Storm Brewing

 Just walking home from work when this wonderful double rainbow appeared….. just before the heaven’s opened

An hour by the river

 A few images that I had forgotten about from a quiet walk in the Goyt Valley very early summer

Siskin 

Pied Flycatcher

On the woodland walk path was this Common Toad

Juvenile Dipper

Juvenile Grey Wagtail

Grey Wagtail

Pied Wagtail

Manaus and Amazonia NP 2022 - Last day in Amazonia NP, Last day in Brazil

 Bloody hell time has gone quickly, we have reached our last days birding... well half a day at best. We will bird one last time returning to the Tracoa Trail, could we mop up a final few species?

We started off with a nice sunrise.... every morning has a nice sunrise in this part of the world. 

On the riverbank right beneath us were two Pauraque. 

our last Sunrise in Itaituba while down in the foreground two Paraque lay on the riverbank

We boarded the bus and for once didn't have any birds on the roadside as we traveled. Just as we entered the trail we heard and saw a number of Black-fronted  Nunbirds, it took a while to see anything else until we heard and called in a Natterers-slaty Antshrike. The key species on this trail was Cryptic Forest-falcon, Pablo regularly tried to call one in without success although we did get cracking views of its cousin the Barred Forest-falcon, a new one for the trip.

It remained slow going with just a few sightings here and there over the course of the walk along the trail. Amazonian Antshrike was a new species for the trip but not a life bird for me but it showed very well this morning, excellent. You cant walk a trail without seeing a Woodcreeper , we got two species now, Striped Woodcreeper and the glorious Long-billed Woodcreeper.  

Striped Woodcreeper

Three nice species of what I call skulkers gave up good views, firstly a Band-tailed Antbird, a lifer too.... very happy even though its not the best looking of Antbirds. Then a glorious Glossy Antshrike, yes a lifer and an endemic species, and a Dot-winged Antwren. A pretty good haul for a quiet morning. 

me being dwarfed by these buttress roots

We were still missing the Cryptic Forest-falcon and continued to try to call one in as we headed back on ourselves along the trail and retried (where we had tried a quick tape call this morning) for Hauxwells Thrush. Yes we got it.... about thirty times as it flew left, right, up, across and down, but never stopping long enough to enjoy more than its flypasts. We found, surprisingly our first Black-eared Fairy of the trip, a pair of Moustached Wrens gave incredibly good views before we put in a concerted effort to see a calling Rose-breasted Chat. Try as I might I just couldn't get anything more than leaf movement and the call so unfortunately a missed one for me. While we were tracking it down I did get another life bird just over my shoulder as a Long-tailed Hermit hovered over a flowing bush not ten foot away from me.

As we left the trail Nick suggested to Pablo that we may as well try to get another sighting of the Amazonian Antpitta. Pablo said it was maybe possible but not guaranteed at this time of the day. We went to "the spot" and put up the Camo blind. It took a while... long enough for a Long-billed Gnatwren to come across at eye-level and after some very hard work and very low level "flat on our stomach" spotting, we got the view of it perched low low low down through many tangles and branches but for the second time in a few days we saw a very very good bird. A nice end to forest trail birding in the Amazon. 

Morpho sp butterfly unfortunately resting with its wings closed

We returned to the lodge for lunch, and packed the bus. the final bird as we left was the abundant Swallow-winged Puffbird.

We traveled back the hour or so to Itaituba Airport where we had a private air conditioned waiting room for our chartered plane. Pablo said that it would be more reliable that the unreliable domestic flight.... good job this one was only the hour late then.  

our chartered plane to Manaus

Bart and Pablo

The flight over the national park and Amazon forest was quite incredible. It is good to know that some of it is really unspoiled. The incredible amount of water in and around the Amazon River was ...... well, just incredible.

For Ian..... A great view over Manaus Stadium. 

We arrived back at Ibis airport Hotel in Manaus (it was like a home from home, I think this was our fourth visit and they served the best beer, Antartica). After diner we said goodbyes to Bart, Nick and Pablo. David, Jeff and myself needed sleep before we headed to the airport at stupid o'clock just after 01:00am. David set off for North America while we set off for our transfer to Sao Paulo and then home.

We managed two last birds to add to the trip list while at the airport with Rufous Hornero and Chalk-browed Mockingbird.

looking through the window, Rufous Hornero

desperate for the last picture through the aiport window, Chalk-browed Mockingbird

This was my first experience of birding with a large group as I have always taken a private tour with Jeff. I have to say it worked very well, most importantly the team was excellent with like minded bird watchers who were fun to be with. Thank You everyone.

Manaus and Amazonia NP 2022 - Last full day to mop up

 This morning we would head out onto the trail Picarreira. The first target was Green-winged Trumpeter and it was calling very close to the beginning of the trail. Unfortunately only a couple of us got onto it, I certainly wasn't one of them. We were on a narrow part of the track in very very low light and strung out too far from the tape , Pablo and Gilberto taped it very close in but it stopped coming this way and moved off.... big miss, and I think if we had been bunched closer we may all have got  glimpse.... who knows. 

We headed further into the trail and the light soon picked up enough to start getting onto some of the movement around us. The endemic Hoffmans Woodcreeper at last was seen for the first and last time and an Elegant Woodcreeper was also seen. We got onto a Cinereous Antshrike and another Long-winged Antwren before we heard and saw high up a perched Collared Puffbird which just wouldn't turn round for a pose, 

Collared Puffbird

It had been a tough few hours and we came to an open area of the forest that overlooked a small valley. It was a nice resting place too, it also offered a little more bird life here. Two Yellow-tufted Woodpeckers shared a dead tree while a Golden-green Woodpecker could be seen way across the valley. In the sky above the valley a few Swallow-tailed Kites and a Plumbeous Kite soared high, while I at last got great views of Lafresnayes Woodcreeper that I missed on multiple occasions during the last 10 days, the last bird on the trail was a Screaming Phia. We came off the trail onto the highway and Pablo and myself picked up a Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift that flew through, one of those very lucky sightings, in the right place at the right time.... to be fare I had missed a few species at the back on a number of occasions. 

Offerings to the gods?? Indigenous folks have been here apparently

 

fascinating vines.... when the birding is tough enjoy the location

We drove to a bridge with the hope of finding a Grey-chested Greenlet, a known spot, not this morning as we didnt get any response from the tape, although we picked up some very good species here and a load of lifers for myself. 

Tough mornings birding

So at the bridge Pablo played the tape for the Grey-chested Greenlet while we easily got onto a number of other species. Noisy Bare-necked Fruitcrows, eight in total and a lifer for me flew across to a large tree, didn't stay too long and moved again, eventually moving out of sight but still in earshot. Masked Tityra, Epaulete Oriole, Social Flycatcher were all easy pickings. Then for the second day running I came into my own and spotted yet another female Fiery-tailed Awlbill, perched again. It wasn't long before it flew very close to us and fed in a couple of flowering bushes, fantastic to get two sightings in a few days.. 

Before we moved I was able to bag a couple of fantastic lifers in quick succession. Firstly a Pied Puffbird sat out in the open on a snag while a noisy Rufous-bellied Euphonia flew even closer. 

It was time to return to the lodge, this afternoon we would be sailing across the river to a number of small islands.

Social Flycatcher

Fiery-tailed Awlbill

We returned to Pousada Portal for lunch and a general chill out. A calling Roadside Hawk sat on top of a tall tree and a Green Kingfisher was by the pool, outside my room were a few Silver-beaked Tanagers.

Spreading the word into the Amazon.....Macclesfield FC

yes its me on the Rio Tapajos

something more normal for a Amazon garden.... Silver-beaked Tanager

this Venezuelan Snub-nosed Frog lived in our bathroom and eventually decided to attack me this afternoon in the shower when it jumped on my back and scared the daylights out of me...

This afternoons plans are to take a small motorboat across the river Tapajos and visit a few of the many islands, hoping to pick up some missed and new species.

This afternoons transport awaits 

The first birds on the first island were a pair of Blackish-grey Antshrikes which are a sub species and different to the ones around Manaus, one to keep an eye on from my armchair in the future. A Black-fronted Nunbird, Lesser Kiskadee and our second sighting of a Flame-crowned Mankin. Not a bad list for a small island. However we wernt finished as we were trying for a Grey-chested Greenlet. After a bit of coaxing we got a pair up in the canopy of the tallest tree, one eventually flew quite near to give us all far better views, although it was a bit flighty. 

Still not finished we added Striped Woodcreeper, Amazonian Streaked Antwren both in the same tree, as well as a Buff-throated Saltator. We visited another island but in complete contrast to the last, it was birdless.

Out on the river were a few Terns both Large Billed terns and some distant Yellow billed terns as well as a few Black Skimmers. 

after searching on one of the many islands for rare or special species

Pablo and Gilberto calling in a pair of Flame-crowned Manakins

We would now spend some time on an island made up mostly of a large deep sandbank. This was in search of, well actually waiting for Sand-colored Nighthawks. Sometime later Bart, David and Nick went off with Gilberto and the boat driver to get closer views of the Yellow-billed Terns, while Jeff, Pablo and myself waited for the returning Nighthawks. In amongst the thousands of Hirundines that were hawking over the river we managed a brilliant and unexpected sight of a passing Southern Martin, very rare in this area..... Pablo was surprised and happy. A Pink River Dolphin passed in front of us just about showing itself as its back surfaced every now and again. 

heading to the Nighthawk island

an unexpected Southern Martin

The guys returned on the boat to alert us that the Sand-colored Nighthawks had found a new roosting spot, a small mangrove type island in the middle of the river, we boarded and set off to get a last look before sundown. As we approached there were probably a dozen or more perched up, most flew to the back of the vegetation but a few stayed a while longer for good views. Incredible numbers of mostly Grey-breasted Martins and with some Brown-chested Martins mixed in were hawking, feeding and perched in numerous trees.... a brilliant spectacle.

the mangrove type island, this evenings roosting spot for a dozen or more Sand-colored Nighthawks

Sun and shade, Sand-colored Nighthawks

A Martin spectacle

Grey-breasted Martins and a few Brown-chested Martins

heading back to Portal Pousada 

We had just enough light for a spot of garden birding, although I think most of us now had a chilled beer in hand when Nick heard a Tropical Screech-Owl calling behind the bedrooms, we went off in tearch and with the tape but all we did was alert five Speckled Chachalaca, the first ones of the tour....  a few Lesser Nighthawks flew over some bushes towards us as the light faded and the Owls continued to call kept a Glittering-bellied Emerald and a few Turquoise Tanagers alert in almost darkness, a Yellow-headed Caracara flew over with what looked like a fish..... could it be our supper. 

Speckled Chachalaca not wanting to be seen

Of course we enjoyed the evening meal and a few beers and cocktails and went in search of the Tropical Screech-Owl, it took 20 minutes to finally call on in to the spotlight, a nice end to the day.

Tomorrow will be our last morning before we head back to Manaus..... Gutted 

Manaus and Amazonia NP 2022 - Many many Birds and a long drive averted.

 Breakfast, coffee and time to watch a sunrise from a viewing platform over looking the Rio Tapajos.

Early morning over the Tapajos 

early sunrise video of the team

We still had plenty of targets to get, however there is just no way that it could live upto yesterdays haul of incredible birds..... so who is for a minibus breakdown this morning?

We drove to the Gameleira trail and totted up the species in quick time, we started off with yet more Olive Oropendolas and our seemingly regular earlybird species a White-crested Guan and after yet another sighting of Amazonian Trogan, where we were very happy to get better views this morning. 

Of course early morning poor forest light just wouldn't be the same without a load of skulkers making life difficult. Dot-winged Antwren and Rufous-rumped foilage-gleaner were both lifers, but the Common scale-backed Antbird wasn't. A Yellow-throated Woodpecker broke up the Antbird fest but quickly backing up the skulkers were even more, this time Xingu scale-backed Antbird that needed a little chasing around to finally get some acceptable views. Plain-throated Antbird and one of the less impressive Antshrikes a Saturnine Antshrike. Then we hit the jackpot.

Walking part of the trail Pablo and Gilberto heard a flock of Golden Parakeets, they were very close, in actual fact they could have just flown on-by and out of reach, but they had landed in a patch of forest to our left. We had to creep quietly and slowly through the forest until Gilberto got us all virtually under the tree that they were in. We had all sorts of dense foliage in the way but you could get your bins into a gap and get cracking views of them. We counted eight in this flock. A little maneuvering either side a few feet would get a different view of another bird, there were not huge viewing windows in the canopy buy small ones that with some patience we were all able to see absolutely stunning views. Nick and myself were able to fire off dozens of shots, how many would be good..... haha about 4, I didn't care, what an experience, for me upto now the sighting and moment of the trip. 

The back story to this find was that as time and days ran out, and if we still hadn't found a roaming flock of Golden Parakeet there was a known roost site but we would have had to drive well over 100 kms to get there, and of course get back in the dark, a whole chunk of the day for one species. Needless to say we were all chuffed that we didn't have the full day driving, but our driver was ecstatic as he basically got a day off.

somehow managed to get three in one shot

and again

who you lookin at?

 roll the tape for the Golden Parakeet

No explanation needed just admire the birds (if not the images!)

Again after half an hour or so we had to pull ourselves away as we had further to walk and more species to find. Three Red-necked Aracaris were seen along with a Chestnut Woodpecker. We had just started to descend a rather steep hill when a Rufous Motmot called just off track but back up at the start of the descent, most of us had to climb back to the top, "it had better be worth it".....  it was.

Red-necked Aracari

Rufous Motmot

 as always in forest birding you get the smallest window of opportunity to either get the bins on it or even harder get a good shot

Back on the steep descent and with the Rufous Motmot in the bag we didn't have to strain too much too get on the only Tapaculo species of the area. A brilliant Rusty-belted Tapaculo wandered along the forest floor for a good few minutes, even coming to the trail edge and catching a little leaking sunlight before wandering off out of site, just brilliant. A 100 meters further on Pablo called in a beautiful Snow Capped Manakin that foraged in mid canopy, an exceptional bird, one of my trip favorites for sure. We finished the trail with a host of Antbirds, which seem to always come in flurries. Long-winged Antwren posed at eye-level for a while, I even managed a few shots, Cinereous Antshrike, White-flanked Antbird and another endemic Spixs warbling Antbird, just that haul of Antbirds alone is quite fantastic... what a morning.

We eventually came out of the forest and ended back at the Rangers lodge area that we had made a visit to yesterday. The White-necked Jacobin was perched on the exact same snag as yesterday, while a  few Yellow-rumped Caciques, Swallow-winged Puffbirds and a Oliveaceous Woodcreeper flew around the area.

heading back up the hill to find Rufous Motmot

The fruiting tree that was extremely popular yesterday was very quiet today, what a difference a day makes. Variegated Flycatcher, Snetlages Tody-flycatcher, probably the same Ochre-bellied Flycatcher as yesterday were seen while we tried for the best part of 45 minutes to call in a Fiery-tailed Awlbill. It paid off. I noticed something fly in to a tree just around the corner and thought to best check it out and immediately saw the clear markings of a female Fiery-tailed Awlbill, calling the troops over quickly we all got prolonged views above our heads, another difficult species, beer at lunchtime? you bet. 

The distinctive female Fiery-tailed Awlbill 

The last few days have been incredible, this morning was equally so. We drove back to Portal Pousada for a chilled beer and another fantastic lunch. Today was a public holiday so we found the lodge to busy with day tippers who come for a bit of piece and quiet from the city or in the right season water sports on the Rio Tapajos. I had absolutely no intention of birding the garden again, so after completing a spot of washing and a short nap it was time to meet for this afternoons ride on the Trans Amazonian Highway. 

As it happened this afternoons target meant that we would spend the whole afternoon staking out a couple of fruiting trees in the hope of our target White-tailed Cotinga. On a large bank at the side of the highway we set up watch over two trees directly opposite. The only downside of this birding was the dust. Once every five minute or so either a truck or a 4x4 pick-up would pass at great speed throwing a whole orange dust cloud into the air (we did our best to cover up Covid style), the dust would take a minute to gradually disperse. It didn't stop the steady trickle of species to the two trees. 

 

Olive Oropendola and a Squirrel Cuckoo would be followed by two Red-fan Parrot flyovers, (good for Nick as he had missed them at the Manaus Musa Tower). A Brown-chested Barbet briefly visited as did a Red-headed Manakin, we were then entertained by a Crimson-crested Woodpecker which stuck around for a while. During this time we had quite a few Parrots coming in on and off for an hour, mostly Blue-headed Parrots, and a few fantastic Sanatrem Parakeets, a small flock of Scarlet Macaws flew over as did a Southern Meally Parrot.

my only shot and a disappointing one of a  lovely species, the Santarem Parakeet

Blue-headed Parrot

Crimson-crested Woodpecker

The final flurry of activity were a Channel-billed Toucan and five Black-necked Aracari, Goulds Toucanet, Spangled Cotinga and a Strong-billed Woodcreeper..... but no White-tailed Cotinga.   

This was a big dip upto now, we have a full day tomorrow to try for one last time 

It was now dark and the plan was to have a final days fling and try for a few Owls on the way back to our lodge. We took a trail and walked a hundred yards and very quickly got a response from a  Southern Tawny-bellied Screech-Owl fantastic a lifer, we walked even further into the trail keeping the spot lights well down and played the tape for Crested Owl we tried a few times over a few hundred meters but got no responses at all. At least we got the Southern Tawny-bellied Screech-Owl.

It was certainly time to shower and retire to the restaurant for a few hours with beer and good food

Southern Tawny-bellied Screech-Owl