 |
| Chiffchaff moulting its tail. |
 |
| Juvenile Willow Warbler |
 |
| First winter Yellow Wagtail (inset), one of at least five present. |
27 August 2011
Autumn migration at Staines Moor
A reasonable passage of warblers today comprising 23 Chiffchaff (photos 1 & 2), including 15 associating with a large tit flock on Stanwell Moor, 2 Willow Warbler (photo 3), 3+ Lesser Whitethroat, 12 Common Whitethroat, 4 Blackcap and 1 Garden Warbler seen. Other migrants included 5+ Yellow Wagtails around the cattle (photo 4), 3 Hobby, 2-3 Common Buzzard and 41 Barn Swallow. Also on the moor were flocks of 60 Linnet and 20 European Goldfinch including many moutling juveniles (photo 5), 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel and a Kingfisher along the Colne.
26 August 2011
Rains Moor
An early morning visit to Staines Moor today proved a non-starter due to relentless heavy rain. A large mixed tit flock along the path between Stanwell Moor and King George VI Reservoir included a Garden Warbler, 2-3 Blackcap, 2 Common Whitethroat, 1 Willow Warbler and several willow-chiffs flitting about that defied positive ID in monsoon conditions. 4+ Barn Swallow were the only other migrants noted before I admitted defeat after 45 minutes of getting thoroughly soaked.
Back home, a group of juvenile Wood Pigeons on the paddy field (previously a lawn) were doing their best to clean out the feeders - yep, you know its a bad day when a photo of a Wood Pigeon makes it on to your blog!
Back home, a group of juvenile Wood Pigeons on the paddy field (previously a lawn) were doing their best to clean out the feeders - yep, you know its a bad day when a photo of a Wood Pigeon makes it on to your blog!
22 August 2011
British Birdwatching Fair 2011
Just back from the Birdfair where for the fifth year running Rachel and I had a stand representing REGUA in Brazil. Sharing a stand with Rick Simpson Birding Services worked out very well and REGUA again received a great deal of interest. Each year more and more people we speak to have previously heard about REGUA and many had even visited the Reserve. Many thanks to everyone who came by to see us and show their support!
It wasn't all work though and we occasionally managed to get away from the stand to catch up with friends and take a look around. This year we bought some excellent prints from John Gale and Steve Cale and I decided to commission an original painting from Steve of Atlantic Forest tanagers. I can't wait to see the finished article! Many thanks to Alan Martin and Richard Robinson for their invaluable help on the stand and also to Rick and Elis for making the event so much fun!
It wasn't all work though and we occasionally managed to get away from the stand to catch up with friends and take a look around. This year we bought some excellent prints from John Gale and Steve Cale and I decided to commission an original painting from Steve of Atlantic Forest tanagers. I can't wait to see the finished article! Many thanks to Alan Martin and Richard Robinson for their invaluable help on the stand and also to Rick and Elis for making the event so much fun!
 |
| From the left: Rick Simpson, Elis Simpson, Rachel Walls, Alan Martin and me. |
 |
| Birdfair bribery - Rachel's 'Bellbird Brownie', 'Spadebill Shortbread' and 'Fruitcrow Flapjack' went down a storm (click to enlarge)! For more excellent home baking check out Rachel's blog at http://rawbaking.blogspot.com/ |
 |
| Sam Woods of Tropical Birding doing his bit to promote REGUA. |
15 August 2011
Come and see REGUA at the Birdfair
The last few weeks have been hectic preparing the REGUA stand for the Birdfair this week. In previous years we've gratefully been allocated some space on the World Land Trust stand, but this year we are sharing a whole stand with our friend Rick Simpson of Rick Simpson Birding Services. This means we've got a lot more space for displays about our conservation work and the incredible birding at REGUA, and this has mean't a lot of hard work producing new banners and materials. We've also organised a competition to win a membership of the Neotropical Bird Club. If you are planning to come to the Birdfair then please stop by our stand in marquee 5, stand number 35. The Birdfair takes place at Egleton Nature Reserve, Rutland Water, from Friday 19th to Sunday 21st August.
 |
| The Birdfair is a lot of hard work but well worth it! |
1 August 2011
The trouble with a foreign patch?
Is that it is far too far away to twitch and you can be seriously gripped! If there was ever an email that I dreaded receiving just days after returning from REGUA, it was the one I received from our project manager, Nicholas Locke, this afternoon: "We have just photographed a Stygian Owl in the wetlands last night!! WOOOWWWWW!! You are just going to have to come. I will be getting photos."
Owls are my favourite family and this email has completely and utterly destroyed me!! Stygian Owl is very scarce throughout Latin America and this is only the third record for Rio de Janeiro state, the first being recorded in 1985 and the second at Vale das Taquaras in 2009. Many thanks to Mikael Käll who has kindly given me permission to use this fantastic image he took of the bird. Somehow I MUST see it!!
Whatever next from REGUA? Kinglet Calyptura?
Owls are my favourite family and this email has completely and utterly destroyed me!! Stygian Owl is very scarce throughout Latin America and this is only the third record for Rio de Janeiro state, the first being recorded in 1985 and the second at Vale das Taquaras in 2009. Many thanks to Mikael Käll who has kindly given me permission to use this fantastic image he took of the bird. Somehow I MUST see it!!
Whatever next from REGUA? Kinglet Calyptura?
29 July 2011
What can you expect to see out of a Guapiaçu hotel bedroom window?
Well maybe not the Hanging Gardens of Babylon or herds of wildebeest, but certainly views like this!
REGUA set up Guapi Assu Bird Lodge to provide accommodation for people visiting the reserve and raise funds for protecting the Atlantic Forest. The lodge has changed a lot since I first visited in 2006. We've built new rooms increasing the capacity to up to 18 people, all rooms are now en suite, there is a new car park and a courtyard has been created planted flowers to attract hummingbirds and nectar feeding insects. The lodge now even has Wi-Fi and a webcam trained on the feeders! For more details on the lodge including rates click here.
Here are a few images of the scenery at REGUA.
Rachel and I will be representing REGUA at the British Birdfair at Egleton Nature Reserve, Rutland, from the 19th to 21st August, in Marquee 5, stand number 35. Please come and visit us if you can.
 |
| The view from the veranda |
 |
| The view from room 1 |
REGUA set up Guapi Assu Bird Lodge to provide accommodation for people visiting the reserve and raise funds for protecting the Atlantic Forest. The lodge has changed a lot since I first visited in 2006. We've built new rooms increasing the capacity to up to 18 people, all rooms are now en suite, there is a new car park and a courtyard has been created planted flowers to attract hummingbirds and nectar feeding insects. The lodge now even has Wi-Fi and a webcam trained on the feeders! For more details on the lodge including rates click here.
 |
| Guapi Assu Bird Lodge |
 |
| Guapi Assu Bird Lodge |
 |
| Rooms 9 & 10 |
Here are a few images of the scenery at REGUA.
 |
| The REGUA wetland |
 |
| The Waterfall Trail |
 |
| The Wetland Trail |
 |
| The Serra dos Órgãos mountains at REGUA |
 |
| The Waterfall Trail |
Rachel and I will be representing REGUA at the British Birdfair at Egleton Nature Reserve, Rutland, from the 19th to 21st August, in Marquee 5, stand number 35. Please come and visit us if you can.
23 July 2011
REGUA, Atlantic Forest, Brazil: 23 July
Woke to heavy rain early this morning which put paid to the planned pre-dawn night-birding around the wetland for Tawny-browed Owl and Common Potoo. In fact any birding or photography whatsoever was looking very unlikely but then around mid morning the rain stopped. As this was the last day of the trip I dashed off to the wetland to try and catch up with some of the more common species that I have so far neglected.
A Slaty-breasted Wood-Rail and a Bran-coloured Flycatcher showed at the start of the Wetland Trail but then the heavens opened again! Taking shelter in the new hide, I had another look for the recently seen Boat-billed Herons, but had to make do with 1 Rufescent Tiger-Heron, 10 Black-crowned Night-Herons, 1 Bananaquit (surprisingly scarce at REGUA) and a Broad-snouted Caiman Caiman latirostris lying in wait for an unsuspecting Least Grebe or Common Moorhen. The downpour escalated to biblical proportions but after an hour it finally stopped and I set out again, and this time the rain held off.
A mixed species flock contained 1 Green-winged Saltator (a very low altitude record for this species and probably the same bird seen on the 15th), 2+ Yellow-browed Tyrant, a pair of White-bearded Manakin (photo 1 of the female), a female White-winged Becard, an immature male Crested Becard, 1 Long-billed Wren, 2 Yellow-legged Thrush, 1 Brazilian Tanager, 1 Ruby-crowned Tanager, at least 2 Golden-chevroned Tanager and a Tropical Parula. A Bare-throated Bellbird started singing from the hillside above but refused to show itself (if you don't know what they sound like click here) and the number of Masked Duck have increased to 1 male (photo 2) and 6 female.
Other birds seen before I ran out of time and had to return to the lodge include 4 Capped Heron, 1 Squirrel Cuckoo, 3 Chestnut-backed Antshrike, 3 Yellow-chinned Spinetail (photo 3), 1 Yellow-lored Tody-Flycatcher, 3 Planalto Tyrannulet, 1 Yellow-bellied Elaenia, 1 Southern Beardless-Tyrannulet, 1 Yellow Tyrannulet, 2 White-headed Marsh-Tyrant, 2 Short-crested Flycatcher, 1+ Grey-breasted Martin and 1-2 Black-capped Donacobius.
After watching 3-4 Channel-billed Toucans scoped from the veranda and 3 flyover Orange-winged Parrots, we said our goodbyes to Adilei, Helen, Nicholas and Raquel and then it was into the minibus and off to Rio airport. Gangs of Magnificent Frigatebirds patrolling the skies over Rio gave close views as we drove through the outskirts of the city and proved to be the last species of note for the trip.
REGUA has changed a lot over the last five years and thinking back to when we first got involved in 2006 its incredible how different the place is now. Back then the lodge was empty for much of the time, but REGUA is becoming a well known birding destination and now the lodge receives many more guests and is often full during the spring months. The wetland was about a third of the size and still bordered by fields with cattle and crops that held open country birds such as Yellowish Pipit and Grassland Sparrow, whereas today the fields have been replanted with native trees and these birds have been replaced by forest species such as Rufous-capped Motmot and even Red-ruffed Fruitcrow. Adilei was a ranger who couldn't speak any English but is now an excellent guide who knows a great deal of English including all the English bird names. In 2006 there were only two houses for volunteers to stay in compared to four now and a lot more volunteers, and REGUA now attracts many university researchers studying the biodiversity of the forest.
The success of REGUA is a true testament to the vision and resolve of Nicholas and Raquel Locke, who have created a robust model for nature conservation that proves it is possible to restore much of what has been lost. They have worked tirelessly to include the local community who now fully support REGUA and attitudes towards the forest are slowly changing. Rachel and I are honoured to be part of the team and we can't wait to see what the next five years will bring. A full report on this trip will follow soon.
A Slaty-breasted Wood-Rail and a Bran-coloured Flycatcher showed at the start of the Wetland Trail but then the heavens opened again! Taking shelter in the new hide, I had another look for the recently seen Boat-billed Herons, but had to make do with 1 Rufescent Tiger-Heron, 10 Black-crowned Night-Herons, 1 Bananaquit (surprisingly scarce at REGUA) and a Broad-snouted Caiman Caiman latirostris lying in wait for an unsuspecting Least Grebe or Common Moorhen. The downpour escalated to biblical proportions but after an hour it finally stopped and I set out again, and this time the rain held off.
A mixed species flock contained 1 Green-winged Saltator (a very low altitude record for this species and probably the same bird seen on the 15th), 2+ Yellow-browed Tyrant, a pair of White-bearded Manakin (photo 1 of the female), a female White-winged Becard, an immature male Crested Becard, 1 Long-billed Wren, 2 Yellow-legged Thrush, 1 Brazilian Tanager, 1 Ruby-crowned Tanager, at least 2 Golden-chevroned Tanager and a Tropical Parula. A Bare-throated Bellbird started singing from the hillside above but refused to show itself (if you don't know what they sound like click here) and the number of Masked Duck have increased to 1 male (photo 2) and 6 female.
Other birds seen before I ran out of time and had to return to the lodge include 4 Capped Heron, 1 Squirrel Cuckoo, 3 Chestnut-backed Antshrike, 3 Yellow-chinned Spinetail (photo 3), 1 Yellow-lored Tody-Flycatcher, 3 Planalto Tyrannulet, 1 Yellow-bellied Elaenia, 1 Southern Beardless-Tyrannulet, 1 Yellow Tyrannulet, 2 White-headed Marsh-Tyrant, 2 Short-crested Flycatcher, 1+ Grey-breasted Martin and 1-2 Black-capped Donacobius.
After watching 3-4 Channel-billed Toucans scoped from the veranda and 3 flyover Orange-winged Parrots, we said our goodbyes to Adilei, Helen, Nicholas and Raquel and then it was into the minibus and off to Rio airport. Gangs of Magnificent Frigatebirds patrolling the skies over Rio gave close views as we drove through the outskirts of the city and proved to be the last species of note for the trip.
REGUA has changed a lot over the last five years and thinking back to when we first got involved in 2006 its incredible how different the place is now. Back then the lodge was empty for much of the time, but REGUA is becoming a well known birding destination and now the lodge receives many more guests and is often full during the spring months. The wetland was about a third of the size and still bordered by fields with cattle and crops that held open country birds such as Yellowish Pipit and Grassland Sparrow, whereas today the fields have been replanted with native trees and these birds have been replaced by forest species such as Rufous-capped Motmot and even Red-ruffed Fruitcrow. Adilei was a ranger who couldn't speak any English but is now an excellent guide who knows a great deal of English including all the English bird names. In 2006 there were only two houses for volunteers to stay in compared to four now and a lot more volunteers, and REGUA now attracts many university researchers studying the biodiversity of the forest.
The success of REGUA is a true testament to the vision and resolve of Nicholas and Raquel Locke, who have created a robust model for nature conservation that proves it is possible to restore much of what has been lost. They have worked tirelessly to include the local community who now fully support REGUA and attitudes towards the forest are slowly changing. Rachel and I are honoured to be part of the team and we can't wait to see what the next five years will bring. A full report on this trip will follow soon.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)