Window to Wildlife

 We visited Ferring Rife today, hoping for a late addition to the year list with reports of a Yellow-browed Warbler via a local WhatsApp group. On our arrival there were a number of other birders present, and the bird had recently been seen, but it was apparently quite mobile, flitting across the rife and along the hedgerows, but often returning to a favoured tree. After some time, we spotted the bird flitting Goldcrest style amongst the branches of the hawthorn tree with ivy growing through. It was not easy to track, but glimpses of wingbar, the pale pinkish bill and of course the famed yellow brow, proved conclusive in confirming it was not a crest but our target bird. In poor light, photography was not easy, and Tim couldn’t manage more than a blurry silhouette. However  we got chatting to some fellow birders, and Chris has kindly agreed I can use his super photo shown below. Yellow-browed Warbler (Chris McGrath) This is only my second sighting of this species, and I confes...

 John and Andy headed down to Sussex for a final opportunity to add a few more ticks to their annual lists. With a Great Northern Diver and Eider Duck having been reported over recent days, we were hopeful of a positive start around Southwick canal and the harbour area, but frustratingly neither of these birds were visible today. However, a brief conversation with another birder, led us along the beach at Southwick to some rock groynes where three Black Redstarts were busy feeding, flitting between the shingle beach, a metal fence and the rocks; a quick flash of the red tail each time they flew. When perched, we were able to observe the distinctive ‘shimmering’ of the tail. A subtly beautiful species, and a new tick for both boys, which took a little pressure off after the failed sea birds. Black Redstart Our next stop was Shoreham Harbour, where we again failed to find our target species, the Purple Sandpiper, despite being seen by Tim the previous day while conducting his Webs su...

 Our first time out birding since returning from Brazil,  with a lot of family commitments hampering our opportunities until today. We set off to Arlington Reservoir in search of a Great Northern Diver, which had been there for around two weeks. An initial scan from near the car park, revealed a likely suspect at the far end of the water, so we headed off towards the dam end. It was pretty quiet in bird terms generally, with several volunteers working on the vegetation and trees that surround the lake. A flock of Wigeon and other ducks were in the middle of the lake and a few Great-crested Grebes swam lazily across the water. At the dam end a pair of Egyptian Goose were sat at the water’s edge. We soon spotted the Diver, doing just what it says on the tin, constantly disappearing below the water to reappear in a completely different spot. There was much muttering and grumbling from Mr Photographer, but eventually he was satisfied he had some decent shots and the bird eventuall...

 It was our last morning in Brazil, and we spent the morning birding at the lodge grounds, and astonishingly we continued to add new species to our tally. A Green-backed Becard showed really well just above the decked area and other star birds around the feeders and garden included the Blonde-crested Woodpecker which had appeared briefly earlier in the week. After breakfast, we were guided once more along the trails, finding a Swallow Tanager. Tim lingered at the back, and was rewarded with the elusive Magpie Tanager, which we had failed to find all week, despite being told it was a regular at the feeders. On a side trail we added Drab-breasted Bamboo-Tyrant and White-collared Foliage Gleaner, which some of the group had missed previously. A Grey-bellied Spinetail was another addition to the trip. I had difficulty in seeing a White-necked Thrush in a gloomy bush to the despair of our guide, who could not believe I couldn’t see it. Fortunately it changed position, and with the light...

 Today we were headed down from the mountains, and with the lower levels of Brazil sweltering in extreme temperatures, the decision was made to leave the lodge at the unearthly hour of 4am for a morning of birding, to be followed by a leisurely lunch in a restaurant, before returning early to the lodge. We arrived at Reserva Ecologica de Guapiacu (REGUA) at 05.30 and were immediately enjoying fantastic birding around this manmade wetland. In the fields as we drove into the car park were Cattle Egret, Southern Lapwing and Caracara. On a telephone wire, a Cliff Flycatcher perched obligingly, and a Creamy-bellied Thrush was on the ground. We hadn’t even left the bus yet! Reaching the first pools, a Channel-billed Toucan flew into a tree. We found both Tropical Kingbird and Social Flycatcher, and spent some debating the differences and trying to get the key features of these relatively common birds into our heads. A Masked Water Tyrant was busy feeding around the margins of the pool, a...

 A much slower birding day today, walking along a dirt track through the rainforest towards Macae de Cima, at mid altitude. As we alighted from the bus, a pale-vented Pigeon flew over, and Grey Swifts circled above the valley. We had some excellent views of Bare-throated Bellbird, with a bird in the scope revealing its open, turquoise throat as it sang. A Blue Dacnis and Rufous-capped Spinetail were spotted in the bushes, and we had a very poor view of an Amethyst Woodstar. A Yellow-olive Flatbill was decidedly underwhelming. Bare-throated Bellbird Things picked up at our next stop, where we scrambled down a steep bank to find a singing Chestnut-headed Tanager, a striking bird, and in the same bush, a brief appearance from a Variable Antshrike. Chestnut-headed Tanager Further along the road we encountered a mixed flock, and in a flurry of activity, we had some decent views of a male Pin tailed Manakin and female Blue Manakin, together with tiny Streaked Xenops, Buff-fronted Foliage...

 A superb day of birding today, finding over 100 species as we headed down from the forest and out to the open countryside around Duas Barras. Before leaving the Lodge, we had another beautiful new species for the trip, the elegant blue Swallow-tailed Hummingbird, visiting the nectar feeders. The Campo Flickers were again in the grounds, and as we left, a Grey-fronted Dove was glimpsed from the bus. Driving through Nova Friburgo, a Black-crowned Night Heron was on the river, and a large flock of Cattle Egret roosted in the trees. Swallow-tailed Hummingbird Our first stop was overlooking an expanse of marshy grassland, where we found a fabulous array of quality birds. We started with a golden Saffron Finch in the hedgerow, then two Toco Toucans landed in a distant secopia tree, giving stunning scope views. Behind us someone called a Chalk-browed Mockingbird perched on the wire, then a Short-crested Flycatcher appeared in a nearby bush. Several Smooth-billed Ani were active in the gr...