The last month has seen temperatures dropping as we head into autumn! The breeding season has now passed and we are beginning to see the start of mixed flocks, which will carry on throughout our winter period until mid August. 

Birding with large mixed flocks can be quite challenging, but of course very rewarding at the same time should you be lucky enough to get good views of 10+ lifers all in one easy swoop! 

The lodge feeders will also start to become busier in the next month or so and the consumption of bananas will return to 15+ kilos per day! 

Cirilo has been busy guiding over the last month sharing his knowledge and enthusiasm of the local birds. There have as always been many highlights (difficult not to have with such great birding)! However, some of the main highlights over the past few weeks have been the following: 

Mantled Hawk (Theodoro Trail), White-tailed Hawk, Dusky-legged Guan, Blackish Rail (Sumidouro area), White-eyed Parakeet, Blue-bellied Parrot (Theodoro Trail), Scale-throated Hermit, Planalto Hermit, Plovercrest, Glittering-bellied Emerald, White-chinned Sapphire, Black-throated Trogon, Channel-billed Toucan, Blond-crested Woodpecker (lodge feeders), Pallid Spinetail, Red-eyed Thornbird, White-browed Foliage Gleaner, Pale-browed Treehunter, Sharp-billed Treehunter, Black-capped Foliage Gleaner, White-collared Foliage Gleaner, Sharp-tailed Streamcreeper (still resident on the stream in front of the lodge), Planalto Woodcreeper, Giant Antshrike, Sooretama Slaty Antshrike, Star-throated Antwren, Ferruginous Antbird, Bertonis Antbird, Rufous-tailed Antbird, Ochre-rumped Antbird, Streak-capped Antwren, Brasilian Antthrush, Rufous Gnateater, Black-cheeked Gnateater, Slaty Bristlefront, Serra do Mar Tapaculo, Black and Gold Cotinga, Blue Manakin, Pin-tailed Manakin, Gray-hooded Flycatcher, Gray-capped Tyrannulet, Blue-billed Black Tyrant, Streamer-tailed Tyrant (Sumidouro area), Green-backed Becard, Black-capped Becard, Moustached Wren, Long-billed Wren, Curl-crested Jay (Sumidouro area), Yellow-backed Tanager, Hooded Tanager, Flame-crested Tanager, Brasilian Tanager, Azure-shouldered Tanager, Diademed Tanager, Green-headed Tanager, Red-necked Tanager, Gilt-edged Tanager, Swallow Tanager, Bay-chested Warbling Finch, Half-collared Sparrow and Thick-billed Saltator.

Brazilian Tanager at the lodge feeders - Ron Brown ©