Autumn migration in north-east Poland: 26 September - 3 October

A mix of departing summer migrants and incoming winter visitors were on the move in Poland last week, with migration evident at both Białowieża Forest and Biebrza Marshes including visible passage overhead and plenty of common migrants on the ground. Overhead passage consisted mainly of noisy flocks of Common Cranes, small groups or singles of Eurasian Jays (with many present in Białowieża Forest), Yellowhammers, Siskins, Chaffinches, Tree Sparrows, White Wagtails and a few raptors, mostly heading in a south-east to south-west direction. On the ground, Common Chiffchaffs were seemingly everywhere, and Yellowhammers, Greenfinches, White Wagtails and Black Redstarts were not uncommon. A few notebook entries below.

An hour's skywatching from the hotel balcony at Hotel Białowieża on 27 September produced 24 Eurasian Jay mainly SE (plus 2 local birds), 3 Common Chiffchaff feeding then off SE, 9 Raven E, 3 Chaffinch SE, 1 Siskin and 1 Song Thrush SW. Also on the 27th, 176+ Common Crane were counted over Białowieża town throughout the day.

A ploughed field on the north side of Białowieża town by the police station attracted a number of passage migrants. On the 28 September, 7 1st-W/f Black Redstart, 30+ Yellowhammer, 7+ White Wagtail, 10 Chaffinch (4 over SE) and 1 Common Chiffchaff were present, as well as 18 Common Crane over SE and 12 White Stork SE. Just c6 Yellowhammer being hunted by 1 Eurasian Sparrowhawk (pic below) were present on 29th. On the 30th, 1 Great Grey Shrike, 1f Brambling, 1 Linnet, 1 1st-W/f Black Redstart, c13 Yellowhammer, 3 Chaffinch and 2 White Wagtail were noted, along with a Kestrel and a 1st-W m Eurasian Sparrowhawk over S.

Common Cranes, Kosy Most Bridge, Białowieża Forest, 28 September. V formations of Common Cranes were
frequently seen (and heard) throughout the day moving south-west over Białowieża Forest.

1st-W male Eurasian Sparrowhawk hunting Yellowhammers in a ploughed field at Białowieża town, 29 September

Around Biebrza Marshes notable migrants included: 21 Barn Swallow S over Fort 1 "Zarzeczny", just south of Osowiec (hirundines were very scarce throughout the trip) on 1 October, and 52+ Common Crane in fields east of Karwowo on 1st, and a similar number of Common Crane, 2 Fieldfare S, a small flock of Tree Sparrow, 7 White Wagtail (dropped down to the ground), 1 Siskin, 3 Reed Bunting, 1m Yellowhammer, 1 Greenfinch, 3 Chaffinch, and 2 Goldfinch at Bialy Grad (near the village of Mścichy) all on 1st.

Part of a 28 strong flock of Common Cranes east of the village of Radziłów, Biebrza Marshes, 1 October

Common Cranes, Bialy Grad, Biebrza Marshes, 1 October. Several large flocks were feeding in the fields around Biebrza Marshes,
as well as roosting out on the marshes.

On 2nd, fields east of Plochowo held 30+ Mistle Thrush, 6+ White Wagtail and 2 Chaffinch, with 7 Barn Swallow and 9 Chaffinch SE overhead. At Wólka Piaseczna 5+ Black Redstart (2 ad m, 1 1st-W m, 1 f and 1 1st-W f), 2 Yellowhammer, 5 Northern Lapwing, 1f Hen Harrier WSW, a 1st-W Nothern Goshawk WSW and 4 Jay over were noted, as well as 1 Honey Buzzard flushed from woodland at Brzeziny Kapickie and another 8 Mistle Thrush there.

Also on 2nd, a Peregrine went over SW at Grzedy and an hour late afternoon skywatching at the bridge over the River Jegrznia near Kuligi produced 2 Fieldfare S, 28 Siskin S (including several dropping down into the reeds by the river then heading off W), 2 Greenfinch S, 1 Mistle Thrush SE, 5 Chaffinch SW-WSW, several Yellowhammer SW, 3 Eurasian Jay SW, and 2 Common Chiffchaff in the reeds. At dusk 9 Tundra (rossicus) Bean Geese in a flock of 24 European (albifrons) White-fronted Geese (all adults except for a pair with 3 juveniles) in a stubble field east of Jezioro Tajno lake near Tajenko were also seen.

1st-W Black Redstart, Wólka Piaseczna, Biebrza Marshes, 2 October. Small numbers were present in the fields around Białowieża
Forest and Biebrza Marshes, mainly 1st-W/female types.

The cemetery and the surrounding fields at Osowiec was also attracting migrant passerines. An hour or so on the 3rd produced 2m Brambling in with c100 Yellowhammer, 102+ Greenfinch, 14 Linnet, 1 Goldfinch, 293 European Starling, 1 White Wagtail, 8 Tree Sparrow (2 S), 4 Skylark off W, 1 Fieldfare S, 8 Barn Swallow S, 1 Eurasian Jay S, 2 Chaffinch S and 1 Blackbird SW.

Small numbers of Yellowhammer were moving over and large numbers as well as feeding in the fields. This was one of a flock of
approximately 100 feeding around the cemetery on the edge of the village of Osowiec, Biebrza, on 3 October.

1st-W male Greenfinch, Osowiec cemetery, Biebrza Marshes, 3 October. One of a flock of at least 102 present here.

One of two male Brambling in with the Greenfinch flock at Osowiec cemetery, Biebrza Marshes, 3 October

Poland highlights: 26 September - 3 October

Rachel and I have spent the last week in north-east Poland, visiting the ancient Białowieża Forest for a few days before heading further north to the Biebrza Marshes - one of the largest lowland wetlands remaining in Europe. Most the birds that these two localities are best known for are summer visitors and had already departed south for the winter, but this wasn't a birding trip and we spent most days hiking and exploring the ecosystems. We saw some interesting visible bird migration, and we were visiting at the prime time for fungi and found lots of beautiful and bizarre looking species. Separate blog posts on both to follow, but in the meantime here's a few of the trip highlights.

Białowieża Forest: 26 - 30 September

The undoubted highlight of the whole trip was a close encounter with a bull European Bison just before dusk on 29 September, watched feeding in the forest just 15 metres away along the Worobiowa Glade trail before crossing the trail in front of us, at which point it became aware of our presence and paused for several minutes trying to check us out before running off into the forest (and disappearing surprisingly quickly for such a large animal).

Bull European Bison Bison bonasus, Worobiowa Glade trail, Białowieża Forest, 29 September. European Bison became extinct in
Poland in 1919 and extinct in the wild in 1927, mainly due to hunting. Just 54 remained in captivity, but a successful breeding programme
allowed them to be reintroduced at Białowieża in 1952. With around 2,300 now in the wild in nine countries (and approximately 800 in
Białowieża Forest), European Bison is now categorised at Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.

Bull European Bison Bison bonasus, Worobiowa Glade trail, Białowieża Forest, 29 September

Other mammals seen include 1 Red Fox at Kosy Most Bridge on 28 September, 1 Red Squirrel along the Worobiowa Glade trail on 29 September, and 3 (1 stag, 2 female) Red Deer and 1-2 Roe Deer on the Bondówka trail near Teremiski on 29 September. Driving the nearby roads after dark looking for mammals produced 2 (1 ad with a juv) Wild Boar along the Białowieża to Narewka road near Kosy Most road junction on 28 September, 2f Red Deer near Pogorzelce on 28 September and another 2f Red Deer along the 689 near Batory Mount on 28 September.

Avian highlights were thin on the ground due to the time of year. 1 Middle Spotted Woodpecker at the car park on the Białowieża to Narewka road just south of the junction with the Narewkowska Road on 28 September, 4 Hawfinch and a Great Spotted Woodpecker at Kosy Most Bridge on 28 September, and an immature White-tailed Eagle over the end of the Browska Droga trail on 30 September near the Belarus border were the most notable.

Good to see some 'northern' races of common species including 1 chunky male (northern) Eurasian Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula pyrrhula (with quite a different 'trumpet-like' call compared to the European P. p. europoea) with a large flock of Long-tailed Tits of the nominate Aegithalos caudatus caudatus at Kosy Most Bridge on 28 September.

Long-tailed Tit, Kosy Most Bridge, 28 September

Biebrza Marshes: 30 September - 3 October

Mammal sightings include 2 European Badger and 2 Red Fox beside the Czar's Road (Carska Droga) between Osowiec Twierdza and Dobarz at night on 30 September, 2 very distant Elk (Moose) from the observation tower at Bialy Grad near the village of Mścichy on 1 October, 1 Red Fox at Grzedy on 2 October, 1f Red Deer and a superb stag Roe Deer just north of Grzedy on 2 October, 1 European Badger that ran out into the road in front of the car along the Carska Droga north of Goniadz on 2 October, 1 Red Squirrel and 1 Red Fox along the Czar's Road (Carska Droga) between Osowiec Twierdza and Grobla Honczarowska on 3 October, and 1 Wild Boar and 1 Red Squirrel along the trail at Grobla Honczarowska on 3 October.

Biebrza provided the only two lifers for me on this trip - a White-backed Woodpecker at Brzeziny Kapickie on the trail to Kapice on 2 October, and 1 Grey-headed Woodpecker along the trail at Grobla Honczarowska on 3 October - neither cooperating for the camera. Other notables include 1-2 ad. White-tailed Eagle over Brzeziny Kapickie on 2 October, 2 Hawfinch at Brzeziny Kapickie on 2 October, and a Black Woodpecker over the road east of Osowiec on 2nd October.

Record of White-backed Woodpecker, Brzeziny Kapickie, 2 October

Grass Snakes were common. Many were seen along the Czar's Road (Carska Droga) between Osowiec Twierdza and Laskowiec on 2 and 3 October, some of which had been killed by traffic. Managed to save one adult that almost got squashed by a car. Also found a nice juvenile on the track just north of Wólka Piaseczna on 2 October.

Juvenile Grass Snake Natrix natrix, Wólka Piaseczna, 2 October. This individual was being very aggressive - mock striking and
flattening its neck to display the yellow patches.

Grass Snake Natrix natrix, Czar's Road, 2 October

Grass Snake Natrix natrix, Czar's Road, 2 October, playing dead after I saved it from death

Also, plenty of Clouded Yellow Colias croceus butterflies around in the Brzeziny Kapickie and Osowiec area.

REGUA, Atlantic Forest, Brazil: 15 September

Today started with an immature male White-flanked Antwren hanging around the eaves of the roof over the lodge veranda. The is my first record of White-flanked Antwren for the lodge garden, but the bird was apparently unable to find it's way out. Shortly after finding this bird, a Black Jacobin flew in and also got trapped, flying up in to the roof. Eventually we successfully encouraged both birds back into the garden.

Immature male White-flanked Antwren Myrmotherula axillaris, Guapi Assu
Bird Lodge. As the replanted forest around the lodge matures, we can expect
more of this forest species in the lodge garden.

With the hot and dry conditions continuing and no sign of the spring rains, bird activity remained very quiet, with 1 White-necked Hawk on the São José Trail, 1 Sooretama Slaty Antshrike and 1 Southern Beardless-Tyrannulet along the Forest Trail, 1f Masked Duck, 1 Rufescent Tiger-Heron, 1 Capped Heron, 1m Sooretama Slaty Antshrike, 1 Short-crested Flycatcher and a Glittering-throated Emerald nest at the wetland being the most memorable sightings. There is now a large resident population of White-faced Whistling-Duck at the wetland, with 70+ at least present today - a far cry from my highest count of 11 here in 2006, a year after the wetland was created.

Glittering-throated Emerald Amazilia fimbriata chicks, Wetland Trail

Large numbers of White-faced Whistling-Duck are now resident at the wetland

Also seen were 2 Broad-banded Swallowtail butterflies on the Forest Trail and a Brown Sipo on the São José Trail.

Broad-banded Swallowtail Heraclides astyalus astyalus, Forest Trail

Brown Sipo Chironius fuscus, São José Trail

REGUA, Atlantic Forest, Brazil: 11 September

Rachel and I met up with Adilei for some birding in an area of REGUA known as Waldenoor. In 2009 REGUA purchased a number of small plots of land above the village of Matumbo, to form a protected corridor between large, but separate, parts of the reserve. Dubbed the 'Matumbo Corridor', Waldenoor is the highest plot and gets it's name from it's previous owner.

The forest here is remote and has never been clear felled with only selected hardwoods removed, making for some excellent birding. There are a few old trails through the forest here, but none have yet been developed for tourism so it's fairly hard going. However, this doesn't deter many guests at the lodge from coming here, where the forest clad Serra dos Órgãos mountains provide a dramatic backdrop.

The dirt road from the reserve entrance to the start of the Matumbo Corridor was quite productive. A Common Potoo nesting on a fence post just before the village of Matumbo was a good start, along with a Piratic Flycatcher (one of the earliest summer migrants in south-east Brazil), 3 White-eared Puffbird, 4 Blue-winged Parrotlet, a pair of nesting Crested Becard, and the usual common open country species including Smooth-billed Ani and Chalk-browed Mockingbird.

Parking the trusty blue Toyota pickup and walking up the track into the forest, we found a decent number of birds including 2 Saw-billed Hermit, 2 Surucua Trogon, 1 Streak-capped Antwren, several Blue Manakin (though only 1m was actually seen), 1 Chestnut-crowned Becard, 2 Ochre-bellied Flycatcher, 2 Yellow-olive Flycatcher, 2+ Planalto Tyrannulet, 1 Tropical Pewee, 1 Rufous-browed Peppershrike, Red-eyed Vireo, 1 Yellow-legged Thrush, 2 Pale-breasted Thrush (including 1 bird visiting a nest, built rather precarious position on a exposed muddy bank), 1 Buff-throated Saltator, 2 Yellow-green Grosbeak, 2 Golden-crowned Warbler and a pair of Chestnut-vented Conebill. Overhead, 2+ Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift, numerous White-collared Swifts and 5 Scaly-headed Parrot were seen.

At the start of the trail to Casa do Waldenoor itself, a pair of Rufous-tailed Jacamar showed down to just a metre or so and kept me busy with the DSLR for a while, although despite the close range I struggled to get sharp images in the very dull light. A pair of Chestnut-bellied Euphonia, 1 Scaled Woodcreeper, 2 Golden-chevroned Tanager and 3 more Yellow-green Grosbeak were also noted.

Male Rufous-tailed Jacamar

Male Rufous-tailed Jacamar

Female Rufous-tailed Jacamar

The now derelict Casa do Waldenoor marks the top of the main trail, and here things were much quieter. A White-necked Hawk showed briefly overhead and a Plumbeous Pigeon remained out of sight called distantly. In the overgrown garden a Maroon-bellied Parakeet and 2 Plain Parakeets were logged and a Violet-capped Woodnymph, 1 distant Channel-billed Toucan, 1 Yellow-eared Woodpecker and a Cliff Flycatcher were the only other noteworthy species seen.

Pale-breasted Thrush nest containing 2 chicks

With the weather closing in we were beginning to think that was it for the day's birding, when a Barred Forest-Falcon started calling from close by. Adilei played the call half-heartedly and a few minutes later a Barred Forest-Falcon suddenly shot out of the forest and sped low across the open garden passing within a few metres of us before diving into cover! A few minutes later the bird flew back low across the garden, again at close range, perching up in a tree briefly and flying off just as I was pressing the shutter! Another bird then started calling and flew out of the forest to the other side of the garden, also alighting briefly before flying into the forest. We couldn't believe it. We'd just had incredible, if brief, views of a very difficult species, which was a lifer for me as well! What brilliant birds! The field guides really do not do them justice.

Returning via an unmarked trail through the forest was very quiet, with 1 Blond-crested Woodpecker, 1-2 Star-throated Antwren, 1 Lesser Woodcreeper, a Black-goggled Tanager and Green-headed Tanager noted. A Brown Sipo Chironius fuscus was also seen.

Brown Sipo Chironius fuscus

Last year's volunteer lodge co-ordinator, Helen Cavilla, carried out a small project to record the tracks and signs of mammals around the wetland area. In a few months Helen found a variety of prints including Crab-eating Fox Cerdocyon thous, Crab-eating Raccoon Procyon cancrivorus, Ocelot Leopardus pardalis, Oncilla Leopardus tigrinus and Puma Puma concolor. Rachel and I have bought some camera traps out to REGUA with us this year, and we decided to place one along the stream that crosses the Forest Trail near the lodge. Helen frequently found tracks in the sandy banks of the stream and we were keen to see if any animals were visiting the stream regularly, so this afternoon we walked to the stream to set up the trap, seeing a Crested Becard and 2 Long-billed Wren on route. Can't wait to see what we get on camera.

Back at the lodge we saw our third Rufous-tailed Jacamar of the day, and a stunned male White-bearded Manakin that flew into the insect screen on one of the lodge windows before flying off unharmed.