Spent the day birding the lowland forest adjacent to the wetland and around the new canopy tower. The short circular trail that leads to the canopy tower (about a 30 minute walk from the lodge), dubbed the Canopy Loop, is a reliable winter site for the Shrike-like Cotinga, and two or three birds can usually be found here between April and August. Today we had fantastic views of an adult male (down to just 4 metres at times), but with such little light available below the canopy I only managed a few blurry record shots (below).
The Canopy Loop was otherwise very quiet but 1 Southern Antpipit, 1m Black-cheeked Gnateater (and another heard), 1 White-eyed Foliage-gleaner and a Yellow-olive Flycatcher were amongst the birds seen. From the tower itself 1 Black Hawk-Eagle, 1f Surucua Trogon, 1 Greyish Mourner, 3 Flame-crested Tanager and 3-4 Yellow-backed Tanager were seen and 2 Scaled Antbirds were heard.
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| Black Hawk-Eagle from the canopy tower |
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| Black-cheeked Gnateater |
Avian highlights at the wetland this morning included 1 Cocoi Heron (still scarce at REGUA), 1 Bran-coloured Flycatcher and a female White-bellied Seedeater, with 2 Rufescent Tiger-Heron, 5 Capped Heron, 1 Reddish Hermit, 1 White-barred Piculet, 1 Yellow-bellied Elaenia, 4 White-bearded Manakin, 1 Red-eyed Vireo, a very showy male Saffron Finch and 1 Tropical Parula amongst the commoner species, and a Broad-snouted Caiman showed reasonably close.
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| Saffron Finch |
I'm definitely coming back for the Laniisoma. Nicholas told me that February was the best time. Argh! Great shots though, Lee.
ReplyDeleteHi Derek, Many thanks. I would say Feb is not actually that good for the cotinga. I've left a comment on your blog with more details. Let me know if you decide to go and I'll try and find out the latest info for you.
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