REGUA, Atlantic Forest, Brazil: 16 June

It was our last day in Brazil today, but with a late evening flight we had almost the whole day. Nicholas, Rachel and I decided to walk the route of two new trails we want to develop - a circular route taking in the new canopy tower, and a rough unmarked trail that branches off the São José Trail and passes through selectively logged primary forest before emerging at the far side of the wetland. Both trails will provide lodge guests with access to older forest without the need for transport.

There was a little more bird activity in the lodge garden this morning, although the feeders are still very quiet. 3-4 White Woodpecker made a typically brief and noisy visit to the feeders, and 1m White-bearded Manakin, 1 Bananaquit, 1f Ruby-crowned Tanager, a pair of Brazilian Tanager, 1f Burnished-buff Tanager, a large flock of Blue Dacnis, and a pair each of Purple-throated Euphonia and Violaceous Euphonia were amongst the other birds seen.

Female Blue Dacnis

With so much natural food around it's no surprise that the lodge feeders are
quiet. This female Violaceous Euphonia has clearly been feasting on berries.

Before meeting Nicholas, Rachel and I had a look at the regular pair of roosting Tropical Screech-Owls, and then spent some time studying and photographing butterflies with Jorge near the conservation centre. Jorge is incredibly knowledgeable and not only found several interesting butterflies but also found lots of caterpillars as well. I managed to get a few more photos for the butterfly checklist and I'm getting quite into insects with scaly wings.

Tropical Screech-Owls at a regular roost site near the conservation centre

We then set off at a quick pace and walked part of the Wetland Trail, the loop to the canopy tower and then the rough trail leading off the São José Trail that we want to develop. If we do everything that we plan to do then these trails will be excellent birding trails.

Male White-bearded Manakin, lodge garden, 16 June 2012

Birds seen during the walk include 1m and 1f Masked Duck, 2 Rufescent Tiger-Heron, 13+ Maroon-bellied Parakeet, 1 Wing-banded Hornero, 2 Rufous Hornero (apparently scarcer than Wing-banded at REGUA nowadays), 3 Planalto Tyrannulet, 1-2 Yellow-browed Tyrant, 2 Grey-breasted Martin, 1 Bananaquit (there's a lot of these around at REGUA at the moment), 1f Swallow Tanager and 1f Black-legged Dacnis at the wetland. 3 Scaled Antbird were heard on the Canopy Loop and a Black-cheeked Gnateater was heard on the São José Trail.

Spent the rest of the day photographing butterflies around the wetland before it was time for last minute packing and driving to the airport. This has been a very relaxed trip, which I really needed, and one of favourites. Each visit brings something different and hopefully I'll be able to return in September.