During the last few weeks our Three-toed Jacamar record has been broken...twice! The Three-toed Jacamar is a south-east Brazilian endemic, found only in sections of dry fragmented forest near a small town called Sumidouo. On our excursion to look for the Jacamar we have devised a circular route that covers several different habitats and gives the opportunity of seeing anything between 65-100+ species in a day. The old record was of 109 species, but our Birdfinders group that visited from the 12th - 22nd August broke this record with a very respectable 112 species! The following week we had another group from Birdfinders who managed to better this total and record 114 species! Highlights from the Jacamar excursion over the last few weeks have included Gray-headed Kite, Black and White Hawk Eagle, Bat Falcon, Slaty-breasted Wood-Rail, Ash-throated Crake, Blackish Rail, Red-legged Seriema, Blue-winged Macaw, Planalto Hermit, Three-toed Jacamar, Toco Toucan, White Woodpecker, Tail-banded Hornero, Red-eyed Thornbird, Black-billed Scythebill, Tufted Antshrike, Serra Antwren, Ferruginous Antbird, Streamer-tailed Tyrant, White-rumped Swallow, Tawny-headed Swallow, Chestnut-vented Conebill, Magpie Tanager, Rufous-headed Tanager, Oranage-bellied Euphonia, Gilt-edged Tanager and Half-collared Sparrow.

Tail-banded Hornero© Tim Keller

Magpie Tanager© Tim Keller

Other highlights from the past few weeks have included:

Bamboo Trail: Pileated Parrot, Plovercrest, Yellow-browed Woodpecker, Rufous-capped Spinetail, Sharp-billed Treehunter, Black-billed Scythebill, Giant Antshrike, White-bearded Antshrike, Rufous-backed Antvireo, Bertonis Antbird, Ochre-rumped Antbird, Brazilian Antthrush, Spotted Bamboowren, Black and Gold Cotinga, Hoded Berryeater, Bare-throated Bellbird, Pin-tailed Manakin, Drab-breasted Bamboo-Tyrant, Gray-hooded Attila, Greenish Schiffornis, Green-winged Saltator and Thick-billed Saltator.

High Altitude Trails: White-rumped Hawk, Crowned Eagle, Black-Hawk Eagle, Red-legged Seriema, Scale-throated Hermit, Plovercrest, White-throated Hummingbird, Brazilian Ruby, Itatiaia Thistletail, Pallid Spinetail, Large-tailed Antshrike, Rufous-tailed Antbird, Dusky-tailed Antbird, Serra do Mar Tapaculo, Swallow-tailed Cotinga, Black and Gold Cotinga, Greywinged Cotinga, Chestnut-headed Tanager, Azure-shouldered Tanager, Brassy-breasted Tanager and Bay-chested Warbling Finch.

Lodge gardens and grounds: A good number of guests have found time to walk the lodges trails over the past couple of weeks, bringing in some great sightings on a daily basis, some of these have included Solitary Tinamou, Brown Tinamou, Mantled Hawk, Black and White Hawk-Eagle, our first record of Aplomado Falcon, Slaty-breasted Wood-Rail, Golden-tailed Parrotlet, Blue-bellied Parrot, Tawny-browed Owl, Saw-billed Hermit, Violet-capped Woodnymph, Brazilian Ruby, Rufos-capped Motmot, Crescent-chested Puffbird, Saffron Toucanet, Yellow-eared Woodpecker, Blond-crested Woodpecker, Chicli Spinetail, White-eyed Foliage Gleaner, Thrush-like Woodcreeper, White-throated Woodcreeper, Lesser Woodcreeper, Spot-breasted Antvireo, Star-throated Antwren, Ferruginous Antbird, White-shouldered Fire-eye, Blue and Pin-tailed Manakin, Gray-hooded Flycatcher, Eye-ringed Tody-Tyrant, Gray-hooded Attila, Rufous-headed Tanager, Olive-green Tanager, Ruby-crowned Tanager (for once showing its ruby crown, see photo below!), Brazilian Tanager, Green-headed Tanager, Red-necked Tanager and Black-throated Grosbeak.

Ruby-crowned Tanager© Tim Keller