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