And still we’re adding exciting new birds to the list! Back up the tower at first light this morning looking for canopy flocks. We had great eyelevel views of Black-girdled Barbet, Lettered and Red-necked Aracari’s, Violaceous Trogon and Opal-rumped Tanager, all smashing birds but all already on the list. But then in came Black-necked Aracari which sat sunning itself in the branches of a nearby dead tree allowing close inspection of its plumage and large bill. A high pitched thin call drew our attention to a perched raptor, which through the scope proved to be a White-browed Hawk, magnificent with bandit mask, red bill and legs, and pure white breast feathers. Blue-winged Macaws flew past calling raucously to each other. A gang of Curl-crested Aracari’s swept in and bounced around in an adjacent showing off their Tom Jones-style perms (if perms or Tom Jones or even Curl-crested Aracari’s leave you wondering, try a quick Google search and you’ll see what we mean!). Back at ground level, we birded the forest trail near the salt lick. We hit a mixed flock which contained two new species for us: Rufous-tailed Foliage-gleaner and Lafresnaye’s Woodcreeper. We returned to the lodge where it was sadly time for us to pack our bags and return to Alta Floresta. We’ve had a great time at Cristalino, were well looked after and have seen some amazing birds. Take a look at their website www.cristalinolodge.com.br to see something of the lodge, the forest and their splendid conservation and education work in the area. An incredibly huge area of pristine Amazon forest is protected by this private reserve which forms a protective barrier with other private and state reserves against the encroaching ‘arc of deforestation’ of the southern side of the Amazon. Fantastic work and long may it continue.
We stopped on our journey back to Alta Floresta at a specific site Brad knew where an area of palm swamp provides the ideal habitat for Point-tailed Palmcreeper. Sometimes a tricky bird to see, we were privileged to enjoy a great view as one sat up in full view amongst the palm fronds – another great bird joins the list! We have had a fantastic time birding with Brad Davies, a great guy to go birding with – a Canadian, now married to a lovely Brazilian girl, Jessica, and living in Alta Floresta, his phenomenal local knowledge gained from years of birding in this area shines through every time we step out into the field. If you’d like to visit Cristalino Jungle Lodge and go birding with Brad too, check out Tropical Birding’s website, www.tropicalbirding.com, which offers both set departure and custom tours to this amazing birding area.
Bird species list: 2592
Posted 29th June, Alta Floresta, Brazil