Red-legged Seriemas, Chapada August 2008.
Yellow-faced Parrots (tick!), Lago Azul Road, Chapada dos Guimaraes 17 August 2008.
Our last full day in Brazil and we started in a piece of Cerrado on the road to Lago Azul. Burrowing Owls were everywhere, Greater Rheas strolled through the grasslands and Red-shouldered Macaws flew overhead. By 0630 it was already hot but there was still plenty going on - Red-legged Seriemas yelping from the top of fence posts but best of all Yellow-faced Parrots squawked as they few out from the dry Cerrado trees. A long-awaited tick for yours truly (beers for the team at lunchtime in Chapada). Very attractive parrots these, with their big yellow face patches and bellies with orange patches. A great start indeed.
Curl-crested Jays (above), White-eared Puffbirds and a stunning group of Blue & Gold Macaws all seen - I suppose Crowned Eagle was asking a bit too much? Plenty of soaring birds though including some close White-tailed Hawks and fine King Vultures before we started to head back to Chapada for lunch.
Greater Rheas, Lago Azul Road 17 August 2008.Back near Chapada we spent the afternoon in the Cerrado trying very hard for Collared Crescentchest. Not many calling at the moment and the ones we found kept to the ground out of sight. Splendid male Horned Sungem seen during the search though and a dozen or so Blue-winged Macaws passing by were some compensation.
I was sorry to leave Chapada once again. Back next month though!
Common Potoo at roost, Chapada dos Guimaraes 17 August 2008.
