This past week hás seen a mixed bag of weather making birding conditions somewhat difficult on a couple of days. Our guide Pete got himself a lifer (which is getting increasingly difficult to do so)! Spotted Bamboo Wren has only been recorded on our Macae de Cima Trail in the past so Pete was very happy to have had one on the Bamboo Trail. Other highlights on the Bamboo Trail included Pale-browed Treehunter, White-browed Foliage Gleaner, 5 White-throated Woodcreepers, Ochre-rumped and Bertonis Antbird, several Hooded Berryeaters, Black and Gold Cotinga and excellent views of a Black-Hawk Eagle.

Temmincks Seedeater was again seen at Serra dos Orgaos National Park, and in the lower section of the Park Salvadoris Antwren and Rufous-capped Motmot gave good views. On our High Altitude Excursion Upper Section Itatiaia Thistletail showed well and the group also got great views of a White-rumped Hawk.

Hooded Berryeater by Blake Maybank© on the Bamboo Trail

There has been a large antswarm moving around on the lodge trails, although this has made trail walking somewhat hazardous (!) the rewards were many. Birds feeding around the swarm have included Surucua Trogon, Yellow-eared Woodpecker, White-eyed Foliage Gleaner, Thrush-like, White-throated, Lesser and Scaled Woodcreepers, Spot-breasted and Plain Antvireos and Black-cheeked Gnateater.

Black-cheeked Gnateater by Stuart Elsom©

Throughout this past week we are beginning to notice a real change in the seasonal movement of our resident birds. Temperatures are beginning to fall to around 12 degrees centigrade during the night but still climbing to the mid to high twenties during the day.

Due to this night time fall in temperature we have already seen an increase in the number of Brazilian Ruby Hummingbirds resident at the lodge together with our first record for the year of Azure-shouldered Tanager on the lodge feeders. Large mixed flocks, some containing over 15-20 species are now being seen regularly on most of the excursions.

Birds of note for the past week have included a pair of Tawny-browed Owls at the lodge, Saffron Toucanets and Oustalets Tyrannulet on the Cedae Trail together with a large mixed flock of Red-necked, Brassy-breasted and Green-headed Tanagers. On the Theodoro Trail we have recorded Spot-backed and Giant Antshrikes and White-collared Foliage Gleaner. On the Three-toed Jacamar Excursion Pete has been showing guests good numbers of White Woodpeckers, Black-necked Aracaris, Curl-crested Jay, White-vented Violet-ear and of course several Three-toed Jacamars!

Brassy-breasted Tanager by Peter Basterfield©