BIAZA reserve, REGUA, Atlantic Forest, Brazil: 13 September

In 2007 the British & Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA) teamed up with the World Land Trust to raise funds for REGUA to purchase an area of well preserved Atlantic Forest already patrolled by the rangers, but owed by a neighbouring land owner. Rachel and I had never visited this area before and so Nicholas, Raquel, their daughter Micaela, Jorge Bizarro, Rachel and I, met up with REGUA ranger Messias Gomes da Silva, who patrols this part of the reserve, to take a look around.

Heavily overcast conditions kept bird activity low. Highlights were 1 male Bare-throated Bellbird, 2 showy Grey-hooded Attila, 2 Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift, 2 Scaly-headed Parrot, 1 Yellow-green Grosbeak and several Red-necked and Green-headed Tanagers.

A Brazilian Squirrel Sciurus aestuans (scarce at REGUA) was the only mammal encountered, but butterfly sightings were more successful with a couple of locally scarce Parides tros seen flying high in the canopy, several Clausina Clearwing Episcada clausina striposis, and a couple of species of small yellow clearwings that could be Pteronymia euritea and Scada karschina. We're sure on the later through as they are very difficult to identify and might have to visit the National Museum of Brazil in Rio to find out for sure.

Parides tros. At least two of this scarce species of swallowtail were present.
Unfortunately, they always remained high in the canopy where the trees were
flowering, hence the rubbish photos.

Ithomia agnosia zikani

Probable Pteronymia euritea. These small yellow clearwings are not easy to
identify.

Yellow clearwing spp. possibly Scada karschina

This is an interesting area with a potentially excellent birding trail, however, it is very remote and access is far from easy. Very few birders or biologists have visited here, but sightings over the last few of years include a Crowned Eagle photographed by Adilei and a Puma encountered on the trail during the day by Messias - a sure sign that the forest here is very good quality.