Birds at the bar

Birding is growing rapidly in popularity in Brazil and birding tourism in the REGUA area continues to increase. It seems some locals are taking more of an interest in birds as well, and a couple of years ago the owners of a small roadside bar at Duas Pontes in the Três Picos State Park, Rio de Janeiro state, began putting out fruit to attract them. The birds have become used to people and so this is a great place to see and photograph many Atlantic Forest endemics at very close range, and grab a good Brazilian coffee or Agua de coco (the coconut water drink, not the swimwear) at the same time.

The feeders are situated at 470 metres above sea level and attract a different mix of species to the feeders at REGUA. Sayaca Tanager, Green-headed Tanager, Red-necked Tanager, Burnished-buff Tanager, Violaceous Euphonia, Chestnut-bellied Euphonia and Blue-naped Chlorophonia are common (especially in the austral winter when numbers build up), with smaller numbers of Maroon-bellied Parakeet, Spot-billed Toucanet, Olive-green Tanager, Black-goggled Tanager, Ruby-crowned Tanager, Brazilian Tanager, Azure-shouldered Tanager, Golden-chevroned Tanager, Blue Dacnis, Purple-throated Euphonia and Orange-bellied Euphonia. One or two Green Honeycreepers, a scarce bird in the this part of the Atlantic Forest, are usually present, and the hummingbird feeders here attract Sombre Hummingbird – a rather drab but often elusive Atlantic Forest endemic, and one that is extremely difficult at REGUA.

Bar do Russo is located along the main road (RJ-116) between Cachoeiras de Macacu and Nova Friburgo at km 56 (click here to see location in Google Maps). Excursions from REGUA's Guapi Assu Bird Lodge to Pico da Caledônia, Macaé de Cima and the Theodoro Trail stop here en route.

Blue-naped Chlorophonia. Birds at the feeders are used to people and allow close
approach. (Photo by Alan Martin)

Bar do Russo (Photo by Rachel Walls)

Blue-naped Chlorophonias crowd the fruit during the austral winter, when natural
food in the forest is harder to find. (Photo by Adilei Carvalho da Cunha)

The widespread Green Honeycreeper is difficult in this part of the Atlantic Forest
but there are usually one or two at the feeders here.

Violaceous Euphonia. Birds often sit in the trees overhanging the feeders which
provides opportunities for more natural looking photos.

Green-headed Tanager is a common Atlantic Forest endemic that is easy to
photograph here.

Female Chestnut-bellied Euphonia, as Adilei would say "very close". The birds here
are a photographer's dream! Like all of the photos on this post, this was taken
hand-held and without flash (click to enlarge).

Acknowledgments

Many thanks to Adilei Carvalho da Cunha, Alan Martin and Rachel Walls for permission to use their photos.