Just a quick update to wish everyone a very Happy New Year for 2012!

We are currently closed for the Christmas and New Year period and re-open to guests on the 12th January.

Brazilian Tanager in the lodge garden. copyright Rod Sheppard

The last group of 2011 was a group from Rockjumper, they stayed for a total of 7 nights and saw just over 230 species!

Main highlights for their trip included the following:

Whistling Heron, Grey-bellied Goshawk, White-rumped Hawk, Red-legged Seriema, Ash-throated Crake, Blackish Rail, Blue-winged Macaw, White-eyed Parakeet, Peach-fronted Parakeet, Pileated Parrot, Saw-billed Hermit, Scale-throated Hermit, Planalto Hermit, White-chinned Sapphire, White-throated Hummingbird, Brazilian Ruby, Rufous-capped Motmot, Three-toed Jacamar, White-eared Puffbird, Black-necked Aracari, Saffron Toucanet, Spot-billed Toucanet, White Woodpecker, Yellow-eared Woodpecker, Yellow-browed Woodpecker, Blond-crested Woodpecker, Pallid Spinetail, Firewood Gatherer, Ochre-breasted Foliage Gleaner, White-collared Foliage Gleaner, Sharp-billed Treehunter, Thrush-like Woodcreeper, Planalto Woodcreeper, Lesser Woodcreeper, Scaled Woodcreeper, Black-billed Scythebill, Large-tailed Antshrike, Sooretama Slaty Antshrike, Rufous-backed Antvireo, Star-throated Antwren, Serra Antwren, Rufous-tailed Antbird, Ochre-rumped Antbird, Streak-capped Antwren, both Rufous and Black-cheeked Gnateaters, Slaty Bristlefront, Serra do Mar Tapaculo, Grey-hooded Flycatcher, Drab-breasted Bamboo Tyrant, Vermilion Flycatcher, Velvety Black-Tyrant, Streamer-tailed Tyrant, Black and Gold Cotinga, Bare-throated Bellbird, Pin-tailed Manakin, Swallow-tailed Cotinga, White-winged Swallow, Long-billed Wren, White-rimmed Warbler, Half-collared Sparrow, Cinnamon Tanager, Olive-green Tanager, Brazilian Tanager, Azure-shouldered Tanager, Fawn-breasted Tanager, Red-necked Tanager, Gilt-edged Tanager, Red-legged Honeycreeper, Rufous-headed Tanager, Bay-chested Warbling Finch, Temmincks Seedeater and Thick-billed Saltator.

The feeders at the lodge remain very busy for this time of year with all the usual daily visitors and our Channel-billed Toucans are getting bolder and coming to the main feeders now!

Burnished-buff Tanager at the lodge feeders. copyright Rod Sheppard

We are soon to have our feeder webcam up and running, it currently live streams to our office but we are hoping to soon get it set up online! Watch this space!

A group from Birdfinders have just completed a 9 day stay with us. Although we seem to be going through an unusually wet and colder period for this time of the year is hasn’t really affected the birding that much.

The group had a great week with a combined total of 234 species. An excellent week for Cotingas with Swallow-tailed Cotinga, Black and Gold Cotinga, Grey-winged Cotinga, Hooded Berryeater and Bare-throated Bellbird all being seen well.

Other highlights over the past week have included Capped Heron, Masked Duck, Black and White Hawk Eagle, Red-legged Seriema, Spot-winged Wood-Quail, Blue-ground Dove, White-eyed Parakeet, Peach-fronted Parakeet (a rare bird for this area, seen only occasionally on the Three-toed Jacamar Excursion), Rufous-breasted Hermit, Reddish Hermit, Plovercrest (nice views of a male on the Macae de Cima excursion yesterday), Black-throated trogon, Three-toed Jacamar, White-eared Puffbird, Black-necked Aracari, Spot-billed Toucanet (almost daily on the feeders), Toco Toucan, Yellow-browed Woodpecker, White Woodpecker, Green-barred Woodpecker, Rufous-capped Spinetail, Pallid Spinetail, Red-eyed Thornbird, White-browed Foliage Gleaner, Black-capped Foliage Gleaner, White-collared Foliage Gleaner, White-eyed Foliage Gleaner, Sharp-tailed Streamcreeper (reliable as ever under the bridge at the lodges entrance) Plain-winged Woodcreeper, White-throated Woodcreeper, Scaled Woodcreeper, Lesser Woodcreeper, Giant Antshrike (on a rather rainy day at the Serra dos Orgaos National Park), Large-tailed Antshrike, Star-throated Antwren, Serra Antwren, Ferruginous Antbird, Bertonis Antbird, Rufous-tailed Antbird, Dusky-tailed Antbird, White-bibbed Antbird, Streak-capped Antwren, Brazilian Antthrush, Blue Manakin, Pin-tailed Manakin, Grey-hooded Flycatcher, Grey-hooded Attila, Long-billed Wren, a good number of Tanager species on the lodge feeders this week including Orange-bellied Euphonia, Violaceous Euphonia, Chestnut-bellied Euphonia, Blue-naped Chlorophonia, Olive-green Tanager, Sayaca Tanager, Azure-shouldered Tanager (now nest building in the lodge garden!), Golden-chevroned Tanager, Palm Tanager, Brazilian Tanager, Ruby-crowned Tanager and Green-headed Tanager.

Other Tanager highlights on the excursions included Yellow-backed Tanager, Diademed Tanager, Flame-crested Tanager, Red-necked Tanager, Gilt-edged Tanager, Brassy-breasted Tanager and Swallow Tanager.

Yellow-browed Woodpecker. copyright Rod Sheppard

A great mammal sighting this week was of a very rare Woolly Spider Monkey on the Theodoro Trail, this is an excellent indication that hunting is declining in the local area since the designation of the Tres PicosState Park. Other mammal sightings over the past couple of weeks have included Tufted-eared Marmosets, Buffy-tufted Eared Marmosets, Brown Howler Monkey, Brown Capuchin Monkey, Southern river Otter, Orange-spined Hairy-dwarf Porcupine, Brown-throated three-toed Sloth and Capybara.

What a busy couple of months! We have had a steady flow of guests and Cirilo has been out guiding almost daily.

The lodge feeders and grounds are as good as ever as the forest begins to mature even more, we are even getting regular sightings of Blue Manakin from the veranda, also a regular visitor now is the Channel-billed Toucan! The feeders are attracting a great variety of species still and we have recently added a new feeder with crushed corn on, this has already attracted a new species for the lodge grounds, a Sooty Grassquit!

Channel-billed Toucan at the lodge feeders. copyright of Rodrigo Perez Grijalvo

Other highlights on the feeders at the moment include Slaty-breasted Wood-Rail, Maroon-bellied Parakeet, Plain Parakeet, Spot-billed Toucanet, Saffron Toucanet, Channel-billed Toucan, Blond-crested Woodpecker, Pale-breasted Thrush, Creamy-bellied Thrush, White-necked Thrush, Orange-bellied Euphonia, Chestnut-bellied Euphonia, Blue-naped Cholorophonia, Olive-green Tanager, Azure-shouldered Tanager, Golden-chevroned Tanager, Brazilian Tanager, Ruby-crowned Tanager, Black-goggled Tanager, Green-headed Tanager, Burnished-buff Tanager and Green Honeycreeper.

There have been many highlights on our excursions also, here are a few:

Three-toed Jacamar Excursion:
White-tailed Kite, White-tailed Hawk, Aplomado Falcon, Dusky-legged Guan, Blackish Rail, Blue-winged Macaw, White-eyed Parakeet, Frilled Coquette, Black-necked Aracari, Three-toed Jacamar, White-eared Puffbird, Scaled Woodcreeper, Yellow Tyrannulet, Streamer-tailed Tyrant, Yellow-browed Tyrant, Tawny-headed Swallow, Black-capped Donacobius, Curl-crested Jay, Magpie Tanager, Gilt-edged Tanager, White-bellied Seedeater and White-browed Blackbird.

Blackish Rail. copyright of Rod Sheppard

Portao Azul Excursion:
Black and White Hawk Eagle, Grey-headed Kite, Black-Hawk Eagle, White-eyed Parakeet, White-throated Hummingbird, Amethyst Woodstar, Saffron Toucanet, Yellow-browed Woodpecker, Yellow-eared Woodpecker, Rufous-capped Spinetail, Red-eyed Thornbird, White-collared Foliage Gleaner, Sharp-tailed Streamcreeper, Black-billed Scythebill, Giant Antshrike, Ferruginous Antbird, Dusky-tailed Antbird, Rufous Gnateater, Pin-tailed Manakin, Grey-capped Tyrannulet, Yellow Tyrannulet, Ochre-faced Tody Flycatcher, Grey-hooded Attila, Green-backed Becard, Yellow-legged Thrush, Rufous-headed Tanager, Gilt-edged Tanager, Buffy-fronted Seedeater, Half-collared Sparrow and Green-winged Saltator.

Theodoro Trail:
Mantled Hawk, Barred Forest-Falcon, Scale-throated Hermit, White-throated Hummingbird, Brazilian Ruby, Black-throated Trogon, Surucua Trogon, Spot-billed Toucanet, Sharp-billed Treehunter, Pale-browed Treehunter, White-browed Foliage Gleaner, White-collared Foliage Gleaner, White-throated Woodcreeper, Giant Antshrike, Bertonis Antbird, Ferruginous Antbird, Brazilian Antthrush, stunning close up views of Slaty Bristlefront, also good views of Shrike-like Cotinga, Bare-throated Bellbird, Blue Manakin, Pin-tailed Manakin, Oustalets Tyrannulet, Sharpbill, White-rimmed Warbler and Brassy-breasted Tanager.

Surucua Trogon. copyright of Rod Sheppard

High Altitude Excursion (Pico de Caladonia)
Black Hawk- Eagle, Red-legged Seriema (on the lower section), Plovercrest, White-throated Hummingbird, Pallid Spinetail, Large-tailed Antshrike, Rufous-backed Antvireo, Rufous-tailed Antbird, Brazilian Antthrush, Serra do Mar Tapaculo, Swallow-tailed Cotinga (now back for the summer), Black and Gold Cotinga, Grey-winged Cotinga, Serra do Mar Tyrannulet, Velvety Black-Tyrant, Shear-tailed Grey-Tyrant, Chestnut-headed Tanager (on the lower section), Diademed Tanager, Bay-chested Warbling Finch and Thick-billed Saltator.

Wetlands Excursion (Regua)
Pied-billed Grebe, Capped Heron, Rufescent Tiger Heron, Black-bellied Whistling Duck, Masked Duck, Swallow-tailed Kite, Rufous-sided Crake, Tropical Screech Owl, Common Paraque, Tail-banded Hornero, Sooretama Slaty Antshrike, Common Tody Flycatcher, White-headed Marsh-Tyrant, Moustached Wren, Long-billed Wren, Chestnut-vented Conebill and Red-legged Honeycreeper.

Long-billed Wren. copyright of Rod Sheppard

Summer is slowly arriving, although a cold front last week had the temperatures falling back down to 11 degrees centigrade at night!

The feeders at the lodge remain busy with daily visits from Slaty-breasted Wood-Rail, Maroon-bellied Parakeets, Plain Parakeets, Spot-billed Toucanet, Blond-crested Woodpecker, Great Kiskadee, Rufous-bellied Thrush, Pale-breasted Thrush, Creamy-bellied Thrush, Bananaquit, Green Honeycreeper, Blue Dacnis, Orange-bellied Euphonia, Violaceous Euphonia, Chestnut-bellied Euphonia, Blue-naped Cholorphonia, Green-headed Tanager, Burnished-buff Tanager, Sayaca Tanager, Azure-shouldered Tanager, Golden-chevroned Tanager, Palm Tanager, Brazilian Tanager, Ruby-crowned Tanager, Olive-green Tanager and Shiny Cowbird.

Green Honeycreeper at the lodge feeders © Lee Dingain

New visitors to the feeders this month include Rufous-capped Motmot (seen feeding on bananas on two occasions), Black-goggled Tanager and White-necked Thrush!

The hummingbird feeders have been equally busy with daily sightings of Saw-billed Hermit, Swallow-tailed Hummingbird, the Black Jacobins have returned after their usual winter break spent in the lowlands, Violet-capped Woodnymph, Versicolored Emerald, Sombre Hummingbird and Brazilian Ruby.

Brazilian Tanager at the lodge feeders © Lee Dingain

….. and all of the above seen from the comfort of the veranda with a cold beer or coffee in hand!!

Birding in the lodge grounds remain as good as always as birds start to breed, the Extension trail has been particularly productive this week with sightings of Brown Tinamou, Black-throated trogon, Surucua Trogon, Rufous-capped Motmot, Crescent-chested Puffbird, Saffron Toucanet, Channel-billed Toucan, Thrush-like Woodcreeper, White-throated Woodcreeper, Planalto Woodcreeper, Lesser Woodcreeper, Black-capped Foliage Gleaner, White-eyed Foliage Gleaner, Streaked Xenops, Spot-breasted Antvireo, Star-throated Antwren, Ferruginous Antbird, Scaled Antbird, Streak-capped Antwren, Rufous-capped Antthrush, Black-cheeked Gnateater, Blue Manakin, Pin-tailed Manakin, Gray-hooded Attila (looks like it will breed in the lodge garden again this year), Eye-ringed Tody Tyrant, Ochre-bellied Flycatcher, Yellow-backed Tanager, Flame-crested Tanager and Black-throated Grosbeak!

…….. and all of the above seen within a 20 minute walk from the lodge!

Violet-capped Woodnymph © Rod Sheppard

The Black and White Hawk-Eagle nest is visible from the lodge again this year allowing daily sightings of this fantastic bird, in addition to this the pair of Sharp-tailed Streamcreepers are resident again under the entrance bridge to the lodge!

Our guide Cirilo has been out leading excursions and showing some great birds to guests over the past month. A few highlights from the last couple of weeks include:

Black-Hawk Eagle, Red-legged Seriema, Plovercrest, White-throated Hummingbird, Yellow-browed Woodpecker, Large-tailed Antshrike, Rufous-backed Antvireo, Rufous-tailed Antbird, Serra do Mar Tapaculo, Swallow-tailed Cotinga (back for the summer after their usual 3 months away), prolonged views (!) of Grey-winged Cotinga, Black and Gold Cotinga, Serra do Mar Tyrant Manakin, Serra do Mar Tyrannulet, Brassy-breasted Tanager, Diademed Tanager, Green-winged Saltator and Bay-chested Warbling Finch, Rufous-capped Spinetail, Sharp-billed Treehunter, Giant Antshrike, Bertonis Antbird, Ochre-rumped Antbird, Brazilian Antthrush, Rufous Gnateater, Hooded Berryeater, Bare-throated Bellbird and Drab-breasted Bamboo-Tyrant.

More sightings coming soon!

Time does fly! Another year has gone by and once again the annual Bird Fair in the UK is less than a week away!

As usual we will have a stand at the fair, we will be in Marquee 6, stand number 35, so please pop by and say hi! Myself and Cristina wont be at the stand this year, but our good friend Tony Kay of Kay Optical will be there looking after it for us!

We have just had a group from Birdfinders with us, they stayed a total of 9 days and saw in excess of 240+ species! Highlights amongst others included Mantled Hawk, Black and White Hawk Eagel, Red-legged Seriema, Blue-winged Macaw, Maroon-bellied Parakeet, Saw-billed Hermit, Black Jacobin, Plovercrest, Rufous-capped Motmot, Three-toed Jacamar, White-eared Puffbird, Spot-billed Toucanet, Saffron Toucanet (both at our feeders), Blond-crested Woodpecker, Yellow-eared Woodpecker, White-throated Woodcreeper, Black-billed Scythebill, White-collared Foliage Gleaner, Sharp-tailed Streamcreeper (under the lodge bridge as usual!), Sooretama Slaty Antshrike, Rufous-tailed Antbird, Brazilian Antthrush, Gray-winged Cotinga, Black and gold Cotinga, Pin-tailed Manakin, Streamer-tailed Tyrant, Grey-hooded Attila, Yellow-lored Tody Flycatcher, Oustalets Tyrannulet, Curl-crested Jay, Blue-naped Chlorophonia, Green-headed Tanager, Red-necked Tanager, Gilt-edged Tanager, Brassy-breasted Tanager, Brazilian Tanager, Olive-green Tanager, Black-throated Grosbeak and Half-collared Sparrow.

Brazilian Tanager by Rod Sheppard (top) can be seen daily at the lodge feeders and Red-legged Seriema (above), seen on the High Altitude and Jacamar excursions. Rod Sheppard.

We have had a new mammal for the lodge grounds, a Brown-throated Three-toed Sloth, its still hanging around (literally!), so hopefully it will stay for some time!

Brown-throated Three-toed Sloth. Andy Foster

Three-toed Jacamar (below). Rod Sheppard

Serra dos Tucanos has now re-opened after our annual months holiday in June. This doesnt mean to say that the birds have been on holiday as well though! With night time temperatures now dropping down to 9 degrees centigrade the bird feeders are busier than ever. A mixture of 15+ species are ploughing their way through over 20 kilos of bananas a day!

Blue-naped Chlorophonia. copyright - Rod Sheppard.

On the feeders daily there are up to 8 Spot-billed Toucanets, 4 Saffron Toucanets, 20+ Plain Parakeets, 20+ Reddish-bellied Parakeets, Azure-shouldered Tanagers, Olive-green Tanagers, 10+ Blue-naped Chlorophonias, 15+ Green-headed Tanagers, Ruby-crowned Tanagers, Chestnut-bellied Euphonias, Violaceous Euphonias, Orange-bellied Euphonias, Purple-throated Euphonias, Blond-crested Woodpecker, Brazilian Tanager, even Red-necked Tanagers have been on the feeders, only the second time we have ever seen this!

Blond-crested Woodpecker. copyright - Rod Sheppard

A pair of Giant Antshrikes have also been seen on the lodges Extension Trail together with Rufous-capped Antthrush, Black-cheeked Gnateater, Scaled Antbird, Scaled Woodcreeper and Rufous-capped Motmot. The Crescent-chested Puffbird has been hanging around the hummingbird feeders (not sure why!), together with Brazilian Ruby, Swallow-tailed Hummingbird, Sombre Hummingbird, Violet-capped Woodnymph and Saw-billed Hermit.

Our guide Cirilo has went up on the High Altitude excursion yesterday and had good views of Diademed Tanager, Bay-chested Warbling Finch, Rufous-tailed Antbird, Serra do Mar Tyrannulet and Black and Gold Cotinga among others.

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Yes, in the space of just one week we have added another new species to the Serra dos Tucanos bird list...... this time its a Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor), once again seen by Ian Hillery and Jim France together with our guide Cirilo. The bird was observed on the return journey from our Serra dos Orgaos National Park excursion.

The feeders in the lodge grounds remain very busy with up to 15 Olive-green Tanagers visiting daily, a common visitor at this time of year. Its getting colder now with temperatures at the lodge falling to 14 degrees centigrade at night, this cold weather is however providing the most glorious clear sunny days! Golden-tailed Parrotlets are flying over the lodge grounds daily, although as usual they are very difficult to locate once they land! Also had a pair of Black and White Hawk eagles displaying above the lodge, joined briefly by a Black Hawk Eagle!

The hummingbird feeders are also busy with regular visits from Saw-billed Hermit, Swallow-tailed Hummingbird, Black Jacobin, Violet-capped Woodnymph, Sombre Hummingbird and Brazilian Ruby.

Saw-billed Hermit© Rod Sheppard

The trails in the lodge grounds remain busy with sightings of Dusky-throated Hermit, Black-throated Trogon, Rufous-capped Motmot, Spot-billed and Saffron Toucanet, Channel-billed Toucan, Yellow-eared Woodpecker, Thrush-like Woodcreeper, White-throated Woodcreeper, Lesser Woodcreeper, White-eyed Foliage Gleaner, Giant Antshrike (rare for the lodge trails), Star-throated Antwren, Ferruginous Antbird, Scaled Antbird, Streak-capped Antwren, Rufous-capped Antthrush, Pin-tailed Manakin, Blue Manakin, Gray-hooded Attila, Red-necked Tanager, Brassy-breasted Tanager (only a winter visitor in the lodge grounds) and Black-throated Grosbeak amongst others!

Black-cheeked Gnateater© Rod Sheppard

The last couple of weeks has seen a nice dry period, with clear blue skies and cooler temperatures. Cirilo has been out guiding over the past few days, he has taken guests to the Three-toed Jacamar area and to the High Altitude excursion lower and upper sections.

We have added a new bird for the Serra dos Tucanos list (getting increasingly harder nowadays)! Cirilo and guests Ian Hillery and Jim France found a Mealy Parrot (Amazona farinosa) on the High Altitude Excursion lower section, although find in other areas of south-east Brazil this is the first record on our “local patch”!

Other highlights have included Short-tailed Hawk, Aplomado Falcon, Red-legged Seriema, Blackish Rail, White-eyed Parakeet, Plovercrest, Glittering-belled Emerald, Sapphire spangled Emerald, Three-toed Jacamar, Tail-banded Hornero, Pallid Spinetail, Red-eyed Thornbird, White-browed Foliage Gleaner, Scaled Woodcreeper, Rufous-tailed Antbird, Serra do Mar Tyrannulet, Velvety Black Tyrant, Yellow-browed Tyrant, Black and Gold Cotinga, Rufous-crowned Greenlet, Tawny-headed Swallow, Yellow-legged Thrush, White-rimmed Warbler, Cinnamon Tanager, Diademed Tanager, Fawn-breasted Tanager, Brassy-breasted Tanager, Bay-chested Warbling Finch and Thick-billed Saltator.

The feeders at the lodge remain very busy with all of the usual visitors coming by on a daily basis. Other highlights in the lodge grounds over the past few days have included Mantled Hawk, Black and White Hawk-Eagle, Plain Parakeet, Maroon-bellied Parakeet, Saw-billed Hermit, Sombre Hummingbird, Swallow-tailed Hummingbird, Brazilian Ruby, Crescent-chested Puffbird, Spot-billed Toucanet, Yellow-eared Woodpecker, Blond-crested Woodpecker, Sharp-tailed Streamcreeper, White-throated Woodcreeper, Spot-breasted Antvireo, Star-throated Antwren, Rufous-capped Antthrush, Black-cheeked Gnateater, Yellow-lored Tody-Flycatcher, Grey-hooded Attila, Long-billed Wren, Chestnut-bellied Euphonia, Brazilian Tanager, Green-headed Tanager, Red-necked Tanager and Burnished-buff Tanager.

Its now beginning to cool down here in south-east Brazil as autumn slowly approaches. On our open country excursions both the Fork-tailed and Myiarchus Flycatchers have moved on and some of the birds from higher altitude areas are beginning to move down the slopes into lower areas as temperatures start to fall.

Golden-chevroned Tanager at the lodge feeders. Andy Foster

We are noticing the usual seasonal changes at the lodge feeders with the arrival of both the Azure-shouldered and Olive-green Tanagers, and also with the arrival of Brazilian Ruby hummingbirds and the fewer sightings of Black Jacobins. Also at the lodge feeders regularly at the moment is the Blond-crested Woodpecker, slightly larger flocks of Plain and Reddish-bellied Parakeets (probably due to the diminishing amount of natural fruit in the forest), Spot-billed Toucanet, Saffron Toucanet, Yellow-legged Thrush, Rufous-bellied Thrush, Green Honeycreeper, Blue Dacnis, Orange-bellied Euphonia, Violaceous Euphonia, Chestnut-bellied Euphonia, Blue-naped Chlorophonia, Green-headed Tanager, Burnished-buff Tanager, Sayaca Tanager, Golden-chevroned Tanager, Palm Tanager, Brazilian Tanager and Ruby-crowned Tanager. Blond-crested Woodpecker at the lodge feeders. Andy Foster

Blue-bellied Parrots are being seen and heard more regularly in the lodge gardens at the moment as they come down to feed on the fruiting orange trees, also the resident pair of Tawny-browed Owls are now calling nightly, although difficult to see its nice to know they are there!

Plain Parakeets at the lodge feeders. Andy Foster Reddish-bellied and Plain Parakeets at the lodge feeders. Andy Foster

We are soon to do an exploratory visit to some good quality lowland forest, we hope to find some new species there to add to the Serra dos Tucanos bird list and to offer it as another full day excursion…….watch this space!

Just had a Mantled Hawk over the lodge, although seen from the lodge regularly it rarely comes this low!

Mantled Hawk. Andy Foster

Mantled Hawk. Andy Foster

There are now two new Serra dos Tucanos trip reports online, one by Blake Maybank who led 3 groups here from 18^th March – 29^th April 2008. As Blake was based here at the lodge for over 6 weeks and undertook each excursion on various occasions he has made some very interesting comparative trip lists for most of our excursions. Please click the link below to see further details.

http://maybank.tripod.com/SouthAmerica/Brazil-03-2008.htm

A more recent trip report has just been published by Neil Westwater on the Birdfinders website of a Birdfinders trip based at Serra dos Tucanos from the 16^th – 24^th January 2011. Please click the ink below to see further details.

http://www.birdfinders.co.uk/pdf/brazil-jan-2011.pdf

Serra dos Tucanos Lodge from the back garden

A group from Naturetrek have just departed after an 8 days stay with us. They saw a combined total of 219 species, of which 71 were Atlantic forest endemics! Highlights from the some of the trails were as follows:

Serra dos Tucanos Feeders and hummer feeders

Slaty-breasted Wood-Rail, Maroon-bellied Parakeet, Plain Parakeet, Saw-billed Hermit, Sombre Hummingbird, Swallow-tailed Hummingbird, Black Jacobin, Violet-capped Woodnymph, Spot-billed Toucanet, Blond-crested Woodpecker, Olive-green Tanager (up to 4), Ruby-crowned Tanager, Brazilian Tanager, Sayaca Tanager, Azure-shouldered Tanager (first records now coming in for this year as the weather gets cooler), Golden-chevroned Tanager, Orange-bellied Euphonia, Chestnut-bellied Euphonia, Blue-naped Chlorophonia, Green-headed Tanager, Burnished-buff Tanager and Green Honeycreeper.

Serra dos Tucanos Extension Trail

Scaly-headed Parrot, Surucua Trogon, Rufous-capped Motmot, Spot-billed Toucanet, Channel-billed Toucan, Yellow-eared Woodpecker, Streaked Xenops, White-eyed Foliage Gleaner, Thrush-like Woodcreeper, Star-throated Antwren, Scaled Antbird, White-shouldered Fire-eye, Black-cheeked Gnateater, Blue Manakin, White-throated Spadebill, Red-necked Tanager and Black-throated Grosbeak.

Three-toed Jacamar

Whistling Heron, White-tailed Hawk, Blackish Rail, Sapphire-spangled Emerald, Three-toed Jacamar, White-eared Puffbird, 6 White Woodpeckers, Red-eyed Thornbird, Scaled Woodcreeper, White-rumped Monjita, Streamer-tailed Tyrant, Yellow-browed Tyrant and Black-capped Donacobius.

Portao Azul

Amethyst Woodstar, Surucua Trogon, Saffron Toucanet, Yellow-browed Woodpecker, Green-barred Woodpecker, Chicli Spinetail, Rufous-capped Spinetail, White-collared Foliage-Gleaner, Black-billed Scythebill, Dusky-tailed Antbird, Yellow Tyrannulet, Grey-capped Tyrannulet, Hangnest Tody-Tyrant, Yellow-legged Thrush, Rufous-crowned Greenlet, Magpie Tanager and Temmincks Seedeater.

High Altitude Excursion

3 Red-legged Seriema, Plovercrest, White-throated Hummingbird, Yellow-browed Woodpecker, Large-tailed Antshrike, Rufous-capped Antshrike, Rufous-backed Antvireo, Rufous-tailed Antbird, Hooded Berryeater (this is the first record ever on our High Altitude Excursion), Serra do Mar Tyrannulet, Blue-billed Black-Tyrant, Diademed Tanager, Bay-chested Warbling Finch and Thick-billed Saltator.

Wetlands Excursion

Black-bellied Whistling Duck (now becoming increasingly common at the wetlands), Lesser Yellow-Headed Vulture, Rufous-sided Crake, White-eyed Parakeet (first record of this species on our Wetland Excursion), Tropical Screech-Owl, Chestnut-backed Antshrike, White-flanked Antwren, Unicolored Antwren, Eye-ringed Tody-Tyrant, Moustached Wren, Long-billed Wren, Swallow Tanager, Chestnut-capped Blackbird and White-browed Blackbird.

Serra dos Orgaos National Park

Mantled Hawk, Short-tailed Hawk, Ruddy-Quail Dove, Toco Toucan (first record of this species for us on the southern side of the mountains), Yellow-eared Woodpecker, Yellow-throated Woodpecker, Spot-breasted Antvireo, Ochre-rumped Antbird, White-bibbed Antbird, Whiskered Flycatcher, Sharpbill (2!), Yellow-backed Tanager and Yellow-Green Grosbeak.

We have just had a new hot water system installed in the lodge, this uses a combination of both solar power and gas. This way we can guarantee hot water is available for guests 24 hours a day, basically if the sun isnt strong enough to heat the water through the solar system the gas system will cut in and heat the water.

After the very heavy rains of several weeks ago we are now experiencing somewhat of a dry period, very unusual for this time of year. The birds have just about finished breeding with large family groups of Green-headed Tanagers practically resident on the fruit feeding tables in the lodge grounds, dispersed occasionally by the female Barred Forest Falcon that now seems to be resident in the lodge gardens. Other regular visitors to the lodge feeders at the moment include Maroon-bellied Parakeets, Plain Parakeets, Spot-billed Toucanet, Blond-crested Woodpecker (this has now reappeared after an abscense of several weeks, presumably whilst breeding), Great Kiskadee, Rufous-bellied Thrush, Pale-breasted Thrush, Bananaquit, Green Honeycreeer, Blue Dacnis, Orange-bellied Euphonia, Violaceous Euphonia, Chestnut-bellied Euphonia, Blue-naped Chlorophonia, Burnished-buff Tanager, Sayaca Tanager, Golden-chevroned Tanager, Palm Tanager, Brazilian Tanager, Ruby-crowned Tanager, Olive-green Tanager (usually just a winter visitor to the lodge feeders, but has been visiting regularly in small groups) and Shiny Cowbird.

Spot-billed Toucanet. Richard Hall

Our guide Cirilo has been out with with various groups and individuals over the past few weeks, highlights have included:

High Altitude Excursion: White rumped Hawk, Black-Hawk Eagle, Aplomado Falcon, Red-legged Seriema, Plovercrest, Brazilian Ruby, Yellow-browed Woodpecker, Red-eyed Thornbird, Giant Antshrike, Rufous-tailed Antbird, Black and Gold Cotinga, Blue-billed Black-Tyrant, Shear-tailed Grey-Tyrant, Serra do Mar Tyrannulet, White-rimmed Warbler, Cinnamon Tanager and Bay-chested Warbling Finch.

Black Hawk Eagle. Richard Hall

Theodoro Trail and Macae de Cima: Yellow-browed Woodpecker, Scaled Woodcreeper, Lesser Woodcreeper, White-collared Foliage Gleaner, White-browed Foliage Gleaner, Buff-browed Foliage Gleaner, stunning views of White-bearded Antshrike, Rufous backed Antvireo, Bertonis Antbird, White-shouldered Fire-eye, Brazilian Antthrush, Rufous Gnateater, Slaty Bristlefront (at peoples feet!), Eared Pygmy-Tyrant and Yellow-legged Thrush.

Serra dos Tucanos Lodge Trails: Frilled Coquette, Amethyst Woodstar, Black-Hawk Eagle, Saw-billed Hermit, Spot-billed Toucanet, White-barred Piculet, Thrush-like Woodcreeper, Lesser Woodcreeper, Planalto Woodcreeper (becoming more common now), Plain Xenops, White-eyed Foliage Gleaner, Spot-breasted Antvireo, Star-throated Antwren, Scaled Antbird, Rufous-capped Antthrush (almost guaranteed on the extension trail!), Black-cheeked Gnateater, Yellow-lored Tody-Flycatcher, Eye-ringed Tody-Tyrant, Grey-hooded Flycatcher, Yellow-backed Tanager, Black-goggled Tanager and Black-throated Grosbeak.

Black-goggled Tanager. Richard Hall

Portao Azul Trail: White-tailed Hawk, Slaty-breasted Wood-rail, White-eyed Parakeet, Scale-throated Hermit, Glittering-bellied Emerald, Saffron Toucanet, Black-billed Scythebill, Rufous-capped Spinetail, Dusky-tailed Antbird, Long-tailed Tyrant, Eulers Flycatcher, Ochre-faced Tody-Flycatcher, Yellow Tyrannulet, Gilt-edged Tanager, Rufous-headed Tanager, Half-collared Sparrow and Green-winged Saltator.

Serra dos Orgaos National Park: Yellow-throated Woodpecker, Sharp-billed Treehunter, Ochre-rumped Antbird, Streak-capped Antwren, stunning views of White-bibbed Antbird, White-rimmed Warbler, Azure-shouldered Tanager and Brown Tanager (good views of this usually very difficult bird).

Wetlands Excursion: Least Grebe, Anhinga, White-faced Whistling Duck, Masked Duck, Lesser-yellow-headed Vulture, Tail-banded Hornero, Sooretama Slaty-Antshrike, Chestnut-backed Antshrike, White-flanked Antwren, White-bearded Manakin, Chestnut-vented Conebill, Giant Cowbird and Lined Seedeater.

Three-toed Jacamar Excursion: Whistling Heron, Red-legged Seriema, Blue-winged Macaw, Striped Cuckoo, Three-toed Jacamar, White-eared Puffbird, Saffron Toucanet, White Woodpecker, Rufous-capped Antshrike, Streamer-tailed Tyrant, Gilt-edged Tanager and Half-collared Sparrow.

Just a quick update regarding the excursions. We are happy to say that all of our excursions are now possible after the flooding a month ago. Just to reassure you all the lodge was unaffected by the flooding and as far as the excursions go everthing is now back to normal. We were concerned that the Three-toed Jacamar area could be non-existent after the flooding, but the good news is that three were observed yesterday in our usual reliable spot just the other side of the town of Sumidouro.

Three-toed Jacamar

We have just purchased a new 16 seater minibus, this will allow us to offer more comfort, reliability and safety whilst out on the excursions. It also offers air conditioning like you've never felt it before!

The new Serra dos Tucanos minibus!

As you have all probably seen on the news there has been serious flooding in the areas of Teresopolis, Nova Friburgo and Petropolis. Heavy rainfall has caused many landslides and unfortunately loss of life. Thank you all for your e-mails to see if we were all ok here at the lodge, it was much appreciated.

Thankfully these heavy rains have not affected the lodge at all and all but one of our excursions are possible. We will know about the other excursion over the weekend and will update this page with further news.

Last week we had a group from Birdfinders staying with us for 8 days, we saw a total of 222 species, of which amazingly 80 were Atlantic forest endemics!

Highlights included 2 Mantled Hawks, 3 Crowned Eagles, Barred Forest-falcon, Plovercrest, Dusky-throated Hermit, Brazilian Ruby, Rufous-capped Motmot, Yellow-browed Woodpecker, Planalto Woodcreeper, Tail-banded Hornero, White-collared Foliage Gleaner, Ochre-breasted Foliage Gleaner, Sharp-billed Treehunter, Tufted Antshrike, Spot-backed Antshrike, stunning views of a male White-bearded Antshrike, Sooretama Slaty Antshrike, 6 species of Drymophila antbirds - Ferruginous, Bertonis, Rufous-tailed, Ochre-rumped, Dusky-tailed and Scaled, White-bibbed Antbird, Brazilian Antthrush, Rufous-capped Anttrush, Slaty Bristlefront, Black and Gold Cotinga, Hooded Berryeater, Bare-throated Bellbird, Green-backed Becard, Shear-tailed Grey-Tyrant, Gray-hooded Attila, Serra do Mar Tyrannulet, Planalto Tyrannulet, White-necked Thrush (first for the lodge feeders!), Red-necked Tanager, Gilt-edged Tanager, Brassy-breasted Tanager, Rufous-headed Tanager, Thick-billed Saltator and Half-collared Sparrow.

We have been experiencing problems with responding to some e-mails, basically they are being returned to us as "delivery failed".

Can Tony Godfrey please send us another e-mail with a telephone contact number or a different e-mail address to reply to. Thanks.

The first heavy summer rains have just begun, with torrential rain being almost a daily occurrence anytime after 17.00! Thankfully this doesnt really interfere with the daily birding excursions!

The last couple of weeks Cirilo has been out guiding the last two groups of 2010! As usual the weekly totals were around the 250 - 260 different species seen, and around 65-70 Atlantic forest endemics.

Highlights have as usual been numerous, most exciting of all has been the number of species being seen breeding within the lodge grounds. Confirmed records of breeding birds within the lodge grounds for 2010 include Solitary Tinamou, Slaty-breasted Wood-Rail, Ruddy ground- dove, Grey-fronted Dove, Maroon-bellied Parakeet, Saw-billed Hermit, Black Jacobin, Violet-capped Woodnymph, Sombre Hummingbird, Surucua Trogon, Rufous-capped Motmot, Crescent-chested Puffbird, Spot-billed Toucanet, White-barred Piculet, Blond-crested Woodpecker, Plain-winged Woodcreeper, White-throated Woodcreeper, White-eyed Foliage-gleaner, Sharp-tailed Streamcreeper, Spot-breasted Antvireo, Plain Antvireo, Star-throated Antwren, Ferruginous Antbird, Scaled Antbird, Rufous-capped Antthrush, Black-cheeked Gnateater, Chestnut-crowned Becard, White-winged Becard, Crested Becard, Blue Manakin, Pin-tailed Manakin, Masked Water-tyrant, Tropical Kingbird, Social Flycatcher, Great Kiskadee, Boat-billed Flycatcher, Grey-hooded Attila, White-throated Spadebill, Yellow-olive Flycatcher, Yellow-lored Tody-flycatcher, Grey-capped Tyrannulet, Sepia-capped Flycatcher, Ochre-bellied Flycatcher, Blue and White Swallow, House Wren, Rufous-bellied Thrush, Pale-breasted Thrush, Creamy-bellied Thrush, Bananaquit, Blue Dacnis, Orange-bellied Euphonia, Violaceous Euphonia, Chestnut-bellied Euphonia, Green-headed Tanager, Red-necked Tanager, Sayaca Tanager, Golden-chevroned Tanager, Palm Tanager, Brazilian Tanager, Ruby-crowned Tanager, Shiny Cowbird, Black-throated Grosbeak and Saffron Finch!

Thats a grand total of 63 species!

The lodge feeders remain busy, providing good photographic opportunities from our photo hide that is located in front of the feeders.

Blue-naped Chlorophonia at the lodge feeders. Jose Maria Fernandez

The Serra dos Orgaos National Park excursion is still providing some great sightings from the canopy walkway that is now a regular route for us on this full day trip.

Canopy walkway in the Serra dos Orgaos National Park. Jose Maria Fernandez

Giant Antshrike taken along the canopy walkway. Ian Hardy©

The Three-toed Jacamar excursion is always a challenge! Firstly there is the pressure of finding the Three-toed Jacamar (especially as the excursion is named after it!), secondly there is a handful of other "targets" for the day, and finally its always fun to try and see over 100 species during the day! The record currently stands at 124 species, but its always a very good total to see 100+ species. Last weeks Birdfinders group (Brian and Christine Shaw, Robert and Elizabeth Wilson, David and Mary Tanner, Ken and Lilian Parker, John Cresswell and Nicholas Aebischer)managed to see exactly 100 species with our guide Cirilo at the helm!

Its quite a tiring but rewarding day, we cover some 200km in a round trip (weather permitting!) and pass through mainly open countryside with some wetlands and fragmented forest areas also. Some of the days highlights included White-tailed Kite, Aplomado Falcon, Blackish Rail, Red-legged Seriema, Blue-winged Macaw, Planalto Hermit, Three-toed Jacamar, Toco Toucan, Firewood Gatherer, Tufted Antshrike, Rio de Janeiro Antbird (new site found for this difficult endemic), Streamer-tailed Tyrant, Black-capped Donacobius, Curl-crested Jay, Wedge-tailed Grassfinch and Grassland Sparrow.

The group spent 8 days at the lodge and saw a total of 252 species, of which 66 were Atlantic forest endemics!

Streamer-tailed Tyrant taken on the Jacamar excursion

Richard Hall

Blackish Rail taken on the Jacamar excursion -Richard Hall