This week we have seen the arrival of some much needed rain! During the past 3 weeks we have seen nothing more than a few drops, but last night the heavens opened and we are still experiencing light rainfall today.

Now beginning to see some good mixed flocks in the forest as we are rapidly coming to the end of the breeding season. We had a great day on our High Altitude excursion this week with Grey-winged Cotinga showing well, our driver Aldo managed to pick it up in the scope after a mere 30 seconds of trying! Other highlights from the day included 3 Red-legged Seriema, great views of Plovercrest, White-throated Humingbird, Yellow-browed Woodpecker, Rufous-capped Spinetail, Rufous-backed Antvireo, Rufous-tailed Antbird, Brazilian Antthrush, Rufous Gnateater, Serra do Mar Tapaculo, 2 Swallow-tailed Cotingas, Black and Gold Cotinga, Pin-tailed Manakin, White-rimmed Warbler, Brassy-breasted Tanager and Thick-billed Saltator.

Thick-billed Saltator. Steve Bird.

The feeders at the lodge have been busy over the past few days, highlights have included Slaty-breasted Wood-Rail (strange record for the feeders, but happily there each morning!), Maroon-bellied Parakeet, Plain Parakeet, Spot-billed Toucanet, Blond-crested Woodpecker, Ruby-crowned Tanager, Brazilian Tanager, Orange-bellied Euphonia, Chestnut-bellied Euphonia, and Green-headed Tanager.

Ruby-crowned Tanager next to the lodge feeders. Steve Bird.

The humingbird feeders have also been busy with Saw-billed Hermit, Reddish Hermit, Sombre Hummingbird, Swallow-tailed Hummingbird, Black Jacobin, Violet-capped Woodnymph, Versicolored Emerald and Brazilian Ruby all being recorded today.

Great news! The Golden Lion Tamarins have returned to the lodge grounds, what appears to be a pair were seen close to the swimming pool area on Monday and heard again on Tuesday, this shows that the habitat surrounding the lodge must be what these tiny primates require, hopefully they will stick around!

Been out on the Portao Azul excursion this morning, highlights included 1 Short-tailed Hawk, 2 Scale-throated Hermits, Glittering-bellied Emerald, White-throated Hummingbird, Surucua Trogon, 2 Yellow-eared Woodpeckers, Rufous-capped Spinetail, 2 Pallid Spinetails, Red-eyed Thornbird, White-collared Foliage-Gleaner, fantastic views of a Black-billed Scythebill, 2 Ferruginous Antbirds, 1 Dusky-tailed Antbird, 2 White-shouldered Fire-eyes, Rufous Gnateater, Blue Manakin, Pin-tailed Manakin, Yellow Tyrannulet, Gray-hooded Flycatcher, Drab-breasted Bamboo-Tyrant, Hangnest Tody-Tyrant, Ochre-faced Tody-Flycatcher, Yellow-lored Tody-Flycatcher, 2 Fuscous Flycatchers, White-winged Becard, Brassy-breasted Tanager, Gilt-edged Tanager, great views of Half-collared Sparrow and Green-winged Saltator.

Brassy-breasted Tanager © Steve Bird

After 7 years (!) of trying to get broadband internet installed we are now happy to be able to offer our guests free WiFi internet connection at the lodge. Its available in the main lounge, verandas, patio and swimming pool area. So, for those of you that wish to keep up to date with work, check e-mails or see what birds you are missing at home (!) you will need to bring your laptop with you!

Red-legged Seriema. Jon Burrell.

Had a couple of busy weeks, lots of birds as usual, highlights are as follows:

Whistling Heron, Capped Heron, Black-bellied Whistling Duck, Mantled Hawk, Slaty-breasted Woodrail, great views of Ash-throated Crake, Blackish Rail, 6+ Red-legged Seriemas, 12+ Blue-winged Macaws, Marron-bellied and Plain Parakeets at the lodge feeders, juvenile Tawny-browed Owl, Saw-billed Hermit, Scale-throated Hermit, Plovercrest, Frilled Coquette in the lodge garden, Brazilian Ruby in the lodge garden, Three-toed Jacamar, White-eared Puffbird, Crescent-chested Puffbird, both Saffron and Spot-billed Toucanets, Yellow-eared and Yellow-browed Woodpeckers, Rufous-capped Spinetail, Pallid Spinetail, Itatiaia Thistletail after a lot of effort on our High Altitude Excursion, great views though! Sharp-billed Treehunter, Black-capped and White-eyed Foliage Gleaner, White-throated Woodcreeper, 2 Black-billed Scythebills, Star-throated Antwren, Serra Antwren, Ferruginous Antbird, Bertonis Antbird, Rufous-tailed Antbird, Ochre-rumped Antbird, Dusky-tailed Antbird, Scaled Antbird, Brazilian Anttthrush, Black-cheeked Gnateater, Slaty Bristlefront, Serra do Mar Tapaculo, Swallow-tailed Cotinga, Black and Gold Cotinga, Grey-winged Cotinga, Bare-throated Bellbird, Blue Manakin, Pin-tailed Manakin, Serra do Mar Tyrant-Manakin, Grey-capped Tyrannulet, Drab-breasted Bamboo-Tyrant, Eye-ringed Tody Tyrant, Hangnest Tody-Tyrant, Shear-tailed Grey Tyrant, Brazilian Tanager, Azure-shouldered Tanager, Green-headed Tanager, Red-necked Tanager, Brassy-breasted Tanager, Gilt-edged Tanager, Bay-chested Warbling-Finch and Half-collared Sparrow.