Yes, in the space of just one week we have added another new species to the Serra dos Tucanos bird list...... this time its a Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor), once again seen by Ian Hillery and Jim France together with our guide Cirilo. The bird was observed on the return journey from our Serra dos Orgaos National Park excursion.

The feeders in the lodge grounds remain very busy with up to 15 Olive-green Tanagers visiting daily, a common visitor at this time of year. Its getting colder now with temperatures at the lodge falling to 14 degrees centigrade at night, this cold weather is however providing the most glorious clear sunny days! Golden-tailed Parrotlets are flying over the lodge grounds daily, although as usual they are very difficult to locate once they land! Also had a pair of Black and White Hawk eagles displaying above the lodge, joined briefly by a Black Hawk Eagle!

The hummingbird feeders are also busy with regular visits from Saw-billed Hermit, Swallow-tailed Hummingbird, Black Jacobin, Violet-capped Woodnymph, Sombre Hummingbird and Brazilian Ruby.

Saw-billed Hermit© Rod Sheppard

The trails in the lodge grounds remain busy with sightings of Dusky-throated Hermit, Black-throated Trogon, Rufous-capped Motmot, Spot-billed and Saffron Toucanet, Channel-billed Toucan, Yellow-eared Woodpecker, Thrush-like Woodcreeper, White-throated Woodcreeper, Lesser Woodcreeper, White-eyed Foliage Gleaner, Giant Antshrike (rare for the lodge trails), Star-throated Antwren, Ferruginous Antbird, Scaled Antbird, Streak-capped Antwren, Rufous-capped Antthrush, Pin-tailed Manakin, Blue Manakin, Gray-hooded Attila, Red-necked Tanager, Brassy-breasted Tanager (only a winter visitor in the lodge grounds) and Black-throated Grosbeak amongst others!

Black-cheeked Gnateater© Rod Sheppard

The last couple of weeks has seen a nice dry period, with clear blue skies and cooler temperatures. Cirilo has been out guiding over the past few days, he has taken guests to the Three-toed Jacamar area and to the High Altitude excursion lower and upper sections.

We have added a new bird for the Serra dos Tucanos list (getting increasingly harder nowadays)! Cirilo and guests Ian Hillery and Jim France found a Mealy Parrot (Amazona farinosa) on the High Altitude Excursion lower section, although find in other areas of south-east Brazil this is the first record on our “local patch”!

Other highlights have included Short-tailed Hawk, Aplomado Falcon, Red-legged Seriema, Blackish Rail, White-eyed Parakeet, Plovercrest, Glittering-belled Emerald, Sapphire spangled Emerald, Three-toed Jacamar, Tail-banded Hornero, Pallid Spinetail, Red-eyed Thornbird, White-browed Foliage Gleaner, Scaled Woodcreeper, Rufous-tailed Antbird, Serra do Mar Tyrannulet, Velvety Black Tyrant, Yellow-browed Tyrant, Black and Gold Cotinga, Rufous-crowned Greenlet, Tawny-headed Swallow, Yellow-legged Thrush, White-rimmed Warbler, Cinnamon Tanager, Diademed Tanager, Fawn-breasted Tanager, Brassy-breasted Tanager, Bay-chested Warbling Finch and Thick-billed Saltator.

The feeders at the lodge remain very busy with all of the usual visitors coming by on a daily basis. Other highlights in the lodge grounds over the past few days have included Mantled Hawk, Black and White Hawk-Eagle, Plain Parakeet, Maroon-bellied Parakeet, Saw-billed Hermit, Sombre Hummingbird, Swallow-tailed Hummingbird, Brazilian Ruby, Crescent-chested Puffbird, Spot-billed Toucanet, Yellow-eared Woodpecker, Blond-crested Woodpecker, Sharp-tailed Streamcreeper, White-throated Woodcreeper, Spot-breasted Antvireo, Star-throated Antwren, Rufous-capped Antthrush, Black-cheeked Gnateater, Yellow-lored Tody-Flycatcher, Grey-hooded Attila, Long-billed Wren, Chestnut-bellied Euphonia, Brazilian Tanager, Green-headed Tanager, Red-necked Tanager and Burnished-buff Tanager.