REGUA, Atlantic Forest, Brazil: 10 July

A quiet but still very good morning at the 'Waldenoor' area of the reserve, situated up valley from the tiny settlement of Estrieto. A Red-cowled Cardinal from the truck in the village of Matumbo on route got the day started, before walking the Waldenoor Trail which produced 1m Frilled Coquette and 1 Pale-browed Treehunter (both at 'Waldenoor's house'), 1 Planalto Woodcreeper, 1 Scaled Woodcreeper, 4 (1H) Star-throated Antwren, 2 (1m, 1f) Surucua Trogon, 2 Cliff Flycatcher, 2 (1m, 1f) Red-crowned Ant-Tanager, 1 Grey-hooded Attila and 1H Grey-fronted Dove.

A walk along the Lower Veludo Trail down to the now legendary 'machete shop' produced 2+m White-shouldered Fire-eye and several f Black-goggled Tanagers around an ant swarm, 1m Spot-breasted Antvireo (and 1 prob. f glimpst), 1 Streak-capped Antwren, 1 Blond-crested Woodpecker, 2-3 Yellow-green Grosbeak, 2 Sepia-capped Flycatcher, 3 (1 ad. m, 1 imm. m, 1f) Blue Manakin, 1 Green-headed Tanager, 1m Chestnut-vented Conebill, 1m Violet-capped Woodnymph, 1 Yellow-eared Woodpecker, 1 Olivaceous Woodcreeper, 1 Golden-crowned Warbler, 1H White-throated Woodcreeper, 1H Rufous-breasted Leaftosser, and 1 prob. 2 Swainson's Flycatcher were in trees by the shop.

Checked out the derelict house at Waldenoor and found 2 Black Myotis Myotis nigricans bats roosting inside and a particularly 'interesting' spider.

2 Black Myotis Myotis nigricans, derelict house at Waldenoor, REGUA, 10 July 2016

REGUA, Atlantic Forest, Brazil: 9 July

Another busy day at the screen so this post is merely a notebook entry. A few notables logged in the lodge garden throughout the day - 1f Chestnut-bellied Euphonia coming to the bananas (my first record for the lodge garden) along with 1m Purple-throated Euphonia, 5 (2m, 3f) Violaceous Euphonia, 4 (1m, 3f) Brazilian Tanager, several Golden-chevroned Tanager, lots of Blue Dacnis (both sexes) and Maroon-bellied Parakeets. Also around the garden were 1+ Rufous-tailed Jacamar and a Planalto Tyrannulet.

An evening walk around the wetland to photograph bats produced several species, and birds noted include 1 Capped Heron and lots of Cattle Egret coming into roost.

REGUA, Atlantic Forest, Brazil: 8 July

Spent a couple of hours this morning paddling around the wetland in the research canoe checking out the progress of the replanted Tabebuia cassinoides - a slow growing swamp-loving climax tree species that once covered many lowland areas in the Atlantic Forest. The trees are doing very well but I am a little concerned that the Cattle Egret roost has partially moved to the tabebuia, which could threaten their survival.

From the canoe had nice views of the male Sungrebe (although it was not very tolerant of the canoe and so there is no chance using it to get close to photograph it), along with 2 (1 ad and 1 imm) Rufescent Tiger-Heron, 2+ Striated Heron, 1 Snowy Egret, 1-2 Anhinga, 3 Muscovy Duck, 1 Amazon Kingfisher, 1 Ringed Kingfisher, 2 Brazilian Teal, 2 Broad-snouted Caiman, and plenty of Capybara.

In the lodge garden a Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl posed nicely for photos late morning, and 3 (1m, 2f) Flame-crested Tanager, 3+ Chivi Vireo and 1m Yellow-backed Tanager showed at very close range from the lodge tower early morning.

Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl Glaucidium brasilianum, lodge grounds, REGUA, 8 July 2016

Spent a couple of hours after dark photographing at least 5-6 Bokermann's Nectar Bats Lonchophylla bokermanni that were drinking sugar water from the lodge hummingbird feeders. I'm quite pleased with these pics considering this was my first attempt.

Bokermann's Nectar Bat Lonchophylla bokermanni, lodge garden, REGUA, 8 July 2016 (taken using a torch - no flash)

Bokermann's Nectar Bat Lonchophylla bokermanni, lodge garden, REGUA, 8 July 2016 (taken using a torch - no flash)

Also found a nice Hypsiboas semilineatus tree frog hoping around on the veranda. Amazingly variable this species - compare this individual to one I had at REGUA in 2014.

Hypsiboas semilineatus, lodge garden, REGUA, 8 July 2016

REGUA, Atlantic Forest, Brazil: 7 July

Another day of working on the Portuguese REGUA website in the office (nature conservation work comes in many forms). Got out to the wetland late afternoon until dusk where 1m Sungrebe photographed near dusk in very low light (still no sign of the female seen a few weeks ago), 1 Anhinga, 2 Slaty-breasted Wood-Rail, 34 Neotropic Cormorant (a new personal highest site count), 1 Snowy Egret, 1 Great White Egret and 1 Ringed Kingfisher were noted. Notables in the lodge garden were 1 Rufous-tailed Jacamar, 5 Channel-billed Toucan, 2 Scaly-headed Parrot and 4 Brazilian Tanager (1m, 1 imm. m, 2f). Hope to get out more over the next few days.

Record of the male Sungrebe Heliornis fulica, REGUA wetland, 7 July 2016 - the third record for REGUA (my second) and a very rare
bird in Rio de Janeiro state

REGUA, Atlantic Forest, Brazil: 6 July

Spent most of the day building the new Portuguese REGUA website today and so very little time for birding. Had a very quick look around the wetland in the morning. Highlights were 2 Limpkin (surprisingly scarce here), 1 Anhinga, and yet more forest interior bird species noted (on the shortcut trail) included 1 White-necked Thrush, 1m Yellow-legged Thrush (both in a small flock with Pale-breasted Thrush and Creamy-bellied Thrush), and 1H Grey-hooded Attila. Also noted were 2 Scaly-headed Parrot over, 1m White-bearded Manakin, 3 White-barred Piculet, 1 Channel-billed Toucan (with another 3 in the lodge grounds), 1 Southern Beardless-Tyrannulet, 5 White-faced Whistling-Duck (numbers are very low at the wetland at the moment), 1H Lemon-chested Greenlet.

Not many photo opportunities today, but 2 Saffron Finch did allow close approach (this open country species is not as common at the wetland as it once were now that the reforested areas are maturing).

Male Saffron Finch Sicalis flaveola, REGUA wetland, 6 July 2016 - one of several open country bird species gradually being
squeezed out of the wetland area at REGUA as the reforestation matures

REGUA, Atlantic Forest, Brazil: 5 July

Got quite of lot of work to get done at REGUA on this trip and therefore I won't have a huge amount of time for birding. Managed to catch up with one of the Sungrebes at the wetland this morning (the male) - the second I've seen at REGUA, and it's very noticable how birds associated with mature forest are becoming more regular at the wetland - a testament to the success of the reforestation work we have been carrying out over the last ten years, with 2 Black-goggled Tanager, 1H White-necked Thrush and 12 Azure-shouldered Tanager (over towards the lodge) all being my first records at the wetland.

Other birds seen on a walk around the Wetland this morning with Rachel, Sue and Adilei include 1 Fuscous Flycatcher, 1 Swallow Tanager N, 1 Anhinga, 17 Neotropic Cormorant, 3-4 Black-capped Donacobius, 6 Greater Ani, 1 Wing-banded Hornero, 1 Amazon Kingfisher, 1 Ringed Kingfisher, 2-3 Southern Lapwing, 2 White-faced Whistling-Duck, 2 Blue-winged Parrotlet, 2 Scaly-headed Parrot over, 1 Capped Heron, 2 Rufescent Tiger-Heron (1 ad, 1 imm), 1 Great White Egret, 1 Striated Heron, 2 (1 ad, 1 imm) Black-crowned Night-Heron, 7+ Muscovy Duck, (only) 2 Brazilian Teal, 2 Yellow-chinned Spinetail, 1H Lemon-chested Greenlet, 2 Purple Gallinule, lots of Wattled Jacana, Common Moorhen, 1 Southern Caracara, 1m White-headed Marsh Tyrant, 3 Masked Water-Tyrant, 1 Southern Rough-winged Swallow, 1 Broad-snouted Caiman, and lots of Capybara.

The Forest Trail was very busy with bird activity and again, several species associated with mature forest were noted including 2 Ruddy Quail-Dove, 1 Grey-hooded Attila, 3 Black-goggled Tanager, 1m Surucua Trogon, 2 Yellow-throated Woodpecker, 4+ (3+m, 1f) Yellow-legged Thrush, 1 Greyish Mourner, and best of all a female Sooty Grassquit - only my second record at REGUA and my first in the lodge area. Also along the Forest Trail were 1+ Green-backed Becard, 1 Chestnut-crowned Becard, 1m White-winged Becard, 1 Rufous-browed Peppershrike, 2 (1m, 1f) Orange-bellied Euphonia, 1 Lesser Woodcreeper, 1H Plain-winged Woodcreeper, 1 Yellow-eared Woodpecker, 1 Sepia-capped Flycatcher, 1 Moustached Wren, 1f White-bearded Manakin, 1f White-flanked Antwren, 1m Yellow-backed Tanager, 1H Bananaquit, 1H Yellow-olive Flycatcher, 1H Channel-billed Toucan. 2 Brown-throated (Three-toed) Sloth were seen along the trail, but no sign of the 2 Red-ruffed Fruitcrow reported by a visiting birder two days before.

A quick try for Shrike-like Cotinga along the tower hide loop failed to produce any, but 1m Sooretama Slaty-Antshrike (good to know this scrub-loving species is still here despite the forest maturing), 1 Grey-hooded Flycatcher, 1 Grey-hooded Attila, 2 (1, 1f) Unicoloured Antwren, 1m White-flanked Antwren, 1H White-eyed Foliage-gleaner, 1H Plain Xenops, and 1H Euler's Flycatcher were noted.

Spent the afternoon giving a demonstration on the new REGUA website and working on building the Brazilian site. Hopefully I can complete the essential pages of the Brazilian site before I return home.

REGUA, Atlantic Forest, Brazil: 4 July

So exciting waking up at REGUA for the first time on a trip. This morning I awoke to the sound of Rufous-capped Motmots calling at dawn from the forest outside our window of the luxurious room 1 at the lodge! Highlights of a quick look at the lodge garden this morning were a Rusty-margined Guan on one of the feeders at dawn, 1 Blond-crested Woodpecker on the feeders, 1 Yellow-eared Woodpecker, 2 (1m, 1f) Chestnut-vented Conebill, 1 Rufous-breasted Hermit, 1 Palm Tanager and several Blue Dacnis.

Caught up with our good friend Adilei (REGUA's quite frankly bloody awesome bird guide) who drove us to see one of his friends in the nearby village of Estrieto who has built a huge and quite remarkable bird feeder from an old plastic crate, lots of branches and a thatched roof. Located at an elevation of 186 m, the feeder here was attracting a slightly different suite of bird species to the feeders in the lodge garden at REGUA (43 m), including a small flock on Olive-green Tanager (generally rare at feeders and certainly the best views of this species I've ever had), a few Azure-shouldered Tanager, several Blue-naped Chlorophonia, several Green-headed Tanager, 2+ (1m, 1f) Chestnut-bellied Euphonia, along with 1m Yellow-backed Tanager, several Violaceous Euphonia (both sexes), several Blue Dacnis (both sexes), a small flock of Maroon-bellied Parakeets, a Buff-throated Saltator and a Sayaca Tanager.

Olive-green Tanager Orthogonys chloricterus, Estrieto, 4 July 2016 - bonkers views of this Atlantic Forest endemic today

A couple of hours night-birding at dusk at an area of pasture and scrub near REGUA produced 2 Giant Snipe (1 in flight and superb views of another in torch-light on the ground down to about four metres (that I might add we didn't flush despite approaching so close), 1 Scissor-tailed Nightjar, 1 Common Potoo (with another probable, very distant), 1 Tropical Screech-Owl, 2 Burrowing Owl, 1H Spot-tailed Nightjar, 2 Chalk-browed Mockingbird, 1H Blackish Rail, a few H Ash-throated Crake, and 1H Striped Cuckoo. A magic end to the end complete with a dramatic backdrop of the Milky Way blazing across the night sky - fantastic!

Giant Snipe Gallinago undulata, near REGUA, 4 July 2016 (no flash) - this difficult nocturnal species is 20% larger than Eurasian
Woodcock Scolopax rusticola