Summer is slowly arriving, although a cold front last week had the temperatures falling back down to 11 degrees centigrade at night!

The feeders at the lodge remain busy with daily visits from Slaty-breasted Wood-Rail, Maroon-bellied Parakeets, Plain Parakeets, Spot-billed Toucanet, Blond-crested Woodpecker, Great Kiskadee, Rufous-bellied Thrush, Pale-breasted Thrush, Creamy-bellied Thrush, Bananaquit, Green Honeycreeper, Blue Dacnis, Orange-bellied Euphonia, Violaceous Euphonia, Chestnut-bellied Euphonia, Blue-naped Cholorphonia, Green-headed Tanager, Burnished-buff Tanager, Sayaca Tanager, Azure-shouldered Tanager, Golden-chevroned Tanager, Palm Tanager, Brazilian Tanager, Ruby-crowned Tanager, Olive-green Tanager and Shiny Cowbird.

Green Honeycreeper at the lodge feeders © Lee Dingain

New visitors to the feeders this month include Rufous-capped Motmot (seen feeding on bananas on two occasions), Black-goggled Tanager and White-necked Thrush!

The hummingbird feeders have been equally busy with daily sightings of Saw-billed Hermit, Swallow-tailed Hummingbird, the Black Jacobins have returned after their usual winter break spent in the lowlands, Violet-capped Woodnymph, Versicolored Emerald, Sombre Hummingbird and Brazilian Ruby.

Brazilian Tanager at the lodge feeders © Lee Dingain

….. and all of the above seen from the comfort of the veranda with a cold beer or coffee in hand!!

Birding in the lodge grounds remain as good as always as birds start to breed, the Extension trail has been particularly productive this week with sightings of Brown Tinamou, Black-throated trogon, Surucua Trogon, Rufous-capped Motmot, Crescent-chested Puffbird, Saffron Toucanet, Channel-billed Toucan, Thrush-like Woodcreeper, White-throated Woodcreeper, Planalto Woodcreeper, Lesser Woodcreeper, Black-capped Foliage Gleaner, White-eyed Foliage Gleaner, Streaked Xenops, Spot-breasted Antvireo, Star-throated Antwren, Ferruginous Antbird, Scaled Antbird, Streak-capped Antwren, Rufous-capped Antthrush, Black-cheeked Gnateater, Blue Manakin, Pin-tailed Manakin, Gray-hooded Attila (looks like it will breed in the lodge garden again this year), Eye-ringed Tody Tyrant, Ochre-bellied Flycatcher, Yellow-backed Tanager, Flame-crested Tanager and Black-throated Grosbeak!

…….. and all of the above seen within a 20 minute walk from the lodge!

Violet-capped Woodnymph © Rod Sheppard

The Black and White Hawk-Eagle nest is visible from the lodge again this year allowing daily sightings of this fantastic bird, in addition to this the pair of Sharp-tailed Streamcreepers are resident again under the entrance bridge to the lodge!

Our guide Cirilo has been out leading excursions and showing some great birds to guests over the past month. A few highlights from the last couple of weeks include:

Black-Hawk Eagle, Red-legged Seriema, Plovercrest, White-throated Hummingbird, Yellow-browed Woodpecker, Large-tailed Antshrike, Rufous-backed Antvireo, Rufous-tailed Antbird, Serra do Mar Tapaculo, Swallow-tailed Cotinga (back for the summer after their usual 3 months away), prolonged views (!) of Grey-winged Cotinga, Black and Gold Cotinga, Serra do Mar Tyrant Manakin, Serra do Mar Tyrannulet, Brassy-breasted Tanager, Diademed Tanager, Green-winged Saltator and Bay-chested Warbling Finch, Rufous-capped Spinetail, Sharp-billed Treehunter, Giant Antshrike, Bertonis Antbird, Ochre-rumped Antbird, Brazilian Antthrush, Rufous Gnateater, Hooded Berryeater, Bare-throated Bellbird and Drab-breasted Bamboo-Tyrant.

More sightings coming soon!