Sunday 6th July 2025: Chapada dos Guimares, Brazil Day 8

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 darted amongst the leaves, then a Buff throated Saltator and Burnished Buff Tanager appeared, all in the same highly productive tree. A Pale-breasted thrush on the ground distracted us briefly, before someone spotted a Ferruginous Pygmy Owl, then another. Their calls were obviously drawing the birds in, causing a superb birding bonanza for us as we stood beneath the tree. 

Black-throated Mango

Moving to the front lawn, a Little Woodpecker pecked at a small trunk, then Red-bellied Macaws and Channel-billed Toucans flew across the valley, sadly too fast and fleeting for decent views. A Squirrel Cuckoo lingered in a small tree, then Roberto found a group of Scarlet-shouldered Macaws which perched in the trees, giving great views to end a brilliant pre-breakfast birding session. 

Scarlet-shouldered Macaw

After breakfast, we left the national park to visit a small, private reserve nearby. On our way we had our best views yet of an Aplomodo Falcon, the colours and markings showing well in superb light conditions. On a telegraph wire, we spotted a group of three Brown Jacamars with long bills, reminiscent of the Bee-eaters found in Europe, and likely filling the same ecological niche in South America. A Black-throated Saltator also posed well for the group.

Brown Jacamar

Arriving at Jamaca, we were greeted by our friendly hosts, and spent some time exploring the grounds. Unfortunately by now it was very hot, meaning bird activity had slowed dramatically. We pursued an elusive Masked Tityra, which eventually gave us good views, and a Fork tailed Woodnymph nectared on the garden flowers. A Pale-crested Woodpecker came close, resting on a large log, and some beautiful and colouful butterflies compensated for the lack of bird activity. Suddenly our host called to say Red and Green Macaws had arrived at a watering hole beside the treehouse. We clambered up to the platform, and sat quietly watching a fine display from a pair of birds who ambled nonchalantly around the thick branches, before dipping their bills to a hole in the trunk to drink, just feet away from us. It was magical. 

Red and Green Macaws

Back on the ground, a Rufous browed Peppershrike flitted through the trees, and a Pygmy owl, then another, were located. An Olivaceous Woodcreeper scuttled up the trunk, then we were called for lunch, a fantastic spread provided by our hospitable hosts.

After lunch, we drove towards a dusty track amongst the grasslands, in search of species new. We were lucky to find some raptors by the roadside on the way, including a lovely White-tailed Hawk. However,  the highlight was a huge grey eagle with an obvious crest perched in a tree, a Chaco or Crowned Ornate Eagle. This was even a new bird for Roberto, as we guessed when he wandered purposefully up the road in order to get a good photo! 

Chaco Eagle

I was equally pleased to find the somewhat more common Burrowing Owl, a species we had missed on our previous trip to Brazil. We saw three of these birds at really close range beside the road, either on the wires, or posing alongside a burrow. 

Burrowing Owl

Arriving at the grasslands, we saw Blue and Yellow Macaws fly across to some distant trees. On top of some small shrubs, a good number of White-browed Meadowlarks perched up, showing wonderful scarlet breast alongside the striking eyebrows from which they get their name. The smaller birds were fast moving and elusive, but we managed to identify Blue-black Grassquits and Grassland Sparrows, although it would have been nice to get better views. 

White-browed Meadowlark

It had been a varied and enjoyable day, with some memorable bird sightings in a beautiful location.