Birds fae REGUA (1 Viewer)

I had quite an entertaining weekend, although some of this entertainment involved spending hours being bitten by mosquitos whilst trying and failing to see birds. It's an interesting experience in some ways, but as John Peel once said, being beaten up's interesting.

The first forlorn quest was to try to see Uniform Crake. I'd previously been informed that this was the hardest bird to see in South America, but was given some inspiration, and a few tips, by Scott Olmstead who actually managed to see one here on Wednesday morning (when I was busy catching up on notes). I followed the instructions to the letter, but the crakes didn't seem too impressed. The battle will be rejoined at a later stage. I saw a huge, almost caiman sized iguana while I was waiting though.

On Saturday I had a good dusk walk around the wetlands, when I recorded one of Regua's many Pauraques. I often wonder if there are numerous folk songs in Latin America that cite Pauraques in much the same way and with the same frequency as North American folk songs cite Whippoorwills. It's that kind of sound. I also managed some good flight views of a Giant Snipe, which gave a quick whistle as it sailed off down the valley.

On Sunday I went for a walk up the Waterfall Trail, and ended up spending all day there. The highlight was having good views of Slaty Bristlefront in the bamboo. It wasn't singing too much, and I only managed to record one quick burst of song. Compare and contrast with the recording of Stresemann's Bristlefront from earlier in the thread. Other good birds along the trail were Black-throated Trogon, Olive-green Tanager and a small group of Red-legged Honeycreepers. A real highlight was seeing Blue Manakins display. A real 'Attenborough moment'. I think this cropped up on 'The Life of Birds' but seeing it going on in front of you is something else. There was a bit at the end where all the males sort of bowed down, perhaps hoping for a positive response from the female. Sad to say, it wasn't forthcoming. I think they are a little crazy though.

I also managed to spend three hours trying to see a bird I could hear singing. And I didn't see it. I got lots of recordings though! It turned out to be a Spot-backed Antshrike. I was thinking it sounded like an antthrush though, and so I kept looking on the ground for it. Plus, the song is very hard to locate, even when it's quite close. That's my excuse anyway. I will return, battle-scarred but wiser.

Some sounds for you:
1. The only response I had from Uniform Crake.
2. A bit of Pauraque chorus or what Brazilians like to sing about when their woman gone left them. Possibly.
3. A nice bit of prime Bristlefront. I like a bit of Bristlefront.
4. Those crazy guys, the Blue Manakins. Whatever will they think of next.

Hi Andrew,

Really enjoying your thread back here in soaking wet UK. Thanks for the tips on some of the birds from REGUA by the way.

Colin

Birds you cannot see

The Handsome Family, a fine ensemble, once wrote a song called "Birds you cannot see", a tune that's been on my mind this week. To be sure, I have seen some birds. But it's the one's I haven't seen. As Professor of Listening I enjoy a good listen of course, but seeing has its virtues too, I find.

For three days I stayed along the valley at Casa Pesquisa and was able to spend plenty of time on the beautiful Waterfall Trail. On Tuesday it wasn't quite so beautiful, being all a bit misty and wet. The best birds were near the waterfall itself. As I sat by the torrent, having my piece, I heard three shrill whistles. Looking up, a large raptor was perched in the tallest tree: an excellent Mantled Hawk. It soon flew off showing a short white tail. I returned down the hill as the rain set in and soon heard an unfamiliar nasal call. It was one of the specialities of the trail, a Russet-winged Spadebill, which is a bird that's pretty hard to see almost anywhere. On my return, the hummingbird feeders at Casa Pesquisa were busy, with a Black Jacobin being continually chased off by Swallow-tailed Hummingbirds and a Saw-billed Hermit almost flying in to me on several occasions.

Wednesday was the big walk, up the Waterfall Trail and then onto the Red Trail, which leads up to the elfin forest at the top of the hill. This was the day of unseen birds. There was a bit of activity on the Waterfall Trail, but mostly the same birds I'd been seeing on previous days. Things started getting a bit more interesting on the Red Trail. First up were some chunky Black-throated Grosbeaks. Then a few birds I did manage to see, but not very well. A pair of Ruddy Quail Doves perched for a second on a horizontal branch before disappearing into the forest and then a Shrike-like Cotinga gave a few shrill calls, flew over and vanished.

The best spot for birds, or at least for hearing them, was the bamboo thicket just below the top. Bamboo is seeding in this area at the moment, which means it's usually thick with birds. Soon I was greeted by the strange sound of Uniform Finches, which are seeding bamboo specialists. There were some other worthwhile birds: Saffron and Spot-billed Toucanets, Long-tailed Tyrants, Plain and Maroon-bellied Parakeets, White-bibbed Antbird, Green-barred Woodpecker and White-throated Woodcreepers. Most weren't after the seed, but seemed to be attracted into the area by all the other activity. There were plenty of tanagers too, including a new bird for me that I actually managed some good views of: Brown Tanager. Although these aren't the most colourful members of their family, I was rather impressed with their rufous tones and chunky bills.

And then there were the other birds...

Just below the bamboo I heard for some time a distinctive three-note call that I'm fairly sure was a Least Pygmy Owl. Later in the day I think I heard another one lower down. Neither seemed interested in coming closer and showing themselves. Bamboo is good for birds, but if the birds are right in the middle of it, they don't make for easy viewing. I had quick glimpses of the Slaty Bristlefront that sang its head off just feet away. I never quite glimpsed the duetting pair of Tufted Antshrikes that sometimes seemed within touching distance. I've seen both before, so wasn't too worried though. More troubling was the Spotted Bamboowren that gave its persistent call from well within the densest branches, never coming close. I was hearing the abrupt crescendo of Short-tailed Antthrush from almost every stretch of the trail but usually in the distance. One came close but stayed within the bamboo. Then I heard the low hooting of a Variegated Antpitta, just as the light was beginning to fade. As I wanted to get a little way down the hill before it got dark, I decided not to make too much of an effort with that notoriously hard species. So, good birds, 'but elusive', as they say on Birdline.

On Thursday the Waterfall Trail was rather quiet, so I explored the Grey Trail later in the day. It was interesting, with some good forest. The bird highlight was the almost sing-a-long song of a White-necked Thrush, which, in an unusual move, showed reasonably well. Harder to see were a couple of big iguanas that soon dashed off, scattering the leaf litter in their wake.

Today I was back around the wetlands, and Mission Crake was in full effect. I was up early in the morning and had a go at encouraging Ash-throated Crake into the open. To my surprise it worked rather well, and I managed to see both male and female. Despite some of the philosophical stuff I occasionally write elsewhere, I had splendid views of the male giving the trilling part of the duet. So, success with crakes.

But, just to keep me grounded, in the afternoon I was birding the dry grassy areas around the Blue Trail. I speculatively played a bit of Russet-crowned Crake, which I'd heard distantly in the same area a few weeks previously. A little surprisingly, a pair were soon calling back from close by. Soon they were just metres away but in dense grass. I could actually hear them moving about sometimes, but they refused to come to the edge of the grass. I concentrated on a slightly more open patch, hoping they would walk through that, but then, rather to my amazement, I heard them calling from the other side of the path. It's amazing what they get up to when your back is turned. In the end I felt a bit like I was the one being scrutinised and manipulated. The struggle continues, although I did get some nice recordings.

Some birds you can hear, but can't see:
1. Short-tailed Antthrush. Antthrushes really do have amazing songs.
2. Spotted Bamboowren. The steady 'wud-wud-wud' call. There's a nice supporting cast of Uniform Finch, Slaty Bristlefront and Short-tailed Antthrush.
3. Variegated Antpitta. I wonder if worms will work with them.
4. Russet-crowned Crake. Maintaining standards in elusiveness for crakes everywhere.

Don't know why there's no sun up in the sky

This morning I was greeted, noisily, by the first thunderstorm since I've been here. It proved to be a rain-interrupted day, thwarting my initial plans to return to the Red Trail. Instead I had a much lighter day around the Nursery Trail and the Wetlands. There was quite a bit of acitivity along the former, including an obliging if quiet pair of Sooretama Slaty-antshrikes. The highlight was an excellent Ochre-faced Tody-flycatcher, which provided probably the best views I've ever had of this attractive bird. It's one of those that I always seem to have seen in a blaze of other activity so I've not always had time for a good look. They're a particularly unusual mix of colours, blue-grey on the nape and crown, peachy-ochre on the face and a lovely bronzy green on the upperparts. This one gave the funny squidgy call quite often too. It's surprising to see one so low down, as they're normally a mid-to-high elevation bird, but there seems to have been one around the Lodge for a few days now.

My rematch with Russet-crowned Crake was postponed by another downpour, but crakes and rails were a recurring theme in the afternoon. Whilst looking through a flock of seedeaters in a grassy field, to my surprise, I noticed an Ash-throated Crake creeping through the vegetation. Like a lot of birds here, once you see one, you start seeing them all the time. Later I had very good views of a Blackish Rail in the corner of the wetland but missed a pair of Rufous-sided Crakes seen by others.

The forecast is pretty damp for the next few days, so I may be staying a bit closer to home.

Rain: I don't mind

We're onto the third day running of pretty heavy rain here at Regua, and it looks like it might carry on for another day or two yet. It doesn't do rain by halves around here.

Both the last two mornings were relatively dry, so I was still able to go out. I had an interesting time yesterday playing a few of the recordings I made last week to Adilei. He was able to confirm my suspicions that I had recorded a Least Pygmy Owl on the Red Trail. I actually heard two different birds there as well: the one in the recording did mostly three notes and another bird heard much lower down the trail did two. Adilei was also able to confirm that I had 'accidentally' recorded a Russet-winged Spadebill. By 'accidentally' I mean that I thought it was something else (hey, I didn't see it!). Still, I'm pleased to get a decent recording of this tricky species.

The two of us had a walk around the Nursery and Wetland Trails, together with Lee Dingain, who I met here two years ago. Adilei found a Pauraque's nest on the side of the trail, with two orangey-pink eggs. Later he found a female White-bearded Manakin in a small cup nest suspended a short distance above the ground. Around the wetlands I had my best views yet of White-bellied Seedeater, including a chunky, pink-billed male. A Crane Hawk, only my second ever, was perched in a low tree. They have really small heads for a large raptor.

This morning I went by a similar route. I had another go at trying to see Russet-crowned Crake and sort of did, but not what even the most fervent lister would describe as tickable. And as you all know, I'm not a fervent lister. What I saw was two small, compact, dark brown birds fly very low and very swiftly across the path. Interesting tactic. I'd have hoped for a slow walk myself but they had other ideas.

In other news, the Masked Water Tyrants that nest just by the office where I type this, have fledged three young today. I was surprised to see a pair of Black Jacobins in my garden, probably the lowest altitude I've ever seen them at. Maybe the bad weather has forced these smart hummers from the hills.

Here's a few recordings:
1. The Least Pygmy Owl. I guess if they were people we'd be calling them the smallest small person.
2. The plaintive call of Russet-winged Spadebill, confidently identified by me on site. As something completely different.
3. A bit of White-necked Thrush from last week. I keep thinking it sounds like a sea shanty but maybe I'm just pining for the salt air of Torry.
4. A Masked Yellowthroat singing by the tower, with a nice background of other marshland birds.
5. Today I was recording Channel-billed Toucans near the wetlands (the 'rusty gate' sound) when a pair of Boat-billed Flycatchers started laying into them. You can listen to some of what happened here.

Naming and shaming the illicit snipe flusher

Well, the sun finally came out today although there was still rain till well into the afternoon. Yesterday we only had light drizzle most of the time so it really wasn't that bad. The bad weather has brought in a few birds. Yesterday a pair of Crane Hawks were in trees by the lodge. Today some visitors found a reserve first, a rather beleagured looking South American Tern that swam about forlornly amongst the water weeds.

The past two evenings we've been out on the wetlands looking for night birds. Both evenings we've had great views of a very dark looking Barn Owl and a group of young Striped Owls that have been calling frequently. The shrill sound reminds me a bit of the begging call of the closely relate Long-eared Owl. Whilst we were watching the Barn Owl it put up a Giant Snipe from the marshes, which gave some reasonable flight views. Although the flush wasn't organised and was on private land, I don't think the Barn Owl is likely to be pilloried on Birdforum for its irresponsible actions. I had brief views of a couple more tonight, and they were calling quite frequently from down the valley.

The Quest for the Phantom Four

A couple of weeks ago I stayed down the road at Casa Pesquisa for a few days and encountered "The Phantom Four", namely Short-tailed Antthrush, Spotted Bamboowren, Variegated Antpitta and Least Pygmy Owl. These four birds retain a Garbo-like mystique as a result of their reticence in being seen. This week I returned to Casa Pesquisa and the Red Trail, the home of the Phantom Four.

Tuesday began breezy but sunny and the Waterfall Trail was relatively quiet. I did manage a reassuring new bird when I had good views of a pair of Variegated Flycatchers in the scrubby clearing half way up the trail. These aren't particularly rare but are seasonal visitors that have only recently arrived.

The Red Trail was much better. On previous visits I've found the very good looking primary forest on the way up to the top to be fairly quiet, but this week it really excelled. I soon heard a Shrike-like Cotinga and so I began to do a very bad imitation of its whistling call. Much to my surprise one was soon sitting right in front of me. Clearly these birds are easily fooled. A highlight was found, not for the last time this week, in a flock of Red-crowned Ant-tanagers and foliage-gleaners. A bird I've spent hours trying to see on this trip without success is Spot-backed Antshrike. They're incredibly hard to catch sight of when they're singing but I had very good views of one giving some peculiar shrill and nasal calls as it moved about in the flock. A Three-toed Sloth was hanging from a slender bough that barely looked as if it could take its weight. Another couple of elusive species appeared briefly in the canopy. First up was an immaculate Yellow-fronted Woodpecker, soon followed by a strange looking pair of Black-tailed Tityras. I was to get better views of both species later in the day.

Up in the bamboo thicket near the top of the trail things were really busy. A glossy black male White-shouldered Fire-eye jinked its way through the understory, whilst the trees above the thicket were full of Long-tailed Tyrants, Brassy-breasted Tanagers and Black-throated Grosbeaks. Spotted Bamboowren was soon encouraged into calling and occasionally came in very close but it seemed to know when it might be in a position to get seen, and always stayed just out of reach. More cooperative was the very vocal Slaty Bristlefront. First I watched it fidgeting about in the undergrowth but then it came right out onto the trail and scampered across, just a couple of metres away. Later I watched it randomly scuttling along the edge of the path. A Black-billed Scythebill also appeared, giving its less than beautiful grating song. I never turn down views of a Scythebill though. I had a definitely feeling there was other stuff 'in there'. A Brown Tinamou sang from somewhere not too far away and I briefly saw and heard what I suspect was a Spot-winged Woodquail.

Soon it was beginning to get dark and light rain started to fall, so I headed back down the hill. At one point I was surprised by three very loud, sharp notes as two parrots flew up into a tree. I could see one silhouetted against the sky, showing a long, square-ended tail. From this and their call I knew I was looking at Blue-bellied Parrots but I'd have liked a better view. A Least Pygmy Owl called from the gloom.

On Wednesday I still didn't feel completely exhausted so set off on the long climb once again. Tuesday was good but Wednesday, it turned out, was exceptional. I didn't delay too long on the Waterfall Trail, although there were some decent flocks about and I was pleased to see a pair of Blue-naped Chlorophonias carrying nesting material near the waterfall. After climbing a series of switchbacks, the Red Trail levels out as it passes through some fine forest. Here I found an excellent flock containing the usual Red-crowned Ant-tanagers, Black-capped, White-eyed and Buff-fronted Foliage-gleaners, Streak-capped Antwren and Azure-shouldered Tanager. Amongst them I found a small antwren that I initially assumed was a male Unicoloured. It was the same sort of pale grey colour but seemed to show a more extensive black throat. Then I noticed that it had prominent black and white barring on the coverts and very short tail. Rather splendidly this was the very scarce Salvadori's Antwren, a bird I suspected I'd missed my chance of seeing.

I continued along the trail, and was frustrated to spook two large owls from their roost. Possibly Tawny-browed but maybe something more unusual. Then I heard a thin trilling song that I initially assumed was a Tropical Parula but I noticed that it was coming from an area of seeding bamboo. Something clicked; it was a Temminck's Seedeater. Incidentally, that bloke Temminck certainly got around. He seems to have birds named after him on every continent. I went in to investigate but was frustrated not to see the bird making the sound. Eventually two birds flitted into some bamboo and I noticed that they were chunky-billed female seedeaters. The male showed no such enthusiasm for revealing himself. So, I certainly saw Temminck's Seedeater but I'd have liked to have seen the more distinctive male.

The time I spent looking was certainly time well spent though, because otherwise I wouldn't have enjoyed the best ten minutes I've ever had at Regua. First up were a nice pair of Azure-shouldered Tanagers eating berries in a tree. Another bird joined them, a very fine Sharpbill. My viewing was disturbed as a loud crashing came from the trees. Something big. Then clambering through the branches was a large, gingery and very furry looking animal with a thick, muscular tail. It was a Muriqui, or Woolly Spider Monkey if you prefer, South America's largest primate and one of its rarest with perhaps fewer than a thousand left. I watched it for a couple of minutes before it disappeared off through the trees. The action wasn't finished. Above me some other passerines were finding seeds to eat. One was a beautiful, almost luminous Yellow-green Grosbeak, and soon it was joined by a few more, as well as an excellent Brown Tanager.

I was almost breathless at this stage, but continued on up the trail. I passed a small troop of Brown Capuchin Monkeys, which looked rather tiny and fragile after the Muriqui. Then, not too far away, I heard a persistent three note call: a Least Pygmy Owl. I clambered through the understory to try to get a view but initially couldn't see anything. Then up popped the owl into the canopy of a dead tree where it sat and sang for several minutes. All the time it was mobbed by hummingbirds, which barely looked smaller than this tiny owl. One of the Phantom Four had finally revealed itself.

The bamboo thicket actually turned out to be rather quiet today. Variegated Antpitta and Short-tailed Antthrush called but always from a distance. Spotted Bamboowren called a couple of times, but was even less enthusiastic than usual about coming closer. A pair of Cliff Flycatchers sallied from the treetops and a Green-winged Saltator showed briefly in the bamboo. In the exquisite elfin forest at the top of the trail I had great views of a Versicoloured Emerald and watched Ashy-tailed and Grey-rumped Swifts gliding at eye-level as they flew past the mountains.

I wanted to walk the whole trail today so continued on down the other side of the hill. Initially the birds were quiet but I again had excellent views of a Yellow-green Grosbeak as it sang loudly. Another bird that called noisily was harder to see but eventually revealed itself as a Greenish Schiffornis, which was actually more brown than green.

The day could then have taken a turn for the worse. As I strode purposefully along I noticed a small brown coil where I was about to put my foot. Swerving to one side I got past but I knew this was a 'bad boy'. The snake was perhaps less than a metre long and slender but its pointed head revealed it was rather sinister. It sat totally impassive but I wasn't going to get too close. Further investigation has suggested it was a Jararaca, a relative of the Fer de Lance and not something to be trifled with.

As the day drew to a close a pair of Dusky-legged Guans flew noisly to roost along the Lost Trail. I returned very satisfied but certainly felt the effects of the walking the next day. I'd only seen one of the Phantom Four, but there was so much else.

A few recordings:
1. The rising song of a Black-cheeked Gnateater, recorded on the Waterfall Trail.
2. This one fades in, as Peel used to say: a Brown Tinamou expresses itself.
3. The sprightly tune of Greenish Schiffornis.
4. The fizzing trill of Temminck's Seedeater.
5. The rasping song of Yellow-green Grosbeak.

A few other bits and pieces, and even some pictures especially for Dr G.

1. The Least Pygmy Owl, being hammered by a hummingbird as it sings. And being seen by me!
2. One of the local Tropical Screech Owls, which can be seen most days in the trees by the office. This is the red one but the other is a bit greyer.
3. The assumed Jararaca. Boys like you are bad through and through.
4 and 5. Another snake from the Waterfall Trail on Thursday. This one doesn't look quite as much of a bad boy as the Jararaca, but I reckon it still might be a bit naughty. Anyone know what it is?

I'm so glad I found this thread Andrew and thanks for taking the time to put it together. I have alot of catching-up to do here
... ps Wow on the Plovercrest !

The dénouement

Well, it’s a bit weird I know, but I seem to be back in Scotland now. But I did encounter a few more birds at Regua. In fact rather a lot. My last couple of days were actually spent in the company of BF’s own martinf and I’ll leave him to describe most of it, but I’ll add a few personal highlights.

Last Saturday, I managed a very fine new bird just as I stepped out the door of my house. A quick movement caught my eye, as a small raptor flew into a tall tree. I was delighted to see it was a Barred Forest Falcon and it perched very conducively for a couple of minutes.

On Sunday afternoon, Martin and I spent a lot of time getting wet in the wetlands, rather appropriately. In between the downpours I did get fleeting but okay views of a surprise Russet-crowned Crake, which was scuttling between piles of brush in an area of recently mown vegetation. A bird I thought I’d missed my chance of seeing, and in a place I didn’t expect to see it.

On Monday morning, three Curl-crested Jays flew over the courtyard, presumably originating near the lodge. Apparently these birds have occasionally been appearing in the garden. We then travelled to an area of forest near Matumbo, which I’d not visited before. The species I was particularly hoping to see here was Golden-rumped Euphonia, a pair of which had been found by Adilei a couple of weeks previously. We managed very good views of the pair collecting nesting material. They really are fantastic looking birds, the male with a beautiful mix of pale and dark blue and bright golden yellow. There was an excellent supporting cast of birds at this site too, including a splendid White-necked Hawk that perched low next to the track, and a couple of ever engaging Frilled Coquettes.

Monday afternoon was spent showing Martin around the wetlands and forests near the lodge and this was really productive, with the forests livelier than I expected. Lots of first views of birds for Martin and last views of birds for me. I did manage a new bird for the trip, with a Chicli Spinetail in a field near Matumbo. I was also pleased to see a Plain-breasted Ground-dove, which is unusual at Regua.

My final morning was on Tuesday and I had time to accompany Martin and Adilei on the Waterfall Trail. As with all forest trails, this can be hit and miss but I was able to enjoy a really fantastic morning of birding. It’s a measure of Regua and tropical birding more generally that I could walk a trail I’d been on many times before and still see two lifers. The first was a Sooty Grassquit, which I got a reasonable view of as it sang, although I don’t think the others got onto it before it flew. The second was a fabulous Buff-bellied Puffbird, perched up high in a tree. I also saw my first Pale-browed Treehunter of the trip and had very good views of a Sharp-tailed Streamcreeper. The rest of the birds were quite excellent too, but I’ll leave Martin to tell you about them.

I then left Regua for the airport in Rio and had one rather wonderful sighting on the way. Stopping by a small roadside wetland I watched a pair of Limpkins feeding snails to their four very fluffy young.

Hi Andrew,

A very interesting read as usual. Just back from Brazil myself: Lots of seeding bamboo at Iguacu and Itatiaia so I've been seeing plenty of Uniform Finches, Temminck's and Buffy-fronted Seedeaters and Sooty Grassquits.
Had Puma and a couple of Jaguars in the Pantanal - Jag pics on my blog.

Back to REGUA in a couple of weeks.

CIB.

Colin Bushell said:

Hi Andrew,

A very interesting read as usual. Just back from Brazil myself: Lots of seeding bamboo at Iguacu and Itatiaia so I've been seeing plenty of Uniform Finches, Temminck's and Buffy-fronted Seedeaters and Sooty Grassquits.
Had Puma and a couple of Jaguars in the Pantanal - Jag pics on my blog.

Back to REGUA in a couple of weeks.

CIB.

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Nice pictures Colin! Hope I manage to get back to Brazil again soon too.

Sadly, I managed to completely miss this thread until now.

Only you could manage to travel thousands of miles to twitch the species of another continent and still claim to be working a local patch.

Helenelizabeth2 said:

Sadly, I managed to completely miss this thread until now.

Only you could manage to travel thousands of miles to twitch the species of another continent and still claim to be working a local patch.

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I'm sure lots of other people would make this claim. Well, maybe a few others at least. Anyway, the patchwork quilt's looking a bit threadbare these days

Suspect HE2 has "phased" as the parlance has it ...

Rob

A lovely thread Andrew. And some nice sound recordings

I wonder if counting purple sands will be quite the same again on returning home.....

Andrew Whitehouse said:

Anyway, the patchwork quilt's looking a bit threadbare these days

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I wouldn't know. The patchwork quilt was sold in order to pay for the tank of petrol needed to get to Spurn Point and twitch a departed Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler.