Our new photo hide is ready for action! Located next to 3 feeding stations it offers guests the opportunity to get seriously close up to some of our rare and colourful endemics. There is enough space for 2 people to sit comfortably and a series of 6 openings in the front large enough to fit any size lens through.

Green-headed Tanager from the photo hide. Andy Foster©

Pete has been out guiding on the trails again this week, highlights have included:

Bamboo Trail.
Short-tailed Hawk, Black Hawk Eagle, Slaty Bristlefront, Bertonis Antbird, 3 Black and Gold Cotingas, Hooded Berryeater and 4 Buffy-fronted Seedeaters.

Cedae Trail.
Ochre-breasted Foliage Gleaner, Black-capped Foliage Gleaner, Oustalets Tyrannulet, Spot-backed Antshrike and 4 Rufous-headed Tanagers.

Three-toed Jacamar Excursion.
4 Slaty-breasted Wood-rails, 4 Red-legged Seriema, Striped Cuckoo, Serra Antwren, 5 Magpie Tanagers and of course 4 Three-toed Jacamars.

High Altitude Excursion.
Plovercrest, Rufous-tailed Antbird, Shear-tailed Grey-Tyrant and no less than 15 Bay-chested Warbling Finches.

Sightings from around the lodge have included Black Hawk Eagle, Mantled Hawk, Bare-throated Bellbird, Maroon-bellied and Plain Parakeet, Blue-bellied Parrot, Rufous-capped Motmot, Spot-billed and Saffron Toucanet, White-throated Woodcreeper, Scaled Antbird, Rufos-capped Antthrush, Brazilian Tanager, Golden-chevroned Tanager, Green-headed Tanager and Red-necked Tanager.

Mantled Hawk over the lodge. Andy Foster©

Now that spring is underway in south-east Brazil we are beginning to see the first signs of display and courtship between the birds! The endemic Yellow-lored Tody Flycatchers are flying around by the pool collecting nesting material and are once again going to nest in the same area this year. Sharp-tailed Streamcreeper appears to be holding territory just under the bridge by the lodge entrance, so hopefully this will once again use this area to nest and impress our guests with its daily 06.00 am display! Many other species are also beginning to build nests in the grounds of the lodge including Green-headed and Red-necked Tanagers.

Sharp-tailed Streamcreeper Stuart Elsom ©

Out on the trails Pete and a couple of lucky guests observed a pair of White-bibbed Antbirds displaying in the Serra dos Orgaos National park, also seen there was a very obliging Giant Antshrike. On our Macae de Cima Trail there were good sightings of Mantled Hawk, Giant Antshrike and Chestnut-headed Tanagers.

We are off to exhibit at the Bird Fair in Rutland Water today (thursday 14th August), we hope to see many of you there! Please visit the Bird Fair website for further information.

We shall be in Marquee 1, Stand 50.