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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
1 comment:
Excellent photos David and from the air.
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