The Three-toed Jacamar all day excursion, this sought after endemic must be a shoo-in else they wouldn't be so bold. This was, as warned, a day of driving, 200 ks in all, hopping out to bird and driving on again. Suits me fine!
Many of the stops were roadside, the first overlooking a marshy area where three Streamer-tailed Tyrants perched reed top. Excellent. Responding to the tape, a Blackish Rail showed its red legs off well in a small pool near to us. Two squawking Blue-winged Macaws flew high and away before we could locate their perching tree.
Next stop was a partially built cafe and gardens in a great location overlooking extensive valleys and hills, where we saw our first American Kestrels.
Elevenses was at a cafe in the middle of a town - I don't know where! Whilst the others refreshed themselves, I attempted to contact Barclaycard in London. We'd underestimated the amount of Brazilian Real we needed to leave tips for the staff and guides and hadn't cleared our credit cards for use abroad. I eventually worked out how to put a + into my phone for international calls and got through. All is well. By the time I'd left my seat on the kerb in noisy traffic and extricated my finger from my ear, the group had finished. Luckily I'd ordered a soft drink and Pam had got me a packet of crisps, they were quickly dealt with.....
The lunch stop was ghastly - apart from THE bird. Roadside, no shade and three men digging fence post holes nearby, using two spade-like tools joined together at the handle. The new posts brought by horse and cart. BUT three Three-toed Jacamars perched on roadside branches opposite the parking spot. A good stake-out. Pretty drab birds for Jacamars, they do not compare with Cuban for example, but a gleaming bronze in the sun.
Three-toed Jacamar(not my photo)
A little further along the road was a tree with a Rufous Hornero nest, typical of the family sometimes called Ovenbirds,photographed by Pam.
My notes for to-day are rather sketchy and this account is not in the correct order of events...........
A shout from myself and Jonathan brought a roadside stop for 'a red-billed' bird which turned out to be a
White-eared Puffbird, re-located by Roger.
We also saw Gilt-edged Tanager, Chopi Blackbird, Swainson's and Bran-coloured Flycatchers, Grey-capped Tyrannulet - somewhere.........One area began to look much like another.
A downhill short walk ending with a tree scattered clearing on the left gave Pam the opportunity to take a photograph of a smart Long-tailed Tyrant using her trusty Ixus.
Long-tailed Tyrant
A Sooty Grassquit was not an easy bird to locate but, eventually, everyone succeeded even though I'd have liked better views.
Mid afternoon when it was still rather hot, was the only real walk of the day. An empty lake and an apparently empty forest. I started with a two minute Mrs Grumps session (just to Pam and Judy) and ended up doing the whole walk which produced several new birds. I missed the Dusky-legged Guan seen disappearing into a tree but, we had very good views of one as we drove out onto the road, silhouetted on a bare Cecropia branch. Not a new bird for us but always good to see one.
Before we set off this morning, Jonathan became the list keeper to see if we could break the day record challenge of 109 species (a September trip record). Hearts sank mid morning when a hitherto unknown rule that only birds seen outside the Lodge gates could be counted, was mooted by Peter to considerable heckling. Considering the time of year we did very well, equalling the record. If only those Snow Geese and Jungle Fowl were allowed......
The Lodge vehicle
Late back at 6.05 for the 6.30 bird log, two Americans joined us in the dining room but sat at a seperate table. They were staying for a few days after some time in the Pantanal.
I'd found some phone reception earlier, Bridget had texted the footie score, Man U 2 Inter Milan 0. Excellent.
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