Brazil; Itatiba

We finally got to spend some time away from Sao Paulo at Lia’s parents’ place. The peacefulness of our new environment was in complete contrast to the last few weeks in the city. Although the area is not super birdy, it is still in the Neotropics, so even a walk around the neighborhood can assemble a list of some 80 different species. We also had the option of the small marsh just over the hill, which we were still in the process of exploring.

The first two mornings of our stay we made a visit to the marsh in the hope of finding some rare Sporophila seedeaters, but alas we failed to find any. That said the birding was very enjoyable and we had a number of cool birds, notably on our second day when we had a small mixed group of Plumbeous and Hook-billed Kites fly over. The latter is a species I have still not seen so much of, so it was exciting to see two together flying low. There were also a couple of patch ticks here, including Sepia-capped Flycatcher and Sooty-fronted Spinetail, the latter being a Sao Paulo tick for me. It was just nice to be out birding away from the main city.

We also spent a bit of time birding our usual route around Lia’s neighborhood. Although slightly less birdy than the marsh, there was still plenty of activity to keep us interested. There were a couple more Sao Paulo ticks for me in the form of Stripe-breasted Starthroat and Western Osprey, the latter also being a patch tick for Lia here, which is surprising given the medium-sized lake at the bottom of the hill. 

-Sepia-capped Flycatcher

-Great Egret

-Yellow-rumped Marshbird

-Sooty-fronted Spinetail

-Short-tailed Hawk

-Hook-billed Kite

-Sapphire-spangled Emerald

-Chestnut-capped Blackbird

Species List:
Itatiba area: Brazilian Teal, Picazuro Pigeon, Ruddy Ground Dove, White-tipped Dove, Eared Dove, Guira Cuckoo, Smooth-billed Ani, Striped Cuckoo, Squirrel Cuckoo, Sick's Swift, Black Jacobin, Planalto Hermit, Black-throated Mango, Stripe-throated Starthroat, Glittering-bellied Emerald, Violet-capped Woodnymph, Swallow-tailed Hummingbird, Sapphire-spangled Emerald, Blackish Rail, Slaty-breasted Wood Rail, Common Gallinule, Rufous-sided Crake, Southern Lapwing, Wattled Jacana, Rufescent Tiger Heron, Great Egret, Western Cattle Egret, Striated Heron, Whistling Heron, Green Ibis, Bare-faced Ibis, Black Vulture, Western Osprey, Hook-billed Kite, Plumbeous Kite, Roadside Hawk, Short-tailed Hawk, Ringed Kingfisher, Toco Toucan, Campo Flicker, Red-legged Seriema, Crested Caracara, Yellow-chevroned Parakeet, Cobalt-rumped Parrotlet, White-eyed Parakeet, Barred Antshrike, Narrow-billed Woodcreeper, Band-tailed Hornero, Rufous Hornero, Orange-breasted Thornbird, Spix's Spinetail, Sooty-fronted Spinetail, Sepia-capped Flycatcher, Common Tody-Flycatcher, Yellow-olive Flatbill, Southern Beardless Tyrannulet, Yellow-bellied Elaenia, Large Elaenia, White-crested Tyrannulet, Bran-colored Flycatcher, Yellow-browed Tyrant, Masked Water Tyrant, Short-crested Flycatcher, Cattle Tyrant, Great Kiskadee, Boat-billed Flycatcher, Social Flycatcher, Streaked Flycatcher, Variegated Flycatcher, White-throated Kingbird, Tropical Kingbird, Fork-tailed Flycatcher, Rufous-browed Peppershrike, Black-capped Donacobius, Blue-and-white Swallow, Southern Rough-winged Swallow, Grey-breasted Martin, White-rumped Swallow, House Wren, Chalk-browed Mockingbird, Pale-breasted Thrush, Rufous-bellied Thrush, Creamy-bellied Thrush, Common Waxbill, House Sparrow, Hooded Siskin, Purple-throated Euphonia, Rufous-collared Sparrow, Variable Oriole, Shiny Cowbird, Chestnut-capped Blackbird, Yellow-rumped Marshbird, Southern Yellowthroat, Golden-crowned Warbler, Orange-headed Tanager, Ruby-crowned Tanager, Sayaca Tanager, Palm Tanager, Burnished-buff Tanager, Blue Dacnis, Chestnut-vented Conebill, Saffron Finch, Blue-black Grassquit, Double-collared Seedeater, Bananaquit, Capybara, Guianan Squirrel,