OK, Sandgrounders it 'aint ...... but

...... it did have 50 Wilson's Phalaropes in front of it this afternoon.

One of the blinds at Huacarpay Lakes near Cusco 26 September 2010. Note sleeping Peruvian!

Early flight from Lima to Cusco this morning and then braved the intense Andean sun at 3,200 metres above sea level, birding at Huacarpay Lakes only a short drive from the city. More Plumbeous Rails than I've ever seen today; seemed to be everywhere, calling, chasing and copulating all over the place. We got the main bird nice 'n early - the endemic hummingbird Bearded Mountaineer was in its usual spot (well it was there last year too) and feeding on the tree tobacco. With that and the endemic Rusty-fronted Canastero under the belt we could relax a bit watching Giant Hummingbirds, Many-coloured Rush-Tyrants and Wren-like Rushbirds before moving on to waders and ducks.

Huacarpay Lakes, Cusco 26 September 2010.

Yellow-winged Blackbirds were making themselves noticed in the reeds, Black-tailedTrainbearers were darting along the slopes and yes those RCS's (see previous post) had me reaching for the bins every few seconds in hope they were something more interesting. Enchanting; they really are ....

Andean Lapwing, Huacarpay Lakes 26 September 2010.

Apart from the 50 Wilson's Phal's there were a few other waders like Lesser and GreaterYellowlegs (below) and Black-necked Stilts with a scattering of quackers like Cinnamon Teal, Puna Teal and Speckled Teals.

Lots out there but a little disappointing compared to my visits back in the old days (10 - 15 years ago). Huacarpay is more disturbed nowadays but impossible to avoid at weekends if you fly out on a Saturday and arrive in Cusco on a Sunday.

Back in Cusco this evening and off down to Manu in the morning. Cloud forest - give it to me!

Zonotrash cometh.

Rufous-collared Sparrow Zonotrichia capensis. Little darlings, aren't they?

"You'd go to see one if it was at Seaforth!" No I bloody wouldn't! Rufous-collared Sparrows are attractive little blighters, right enough. Ranging from southern Mexico right the way down to Tierra del Fuego the Rufous-collared Sparrow has many subspecies (can't remember exactly how many), some of which exhibit local vocalisation differences. I'll almost certainly hear one tomorrow morning here in Lima. When I get to Cusco later in the morning I defintely will. Only then will Zonotrash come into its own as I scramble around breathless, looking for some brown job on the dusty slopes at over three thousand metres above sea level. It won't be what I'm after though; it'll be Satan's Sparrow, popping up here, there and everywhere. But I won't mind cos they're really nice little birds ......

Peep show over.

Well, for now at least.

Popped out to RSPB Hesketh Out Marsh at lunchtime today. Only had time for a quick look from the seawall at high tide but like the other day the best birds were at Hundred End. It seems that any flooded field could produce the goods in this area (remember Ron Jackson's comments about Stilt Sandpiper all those years ago?) and the above photo shows the latest wader hotspot. No sign of the Curlew Sand's from the other day but today's flock of 9 Dunlin and 10 Ringed Plovers held 2 juvenile Little Stints. Amazingly these birds seemed quite unconcerned about the model helicopter buzzing all over the field as well.

Other than the stints it was "business as usual" really apart from an influx of Meadow Pipits (at least 200 seen today). Greenshanks were up to 7, the single Avocet was still looking pretty sorry for itself and a Wheatear was using the fence posts. At least 20 Snipe seen (although there must be many more out there) and even the 10 Grey Partridges were in exactly the same spot as the other day. 'Scoping to the west along to Banks from Hundred End I could see the Spoonbill was still on the pools. Wonder what else is hidden out that way?

Good morning Peeps!

Curlew Sandpiper on Banks Marsh, Ribble Estuary 22 September 2010.

Found a Pectoral Sandpiper with Little Stint and flock of 50+ Dunlin on Banks Marsh at lunchtime. Maybe one of the Marshside / Martin Mere birds but very nice to catch up with one of scarcer waders around of late. The pools, currently the most extensive I've ever seen them due to the recent big tides and rains, were alive with birds. At least 7 Curlew Sand's in with 1000+ Golden Plover and 3000+ Lapwings. Single Grey Plover, 5 Black-tailed Godwits, Ruff and 10 Ringed Plovers but all very difficult to watch thanks to the marauding Peregrines. You can really appreciate how fast they fly when one whizzes over your head at close range! The flock of "Peeps" with the Pec' headed off towards Crossens Outer Marsh after an attempted "strike" by Peregrines and hadn't returned by the time I had to leave Banks. Marsh Harrier and Great Black-backed Gulls flushing 3000+ Wigeon, 700+ Teal and a few Pintail and Shoveler. The Spoonbill still present if a little elusive, dropping into gutters every now and then to feed. A Green Sandpiper was in its usual spot inland of the seawall and Yellow Wagtail could be heard calling from the wet meadows as I left.

Ribble Lap' Bunt'.

Spoonbill on Banks Marsh, Ribble Estuary 21 September 2010.

Back from Brazil and after a day travelling home via Heathrow, a day off was in order. Having missed probably the best week of the autumn for local birding whilst in Brazil and with the Fairhaven Red-necked Phal' doing the honourable thing by disappearing overnight, I drove to RSPB Hesketh Out Marsh with a fairly open mind. I noticed a fair bit of flood ground in the stubble as I drove through the mosses, but with nothing to stop for I headed to the HOM car park where 20 Tree Sparrows were busy in the hedgerows and birding started in earnest as a Grey Wagtail flew over. Plenty of finches in the fields and hedges now with Greenfinches, Linnets and Goldfinches very numerous - very autumnal, but still over 200 Swallows feeding over the stubble. A look from the viewpoint produced little apart from an immature male Marsh Harrier and the usual Little Egrets so I made for the seawall overlooking the Ribble. I was hoping for Black Tern as a few have been commuting up and down the river of late but I was the only one dipping over the river after half hour or so Ribble watching. A Marsh Harrier initially being harried by Carrion Crows made haste across the saltmarsh where it sent Starlings, Meadow Pipits and Skylarks scattering. A clear, loud, fast trill gave away the presence of a Lapland Bunting amongst them and it settled once again on the marsh once the raptor had disappeared. A very satisfying local patch moment indeed, even if it wasn't the bird I'd planned for.

Pink-footed Geese over the Ribble Estuary 21 September 2010.

Today was in fact a mighty fine one for birding in calm conditions with a southerly wind. Despite the warm weather the Pink-footed Geese seem to be arriving in good numbers now with many over the NNR and skeins of 45, 45, 18 and 9 passing over HOM this afternoon. Always a thrill to see them come back. Apart from the harriers raptors were represented by 2 Peregrines, a Merlin, juv' and female Sparrowhawks, 2 Buzzards and at least 8 Kestrels. Waders were not too numerous on the marsh apart from 43 Snipe, 4 Greenshanks and an Avocet but one of the flooded fields at Hundred End held 19 Ringed Plovers and 7 very smart Curlew Sandpipers. The Ribble was as usual littered in Lapwings; 2, 250 I counted with a pair of Yellow Wagtails bursting from the saltmarsh nearly wrecking my count. A bit of "hedge and ditch work" produced the goods in the form of Goldcrest and Water Rail, neither of which I'd previously recorded at HOM personally. Two Jackdaws were the first of the year at HOM for me I think and a Barn Owl inadvertently disturbed from its roost soon found another quiet spot. Other HOM scarcities included Little Grebe and 2 Corn Bunting today, so not bad all in all.
A last minute visit to Banks Marsh resulted in the Spoonbill pictured above, Little Stint and at least 1000 Golden Plover. There may have been a lot more here and I really didn't have the time this site deserves this evening.

Tricky to see ..... Nah!

Pallid Spintail at Pico Caledonia 18 September 2010.

Another very successful day out to the Atlantic Forest highlands yesterday started rather wet but incredibly clearing as soon as we approached Nova Friburgo. Pico Caledonia, sitting above Friburgo was our destination once again and the trip started well with Yellow-eared Woodpecker, Rufous-backed Antvireo, Shear-tailed Grey-Tyrant and Rufous-crowned Greenlet; all birds we failed to see here last week.

Tapaculos are normally shy and retiring birds but his Serra do Mar Tapaculo bucked the trend by leaping up on a branch in font of the group and "chug-chugging" away. Still difficult to capture, but digiscopable (just). Great stuff.

The Black-and-Gold Cotingas were still whining away with their monotonous song. Little tough to spot in the low swathes of cloud on the distant ridges though. Highlight of the morning, for me at least, was the sight of 3 Giant Antshrikes - the America's largest antbird and always a tricky one to get a view of. One female showed particularly well and most satisfying as we had heard (but not seen) them last week here.

Pallid Spinetails (above) performed well with Spix's Spinetails as we descended in the afternoon.

Orange-eyed Thornbirds and White-rimmed Warblers were additions to our list for last week's visit here at Pico Caledonia. Funny how two trips to the same site can be so different in the space of less than a week with many species from last week's visit missing today. The Grey-winged Cotingas were calling but no lucky sightings this week. Top spot though and will definitely stay on next year's itinerary.

Hotting up. REGUA 17 September.

REGUA's Masked Ducks this morning. Drake (above) and two ducks (below).

So far so good today with a nice variety of birds on the wetlands and forest trails at REGUA. Checking out the lodge clearing and forested borders of the wetland first thing we saw many species without losing sight of the garden! White-bearded Manakins, Yellow Tyrannulets, White-winged Becard, Long-billed Wrens and Blond-crested Woodpecker in the first trees at the start of the trail. The wetland held the usual Masked Ducks plus the more widespread waterfowl, but the morning soon became hot so we headed for the trails.

Southern Antpipits burst into action on the forest trails this morning with maybe as many as three seen. Always nice to see these little "tail-pumpers" strolling in the leaf litter but no chance of digiscoping them. A nice mixed flock of Red-crowned Ant-Tanagers, Viloaceous Euphonias, Lesser Woodcreepers and Black-capped Becards came through seding panic throughout the group as they shot through the subcanopy. Best show was the two male White-flanked Antwrens "in dispute" with the white flanks all puffed up in some kind of threat posture. Talking of puffed up ......

This Crescent-chested Puffbird perched nicely for us by the side of the wetland trail on the way back to the lodge. Just couldn't resist spending another fifteen minutes or so with this. Bird of the morning was probably the White-bibbed Antbird we coaxed into view as it walked along the forest floor singing though. Everybody got to see it between the branches, stumps and piled up leaf litter too.

Back out on the wetland two Black-and-White Hawk-Eagles flew over but the heat was just getting too much. Even this Southern Lapwing was panting .......

Last full day tomorrow and off to the highlands again.

Jac-anac-anory!

Three-toed Jacamar near Carmo Brazil 16 September 2010.

It was the second group's trip out to Carmo to see the rare Three-toed Jacamar today and with an overcast sky (raining at REGUA when we left) hopes were high of some decent bird activity. The journey was eventful enough - Swallow Tanagers, Curl-crested Jays, Crested Oropendolas and at least 5 Crested Black Tyrants (above).

This handsome Toco Toucan pleased everyone in the bus on the edge of Carmo before we'd even started birding properly. Wouldn't come out from the canopy but showed well enough and like all toucans it was getting a fair bit of grief from kingbirds and other "locals". I dare say most folks don't appreciate what prolific nest robbers most toucans are?

A pair of Blue-winged Macaws calling noisily from the forest edge made it to the canopy for everyone to get a smasshing look before disappearing. These small macaws hold "Near Threatened" status with concerns over habitat loss and traping for the cage bird trade in their range over Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay.

The dry forest above Carmo may not be the most spectacular site in eastern Brazil but supports a wide variety of birds including the endemic Serra Antwren that we've seen easly on both visits in the last two weeks. Red Pileated Finch, Striped Cuckoo, Surucua Trogon and Grey-eyed Greenlet all seen as we strolled along the road but it was almost every man for himself when a flock came through with Yellow-eared Woodpecker, White-barred Piculet, Scaled Woodcreeper, Streaked Xenops, Hooded Tanagers, Chestnut-vented Conebills, Rufous-headed Tanagers and Golden-crowned Warblers.

Yellow-eared Woodpecker near Carmo 16 September 2010.

Semi-arid forest near Carmo with Serra Antwren, Three-toed Jacamar, Rufous Gnateater, Crescent-chested Puffbird and much more!

Carmo and the Sumidouro Road are reliable sites to see the rare Three-toed Jacamars, another target bird for us today. This rather subtly coloured jacamar is at home in these dry forests but is considered "Vulnerable" and suffers from forest clearance. There may be less than a thousand birds left and the fragmented population may be in decline.

Yellow-lored Tody-Flycatcher's nest along the Carmo Road, 16 September 2010.

A pretty good day all told and topped off nicely with 4 Nacunda Nighthawks as we turned off at Guapimirim towards REGUA.

REGUA regulars. 15 September.

Crescent-chested Puffbird on Waldenoor Trail, REGUA 15 September 2010.

Another excellent morning on the trails at REGUA produced this superb Crescent-chested Puffbird. A Brazilian endemic only found in the Atlantic Forests, this is undoubtedly one of my favourite birds and REGUA is a superb place to see them. Just find a nice soft bank for nesting sites and some viny edges to the forest and you have a pretty good chance of finding one.

Another highlight was the two male Frilled Coquettes (above) found in the hill forest. The wind was blowing pretty strong this morning (remiding me of all the Leach's being seen off Lancs), but dropped mid-morning and hey presto, we found our first perched male of the day. Tiny little critters, one good blow would see it across the valley I reckon.

Crescent-chested Puffbird, REGUA 15 September 2010.

Mantled Hawk, White-eared Puffbird, Yellow-eared Woodpeckers, Green-barred Woodpecker and White-barred Piculet all seen in the forests before heading back to the lodge for a pre-owling siesta.

Euler's Flycatcher, REGUA 15 September 2010.

Drizzle put pay to any real chance of success on the nightbirding front I suspect, although we did try hard with Mottled Owl and Tawny-browed Owl heard and a Nine-banded Armadillo scampering around in the leaf litter under the cloak of darkness. Stll raining outside as I write but hopefull of a dry day tomorrow near Carmo.

Forest and beaches ....REGUA 13 & 14 September.

Tropical Screech-Owl at REGUA, 14 September 2010.

Magellanic Penguin at Cabo Frio east of Rio de Janeiro 14 September 2010.

The Green Trail, or Waterfall Trail as it is also known, is one of my favourites at REGUA. Passing through some nice hill forest and ridges, the trail supports many interesting bird species and is one of the best for encountering mixed species flocks. Yesterday's efforts were well rewarded with White-necked Hawk, Spot-billed Toucanet, Scaled Antbird, Grey-hooded Flycatcher, Black-cheeked Gnateater, Pin-tailed Manakin and Red-necked Tanager. A few hardy souls joined me continuing onto the Red Trail where we had some magnificent "clanging" Bare-throated Bellbirds and REGUA's main attraction - the Shrike-like Cotinga, or Elegant Mourner as it's also known. Spot-backed Antshrike, Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher and Unicolored Antwren kept us amused as we made our way back after a long day in the field too.

Restinga at Cabo Frio, 14 September 2010.

Today we revisited the Restinga on the coast at Cabo Frio east of Rio. No Black-backed Tanager for us today (see last week's post here) but the Restinga Antwren, Sooretama Slaty-Antshrike and Hangnest Tody-Tyrants perfomed well today as they did on our previous visit.

Magellanic Penguins were much harder to find in the choppy seas though and once again we found a few corpses on the beach prior to finding this one in a sheltered bay.

Lee Dingain kindly sent me this link explaining a little about the fate of these Magellanic Penguins off south Brazil and you can read more about REGUA on Lee's blog too (click here to see the blog).

Cabo Frio beaches east of Rio de Janeiro, 14 September 2010.

Plenty of birds in the Cabo Frio wetlands today including this Striated Heron, but wader numbers were very impressive with 900+ Lesser Yellowlegs being most noteworthy. Also seen today: Pied-billed Grebes 15, Great Egret 6, Snowy Egret 20, Little Blue Heron 2, Neotropic Cormorant 45, White-cheeked Pintails 55, Grey-headed Gull 40, Kelp Gull 35, South American Tern 25, Cayenne Tern 2, Whimbrel 2, Southern Lapwing 15, Grey Plover 9, Semi-palmated Plovers 12, Black-necked Stilt 25, single Greater Yellowlegs.

Brazilian Teal at REGUA, 14 September 2010.

Back at REGUA we had enough time to stroll to the wetland where 9 Masked Ducks graced the lagoons alongside the usual White-faced Whistling-Ducks (above), Brazilian Teals and various rails and crakes making themselves known (but not seen) from the depths of the reeds.

The Tropical Screech-Owls were posing nicely too at their roost and as dusk closed in Slaty-breasted Wood-Rails and a lone Common Potoo sang from the forest borders below the lodge clearing.

Dusk over REGUA, 14 September 2010.