Today was our first, and only full day in Urupema, and although we could have most of the following day if need be, we had a list of destinations to visit and about 14 hours of daylight in which to fit them all in.
First was finding the birds around the Pousada, featuring
the number one target of the trip; Planalto Tapaculo. Normally Tapaculos are
difficult and elusive but this one was beyond easy. During the morning we found
four individuals, the first of which perched right out on the road without any encouragement,
allowing for some excellent photos. Next we tried our other targets here, the
range restricted Mottled Piculette and Striolated Tit-Spinetail, both of which
we found before 10:00am.
Next stop was an area of upland marsh called Morro do Combates.
It was about a half-hour drive from the eco-pousada and there were a few small
stops on the way for odd bits that increased this time. Once we arrived it was
already very sunny and quite breezy. Consequently, there was not a huge amount
of activity but we found a few of the regions marshland specialities; Lesser
Gras-Finch, Long-tailed Reed-Finch and the stunning Black-bellied Seedeater, a
migrant breeder in this area.
Next on the agenda was lunch, after which we headed up into
an area of Atlantic Araucaria forest behind Urupema itself. The birding here
started quite slow but as the afternoon wore on we started picking up nice
bits. A couple of Mouse-coloured Tapaculos were nice, but not as showy as their
compatriot in the morning. Greenish Tyrannulet was only my second ever, and
there were heard-only for both Speckle-breasted Antpitta and Rufous-tailed
Antthrush, which hopefully we will find when we return tomorrow.
At the end of the afternoon we headed to the marsh opposite
the Pousada in preparation for the night-birding. In the last hour of light we
added Black-and-white Monjita and Freckle-breasted Thornbird to our list of
regionally endemic marshbirds. There was also a nice showy Black-and-rufous
Warbling-Finch and almost all of the same species we has seen earlier in the
day, including many Black-bellied Seedeaters.
As dusk drew in three others birders arrived, including an
internet acquaintance of Lia’s, Gustavo Pinto who was working as a bird guide.
With his help we managed to see both of the birds we failed to find the
previous night. The Giant Snipe we only saw fly-in, as a silhouette against the
sky, but the Sickle-winged Nightjar showed very well, and it would not have
been possible without Gustavo’s help. When we finally arrived back at the Pousada,
we quickly tried for the Long-tufted Sceech-Owl that lives in the garden, and
mercifully it showed very quickly, rounding off a day when we managed almost
every-single target bird.
A truly phenomal days birding.
Species List:
Urupema: Brown Tinamou, Red-winged Tinamou, Spotted Nothura, Picazuro Pigeon, White-tipped Dove, Eared Dove, Short-tailed Nighthawk, Sickle-winged Nightjar, Sick's Swift, Glittering-bellied Emerald, Purple-crowned Plovercrest, White-throated Hummingbird, Plumbeous Rail, Rufous-sided Crake, Southern Lapwing, Giant Snipe, Whistling Heron, Buff-necked Ibis, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Swallow-tailed Kite, Roadside Hawk, Long-tufted Screech Owl, Surucua Trogon, White-eared Puffbird, Green-billed Toucan, Mottled Piculet, White-spotted Woodpecker, Yellow-browed Woodpecker, Campo Flicker, Red-legged Seriema, Crested Caracara, Yellow-headed Caracara, Chimango Caracara, American Kestrel, Monk Parakeet, Pileated Parrot, Maroon-bellied Parakeet, Rufous-capped Antshrike, Dusky-tailed Antbird, Speckle-breasted Antpitta, Planalto Tapaculo, Mouse-colored Tapaculo, Rufous-tailed Antthrush, Olivaceous Woodcreeper, Planalto Woodcreeper, Scalloped Woodcreeper, Long-tailed Cinclodes, Striolated Tit-Spinetail, Araucaria Tit-Spinetail, Freckle-breasted Thornbird, Firewood-gatherer, Olive Spinetail, Grey-bellied Spinetail, Spix's Spinetail, Serra do Mar Tyrannulet, Southern Beardless Tyrannulet, Small-billed Elaenia, White-crested Tyrannulet, Greenish Tyrannulet, Planalto Tyrannulet, Euler's Flycatcher, Blue-billed Black Tyrant, Yellow-browed Tyrant, Grey Monjita, Black-and-white Monjita, Swainson's Flycatcher, Cattle Tyrant, Great Kiskadee, Variegated Flycatcher, Tropical Kingbird, Fork-tailed Flycatcher, Rufous-browed Peppershrike, Chivi Vireo, Azure Jay, Blue-and-white Swallow, Grey-breasted Martin, White-rumped Swallow, House Wren, Chalk-browed Mockingbird, Rufous-bellied Thrush, Hellmayr's Pipit, Hooded Siskin, Rufous-collared Sparrow, Golden-winged Cacique, Shiny Cowbird, Chopi Blackbird, Yellow-rumped Marshbird, Southern Yellowthroat, Tropical Parula, White-rimmed Warbler, Grey-throated Warbling Finch, Diademed Tanager, Blue-and-yellow Tanager, Sayaca Tanager, Chestnut-backed Tanager, Long-tailed Reed Finch, Black-and-rufous Warbling Finch, Saffron Finch, Grassland Yellow Finch, Lesser Grass Finch, Pampa Finch, Black-bellied Seedeater, Double-collared Seedeater, Green-winged Saltator, Thick-billed Saltator,
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