Early morning at Pouso Alegre is a wonderful experience. Hyacinth Macaws calling as the sun rises, Great Rufous Woodcreepers (below) in the yard first thing and stacks of birds in the pools, open ground and forest edge before we wander back for coffee and breakfast.
Passing by Sunbitterns (above) and making our way into the dry scrub and forest we added many new birds to the list and it was obvious that today was going to be another "big day". Pale-crested Woodpecker, Rufous Casiornis, Blue-crowned Trogon and best of all Chestnut-bellied Guan were all logged before we reached the Transpantaneira.
Long-nosed Bats.
A little further south from Alegre and we entered a nice dry forest that has been very rewarding in the past. This fine Rufous-tailed Jacamar was very showy but new birds stole the show like Planalto Slaty-Antshrike, Planalto Woodcreeper and Rusty-fronted Tody-Flycatcher.
Heading south towards the Pixaim we picked up Scarlet-headed Blackbird at a favoured spot before arriving at the hotel by the side of the river.
This adult Jabiru was waiting by the dock as we boarded our boat for the river trip for the rest of the afternoon. The final missing kingfisher of the tour - Green & Rufous - was one of the first birds of the boat trip with many quality species to follow like Boat-billed Heron, Sungrebe, Band-tailed Antbird, Rusty-backed Spinetail and great views of Giant River Otter too.
Travelling back near dusk we added Band-tailed Nighthawk to a very impressive tally for the day but we were not finished just yet! A nightbirding ride after dinner produced Scissor-tailed Nightjars and Pauraques on the airstrip as well as a couple of perched Common Potoos.
Crab-eating Fox, Rio Pixaim August 2008.
