Throughout September, October and November, our guides Adilei and Leonardo have been busy guiding guests staying at the lodge. The weather has been unusually humid, with lots of rain at times, but this has not stopped us seeing many excellent birds.
Highlights include:
4×4 Track to Casa Anibal: Rusty-margined Guan, Black Hawk-Eagle, Ferruginous Pigmy-Owl, Frilled Coquette, Rufous-capped Motmot, Buff-bellied Puffbird, Channel-billed Toucan, Spot-billed Toucanet, White-bibbed Antbird, Rufous-capped Antthrush, Rufous-capped Spinetail, Eared Pigmy-Tyrant, Bare-throated Bellbird, Eastern Striped Manakin, Long-billed Wren, Turquoise and Rufous-headed Tanagers, Red-legged Honeycreeper and Blue-naped Chlorophonia.
Mammals seen include Brown-throated Three-toed Sloth and Red-rumped Agouti.
Elfin Forest Trail: Blue-bellied Parrot, Least Pigmy-Owl, Saw-billed Hermit, Brazilian Ruby, Salvadori’s Antwren, White-bibbed Antbird, Variegated Antpitta, Slaty Bristlefront, Short-tailed Antthrush, Black-billed Scythebill, Sharp-tailed Streamcreeper, Sharpbill, 2 male Shrike-like Cotingas showing well on territory, Brown, Olive-green and Azure-shouldered Tanagers and Green-chinned Euphonia.
Mammals seen include Brown-throated Three-toed Sloth, Brown Howler Monkey and Brown Capuchin Monkey.
Grey Trail: Rufous-capped Motmot, Spot-backed Antshrike, Salvadori’s Antwren, Scaled Antbird, White-shouldered Fire-eye, Black-cheeked Gnateater, White-throated Woodcreeper and Russet-winged Spadebill.
Lodge Garden: Rusty-margined Guan, Whistling Heron (yes, actually in the garden!), Bicoloured Hawk, Slaty-breasted Wood-Rail (coming to the feeders), Short-tailed Nighthawk, Pauraque, 8 species of hummingbird including Reddish Hermit, White-vented Violet-ear and a female Amethyst Woodstar, Channel-billed Toucan, White, Yellow-eared and Blond-crested Woodpeckers, Ochre-faced and Yellow-lored Tody-Flycatchers, Greenish Elaenia (the first for Rio State still present?), Lemon-chested Greenlet, Curl-crested Jay, Long-billed Wren, Hooded Tanager, up to 7 Red-legged Honeycreepers, White-bellied Seedeater, and Purple-throated Euphonia.
Mammals sighted in the garden include Paca and 2 Crab-eating Foxes.
Waterfall Trail: White-necked Hawk, 2 Variable Screech-Owl, 2 roosting Common Potoo, Reddish Hermit, Rufous-capped Motmot, Buff-bellied and Crescent-chested Puffbirds, Channel-billed Toucan, Spot-billed Toucanet, Unicoloured Antwren, Scaled Antbird, White-shouldered Fire-eye, Black-cheeked Gnateater, Rufous-capped Antthrush, Rufous-breasted Leaftosser, Pale-browed Treehunter, Southern Antpipit, Eye-ringed Tody-Tyrant, Eared Pygmy-Tyrant, Long-tailed Tyrant, Greyish Mourner, Bare-throated Bellbird, Pin-tailed Manakin, White-thighed Swallow, a pair of Eastern Slaty Thrush (new for the reserve) and lots of Turquoise Tanagers. The hummer feeders at the start of the trail have had Saw-billed Hermit, White-chinned Sapphire and Amethyst Woodstar amongst the 8 hummingbird species coming in.
Mammals seen on the trail include Brown-throated Three-toed Sloth and Orange-spined Hairy Dwarf Porcupine.
Wetland and adjacent forest trails: Tatuapa Tinamou, up to 18 Masked Duck, Magnificent Frigatebird, Pinnated Bittern, Whistling Heron, Little Blue Heron (new for the reserve), Rufous-thighed Kite, Black-and-white Hawk-Eagle, Slaty-breasted Wood-Rail, Russet-crowned, Rufous-sided and Ash-throated Crakes, Blackish Rail, Sungrebe, Giant Snipe (showing very well in the evenings), Solitary Sandpiper, South American Tern (new for the reserve), Orange-winged Parrot, Greater Ani, at least 4 Tropical Screech-Owl (including the 2 regular roosting birds), Tawny-browed Owl, Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl, 2 Striped Owl (showing well most nights), 2 Common Potoo, 2 Short-tailed Nighthawk, Scissor-tailed Nightjar, Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift, White-chinned Sapphire, Crescent-chested Puffbird, Blond-crested Woodpecker, Tufted and Sooretama Slaty Antshrikes, Southern Antpipit, Eye-ringed Tody-Tyrant, Small-billed Elaenia (new for the reserve), Vermillion Flycatcher, Red-ruffed Fruitcrow, Lemon-chested Greenlet, Long-billed Wren, Hooded Tanager and Wedge-tailed Grassfinch.