Tropical Birding tour report - Brazil June 2006
It
was hard to believe it was the last day, but we still had some birds left to
look for. We had a few hours in the morning at the base of the Corcovado peak,
and some of the group were able to see the rare and rotund Russet-winged
Spadebill, but we also had our best-ever views of Black-cheeked Gnateater, a
bird that could almost pass as a pitta, as well as prolonged low-level views of
another Sharpbill, regurgitating fruit seeds and wiping them on branches.
On the
way back to the airport we stopped at a marsh near Mogi das Cruzes, site of a
newly discovered population of the very rare and local Parana Antwren, which
might actually prove to be a totally new species. After first struggling to see
a pair skulking in the dense mass of cattails, we tried a different spot and had
a male and a female come right in and perch in the open. If that wasn't enough,
we also found a singing Rufous-capped Antshrike perched in the open, and managed
to call in a Red-eyed Thornbird - this time the southern race, which is likely
to be split in the near future. It was a great way to end the trip, and
after some group photos we made our way to the airport and said our goodbyes.
Two
more photos from tour C:
Yellow-fronted Woodpecker in Itatiaia NP. |
