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| Watching Southern Antpipit |
Today we were to be based at the reserve, the Wetland is an
area which provides a rich and varied wildlife and we had not spent as much
time there as we would have liked so far, our days being curtailed by the
weather. So a day meandering around the
local trails was called for.
Pauline and
Claire had been doing their homework, and called for three serious omissions to
be found – Southern Beardless Tyrannulet, Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture and
Moustached Wren. Can't believe that we have got so far into our trip without getting everyone on to these three, but that's the way birdwatching goes sometimes - more effort required!
As we gathered in the garden we found Purple-throated and
Violaceous Euphonia, Brazilian Tanager, Rufous-breasted Hermit, Violet-crowned
Wood-nymph, Swallowtail Hummingbird and some White-tufted Marmosets enjoying
the fruit and sugar water provided.
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| Black-cheeked Gnateater |
White woodpecker called as we started down the drive, and
four birds flew over the path towards the wetland area. By the volunteer accommodation we found
Bananaquit, Yellow-chinned spinetail, Picazuro Pigeon, Saffron Finch, Tropical
Kingbird, White-barred Piculet, Common Gallinule, Purple Gallinule, Wattled
Jacana, Yellow-lored Tody-flycatcher, a pair of delightful Blue Ground Dove,
Rufescent Tiger Heron, Brazilian Teal, Striated Heron, Ringed Kingfisher,
Amazon Kingfisher, noisy Scaly-headed parrots flew overhead. Fly-pasts appear to be the order of the day for Parrots and the like this year - oh for a perched group so that everyone can actually see the birds.
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| Ferruginous Pygmy Owl coming towards us |
We skirted around the wetland with the edge of
the forest to
one side, Planalto Tyrannulet, Creamy-bellied Thrush, and the first of the wish
list, Southern Beardless Tyrannulet. Congratulations to Adilei for getting that one out of the way early on. Wing-banded Hornero strutted around on the edge of the small islands,
Yellow-headed Caracara perched high up on the tree tops, a Roadside Hawk called
before appearing over the nearby hillside.
On the older part of this bit of wetland, Muscovy Duck, Great Egret,
Least Grebe, Capped Heron and over 50 White-faced Whistling-duck were seen.
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| Hamadryas amphione amphione butterfly; |
We decided to add the Brown Trail and
then the Canopy Hide Loop to our walk, in this mixed
habitat circuit we hoped to maximise
our chances
of some additions to our trip list. In the first section of forest which skirts
around the wetland we found; Chestnut-vented Conebill, White-winged Becard,
Yellow-backed Tanager, Blue Dacnis, Short-crested Flycatcher, Yellow-bellied
Elaenia, Orange-bellied Euphonia, Sayaca Tanager, Social Flycatcher,
White-bellied Seedeater (luckily a male or we would have been struggling with
an id), Kiskidee, Streaked Xenops, Rufous-headed Tanager, Chestnut-backed
Antshrike, Sorretama Slaty-Antshrike, Ochre-bellied Flycatcher, Streaked
Flycatcher (the only one spotted this year so far).
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| Female Chestnut-vented Conebill |
Grey-fronted dove was flushed and spotted by the front
couple of people, the rest had to make do with the call echoing around us. Southern Antpipit called from its usual spot
where the Brown Trail and the Canopy Loop join, as always it responded well to
tape and put on a good show. Euler’s
Flycatcher and Chestnut-Backed Antshrike were next to visit us, with
Flame-crested Tanager, Unicoloured Antwren and Long-billed Wren calling for
attention.
As we neared the hide a Boat-billed Flycatcher was calling
above us. Although things were
relatively quiet, we did spot a three-toed sloth from the hide and the Ferruginous
Pygmy-Owl was still perched high up in a nearby tree almost in the same spot as
the last time we paid a visit. Black-capped Foliage-Gleaner, Sepia-capped
Flycatcher, White-eyed Foliage-Gleaner and Rufous-winged Antwren kept our attention from waivering as we
started our return part of the loop. As
we came down the final part of the descent we heard the unmistakeable sound of
Shrike-like Cotinga. Out came the ipod,
and within minutes this enigmatic bird which has had such important links to
the Reserve over the years was in view. Rather shaky photographs from me, but hopefully some better ones from the more able photographers amongst us.
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| View from the Garden |
We picked up the Brown Trail, and continued towards the
wetland, a Moustached Wren called, again as with so many of these neotropical
birds it responded and came in at the first request with everyone seeing it
well, enabling us to leave it to get on with its day with the minimum of
disturbance.
More tanagers as we returned, with Golden-chevroned,
Green-headed (which had magically turned into Blue-headed by the time we got
back to the lodge - more Claire-isms), Brazilian and Ruby-crowned, Green-winged Saltator, Yellow-browed Tyrant and Blue-winged Parrotlet
completed the walk's list.
So two more off our wish list seen, if the weather continues to hold we are on for a great final couple of days.
