It was nice to see so many familiar faces at the annual Bird Fair in Rutland Water last month, its always good to have a catch up with past guests (and hear about all of your most recent travels!), together with meeting new guests due to visit us soon or enquiring for a possible trip in the future!

Now back to Brazil and the birding over the past few weeks at Serra dos Tucanos has been excellent! 

Cirilo has been out guiding on a daily basis with various guests and groups.  

Highlights from the last few weeks on our High Altitude Excursion have included Grey-winged Cotinga (up to 3 calling in one area) with one eventually being found perched in a small tree just above the canopy line, Black and Gold Cotinga, Rufous-tailed Antbird, Large-tailed Antshrike, Rufous-capped Antshrike, Itatiaia Thistletail (good views on the top of Pico de Caladonia), Diademed Tanager, Bay-chested Warbling Finch, Brassy-breasted Tanager and Rufous-backed Antvireo. 

The Three-toed Jacamar Excursion has also been good with views of Three-toed Jacamar (of course!), Serra Antwren, Red-legged Seriema, White-eared Puffbird, Gilt-edged Tanager, Whistling Heron, Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture, White-tailed Hawk, Ash-throated Crake, Blue-winged Macaw, Sapphire-spangled Emerald, White Woodpecker and Black-capped Donacobius. 

Portao Azul has (as nearly always) been turning up the goods with great views of Half-collared Sparrow, Saffron Toucanet, Yellow-eared Woodpecker, Yellow-browed Woodpecker, Pallid Spinetail, Orange-eyed Thornbird, Black-billed Scythebill, Dusky-tailed Antbird, Pin-tailed Manakin, Hang-nest Tody Tyrant, Gilt-edged Tanager and Green-winged Saltator. 

Olive-green Tanager at the lodge feeders. Andy Foster
 

The trails around the lodge grounds have been very productive recently with sightings of  Brown Tinamou, Solitary Tinamou, Mantled Hawk, Black and White Hawk-Eagle, Black Hawk-Eagle, Slaty-breasted Wood-Rail, Maroon-bellied Parakeets, Plain Parakeet, Scaly-headed Parrot, Saw-billed Hermit, Black Jacobin (now back after the winter spent in the lowlands), Black-throated Trogon, Surucua Trogon, Rufous-capped Motmot, Spot-billed and Saffron Toucanets, Blond-crested Woodpecker, Yellow-throated Woodpecker (a rare woodpecker for the lodge grounds), Black-capped Foliage Gleaner, White-eyed Foliage Gleaner, Sharp-tailed Streamcreeper (still being seen daily in the river that runs in front of the lodge), Spot-breasted Antvireo, Ferruginous Antbird, Streak-capped Antwren, Black-cheeked Gnateater, Bare-throated Bellbird (passing through on their way to the higher altitude areas), Blue and Pin-tailed Manakin, Grey-capped Tyrannulet, Eye-ringed Tody-Tyrant, Grey-hodded Attila, Long-billed Wren, Rufous-headed Tanager, Yellow-backed Tanager, Olive-green Tanager, Flame-crested Tanager, Brazilian Tanager, Azure-shouldered Tanager, Golden-chevroned Tanager, Green-headed Tanager, Red-necked Tanager and a first for the lodge feeders Gilt-edged Tanager!

 

Blond-crested Woodpecker at the lodge feeders. Cristina Foster