The lodge gardens are currently full of fruiting trees! The bulk of the fruiting trees are goiabas, these are attracting large flocks of both Plain and Maroon-bellied Parakeets, Red-necked and Green-headed Tanagers.

Red-necked Tanager feeding on a goiaba. Andy Foster

Now that we are officially into our autumn there is very little evidence of any breeding birds, only the Rufous-bellied Thrush, House Wren and Masked Water-Tyrants are continuing and are probably on their final broods of the season.

Young Masked Water Tyrant. Cristina Foster

Large mixed flocks are now being seen daily on the lodge trails and out on the excursions. One mixed flock on the extension trail included Squirrel Cuckoo, Surucua Trogon, Spot-billed Toucanet, Yellow-eared Woodpecker, Streaked Xenops, Black-capped and White-eyed Foliage-Gleaners, Olivaceous and Lesser Woodcreepers, White-shouldered Fire-eye, Plain and Spot-breasted Antvireos and Yellow-Olive Flycatcher!

A couple of weeks ago we had a Naturetrek group with us, please click on the following link if you wish to see the trip report.

Naturetrek Trip Report March 2009.doc

The first new species of 2009 for the Serra dos Tucanos check list has been recorded on our Portao Azul Excursion. Pete had previously heard White-breasted Tapaculo in this area but it had been too far away to respond to tape playback. On Petes last visit to Portao Azul the Tapaculo was calling much closer, so after some playback the bird appeared and gave some great views, hopefully it will continue to do so!

Highlights over the past week on some of our other excursions have included:

High Altitude Excursion: 2 Red-legged Seriema, 2 Plovercrest, 3 White-throated Hummingbirds, 1 Yellow-browed Woodpecker, 3 Pallid Spinetails, 4 Red-eyed Thornbirds, 1 Rufous-capped Antshrike, 1 Rufous-tailed Antbird, 1 Dusky-tailed Antbird, 1 Serra do Mar Tapaculo, 1 Swallow-tailed Cotinga, 4 Black and Gold Cotingas, 3 Grey-winged Cotingas, 1 Velvety-black Tyrant, 3 Shear-tailed Grey-Tyrants, 2 Cinnamon Tanagers, an amazing count of 10 Diademed Tanagers, 20 Brassy-breasted Tanagers, 1 Bay-chested Warbling Finch and 6 Uniform Finches.

Serra dos Tucanos grounds and trails: 2 Blue-bellied Parrots, 1 Reddish Hermit, 6 Sombre Hummingbirds, 10+ Black Jacobins, 4+ Spot-billed Toucanets, 1 Yellow-eared Woodpecker, 2 Blond-crested Woodpeckers, 1 Black-capped Foliage Gleaner, 2 White-eyed Foliage Gleaners, 2 Sharp-tailed Streamcreepers still living under our bridge(!), 1 Thrush-like Woodcreeper, 1 Ferruginous Antbird, 2 Scaled Antbirds, 1 Streak-capped Antwren, 1 Unicolored Antwren, 3 Black-cheeked Gnateaters, 1 Eye-ringed Tody-Tyrant, 4 Yellow-backed Tanagers, 4 Flame-crested Tanagers, 20+ Green-headed Tanagers and 10+ Red-necked Tanagers feeding on fruiting trees in the garden.

Wetlands Excursion: 1 Pied-billed Grebe, 4 Whistling Herons, 1 Masked Duck, 2 Tropical Screech Owls, 1 Sooretama Slaty-Antshrike, 1 White-flanked Antwren, 2 Yellow Tyrannulet, 1 Long-billed Wren and 15 Swallow Tanagers.

Three-toed Jacamar Excursion: 1 White-tailed Hawk, 1 Blackish Rail, 1 Red-legged Seriema, 4 Blue-winged Macaw, 15 White-eyed Parakeets, 1 Glittering-bellied Emerald, 1 White-throated Hummingbird, 3 Three-toed Jacamars, 1 White-eared Puffbird, 1 Firewood Gatherer, 1 Ferruginous Antbird, 1 Pin-tailed Manakin, 1 Gray-hooded Flycatcher, 1 Grey Monjita, 1 White-rumped Monjita, 6 Streamer-tailed Tyrants, 3 Long-tailed Tyrants, 1 Green-backed Becard, 1 Chestnut-vented Conebill, 4 Gilt-edged Tanagers, 1 Sooty Grassquit and 1 Half-collared Sparrow.

Half-collared Sparrow© Hop Hopkins

We have now decided to publish all new trip reports on our Latest News page, they will remain here and also be added to our Trip Reports page at a later date. Please click on the title of the trip report you wish to see, this will then be opened as WORD document.

Birdfinders Trip Report 27th November-8th December 2008.doc

Birdfinders Trip Report 25th January-4th February 2009.doc

BirdfindersTrip Report 6th-16th February 2009.doc

Surucua Trogon© Hop Hopkins