Monday 7th July 2025: Chapada dos Guimares, Brazil Day 9

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. First up was the White-banded or Shrike-like Tanager, resembling a small grey shrike in plumage. Next a Cinnamon Tanager popped up, an attractive bird with cinnamon chest, pale blue bill and bluish back. Continuing a short distance we found several Black-throated Saltators, then a Grey Monjita flew into view, especially impressive in flight when it flashed beautiful black and white patterning on the wings. At the top of a tree I spotted an American Kestrel, much brighter markings than those found in the UK, and one we’d failed to see well until now. On a post a White-eared Puffbird posed well for photos, and a Rufous-browed Peppershrike was well hidden in a bush as it tugged strongly and persistently at some unidentifiable prey in its grasp. 

Shrike-like Tanager

Cinnamon Tanager

White-eared Puffbird

A small group of Black-faced Tanagers with grey bodies contrasting with the dark cap flew in, then we worked hard to identify a Swallowtail Hummingbird which was well hidden in the centre of a bush. Our final tanager here was the White-rumped Tanager, another striking bird with black upperparts contrasting with a rufous head and white underparts.

Black-faced Tanager

White-rumped Tanager

We hadn’t driven far when we encountered two White-tailed Hawks, - interestingly, one showing light and one dark morph plumage variations. Further along the road we found another great raptor, a Laughing Falcon, perched on a post, with a gingery head, dark mask and striped tail. In the adjacent tree, a Swallow-tailed Puffbird was spotted by Roberto, a small Puffbird , making frequent flycatching sorties, showing white wings and rump which were not obvious when perched.

Laughing Falcon

Our next stop was at a waterfall, where we found several Cliff Flycatchers and enjoyed spectacular views of yet more Red and Green Macaws as they soared together before landing to take a drink. Itwas very hot here, so we headed back towards the car park, where by the water fountains and toilets we found both White-vented Violetear and Glittering-bellied Emerald feeding high in a large tree. 

As we headed towards home, we stopped again to enjoy a Bat Falcon perched near the road, and our first Rufous-collared Sparrows of the trip. Finally, at a roadside lake, Roberto spotted a female Brazilian Teal, a much wanted species for many of us, and despite the evening light making viewing difficult, the distinctive round wing markings could be seen clearly through the scope. A great find to end the day, marred only by the discovery that Sean had lost his phone at one of the earlier roadside stops.