parrot, Spot-backed Antshrike, Variable Antshrike, Spot-breasted Antvireo, Rufous-margined Antwren, Ferruginous Antbird, White-breasted Tapaculo, White-throated Woodcreeper, Lesser Woodcreeper, Sharp-tailed Streamcreeper, White-eyed Foliage-gleaner, Spix's Spinetail, Blue Manakin, Bare-throated Bellbird, Greenish Schiffornis, Chestnut-crowned Becard, Sepia-capped Flycatcher, Yellow-olive Flatbill, Cliff Flycatcher, Planalto Tyrannulet, Long-tailed Tyrant, Short-crested Flycatcher, Tropical Kingbird, Chivi Vireo, Blue-and-white Swallow, Southern Rough-winged Swallow, Grey-breasted Martin, House Wren, White-necked Thrush, Rufous-bellied Thrush, Violaceous Euphonia, Rufous-collared Sparrow, Red-rumped Cacique, Tropical Parula, Golden-crowned Warbler, Olive-green Tanager, Ruby-crowned Tanager, Sayaca Tanager, Azure-shouldered Tanager, Golden-chevroned Tanager, Palm Tanager, Green-headed Tanager, Red-necked Tanager, Swallow Tanager, Blue Dacnis, Green Honeycreeper, Saffron Finch, Double-collared Seedeater, Temminck's Seedeater, Buffy-fronted Seedeater, Bananaquit,

Germany; Birding around Husum

 The wonderful thing about living in this part of Germany is that migrant species often can just arrive in suburban estates. So it was that on my walks to and from the office there would be chances to see Spotted Flycatcher and Common Redstart, while Tree Pipit was nearly daily flying overhead. There were a few days where I went out specifically birding, and even managed a world tick.

11 September 2021; Beltringharder Koog

  This was the only day really spent birding, with Balduin taking me north to Beltringharder Koog. Initially we had planned to try to see an Oriental Pratincole that had been further north for some time but alas it disappeared just as I arrived, so we opted to stay closer as well.
  This was useful as there was a Spotted Crake in the area, which would have been a world tick for me, and as such we first went to the small hide where we hoped the bird would be. Frustratingly in the hour that we were there the bird showed only briefly and only I saw it. Fortunately there was a group of feeding Greenshank right in front of us, with a very smart Spotted Redshank in tow, while a pair of Bluethroat fed along the edges of the reeds behind. As we were leaving the hide a Merlin came bombing through and snatched a Barn Swallow from right in front of us, before perching up to disembowel it.
  Afterwards we headed to another area of the Koog which was absolutely rammed with birds. Thousands of geese and ducks, with Spoonbills and herons in good numbers as well as large numbers of wading birds. There were quite a few Little Stints present, while Ruddy Shelducks were a novelty on the wildfowl front. A ringtail Hen Harrier came gracefully over the saltmarsh to round off what had been an exceptional mornings birding.

Species List:
Beltringharder Koog: Greylag Goose, Barnacle Goose, Mute Swan, Ruddy Shelduck, Common Shelduck, Northern Shoveler, Gadwall, Eurasian Wigeon, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Eurasian Teal, Common Pochard, Tufted Duck, Common Goldeneye, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Black-necked Grebe, Feral Pigeon, Common Wood Pigeon, Spotted Crake, Eurasian Coot, Eurasian Oystercatcher, Grey Plover, European Golden Plover, Northern Lapwing, Little Ringed Plover, Bar-tailed Godwit, Ruff, Dunlin, Little Stint, Common Snipe, Green Sandpiper, Spotted Redshank, Common Greenshank, Wood Sandpiper, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, European Herring Gull, Great Cormorant, Great Egret, Eurasian Spoonbill, Western Marsh Harrier, Hen Harrier, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Common Kestrel, Merlin, Western Jackdaw, Northern Raven, Bearded Reedling, Eurasian Reed Warbler, Sand Martin, Barn Swallow, Common House Martin, Common Chiffchaff, Common Starling, Bluethroat, Western Yellow Wagtail, White Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Common Reed Bunting,

18 September 2021; Husum Schlosspark

  Although I was not out with the intention of birding, there were quite a few bits on offer today that made the afternoon very enjoyable on a bird front as well. When walking through the park there were three groups of Brent Geese that flew over, in addition to a single group that flew over the previous night at football. In total I guess the three skeins added up to 250 birds.
  There were also a family feeding the ducks in the park, and while there were many Black-headed Gulls in with the mallards there was also a fantastic winter plumage adult Mediterranean Gull. This is a new species for me in Germany where it is not super common.

-Brent Geese

Species List:
Husum Schlosspark: Brent Goose, Mallard, Feral Pigeon, Common Wood Pigeon, Common Moorhen, Black-headed Gull, Mediterranean Gull, European Herring Gull, Common Buzzard, Western Jackdaw, Rook, Barn Swallow, Common Martin, Common Starling,

Soil Hill & Whiteholme; Week 30th August - 06th September

Soil Hill

The week started nicely with a typically seasonal scattering of Willow Warblers, Wheatears and the last few Whitethroats still lingering in the scrub. But even on the 31^st there were signs of change as I had my first Chiffchaff of the autumn. By the end of the week I could only manage to find a single Willow Warbler but managed six Chiffchaff. Autumn is already moving on rapidly. Among these commoner migrants there were a few other bits around. Surprisingly on the 1^st, and then subsequently on the 2^nd I flushed a Sedge Warbler at the bottom of the North Slope. There is a good chance this is one of the birds from the end of August, as the two Grasshopper Warblers had also lingered until at the least the 2^nd, but they could all have been new arrivals. On the 2^nd there was also an additional Grasshopper Warbler on the summit, which I flushed from the long grass. In my attempts to refind the bird I spotted its head emerging from the grass right in front of me giving me the eyes before it scuttled off to be left in peace. On the 4^th there were two juvenile Bullfinch on Ned Hill Track, presumably the survivors of the three that were there in August. On the 5^th a Whinchat was travelling along the dry stone walls at the bottom of the North Slope, but was always very distant. And finally on the 6^th I added to the weeks migrant total with a single Blackcap and a very fine Spotted Flycatcher.

At the end of the week the wind finally turned SW and as such there was a little bit of passage to enjoy. I managed 129 Swallows heading south on the 6^th, as well as a single Sand Martin and four House Martins. There were a few Grey Wagtails passing over throughout the week, and Pied Wagtails also began to pick up again. On a couple of days, I spotted Jays flying around as well, although always distant as they pass between fragments of woodland. Snipe numbers increased dramatically with a flock of 8 flying around on the 4^th. Who knows the true number, as many appeared to fly off towards the moors without returning! There was also a juvenile Curlew on the bottom field on the 31^st, with another heard calling on the 6^th. Presumably these are the last few birds heading off to the coast for winter. 

-Common Chiffchaff

-Spotted Flycatcher

-Common Snipe

-Vapourer caterpillar

Whiteholme Reservoir

I did visit Whiteholme a couple of times but there was precious little to report. On the 6^th there were a few birds but 10 Teal and a patch tick of two Goldfinch were the best I could muster. The female Goldeneye also remained in situ throughout the week.  

Species List:
Soil Hill: Canada Goose, Mallard, Common Pheasant, Red-legged Partridge, Feral Pigeon, Stock Dove, Common Wood Pigeon, Common Moorhen, Eurasian Curlew, Common Snipe, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, European Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Common Kestrel, Eurasian Jay, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Coal Tit, Eurasian Blue Tit, Great Tit, Eurasian Skylark, Sedge Warbler, Common Grasshopper Warbler, Sand Martin, Barn Swallow, Common House Martin, Willow Warbler, Common Chiffchaff, Eurasian Blackcap, Common Whitethroat, Eurasian Wren, Common Starling, Mistle Thrush, Common Blackbird, Spotted Flycatcher, European Robin, Whinchat, Northern Wheatear, Dunnock, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Tree Pipit, Common Chaffinch, Eurasian Bullfinch, Common Linnet, European Goldfinch, Common Reed Bunting,
Whiteholme Reservoir: Eurasian Teal, Common Goldeneye, Common Kestrel, Carrion Crow, Northern Raven, Northern Wheatear, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, European Goldfinch,