The bird feeders in the lodge grounds not only attract birds! Over the past couple of months we have been getting daily visits by 3 Guianan Squirrels (Sciurus aestuans), and over the past week we have had our first visits by the endemic Tufted-eared Marmoset (Callithrix aurita). A small family of marmosets have been visiting daily and feeding on the bananas...photos to come soon!

Guianan Squirrel. Cristina Foster

A rare bird to the lodge feeders is the Olive-green Tanager, usually winter visitors to the lodge grounds a small party of 10 - 15 birds visited the feeders recently causing much excitement for the guests!

Olive-green Tanagers taken from the photo hide. Andy Foster

The Three-toed Jacamar excursion record hás been broken again! A group from Birdseekers managed to record a total of 123 species during the day! Highlights included 1 Aplomado Falcon, great views of Ash-throated Crake, 3 Blue-winged Macaws,1 Red-legged Seriema on the nest, 4 Three-toed Jacamars, 2 Toco Toucans, 1 Green-barred Woodpecker, great views of both the rarely recorded Lineated and Robust Woodpeckers, 1 Red-eyed Thornbird, 2 Firewood Gatherers, 1 Serra Antwren, 1 Southern Antpipit (first record for this excursion), 2 Streamer-tailed Tyrants, Tawny-headed Swallow, 2 Gilt-edged Tanagers, 2 Rufous-headed Tanagers, 1 Chestnut-bellied Seedfinch and 2 Yellow-rumped Marshbirds.

Other highlights throughout the week included 1 Solitary Tinamou on the lodges extension trail, White-necked Hawk and Mantled Hawk, Black and White Hawk-Eagle, Slaty-breasted Wood Rail, White-throated Hummingbird, Brazilian Ruby, Blond-crested Woodepcker (voted bird of the trip), Crescent-chested Puffbird in the lodge garden, Saffron Toucanets (keep the faith!), Spot-billed Toucanets, Yellow-browed Woodpecker, Black-billed Scythebill and Tufted Antshrike on our Portao Azul excursion, White-bearded Antshrike, Scaled Antbird, Black-cheeked Gnateater, Black and Gold Cotinga, great views of Swallow-tailed Cotingas, Gray-hooded Attila, Long-billed Wren, Brazilian Tanager, Red-necked Tanager, Brassy-breasted Tanager, Gilt-edged Tanager, Black-throated Grosbeak, Green-winged Saltator and Thick-billed Saltator.

Green-headed Tanager from the photo hide. Andy Foster

We have had a very busy and bird filled couple of weeks! Despite some persistant rain we have managed to avoid the worst of it and experienced mostly dry days with some light showers.

There are many species of bird now breeding in the lodge grounds including Maroon-bellied Parakeet, Surucua Trogon, White-barred Piculet, Blond-crested Woodpecker, Sharp-tailed Streamcreeper, Spot-breasted Antvireo, Plain Antvireo, Star-throated Antwren, Rufous Gnateater, Black-cheeked Gnateater, Blue Manakin (regularly seen lekking), Sepia-capped Flycatcher, Yellow-lored Tody Flycatcher, Masked Water-Tyrant, Great Kiskadee, Chestnut-crowned Becard, Crested Becard, Rufous-bellied Thrush, Pale- Breasted Thrush, Ruby-crowned Tanager, Brazilian Tanager, Sayaca Tanager, Golden-chevroned Tanager, Palm Tanager, Violaceous Euphonia, Orange-bellied Euphonia, Green-headed Tanager and Red-necked Tanager.

Other sightings from the lodge grounds over the past couple of weeks have included Black and White Hawk Eagle (still nesting), Black Hawk-Eagle, Slaty-breasted Wood-Rail, Saw-billed Hermit, Scale-throated Hermit, Black Jacobin (now back in good numbers), Frilled Coquette, Rufous-capped Motmot (upto 3 pairs in the lodge grounds, although proving difficult to see!), Crescent-chested Puffbird, Saffron Toucanet (4 at our canopy feeder), Spot-billed Toucanet, White-throated Woodcreeper, White-eyed Foliage Gleaner, Rufous-capped Antthrush, Blue Manakin, Pin-tailed Manakin, Gray-capped Tyrannulet, Gray-hooded Attila and Azure-shouldered Tanager.

Birding on our various excursions has also been very productive, highlights are as follows:

Bamboo Trail:

Scale-throated Hermit, Plovercrest, White-throated Hummingbird, Black-throated Trogon, Yellow-browed Woodpecker, Sharp-billed Treehunter, White-collared Foliage Gleaner, Black-billed Scythebill, White-bearded Antshrike, Bertonis Antbird, Ochre-rumped Antbird, Brazilian Antthrush, Spotted Bamboowren, Slaty Bristlefront, Serra do Mar Tapaculo, Black and Gold Cotinga, Hooded Berryeater, Drab-breasted Bamboo Tyrant, Greenish Schiffornis and Brassy-breasted Tanager.

High Altitude Trails, Upper and Lower combined:

White-rumped Hawk, Black Hawk-Eagle, Red-legged Seriema, Plovercrest, White-throated Hummingbird, Brazilian Ruby, Pallid Spinetail, Itatiaia Thistletail, Large-tailed Antshrike, Rufous-tailed Antbird, Dusky-tailed Antbird, Serra do Mar Tapaculo, Swallow-tailed Cotinga (several seen on both the upper and lower areas, and observed nest building), Black and Gold Cotinga, stunning views of Grey-winged Cotinga (upto 3 pairs on the upper section), Serra do Mar Tyrant Manakin, Serra do Mar Tyrannulet, Shear-tailed Gray-Tyrant, Chestnut-headed Tanager, Bay-chested Warbling Finch, Half-collared Sparrow and Thick-billed Saltator.

Serra dos Orgaos National Park:

Rufous-capped Motmot, Spot-billed Toucanet, Yellow-fronted Woodpecker, Yellow-eared Woodpecker, Yellow-throated Woodpecker, White-browed Foliage Gleaner, Pale-browed Treehunter, Lesser Woodcreeper, Rufous-backed Antvireo, Streak-capped Antwren, White-rimmed Warbler, great views of Brown Tanager, Rufous-headed Tanager, Yellow-backed Tanager, Flame-crested Tanager and Red-necked Tanager.

Three-toed Jacamar Excursion:

Lesser Yellow-Headed Vulture, Gray-headed Kite, Aplomado Falcon, Bat Falcon, Ash-throated Crake, Blackish Rail, 20+ Blue-winged Macaw, Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl, Sapphire-spangled Emerald, 6 Three-toed Jacamars, White-eared Puffbird, 8 + White Woodpeckers, 10+ Toco Toucans, Serra Antwren, Hangnest Tody-Tyrant, Streamer-tailed Tyant, Tawny-headed Swallow, Gilt-edged Tanager and Half-collared Sparrow.

Portao Azul:

Saffron Toucanet, Green-barred Woodpecker (nesting in the same tree as last year!), Gray-bellied Spinetail, Red-eyed Thornbird, White-collared Foliage Gleaner, Black-billed Scythebill, amazing views of a male Tufted Antshrike, both male and female Giant Antshrike, Ferruginous Antbird, Dusky-tailed Antbird, Hangnest Tody-Tyrant, Rufous-headed Tanager and Gilt-edged Tanager.

Theodoro Trail:

Mantled Hawk, Saffron and Spot-billed Toucanet, Yellow-browed Woodpecker, Rufous-capped Spinetail, White-bearded Antshrike, Bertonis Antird, Short-tailed Antthrush, Brazilian Antthrush, Black-cheeked Gnateater, Spotted Bamboowren, great views of Elegant Mourner, Bare-throated Bellbird, Gray-hooded Attila, Sharpbill, Azure-shouldered Tanager and Black-throated Grosbeak.

Wetlands Excursion:

Whistling Heron, Capped Heron, Rufescent Tiger-Heron, Masked Duck, Tropical Screech-Owl, Pauraque, Reddish Hermit, Rufous-capped Motmot, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, Chestnut-backed Antshrike, Sooretama Slaty-Antshrike, White-flanked Antwren, Unicolored Antwren, Scaled Antbird, Long-billed Wren and Chesnut-vented Conebill.