Brazil; Northeast Trip -- Day 3

  Today was quite an exciting day in prospect, as we had arranged through some of our Brazilian birding contacts and a local fisherman to visit a small population of Grey-breasted Parakeet, an endangered species otherwise only known from a population in Ceara state. This new population was only discovered a few years ago but provides new hope for the species. To access the birds you need the help of the local fisherman, Nego, since they live deep in the mangrove forests and are only accessible by boat.

  We arrived at the docks early morning, where the ample muddy shoreline present was providing food to good numbers of waders. Grey Plover and Hudsonian Whimbrel were both new species for my Brazil list, and it was a lot of fun to watch the Turnstones and Spotted Sandpipers feeding as well, as it always is. But perhaps the highlight was the good numbers of Willet in the area, which is a new species for me. Sadly, despite finding possibly as many as ten during the morning, we never saw the bird fly, so couldn’t see the distinctive wing pattern. Also around the docks area was a Mangrove Rail, our first mangrove specialty species that we had also hoped to find here.

  The birding in the mangroves was excellent. There were good numbers of herons, including more Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, and more commoner waders. We had fantastic views of at least three Rufous Crab-Hawk and we were treated to a brief view of Little Wood Rail, another mangrove specialist that we had been targeting. The Grey-breasted Parakeets we eventually found in a more open area where they were feeding on Cecropia fruits. We often heard them but seeing them initially proved to be quite a challenge, not helped by the sun already being quite hot. We did get some excellent views of birds feeding in the shade, and in the end, probably spent about half an hour watching them.

  We had wrapped up our mangrove birding by mid-morning so made tracks to head north and try again for the Pectoral Antwren that we had missed on our way down. After nearly two hours it was looking like another blank when Lia heard the bird softly calling near the path, and with a bit of effort, we finally managed to spot the birds as they sang from within the bushes. Sadly Lia’s views were not as good as mine, so we decided to stick around and try again for them in the morning when hopefully they would be more active. 

-Willet

-Mangrove Rail

-Hudsonian Whimbrel

-Yellow-crowned Night Heron

-Grey-breasted Parakeet

-Rufous Crab Hawk

-Nymphidium mantus

-Pectoral Antwren

Species List:
Barra do Siribinha: Picazuro Pigeon, Ruddy Ground Dove, Scaled Dove, White-tipped Dove, Smooth-billed Ani, Squirrel Cuckoo, Mangrove Rail, Little Wood Rail, Grey Plover, Southern Lapwing, Collared Plover, Semipalmated Plover, Hudsonian Whimbrel, Ruddy Turnstone, Spotted Sandpiper, Greater Yellowlegs, Willet, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Little Blue Heron, Western Cattle Egret, Striated Heron, Yellow-crowned Night Heron, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture, Snail Kite, Rufous Crab Hawk, Roadside Hawk, Amazon Kingfisher, Green Kingfisher, Caatinga Puffbird, Lineated Woodpecker, Campo Flicker, Crested Caracara, Yellow-headed Caracara, Grey-breasted Parakeet, Peach-fronted Parakeet, Golden-capped Parakeet, Straight-billed Woodcreeper, Rufous Hornero, Caatinga Cacholote, Cattle Tyrant, Great Kiskadee, Boat-billed Flycatcher, Rufous-browed Peppershrike, Chalk-browed Mockingbird, House Sparrow, Red-rumped Cacique, Variable Oriole, Campo Troupial, Sayaca Tanager, Palm Tanager, Bicolored Conebill,
Santo Amaro das Brotas--Estrada das Antenas: Scaled Pigeon, White-tipped Dove, Smooth-billed Ani, Rufescent Tiger Heron, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture, Roadside Hawk, Ferruginous Pygmy Owl, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, Crested Caracara, Orange-winged Amazon, Cobalt-rumped Parrotlet, Planalto Slaty Antshrike, Pectoral Antwren, Blue-backed Manakin, White-bearded Manakin, Ochre-lored Flatbill, Short-crested Flycatcher, Boat-billed Flycatcher, Social Flycatcher, Tropical Kingbird, Chivi Vireo, Tropical Gnatcatcher, Moustached Wren, Pale-breasted Thrush, Violaceous Euphonia, Pectoral Sparrow, Hooded Tanager, Palm Tanager, Blue Dacnis, Blue-black Grassquit, Bananaquit, 

Brazil; Northeast Trip -- Day 2

  We started our day birding the forest of Crasto in the south of Sergipe, which used to be one of the best locations to find the endangered and very range-restricted Fringe-backed Fire-eye. Since those days the track through the forest has been tarmacked and widened, and since then the records have dried up. Still, it is the most accessible location for this bird so we gave it our best shot. Despite all our efforts, the mornings birding failed to produce the bird, although there were lots of other species to enjoy. I had a lifer with Stripe-necked Tody-Tyrant, which showed very nicely, and we found some other nice species such as Blue-crowned Trogon and Southern Scrub Flycatcher.

  By mid-morning, it was clear that we were not going to find the bird we were looking for so headed to an area of restinga and beach to look for waders. What followed was a series of errors that essentially wasted two hours of our lives for nothing, since the beach and mangroves were not accessible, and we had to drive half an hour each way on terrible roads before we discovered this. As the one who designed our itinerary, not my finest moment.

  This latest development left us at something of a loss for the afternoon, but I had a backup plan in case we dipped the Fire-eye in the morning, a remote patch of forest where there seemed to be many records of the species. Accessibility could have been an issue here too but fortunately, we have a large car and it managed to navigate the tricky roads, allowing us to enjoy a few hours birding at the site.

  And enjoy the birding we did. Although it took a few hours, by which point we had all but given up, assigned to dip the species for the third time, we chanced upon a pair of Fringe-backed Fire-eye feeding on the edge of the forest trail. They showed exceptionally well, often singing right next to us, although too concealed for photos. Perhaps the biggest surprise was finding a pair of Pernambuco Foliage-Gleaners here, a species that is not known to occur here and may represent a new population of this very endangered bird. And as we were leaving we had fantastic views of White-winged Cotinga perched next to the road, the first time we have seen one, not through a scope. So all in all it was a nice way to end what at times had felt like a pretty catastrophic day

-Stripe-necked Tody-Tyrant

-Blue-crowned Trogon

-King Vulture

-Pale-bellied Tyrant-Manakin

-Pernambuco Foliage-Gleaner

-Fringe-backed Fire-Eye

-White-winged Cotinga

Species List:
Crasto Forest: Squirrel Cuckoo, Reddish Hermit, Plain-bellied Emerald, Western Cattle Egret, King Vulture, Black Vulture, Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture, Short-tailed Hawk, Zone-tailed Hawk, Blue-crowned Trogon, Ringed Kingfisher, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, Channel-billed Toucan, Orange-winged Amazon, Planalto Slaty Antshrike, Silvery-flanked Antwren, Blue-backed Manakin, Sepia-capped Flycatcher, Stripe-necked Tody-Tyrant, Greyish Mourner, Short-crested Flycatcher, Piratic Flycatcher, Tropical Kingbird, Chivi Vireo, Tropical Gnatcatcher, Moustached Wren, Purple-throated Euphonia, Violaceous Euphonia, Pectoral Sparrow, Palm Tanager, Red-legged Honeycreeper, Bananaquit,
Projeto Jaboticaba: Squirrel Cuckoo, Reddish Hermit, Black Vulture, Blue-crowned Trogon, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, Laughing Falcon, Scaly-headed Parrot, Planalto Slaty Antshrike, Fringe-backed Fire-eye, Lesser Woodcreeper, Pernambuco Foliage-gleaner, Pale-bellied Tyrant-Manakin, Blue-backed Manakin, White-bearded Manakin, White-winged Cotinga, Whiskered Myiobius, Ochre-bellied Flycatcher, Short-crested Flycatcher, Variegated Flycatcher, Rufous-browed Peppershrike, Tropical Gnatcatcher, Moustached Wren, Pale-breasted Thrush, Violaceous Euphonia, Flavescent Warbler, Blue Dacnis, Red-legged Honeycreeper, Buff-throated Saltator, 

Brazil; Northeast Trip -- Day 1

  Our first destination on our itinerary as we tried to mop up our outstanding targets in the Northeast of Brazil was the Barra da Siribinha in the north of Bahia. However, we had crafted an itinerary that allowed us to spend a few days birding in between, with a few targets on the way.

  The first stop was made was a large lagoon APA Marituba do Peixe, a stunning wetland nestled in a sea of sugar cane plantations that frankly was not much use for anything. There were a few nice birds on the wetland, although most of it was common wetland species. A pair of Black-faced Tanagers was certainly a surprise, given that it's only the second state record on eBird. Nearby we also found a pair of East Brazilian Cachalaca, which was also a cool species to encounter.

  In the afternoon we ventured into a new state for us both; Sergipe. Here we wanted to check an isolated patch of forest to look for Pectoral Antwren. Sadly we failed to find this species, but we had a brilliant time birding this fragment, with excellent views of both Crane Hawk and Zone-tailed Hawk, plus an evening gathering of Orange-winged Amazon parrots to enjoy as well. There was also a new mammal species for us both, with the very rare Coimbra’s Titi monkey having a population here, with us being able to find a few individuals.

-Black-faced Tanager

-Zone-tailed Hawk

-Crane Hawk

Species List:
APA Marituba do Peixe: Pale-vented Pigeon, Ruddy Ground Dove, Guira Cuckoo, Smooth-billed Ani, Swallow-tailed Hummingbird, Purple Gallinule, Southern Lapwing, Wattled Jacana, Great Egret, Black Vulture, Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture, Snail Kite, Green-barred Woodpecker, Crested Caracara, Yellow-headed Caracara, Peach-fronted Parakeet, Yellow-chinned Spinetail, White-headed Marsh Tyrant, Great Kiskadee, Social Flycatcher, Tropical Kingbird, Rufous-browed Peppershrike, White-winged Swallow, House Wren, Black-faced Tanager, Palm Tanager, Blue-black Grassquit,
Santo Amaro das Brotas--Estrada das Antenas: Ruddy Ground Dove, Scaled Dove, Smooth-billed Ani, Squirrel Cuckoo, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture, Crane Hawk, Roadside Hawk, Zone-tailed Hawk, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, Crested Caracara, Orange-winged Amazon, Planalto Slaty Antshrike, Silvery-flanked Antwren, Straight-billed Woodcreeper, Ochre-lored Flatbill, White-headed Marsh Tyrant, Great Kiskadee, Boat-billed Flycatcher, Social Flycatcher, Streaked Flycatcher, Tropical Kingbird, Rufous-browed Peppershrike, Tropical Gnatcatcher, House Wren, Moustached Wren, Pale-breasted Thrush, Violaceous Euphonia, Pectoral Sparrow, Hooded Tanager, Sayaca Tanager, Palm Tanager, Blue Dacnis, Red-legged Honeycreeper, Guira Tanager, Blue-black Grassquit, 

Brazil; Parque Municipal de Maceió

  It is almost time for us to leave the city of Maceio, which we have called home for the last couple of weeks. Its safe to say that we have thoroughly enjoyed our time here, relaxing on the beach, working in the AirBnB apartment and the local birding. We had long planned to visit the urban park here in Maceio, and today was finally the day that we were able to do that thanks to Clarindo and his wife Michelle.

  We arrived at the park early morning and Clarindo immediately found us a pair of East Brazilian Chacalaca, a species I have only seen a couple of times before. We then explored the forests in the park where we had a nice confiding pair of Straight-billed Woodcreepers, followed by some more confiding Rufous-tailed Jacamars and Amazonian Motmots. Less confiding were the small groups of Seven-coloured Tanagers that we found, as they were mobile and difficult to follow. We also enjoyed nice views of Yellow Tyrannulet at the end of the walk, as well as a moulting Little Blue Heron on the park lake.

  The real highlight of the park was not in its birds however, as we were able to find at least seven Brown-throated Three-toed Sloths at various points along our walk. We knew they were abundant in the park, and were one of the main draws for our visit, but to see so many was unprecedented. This is only the second time I have ever seen any Sloth species, and the last time my views were poor, so this was quite the experience. In addition to the sloths we were able to find a couple of South American Coati and on the lake there were a few Broad-snouted Caiman, including one individual that was really quite large.

  After the park we spent the afternoon visiting a few sites around the city. We started with the local police station, where Clarindo knew we had a chance to find the Plain-breasted Emerald. We only had a short wait before we spotted the bird perched on the wires above our heads. Then we moved on to the local fishing marina again, where we found at least four but probably more Ruddy Turnstones. I love seeing wading birds on their wintering grounds, and this is only the second time I have seen this species in Brazil, so I was pretty excited by this.

-East Brazilian Chacalaca

-Straight-billed Woodcreeper

Brown-throated Three-toed Sloth

-Rufous-breasted Hermit

-Rufous-tailed Jacamar

-Broad-snouted Caiman

-Yellow Tyrannulet

-Amazonian Motmot

-Plain-breasted Emerald

-Turnstone

 

Species List:
Parque Municipal de Maceió: East Brazilian Chachalaca, Feral Pigeon, Ruddy Ground Dove, White-tipped Dove, Smooth-billed Ani, Squirrel Cuckoo, Rufous-breasted Hermit, Swallow-tailed Hummingbird, Versicolored Emerald, Common Gallinule, Purple Gallinule, Great Egret, Little Blue Heron, Striated Heron, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Roadside Hawk, Amazonian Motmot, Ringed Kingfisher, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, Golden-spangled Piculet, Little Woodpecker, Crested Caracara, Yellow-headed Caracara, Southern White-fringed Antwren, Straight-billed Woodcreeper, Blue-backed Manakin, White-bearded Manakin, Red-headed Manakin, Sepia-capped Flycatcher, Common Tody-Flycatcher, Ochre-lored Flatbill, Yellow Tyrannulet, Yellow-bellied Elaenia, Euler's Flycatcher, Masked Water Tyrant, Short-crested Flycatcher, Great Kiskadee, Social Flycatcher, Tropical Kingbird, Chivi Vireo, Tropical Gnatcatcher, House Wren, Moustached Wren, Pale-breasted Thrush, Purple-throated Euphonia, Pectoral Sparrow, Golden-crowned Warbler, Sayaca Tanager, Palm Tanager, Burnished-buff Tanager, Seven-colored Tanager, Blue Dacnis, Red-legged Honeycreeper, Bananaquit, Buff-throated Saltator, Brown-throated Three-toed Sloth, South American Coati, Broad-snouted Caiman, Green Iguana,
Maceio: Feral Pigeon, Ruddy Ground Dove, Smooth-billed Ani, Neotropical Palm Swift, Black-throated Mango, Plain-bellied Emerald, Limpkin, Southern Lapwing, Ruddy Turnstone, Common Tern, Great Egret, Western Cattle Egret, Black Vulture, Roadside Hawk, White Woodpecker, Crested Caracara, Red-shouldered Macaw, Common Tody-Flycatcher, Yellow-bellied Elaenia, Masked Water Tyrant, Cattle Tyrant, Great Kiskadee, Tropical Kingbird, Grey-breasted Martin, White-winged Swallow, Sayaca Tanager, Palm Tanager, Bananaquit