Its now beginning to cool down here in south-east Brazil as autumn slowly approaches. On our open country excursions both the Fork-tailed and Myiarchus Flycatchers have moved on and some of the birds from higher altitude areas are beginning to move down the slopes into lower areas as temperatures start to fall.

Golden-chevroned Tanager at the lodge feeders. Andy Foster

We are noticing the usual seasonal changes at the lodge feeders with the arrival of both the Azure-shouldered and Olive-green Tanagers, and also with the arrival of Brazilian Ruby hummingbirds and the fewer sightings of Black Jacobins. Also at the lodge feeders regularly at the moment is the Blond-crested Woodpecker, slightly larger flocks of Plain and Reddish-bellied Parakeets (probably due to the diminishing amount of natural fruit in the forest), Spot-billed Toucanet, Saffron Toucanet, Yellow-legged Thrush, Rufous-bellied Thrush, Green Honeycreeper, Blue Dacnis, Orange-bellied Euphonia, Violaceous Euphonia, Chestnut-bellied Euphonia, Blue-naped Chlorophonia, Green-headed Tanager, Burnished-buff Tanager, Sayaca Tanager, Golden-chevroned Tanager, Palm Tanager, Brazilian Tanager and Ruby-crowned Tanager. Blond-crested Woodpecker at the lodge feeders. Andy Foster

Blue-bellied Parrots are being seen and heard more regularly in the lodge gardens at the moment as they come down to feed on the fruiting orange trees, also the resident pair of Tawny-browed Owls are now calling nightly, although difficult to see its nice to know they are there!

Plain Parakeets at the lodge feeders. Andy Foster Reddish-bellied and Plain Parakeets at the lodge feeders. Andy Foster

We are soon to do an exploratory visit to some good quality lowland forest, we hope to find some new species there to add to the Serra dos Tucanos bird list and to offer it as another full day excursion…….watch this space!