Ringing at REGUA

Spent the day on the Waterfall Trail at REGUA assisting a group from Rio University mist netting for hummingbirds. The aim of the study is to determine hummingbird diversity at different altitudes in the Atlantic Forest and this was the first day of ringing. Saw-billed Hermits and Violet-capped Woodnymphs were the most common species caught, a Scale-throated Hermit was processed before I arrived (a very low altitude record for this species), but best of all was a Dusky-throated Hermit (first photo). This tiny hummer can be very tricky to catch up with and was a new bird for me. Other birds ending up in the nets included Plain-winged Woodcreeper (second photo), Grey-hooded Flycatcher, Blue Manakin and several Black-goggled Tanagers. We even had a recovery - a pair of Star-throated Antwren (third photo). It will be very interesting to see what else turns up in the nets during the course of this study.

Other birds seen on the Waterfall Trail today included Brown Tinamou, Scaled Antbird, Black-cheeked Gnateater, Eye-ringed Tody-Tyrant, White-thighed Swallow and Red-crowned Ant-Tanager.

Restinga specialities and shorebirds

Spent the day at the coast birding the restinga and coastal lagoons around the small town of Cabo Frio, about 2 hours east of REGUA. The main aim of the trip was to iron out a route and itinerary for the excursion here offered at REGUA's lodge, but I was also keen to finally see Restinga Antwren - split in 1990 from the very similar Serra Antwren. Restinga is comprised of low woodland, scrub and cacti on sandy soil and is found in a narrow strip along the Brazilian coastline. Urban development is the main threat to the restinga, and with so much of it now destroyed the Restinga Antwren, which is only found in this habitat, is classified as Critically Endangered. They are still easy to see at Cabo Frio and we had 2 males show well. Other highlights at the restinga today include 1 Hook-billed Kite, 3 Sooretama Slaty Antshrike, Hangnest Tody-Tyrant, 1 Plain-breasted Ground-Dove (not common at REGUA) and a Tropical Parula.

Male Restinga Antwren

Tropical Parula

Restinga

Also nearby are several lagoons that held 8 Roseate Spoonbills, Little Blue Heron, Royal, Yellow-billed and Cayenne Terns, Grey-hooded Gull, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Collared and Semi-palmated Plovers, Black-necked Stilt, a distant probable Western Sandpiper, lots of White-cheeked Pintails and a very obliging Clapper Rail.

Clapper Rail

Clapper Rail

Clapper Rail

Little Blue Heron

Garden birding

More rain today and so I decided on a quiet day birding around the lodge garden. Highlights included a Rufous-browed Peppershrike (another forest species and another sign that the reforested areas are maturing), Hooded Tanager, 2 Planalto Tyrannulets, Purple-throated Euphonia and the male Brazilian Ruby still defending its feeders. A late afternoon walk around the wetland added Limpkin and Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift to the trip list.

Frustration as rain stops play

I had a great day planned for today - leave at 4am, walk the Waterfall Trail before light to try for Variable Screech-Owl and then be on the high altitude Elfin Forest Trail for dawn, but as often happens, things didn't go to plan. The day started off well enough with a pair of Tawny-browed Owls showing well around the REGUA conservation centre at 4:15, but soon afterwards it started to rain. We decided to push on up the Waterfall Trail but saw only a Paraque and South-eastern Common Opossum. As the drizzle continued it became obvious that climbing the Elfin Forest Trail would be fruitless, so over a breakfast at the waterfall (while watching a Sharp-tailed Streamcreeper) we decided on a change of plan and we headed off to the Grey Trail to try for Russet-winged Spadebill. We flushed a Dusky-legged Guan, had yet a frustrating view of Blue-bellied Parrot and heard three Short-tailed Antthrushes, all in quick succession, but then the heavens opened. At this point we found a group of the endangered Golden-tailed Parrotlets sheltering in a tree but frustratingly viewing was so difficult I just couldn't get onto one! I've lost count of how many times I've dipped this species now, but hopefully the weather will improve and we'll be able to try again.

Magical day at REGUA

Today we birded the 4x4 Track to Casa Anibel and what a day it was! 2 Rufous-crowned Motmots at the lodge got things off to a great start and the 4x4 Track itself was just dripping with birds! Fruiting trees at the trail head produced a large flock that included around 50 Blue Dacnis, Fawn-breasted, Brassy-breasted, Red-necked, Green-headed, Golden-chevroned, Rufous-headed and Yellow-backed Tanagers, as well as my first lifer of the day - a Sooty Grassquit. It was hard to tear ourselves away but walking up the trail we logged Channel-billed Toucan, Rufous-browed Peppershrike, Black-capped and White-collared Foliage-Gleaners, 2 Spot-backed Antshrikes, Black-goggled Tanager, 2 Blonde-crested Woodpeckers, Black-cheeked Gnateater, 2 Crescent-chested Puffbirds, Long-tailed Tyrant, Slaty Bristlefront and my second lifer of the day - a Large-headed Flatbill (first photo). The strangler figs at the top of the trail are currently fruiting and these proved to be the highlight of the day. Birds were everywhere but 3 Bare-throated Bellbirds (second photo) busy gorging themselves on fruit were particularly notable as this is a difficult bird at this time of year. However, the 'cherry on the Pecan and Mapel Slice' came in the form of 2 Swallow-tailed Cotingas (third photo) that flew in to rest for a few minutes before heading off into the forest. There have been very few records of this beautiful species at REGUA and this was certainly one of my favourite moments on the reserve. As if this wasn't enough, the day was then finished off with a superb Boa Constrictor on the road back to the lodge (forth photo).

Owl fest at REGUA

Amazing views of 2 Black-banded Owls (top photo) and a Tawny-browed Owl (bottom photo) this morning at a new patch of REGUA forest was well worth the 3am start. The Black-banded Owls kept to the higher branches making photography difficult but the Tawny-browed came in much closer. Out here, owls seem to be much more active on calm moonlit nights and the moon is now waning but I hope to get back and get some better photos of Black-banded Owl if possible. The species recorded here so far this trip indicate that this forest fragment contains some good quality forest and well worth exploring further.

A half-hearted attempt at Russet-crowned Crake at the wetland mid morning resulted in one bird actually showing itself for once (ticked at last). Returning to the wetland in the afternoon I also managed great looks at Blackish Rail and a Rufous-sided Crake that showed down to just 3 metres. At the moment the water level at the wetland is slightly lower than usual making rails a little easier to see. A quick look at the fields opposite the reserve entrance at dusk produced the hoped for Barn Owl floating around in the half-light - a fitting end to another long day.

Long-tailed Potoos at REGUA

An early morning attempt for Black-banded Owl this morning once again concluded with the birds begin heard but not seen. However, a lifer in the form of a Long-tailed Potoo and an excellent encounter with this Mottled Owl (first photo) more than compensated. We also heard Tawny-browed Owl here and so if these species are indicators of the overall health of an ecosystem then this large fragment of lowland Atlantic Forest appears to be in good shape. Hopefully I'll manage to get back here during daylight to explore some more. After breakfast at the lodge while watching this Yellow Armadillo (second photo) I spent the rest of the day walking the Waterfall Trail, which had a lot of activity. The highlights were this roosting Long-tailed Potoo (third and forth photos), a Shrike-like Cotinga, 2 Rufous-capped Antthrushes, Pin-tailed Manakin and Black-cheeked Gnateater. Check out the upturned feather tips on the upperparts of the Long-tailed Potoo, giving an impression of peeling bark on a tree (click on photos to enlarge). I cannot find any reference to this feature in any of the literature? What an incredible bird!