BRAZIL: Chapada dos Guimaraes 22 - 24 September 2008.

Blue-winged Macaw at the Agua Fria Road, Chapada dos Guimaraes, 24 September 2008.

Pearl Kite, Chapada dos Guimaraes, September 2008.

Just over a month after my last visit I found myself back at Chapada once again. The national park was still closed but we managed to get the key birds at other sites with a little bit of effort.

Crested Black Tyrant (above) is one of those birds easier in the park so it was nice to find a pair near the Chapada viewpoint. The Blue Finch was a real surprise and definitely a bonus as they can be tricky to find even at so-called reliable sites.

The Lago Azul road wasn't as good as last month though. Nice White-eared Puffbird (above) but no Yellow-faced Parrots this time. Hearing Ash-throated Crake was a surprise though.

Rusty-backed Antwren, Agua Fria Road, September 2008.

The cerrado was as entertaining as ever though with instant Coal-crested Finch, Black-throated Saltators, White-rumped Tanagers, White-banded Tanagers, Blue-winged Macaws, Peach-fronted Parakeets and Horned Sungem. Pale-breasted Spinetails, Rufous-winged Antshrike, Rusty-backed Antwrens and Rufous-sided Pygmy-Tyrant all showed well and Chapada Flycatchers performed beautifully with their wing-raising display. Collared Crescentchest on our final morning was the icing on the cake!