The View is Back!

After a day out birding offsite, we returned to the Lodge and were met by a Ferruginous Pygmy Owl "in my garden" so to speak (sorry Lee!).

Sunset over Regua Mountains

Whilst we were out the gardeners had lopped and chopped some trees on the edge of the garden to open up the view of the nearby hillsides where the reforestation progress has been almost too successful.

With the view opened up, and more light in the garden, we can now see Channel-billed Toucan and Bare-necked Bellbirds from the lodge garden again - at least until the trees grow up again!

Shrike-like Cotinga

I have been coming out to REGUA each year since 2006.   It took me five years to see this enigmatic species and one for which the Reserve has rightly become famous.   It is one of the best places to see the bird - but not when you are either at the back of the group when the bird is seen at the front or vice versa - as was the case for me in 2009!

In 2010 I had one good view, but last year I even managed to find my own on one of the trails behind the wetland, and notched up five excellent viewings.  

This year, we saw an individual within five minutes of getting out of the vehicle on our first forest walk!   You can't ask for better.

Shrike-like Cotinga

As always, I favoured watching the bird rather than reaching for the camera straight away, but I wish I had actually changed my tack this time, as others had far better photographs.

Incidentially, despite several groups going off in search over the next couple of weeks, no-one else has see or indeed heard it - so perhaps it has already started its annual migration to higher altitudes.

Sumidoro

Leonardo, one of the REGUA Guides treated us to a great days birding at Sumidoro.   The list of birds seen, and the views we had were great.

A pair of displaying Blue-winged Macaw gave us a spectacular opportunity to watch their inter-action.   At times they flew in complete synchronicity, swooping and soaring - calling as they displayed.   Then, at rest in a near tree, they continued to pair-bond with pecking, grooming and contact 'chipping' to each other.   We spent ages just enjoying them and snapping away with the cameras - over a thousand shots must have been taken by the group in all - some taking more than others!

Blue-winged Macaw

We had several stops along the road, and were surprised at the number of birds to be found in the scrappiest bits of habitat.   One flock had over a dozen species and gave us all the chance to take our time over birds which had previously been very shy.   

There were also some delightful new species for our trip list including; Magpie Tanager, Gilt-edged Tanager, Ruby-crowned Tanager, Dusky-legged Guan, Glittering-bellied Emerald, Toco Toucan, Serra Antwren and Southern Beardless Tyrannulet.

Gilt-edged Tanager

The Three-toed Jacamar gave their usual brilliant showing with at least eight individuals being found. A very obliging Surucua Trogon sat right in front of us for ages, allowing great photo opportunities.   Grey-eyed Greenlet is another lovely species to find here, and once more Leonardo managed to get great views for us all.

A Ferruginous Pygmy Owl started to call and was mobbed by Violet-capped Woodnymphs and Tanagers.   This forced the Owl to fly further away from us, but still within lens distance for some.

Several American Kestrels were seen perched on wires and telegraph poles.   On the way back Leonardo had another couple of stops up his sleeve and one of our party's wish list was found at the first - Firewood Gatherer - what a great name.   Their nests were to be found in a nearby tree - typically made of twigs laid between the branches of the tree and the trunk.   Rufous Hornero nests (from the Ovenbird family) were also in the same tree - no need to describe what they look like I am sure!

Hornero nest

Streamer-tailed Tyrant responded immediately, giving a great display for everyone, even though the drizzle was starting to fall by this time. 

White-eared Puffbird

A couple of White-eared Puffbird (one of my favourite families) posed well in a tree for us as Curl-crested Jays flew around chattering to each other as they moved from tree to telegraph wire and back to tree.

In addition to all this we also saw Rufous-fronted Thornbird, Sepia-capped Flycatcher, Hangnest Tody-tyrant, Cliff Flycatcher, Long-tailed Tyrant, Brown-crested Flycatcher, Rufous-browed Peppershrike, Crested Oropendola, Rufous-headed Tanager, Uniform Finch, Pileated Finch, and Double-collared Seedeater.

What a great day!

Around and About

During my first ten days here, I had the luxury of a holiday, and spent time on day excursions to Rio - where for once the sun shone and we had great views from the top of the Sugar-Loaf Mountain, of both the City and many beaches stretching out below us and the Christ the Redeemer statue on top of the Corcovada.

Christ the Redeemer watching over Rio

The Botanic Gardens were great too with close views of Channel-billed Toucan, hybrid Common Marmosets, Rusty-margined Guan and Slaty-breasted Wood-Rail.

Added to this the trees and plants are fantastic and with Nicholas and Raquel as our guides we couldn't wish for better.

An al fresco lunch in the cobbled alleys of the old town with musicians playing typical Brazilian samba music made for a relaxing day in this hectic city.   A short walk nearby brought us to the original building where slaves were brought to Brazil on ships from Africa.   Having been to Ghana and seen the start of their journey, it somehow closed the circle for me.   Amazing to see the steps leading up from the original quay-side and the gate through which their future life began.   A very sobering sight indeed.

View from Sugar Loaf

After lunch Alcenir drove us along the 'Copacabana Crawl' so called as the traffic along this part of the city is so slow.   We were lucky and managed to get along without too much difficulty.   We did a complete circuit of the Bay and then made our way back to peace and serenity at the Reserve.

Bird watching in Paradise

Whatever anyone tells you, believe me, birding in Kent has nothing on Brazil!   I've just spent ten days on holiday at Regua, in the Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest.   Followers will know that it is my second home, and will therefore skip, the next few blogs!   However, despite my regular trips the place just continues to deliver new delights every time.

Early morning from the Garden

The rainforest restoration is expanding rapidly and with that increased species diversity.   With 170,000 trees planted in the last twelve years, and a further 180,000 to go in over the next two years, there are going to be more changes still!

Around the lodge, the view of some of the surrounding mountains has been rescued from the rapidly expanding forest.   A moth wall has been erected and a grand new two-storey Belvedere has been built enabling great views of the wetland and the sunset over the mountains from the edge of the garden.   So good is this new viewpoint, we spent two hours there on our first morning enjoying tanager flocks and blue dacnis at eye level, and scanning the forest canopy for raptors and sloth.  No-one was in a hurry to leave and start the walk!

Familiar sights greet us also, the team at the lodge are as friendly as ever, nothing is too much trouble for them, and great food in the relaxed atmosphere is always a highlight here.   With the arguments between swallow-tailed hummingbirds still continuing over the feeders in the garden which they defend vociferously against the glittering-throated emerald and violet-capped woodnymph its just like coming home.

Chestnut-backed Antshrike

Blonde-crested woodpecker and white-tufted marmoset feeding in the bananas in the garden delayed breakfast and our departure on several days.   Whilst the call of channel-billed toucan and bare-necked bellbird accompanied our days as we relaxed around the pool and on the veranda.

Regua phase one

So, here I am on my annual sojourn to Regua the Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest Reserve north of Rio.   On my 8th visit now, so you would think that the magic would have faded!   No such luck, its still a fantastic place to go birdwatching and walking, and it makes my heart swell with delight as I get nearer to those distinctive mountains.

Updates to follow but this was to whet your appetite, or enable to get to sleep, depending on your ability to enjoy someone else's travels . . . . . I can hear the snores from here.   Zzzzzzzzzzzz