Tropical Birding tour report - Brazil June 2006
The
tour started in the Rio airport as most of our flights arrived in the middle of
the morning. Once we all made it, we headed off to Guapiassu Bird Lodge in
the 5000 hectare Reserva Ecologica de Guapiassu (REGUA). We had our first of
many hearty Brazilian lunches then had a few hours to "get our eyes
in" birding around the lodge and the nearby restored wetlands.
Over the next few days
we concentrated on the lowland forest trails in the reserve. Flocks were really
active, and we often could not make much progress along the trail because there
was so much to see. The Waterfall Trail treated us to some real gems like
Gray-hooded Attila, Scaled Antbird, Spot-backed Antshrike, Crescent-chested
Puffbird, and an incredibly confiding Rufous-capped Antthrush. Higher up in the
reserve we nailed some really special endemics like the incredibly cute Eared
Pygmy-Tyrant and the spectacular White-bibbed Antbird. We also ran into our
first Spot-billed Toucanet - really one of the most outrageous birds of the
Atlantic Rainforest. The wetlands near the lodge offer some really easy birding
(except for the crakes...) and we spent several afternoons here. Rufescent
Tiger-Herons, wild Muscovy Ducks, various kingfishers, Tail-banded Horneros,
Campo Flickers, and flocks of spectacular Brazilian Tanagers were some of the
neat birds here, but there were plenty more. See the trip list at the end for
all of them.
After
three nights at Guapiassu, we were ready to move further afield. We rose early
for the long drive over the mountain range to an anonymous dirt road that is
famous for its population of Three-toed Jacamars (photo right), the rarest and
most endangered member of this family on the planet. They were especially easy
to see this year, and we ran into several before we even got to my
"regular" site. Nearby we watched noisy and colorful Blue-winged
Macaws fly in front of the hills, and a pygmy-owl imitation brought in a mob of
angry birds like Hooded Tanager,
Chestnut-vented
Conebill, and the lovely Gilt-edged Tanager. The rest of the day we birded
our way towards the city of Nova Friburgo, stopping for various open-country
specialties like Whistling Heron, Streamer-tailed Tyrant, White-eared Puffbird,
and two species of monjita. We passed through the city and carried on up a
narrow cobblestone road towards our hotel, but had to stop short for three
Red-legged Seriemas standing on top of a hill. There was panic when the van door
jammed and Nancy nearly climbed out the window before a few well-placed blows
popped it open and we all got out to enjoy them - it was a family tick for many.
A nice way to end the day. |
