Our guide Pete has just finished another week of guiding a group from the UK. Despite scattered rain throughout the week they managed to record an impressive 268 species during 8 days.

Highlights included Crowned Eagle, 2 Red-legged Seriema, 7 Blue-winged Macaws, 5 Blue-bellied Parrots (inc young on the extension trail by the lodge), Ferruginous Pygmy Owl (a new record for the lodge grounds), Plovercrest, Frilled Coquette, Amethyst Woodstar, 2 Rufous-crowned Motmot, 2 Three-toed Jacamars, Crescent-chested Puffbird, Spot-billed and Saffron Toucanets (daily at the lodge feeders, both species with young), 4 Toco Toucans on the Three-toed Jacamar Excursion (this came out on top as group bird of the trip), Spot-backed Antshrike, Sooretama Slaty Antshrike, Dusky-tailed Antbird, Brazilian Antthrush, Serra Antwren, Southern Antpipit (this was a lifer for Pete… seeing as he has been after it for 2 years….well done!!), to top it off it was also a first record for the lodge grounds, it was seen on the extension trail, 5 Swallow-tailed Cotingas, Black and Gold Cotinga, Bare-throated Bellbird, Pin-tailed Manakin, Long-billed Wren, no less than 24 species of Tanager including Red-necked, Gilt-edged, Brassy-breasted, Azure-shouldered, Brazilian, Swallow, Chestnut headed, Cinnamon and an amazing flock of 23 Olive-green Tanagers!

Now that we are nearing the end of the year we shall shortly be updating our bird checklist with our 2008 additions, if you are booked in for a stay with us in 2009 you will receive an updated copy via e-mail towards the end of December.

Juvenile Spot-billed Toucanet taken

from our photo hide. Andy Foster©

Many of our guests have "target birds" to see during their time with us, one of which is often Saffron Toucanet. This can be a very difficult bird to see, although recently they have been pleasing our guests by spending good amounts of time on our feeders in front of the lodge and also on our mid canopy feeder.

Saffron Toucanet on the feeders. Andy Foster©

Our guide Pete has been out guiding a group from the UK this past week, although they experienced some rain they managed to see around 260 species, so all in all a very good week. Highlights included great views of female Giant Antshrike, 2 White-necked Hawks, Blue-winged Macaw, male and female Frilled Coquette in the lodge gardens, Plovercrest, Three-toed Jacamar, Crescent-chested Puffbird, Sooretama Slaty-Antshrike, Ferruginous Antbird, Bertonis Antbird, Rufous-tailed Antbird, Ochre-rumped Antbird, Dusky-tailed Antbird and Scaled Antbird, Black and Gold Cotinga, Bare-throated Bellbird, Gray-hooded Attila, Rufous-headed Tanager, Azure-shouldered Tanager, Brassy-breasted Tanager and Bay-chested Warbling-Finch.

This last week has seen yet another cold front come in which has given us prolonged light rain for the last few days. Although light rain doesn’t stop us seeing birds, it can get somewhat frustrating!

However, the lodge feeders have been busy with visits from Maroon-bellied Parakeets, Plain Parakeets, Saffron Toucanet (on our mid canopy feeding station), Spot-billed Toucanet, Blond-crested Woodpecker, Black-tailed Tityra (which is a first for our feeding stations) together with a visit from Sharp-tailed Streamcreeper (!), Ruby-crowned Tanager, Brazilian Tanager with their young Shiny Cowbird constantly begging for food, Golden-chevroned Tanager, Chestnut-bellied Euphonia, Blue-naped Chlorophonia and Green-headed Tanager.

Guests birding the lodge trails have had some good records including Solitary Tinamou, Blue-bellied Parrot, a very brief view of Golden-tailed Parrotlet, Black-throated and Surucua Trogon, Rufous-capped Motmot, Crescent-chested Puffbird, Yellow-eared Woodpecker, Thrush-like Woodcreeper, Lesser Woodcreeper, Star-throated Antwren, Scaled Antbird, Black-cheeked and Rufous Gnateater, Pin-tailed Manakin, Yellow-lored Tody-Flycatcher and Gray-hooded Attila.

A new addition for our checklist this week was of White-thighed Swallow in the Serra dos Orgaos National Park.

Hummingbird records from the lodge for the past week have included Saw-billed Hermit, Rufous-breasted Hermit, Sombre Hummingbird, Swallow-tailed Hummingbird, Black Jacobin, Frilled Coquette, Violet-capped Woodnymph, Versicolored Emerald and Amethyst Woodstar.

Out on our excursions we have had the following highlights:

Three-toed Jacamar Excursion: Dusky-legged Guan, Slaty-breasted Wood-Rail, Blackish Rail, Red-legged Seriema, Blue-winged Macaw, Planalto Hermit, Amethyst Woodstar, Three-toed Jacamar, White-eared Puffbird, Toco Toucan, White Woodpecker, Serra Antwren, Hangnest Tody-Tyrant, Streamer-tailed Tyrant, Black-capped Donacobius, Gilt-edged Tanager and Ultramarine Grosbeak.

Cedae Trail: Swallow-tailed Kite, Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift, a nesting Rufous-capped Motmot, Buff-bellied Puffbird, Yellow-eared Woodpecker, Ochre-breasted Foliage-Gleaner, Spot-backed Antshrike, Ferruginous Antbird, Rufous-capped Antthrush, Oustalets Tyrannulet, Rufous-headed Tanager, Red-necked Tanager and Black-throated Grosbeak.

Wetlands Excursion: Capped Heron, Masked Duck, Gray-headed Kite, White-necked Hawk, Pale-vented Pigeon, Tufted Antshrike, Sooretama Slaty-Antshrike, Eye-ringed Tody-Tyrant, Moustached Wren, Long-billed Wren and Lemon-chested Greenlet.

Black-capped Donacobius. Dave Peters©