Window to Wildlife

Once again we started at the moth trap, mostly finding the same birds as yesterday,  but today there were no Spot-billed Toucanet or White-crowned Woodcreeper. However we did have a couple of new birds, with a Rufous-capped Spinetail working its way along the low-lying vegetation and a Greenish Schiffornis which appeared briefly in the low vines,  and  then a White-necked Thrush moving beneath the moth light. A Yellow-olive Flatbill  was also spotted in the branches. Yellow-olive Flatbill We enjoyed the usual suspects by the hummingbird feeders, then returning to the lodge a large Red-ruffed Fruit Crow flew into a nearby tree. Red-ruffed Fruit Crow The last bird of the trip was a Surucua Trogon, which I suddenly noticed sat silently on a distant tree, and we were all able to move closer for a decent view, before returning to the lodge for lunch, followed by our transfer to the airport.  Surucua Trogon Unfortunately, the journey home provided a hiccup to a brilli...

We met at 6am and took a short walk uphill to a simple moth trap, with a white sheet in front of a bright light. This was attracting a bounty of moths, which in turn attracted a bounty of hungry birds as dawn broke. First up was a White-crowned Woodcreeper working it’s way up the post at the side of the sheet, closely followed by a Planalto Woodcreeper, with a smaller bill, then later a diminutive Olivaceous Woodcreeper, with marked contrast between the olive green shoulders and rufous tail. Olivaceous Woodcreeper A Social Flycatcher landed nearby, and jumped up to snatch a moth, whilst both Rufous-bellied and Pale- breasted Thrush hopped on the ground. Several River Warblers with bold eye stripe appeared on the bank, then hopped onto the lawn. Black- goggled Tanagers arrived next, then a tiny Golden-crowned Warbler, which foraged silently in a tangle of vegetation.  River Warbler Several Rufous-collared Sparrows hopped onto the grass, then began to feed on seed put out on a log, s...

We rose early for our flight from Cuiaba back to Sao Paola, from where we had a long transfer to our next accommodation at Trilla dos Tucanos in the Atlantic Rainforest. Although we had visited this forest before, this was a completely different area, and an opportunity to find new species, and hopefully to also find some we had failed to locate on our previous visit.  The journey out of Sao Paolo took some time, with heavy,  slow moving traffic, plus we stopped for a long lunch en route, so it was late afternoon before we finally arrived at the hotel. Straight away, it was obvious at the feeders we were going to have great views of some rather special birds, and it was difficult to tear ourselves away to be shown our rooms. In my case, I dumped my case and returned immediately to feast my eyes on the wonderful array of birds.  A Saffron Toucanet munching on fruit was a superb tick, and a bird we had sought in vain on our last trip. Good  numbers of Green-headed Tana...

Another early morning walk around the grounds was quieter than yesterday, but enjoyable nonetheless, with Lettered Aracari in the cecropia trees. We wandered along the track encountering a lovely Crimson-Chested Finch, a Lineated Woodpecker, with scruffy red head and white lines on the face and back, and a boldly patterned male Barred Shrike. A pair of Channel-billed Toucans flew over, though I didn’t get a very good view. Back at the garden beside the cafe a Yellow-tufted Woodpecker looked absolutely stunning as it worked its way along an open diagonal branch, but sadly Tim had not got his camera with him! A pair of Blue Dacnis, the male electric blue and the female a lovely shade of green also looked resplendent in the bright morning sun. After breakfast and packing we left the hotel and drove a short distance to bird in the Guimares area, driving along a sandy track lined with scrubby vegetation, typical Cerrada habitat, where we soon began to pick up a nice variety of new birds. Fi...

As always, we were up early, as dawn broke, to enjoy the birdlife when it is most active. We barely moved from our meeting point in the garden, but enjoyed a feast of birds all around us. First up, Tony M pointed out a superb Amazonian Motmot sat quietly and unobtrusively in the tree, showing a bright blue crown and long, shuttlecock tail.  In another tall tree behind the dining area, Blue-headed Parrots flew in, giving excellent scope views. A stunning Yellow-tufted Woodpecker with superb, bold colours was a real treat as it inched along a branch, then a group of Lettered Aracaris, with distinct bill patterning, landed in the secropia tree just above our heads. Next a Boat-billed Flycatcher appeared, then at a feeding trough, White-lined Tanagers mingled with doves and blackbirds. On the flowers a Black-throated Mango hovered, and a Yellow rumped Cacique landed nearby. On the ground a Creamy-bellied Thrush hopped energetically.  Back in the secropia, a pair of Blue Dacnis dar...

We were woken by a cacophony of sound as the Wood-rails, Chachalacas and Guans began to stir, luring us out despite the darkness. We set off for a walk around the gardens at 6am, not travelling far, but finding plenty of birds. There was a feeding station situated close to the rooms, where the Guans and Chachalacas roamed freely, whilst a great congregation of doves, Grey Baywings and Chopi Blackbirds and Shiny Cowbirds gathered to feed on the food supplied. A Crested Oropenola dropped in to a nearby tree to join the melee. Chaco Chacalacas In the trees, several noisy Thrush-like Wrens gathered, and a Red-billed Scythebill showed rather better than yesterday, alighting on a post in an open space. Several Chesnut-billed Aracaris flew in to the trees near the feeders, but did not come down.  Chestnut-billed Aracari After breakfast we set off for a walk on a trail around the grounds. We were pleased to see a family group of raccoon-like Coati Mundis coming out of a nearby tree. We had...