Brazil 16.02.2019 - 17.02.2019

Brazil Day 37 16.02.2019

Yesterday was an awesome day birding, so it would be difficult to match the hype and number of species, but our morning walk around the parks woodland produced a number of new and difficult to see species. We started at the road where we were quickly joined by a semi-domesticated toucan and amazon parrot, that were really rather aggressive and not fond of our presence. A pair of Black-capped Tityra kicked us off, only the second time Lia and Ed had seen this species, followed by a Greenish Elaenia, recognised by its orange crown stripe. A female Glittering-bellied Emerald was a nice hummingbird lifer and a cracking Laughing Falcon completing the pack before breakfast. After breakfast we added Picui Ground Dove drinking at a roadside puddle, brief but excellent views of Striped Cuckoo, three White-naped Jays and a very smart Rusty-fronted Nunlet.

-Ochre-backed Woodpecker

-Laughing Falcon

-Rufous Hornero

-Cattle Tyrant

-Picui Ground Dove

-Rusty-fronted Nunlet

-Planalto Slaty Antshrike

-Toco Toucan

-Ed showing a Toucan the book

-Toco Toucan

Our plan was to drive five hours after lunch to another site in Chapada National Park. The five hours was predicted by google maps, but this was optimistic as over 100km of our journey was on a single low quality dirt track with no roads joining or coming off. Although the scenery was stunning it badly hampered our progress and we were not even close to reaching our destination by nightfall, having already been driving for nine hours. It was not a complete loss, the scenery was stunning and we picked up a few birds; a Zone-tailed Hawk flew low over the car in the company of vultures, a Limpkin was feeding in a roadside pond, a couple of White-winged Swallows were perched on a wire at a ridiculous river crossing that cut across the 100km dirt track about half way. But the undoubted highlight was seeing Greater Rhea! At first we picked out a small group of four birds in the distant heat haze but they ran off as soon as we got out of the car, but we did see a single bird much closer to road a little later on. That alone made the days struggle worthwhile.

-Zone-tailed Hawk 

-Greater Rhea

-White Woodpecker

-Amazon Kingfisher

Species List:

Terra Ronca: Greater Rhea, Red-legged Seriema, White-faced Whistling Duck, Brazilian Teal, Great White Egret, Cattle Egret, Buff-necked Ibis, Limpkin, Turkey Vulture, Black Vulture, Zone-tailed Hawk, Roadside Hawk, Savannah Hawk, Southern Caracara, Yellow-headed Caracara, American Kestrel, Laughing Falcon, Aplomado Falcon, Ruddy Ground Dove, Blue Ground Dove, Picui Ground Dove, Scaled Dove, Picazuro Pigeon, Pale-vented Pigeon, Blue-and-yellow Macaw, Red-and-green Macaw, White-eyed Parakeet, Jandaya Parakeet, Blue-winged Parrotlet, Yellow-chevroned Parakeet, Turquoise-fronted Amazon Parrot, Squirrel Cuckoo, Smooth-billed Ani, Striped Cuckoo, Guira Cuckoo, Burrowing Owl, Fork-tailed Palm Swift, Glittering-bellied Emerald, Planalto Hermit, Amethyst Woodstar, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, White-eared Puffbird, Black-fronted Nunbird, Rusty-fronted Nunlet, Toco Toucan, White-winged Piculette, Little Woodpecker, Crimson-crested Woodpecker, Ochre-backed Woodpecker, Planalto Slaty Antshrike, Black-bellied Antwren, Planalto Woodcreeper, Narrow-billed Woodcreeper, Rufous Hornero, Sooty-fronted Spinetail, Sepia-capped Flycatcher, Common Tody Flycatcher, Cliff Flycatcher, Long-tailed Tyrant, Cattle Tyrant, Great Kiskadee, Boat-billed Flycatcher, Tropical Kingbird, Rufous Casiornis, Black-capped Tityra, Short-crested Flycatcher, Chivi Vireo, Curl-crested Jay, White-naped Jay, Blue-and-white Swallow, White-winged Swallow, Masked Gnatcatcher, Rufous-bellied Thrush, Pale-bellied Thrush, Chalk-browed Mockingbird, Bananaquit, Sayaca Tanager, Palm Tanager, Burnished-buff Tanager, Blue Dacnis, Purple-throated Euphonia, Saffron Finch, Blue-black Grassquit, Yellow-bellied Seedeater, Pileated Finch, Red-cowled Cardinal, Green-winged Saltator, White-bellied Warbler, Crested Oropendula, Epaulet Oriole, Screaming Cowbird, White-browed Blackbird, House Sparrow, 

Brazil Day 38 17.02.2019

After spending over ten hours in the car the previous day, staying in bed and relaxing until my afternoon flight seemed like a good idea. That was until we were offered the chance to visit a site for Ocellated Crake, an extremely beautiful but rare and elusive Cerrado species. After a little persuasion we set off to meet one of Lia’s professors who drove us to a remote feeding station. Here, after a short wait, we had insane views of Ocellated Crake, a truly awesome birding experience. All the while a dazzling male Horned Sungem fed around us. 

-Ocellated Crake

Once we were satisfied with the crake we did a bit more birding before I had to leave for me flight. We first tried for Sharp-tailed Grass-Tyrant, a species I had already dipped twice, but this time we saw two of these diminutive little birds in the grass. Adjacent to the Cerrado was a Gallery Forest and we spent some time birding here, with new species including the completely unexpected Dark-billed Cuckoo and Grey Elaenia. Following the forest down we arrived at a large river where yet more new species awaited; Rusty-backed Spinetail and Great Antshrike were foraging in the riverside vegetation while a Green Kingfisher was hunting. We also found Rufous Gnateater, my first since the first day of my visit, and Brown Jacamar, my final lifer of the trip.

-Sharp-tailed Grass-Tyrant

-Grey Elaenia

-Brown Jacamar

-Campo Flicker

I got my flight in the afternoon, with my final bird in Brazil being Great Kiskadee. An awesome end to what has been an awesome trip and experience.

Species List:

Brasilia: Squirrel Cuckoo, Dark-billed Cuckoo, White-vented Violetear, Horned Sungem, Ocellated Crake, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, Brown Jacamar, Green Kingfisher, Toco Toucan, Little Woodpecker, Campo Flicker, Southern Caracara, Black Vulture, Great Antshrike, Varibale Antshrike, Barred Antshrike, Black-capped Antwren, Olivaceous Woodcreeper, Rusty-backed Spinetail, Rufous Gnateater, Rufous Hornero, Grey Elaenia, Sharp-tailed Grass-Tyrant, Common Tody-Flycatcher, Long-tailed Tyrant, Rusty-margined Flycatcher, Rufous Casiornis, Pale-bellied Tyrant Manakin, Helmeted Manakin, Rufous-browed Peppershrike, Grass Wren, Buff-breasted Wren, Masked Gnatcatcher, Pale-breasted Thrush, Chalk-browed Mockingbird, Purple-throated Euphonia, White-lined Tanager, Orange-headed Tanager, Sayaca Tanager, Wedge-tailed Grass Finch, Capped Seedeater, Yellow-bellied Seedeater, Plumbeous Seedeater, Buff-throated Saltator, Green-winged Saltator,

Brazil 13.02.2019 - 15.02.2019

Brazil Day 34 13.02.2019
With the fieldwork season drawing to a close we decided to have another last look to see if any birds had started breeding. Sadly it did not appear that the Helmeted Manakins were active. In fact the river that we checked was fairly quiet in general, with a Sharp-tailed Streamcreeper about the only bird. We saw the Grey-headed Kite again on our drive over, and this time I was able to grab some pictures.

-Grey-headed Kite

-Caterpillar

In the afternoon we headed to the university for a short lecture, in Portuguese so I understood nothing, but afterwards we headed back to the botanical gardens to try again for the frilled coquette. Once again though we were unlucky, but there was a nice selection of commoner species, and I was able to improve on my photos for a number of birds.

-Rufous-collared Sparrow

-Rufous-bellied Thrush

-Rufous-tailed Jacamar

-Scaled Dove

Species List:
Brasilia: Brazilian Teal, Great White Egret, Buff-necked Ibis, Whistling Heron, Black Vulture, Gray-headed Kite, Bicoloured Hawk, Southern Caracara, Red-legged Seriema, Southern Lapwing, Ruddy Ground Dove, Scaled Dove, Blue Ground Dove, Feral Pigeon, Picazuro Pigeon, Yellow-chevroned Parakeet, Blue-fronted Amazon Parrot, Squirrel Cuckoo, Smooth-billed Ani, Guira Cuckoo, Burrowing Owl, Fork-tailed Palm Swift, Swallow-tailed Hummingbird, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, Variable Antshrike, Rufous Hornero, Sharp-tailed Streamcreeper, Cattle Tyrant, Great Kiskadee, Boaat-billed Flycatcher, Helmeted Manakin, Blue-and-white Swallow, Masked Gnatcatcher, Rufous-bellied Thrush, Chalk-browed Mockingbird, Bananaquit, Sayaca Tanager, Burnished-buff Tanager, Blue Dacnis, Guira Tanager, Rufous-collared Sparrow, Saffron Finch, Blue-black Grassquit, Yellow-bellied Seedeater, Buff-throated Saltator, White-bellied Warbler, House Sparrow,

Brazil Day 35 14.02.2019

Today was our last day of fieldwork for the Helmeted Manakin project, before a weekend birding in the north. We set up nets in a new location just down the road from the field centre, where we hoped to capture a new Helmeted Manakin. Sadly we had no such luck and failed to ring any birds during the morning. The highlight was hearing potentially five different Brasilia Tapaculos singing around our position, where before we had thought that there was only one.

We left after lunch, heading north to the Terra Ronca national park where we planned to spend the weekend, hoping to see the endangered Pfrimers Parakeet and some other new species that we could not see around Brasilia. This did mean that the rest of the daylight was spent travelling to reach our destination, but a few stops on our journey yielded a handful of new species. A small pond, surrounded by palm trees, got us awesome views of an amazing Point-tailed Palmcreeper and family party of White Woodpecker, as well as brief views of a male Lined Seedeater. Before dark we also got our first views of Jandaya Parakeet as a flock flew over the car on their way to roost, alighting briefly in a tree next to the road. We arrived at our new digs after dark, with a few frustratingly brief views of nightjars our only new birds, although a tarantula on the road made for an exciting end to our five hour trip.

-Point-tailed Palmcreeper

-Tarantula

Species List:

Brasilia: Black Vulture, Picazuro Pigeon, Brasilia Tapaculo, Buff-breasted Wren, White-bellied Warbler, Helmeted Manakin, Yellow-bellied Seedeater, House Sparrow,

Terra Ronca: Picazuro Pigeon, Ruddy Ground Dove, Sick’s Swift, Fork-tailed Palm Swift, Wattled Jacana, Roadside Hawk, White Woodpecker, Yellow-chevroned Parakeet, Jandaya Parakeet, Blue-and-yellow Macaw, Point-tailed Palmcreeper, Tropical Kingbird, Purple-throated Euphonia, Palm Tanager, Blue-black Grassquit, Lined Seedeater,

Brazil Day 36 15.02.2019

Our first day in the Terra Ronca Park was hard work but awesome, one of the best days birding I have ever had. We started with a pre-breakfast stroll from the hotel down the road, picking up three new species along the way; Campo Troupial, Cliff Flycatcher and Red-cowled Cardinal. After breakfast, around half eight, we got picked up by a guide, for the parks footpaths and to take us to the Pfrimers Parakeets, but not a birding guide as such. Our initial stop for the parakeet, less than a kilometre from the hotel brought no joy, but we were told about another location where the birds can be seen, so off we set on a 13km trek through the forest and then through a cave to a collapsed cavern where a few small trees were growing, and where we found a flock of 20+ Pfrimers Parakeets. The bird was pretty cool, but the atmosphere was what made the experience so incredible. The cavern was really something to behold, and the fact that it was home to endangered birds made it all the more awesome experience. There were a host of other new birds for me on the way; Screaming Cowbird was common, a small group of Scaly-headed Amazon Parrots flew over,  Black-bellied Antwren was stunning and common, two Red-and-green Macaws flew over, a Planalto Hermit flew past us identified by the extensive white in the tail, Ochre-backed Woodpecker was smart, Yellow-rumped Cacique and White-necked Thrush were also both cool, and to finish off I spotted an Agouti from to the top of the plateau. 

-Black Vulture

-Screaming Cowbird

-Red-cowled Cardinal

-Jandaya Parakeet

-Black-bellied Antwren

-Terra Ronca cave

-Pfrimers Parakeet

We arrive back at around 15.00 and had a short break in the hotels pool before heading out to bird some fields near a river system at the other end of the park. Most of the birds that we saw here were species we have grown used to seeing, although it was nice to see some of them so well. The only new bird for me was a Social Flycatcher, the last of the Kiskadee flycatchers I still needed. At last light we managed to tape lure out a Small-billed Tinamou across the road, only my second sighting of a tinamou during my time in Brazil.

-Rufous Casiornis

-Tropical Kingbird

Species List:

Terra Ronca: Small-billed Tinamou, Muscovy Duck, Brazilian Teal, Great White Egret, Cattle Egret, Buff-necked Ibis, Turkey Vulture, Black Vulture, Roadside Hawk, Savannah Hawk, Southern Caracara, Yellow-headed Caracara, American Kestrel, Ruddy Ground Dove, Blue Ground Dove, Scaled Dove, Picazuro Pigeon, Pale-vented Pigeon, Plumbeous Pigeon, Gray-fronted Dove, Blue-and-yellow Macaw, Red-and-green Macaw, White-eyed Parakeet, Jandaya Parakeet, Pfrimer’s Parakeet, Blue-winged Parrotlet, Yellow-chevroned Parakeet, Scaly-headed Amazon Parrot, Turquoise-fronted Amazon Parrot, Squirrel Cuckoo, Smooth-billed Ani, Guira Cuckoo, Burrowing Owl, Fork-tailed Palm Swift, Swallow-tailed Hummingbird, Amethyst Woodstar, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, White-eared Puffbird, Black-fronted Nunbird, Toco Toucan, White-winged Piculette, Little Woodpecker, Crimson-crested Woodpecker, Ochre-backed Woodpecker, Planalto Slaty Antshrike, Black-bellied Antwren, Olivaceous Woodcreeper, Planalto Woodcreeper, Narrow-billed Woodcreeper, Rufous Hornero, Sooty-fronted Spinetail, Russet-mantled Foliage Gleaner, Sepia-capped Flycatcher, Common Tody Flycatcher, Cliff Flycatcher, Long-tailed Tyrant, Cattle Tyrant, Social Flycatcher, Great Kiskadee, Boat-billed Flycatcher, Tropical Kingbird, White-throated Kingbird, Rufous Casiornis, Short-crested Flycatcher, Helmeted Manakin, Chivi Vireo, Curl-crested Jay, Blue-and-white Swallow, Masked Gnatcatcher, Rufous-bellied Thrush, Pale-bellied Thrush, White-throated Thrush, Chalk-browed Mockingbird, Bananaquit, Sayaca Tanager, Palm Tanager, Burnished-buff Tanager, Blue Dacnis, Guira Tanager, Purple-throated Euphonia, Saffron Finch, Blue-black Grassquit, Yellow-bellied Seedeater, Pileated Finch, Red-cowled Cardinal, Greenish Saltator, White-bellied Warbler, Crested Oropendula, Yellow-rumped Cacique, Epaulet Oriole, Campo Troupial, Screaming Cowbird, White-browed Blackbird, House Sparrow, Agouti,