Day 3 of the tour and finally made it for some high altitude birding, what a day we had! We had seen all of our target birds by 13.00! These included Grey-winged Cotinga (at very close range), Serra do Mar Tyrannulet, Serra do Mar Tyrant Manakin, Bay-chested Warbling Finch, Mouse-coloured Tapaculo, Rufous-tailed Antbird, Rufous-backed Antvireo, Velvety-black Tyrant, Thick-billed Saltator, Rufous-tailed Antthrush, Green-crowned Plovercrest, Rufous-crowned Greenlet, Diademed Tanager, Large-tailed Antshrike and Red-legged Seriema! We headed back to Itororo Lodge and set off onto the Green Trail in the lodge grounds for a very productive couple of hours birding with good views of Ochre-rumped Antbird, Cryptic Antthrush, Bertoni’s Antbird, Whiskered Myiobius, Drab-breasted Bamboo-Tyrant, Yellow Tyrannulet and Greenish Schiffornis!

Day 2 of the tour unfortunately didnt start off as planned due to very low cloud and poor visibility, however, with a change of plan we birded the Cedae and Theodoro Trails, it turned out to be a super productive day with highlights including White-eyed Foliage Gleaner, Black-capped Foliage Gleaner, Ochre-breasted Foliage Gleaner, Black-cheeked Gnateater, Spot-billed Toucanet, Grey-hooded Flycatcher, Saw-billed Hermit, Spot-backed Antshrike, Lesser Woodcreeper, Chestnut-belli…ed Euphonia, White-barred Piculet, Yellow-eared Woodpecker, Yellow-browed Woodpecker, Green-headed Tanager, Rufous-headed Tanager, Black-throated Grosbeak, Streak-capped Antwren, Plain Parakeet, Star-throated Antwren, Black and White Hawk-Eagle, Rufous-breasted Leaftosser, Grey-hooded Attila, Sharpbill (after quite a bit of effort!), White-rimmed Warbler, Sharp-tailed Streamcreeper and Sharp-billed Treehunter!

Just completed the first day of a new private tour where we will be spending 8 days at the excellent Itororo Lodge! A great first days birding within the lodge grounds, highlights today included Variegated Antpitta, Chestnut-headed Tanager, Brassy-breasted Tanager, Scaled Woodcreeper, Orange-eyed Thornbird, Ochre-faced Tody Flycatcher, Lineated Woodpecker, Golden-chevroned Tanager, Azure-shouldered Tanager, Green-backed Becard, White-collared Foliage Gleaner, Blue Manakin, Rufous-capped Spinetail, Scale-throated Hermit, Brazilian Ruby, Violet-capped Woodnymph, Pallid Spinetail, Rufous Gnateater and Blond-crested Woodpecker!

Between the 11th – 20th March 2018 we put together a tour for a small group of friends staying at both Itororo Lodge and Regua. The Trip Report is now finished so please click the link below to have a read!

Birding the Atlantic Forest, Itororo Lodge and Regua 11th – 20th March 2018

Just completed the trip report for the last Birdfinders group, please visit our Trip Report page and have a read!

http://serradostucanos.com.br/atlantic-forest-birding/trip-reports/

Finished the private tour with a group of 4 friends from the UK just over a week ago, unfortunately only just got around to posting about it now! We spent the last 3 days of the tour at Regua for some wetland and lowland birding. We had great stay (although rather hot!) with lots of good birds including Black-capped Foliage Gleaner, Sooretama Slaty Antshrike, White-bibbed Antbird, Unicolored Antwren, Silvery-flanked Antwren, Long-billed Wren, White-eyed Foliage Gleaner, Giant Snipe, Yellow-backed Tanager, Brazilian Tanager, Capped Heron, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, Southern Antpipit, Rufous-capped Antthrush, Lemon-chested Greenlet, Yellow-throated Woodpecker and Eye-ringed Tody Tyrant. Currently working on the trip report that will hopefully be ready soon!

Another great days birding in and around Duas Barras and Sumidouro today. Highlights included Three-toed Jacamar, Black-necked Aracari, White-barred Piculet, Gilt-edged Tanager, Streamer-tailed Tyrant, Common Tody Flycatcher, Firewood Gatherer, Blue-winged Macaw, Crested Black Tyrant, Tawny-headed Swallow, Aplomado Falcon, Whistling Heron, White-eared Puffbird, Curl-crested Jay, White Woodpecker and Toco Toucan! Also managed to pick up a nice Rusty-barred Owl back at Itororo Lodge just before dinner!

Another clear morning saw us setting off at 06.30 to the Cedae Trail, located some 30 minutes away at an altitude of 550m. It was quite a slow mornings birding, however we did get to see a lot of target birds. We made a quick stop en-route to the Cedae Trail where we picked up a couple of Mantled Hawks hunting distantly over the forest, although some distance away we still had good scope views. Highlights of the mornings birding along the Cedae Trail included Green-headed Tanager, Red-necked Tanager, Black-cheeked Gnateater, Lesser Woodcreeper, Spot-backed Antshrike, Star-throated Antwren, Red-crowned Ant- Tanager, Magnificent Friagtebird (!), Saw-billed Hermit, Reddish Hermit, Plain Antvireo, Streak-capped Antwren, Grey-hooded Flycatcher, Chestnut-bellied Euphonia and Ochre-breasted Foliage Gleaner. We birded the Theodoro Trail after lunch, again a little quiet but some great views of Sharpbill, White-browed Foliage Gleaner, Spot-billed Toucanet, Black Hawk Eagle and Black-billed Scythebill.

Today we spent a full days birding on the Macae de Cima trail. Lots of great birds as usual including Planalto Woodcreeper, White-rimmed Warbler, Rufous-breasted Leaftosser, Grey-capped Tyrannulet, White-winged Becard, Buff-fronted Foliage Gleaner, Sharp-tailed Streamcreeper, Pin-tailed Manakin, Dusky-tailed Antbird, Blue Manakin, White-bared Piculet, Yellow-browed Woodpecker, Yellow-eared Woodpecker, Ochre-faced Tody Flycatcher, White-bearded Antshrike, Tufted Antshrike, Large-headed Flatbill, Eared Pygmy Tyrant, Long-tailed Tyrant, Rufous-headed Tanager, Bare-throated Bellbird, Sharp-billed Treehunter, Buff-browed Foliage Gleaner, Lineated Woodpecker, White-shouldered Fire eye, Large-tailed Antshrike, Spot-billed Toucanet, Azure-shouldered Tanager, White-necked Thrush and Brassy-breasted Tanager!

Just begun a private 10 day tour for a group of 4 friends from the UK. Had a great couple of days, yesterday we arrived at Itororo Lodge from Rio and spent the rest of the day birding the lodge grounds. The lodge feeders were very busy with Azure-shouldered Tanager, Brassy-breasted Tanager, Black-goggled Tanager, Sayaca Tanager, Ruby-crowned Tanager, Golden-chevroned Tanager, Magpie Tanager, Burnished-buff Tanager, Plain Parakeet, Maroon-bellied Parakeet, Green-winged Saltator, Pale-breasted Thrush, Violet-capped Woodnymph, Black Jacobin, Scale-throated Hermit, Sombre Hummingbird, Brazilian Ruby and White-throated Hummingbird…. not bad for the first 30 minutes! We had a great afternoons birding on the White trail seeing Ochre-rumped Antbird, Uniform Finch, Variable Antshrike, Rufous-capped Motmot, Surucua Trogon, Orange-eyed Thornbird, Bertoni’s Antbird, Rufous-capped Spinetail, Dusky-legged Guan, Chestnut-headed Tanager, Ochre-faced Tody Flycatcher, Blue Manakin, Pin-tailed Manakin, Rufous Gnateater, Euler’s Flycatcher, and rather good looks at a very obliging Variegated Antpitta! 

Today we birded the high altitude area at Pico de Caledonia, a very productive day with highlights including Rufous-backed Antvireo, Diademed Tanager, Rufous-tailed Antbird, Serra do Mar Tyrannulet, Bay-chested Warbling Finch, Green-crowned Plovercrest, Blue-billed Black-Tyrant, Velvety-black Tyrant, Black and Gold Cotinga, Itatiaia Thistletail, Rufous-capped Antshrike, Red-legged Seriema, Pallid Spinetail, Scaled Woodcreeper, Olivaceous Eleania and Grey-capped Tyrannulet.