Lee's Birding Blog

My photos now on Flickr

2012-01-30T09:36:00.005Z

Several of my friends have mentioned that they've never seen the photos I take on my travels, so in response I've decided to set up a Flickr account. So far I've only created a few photo sets (all of South America), with the Galapagos being the most complete set, but I'll be adding many more photos over the next few days and weeks.

Click on the link above to view.

Focus on Azure-shouldered Tanager

2012-01-25T21:58:00.008Z

Azure-shouldered Tanager Thraupis cyanoptera is a scarce and often illusive Atlantic Forest endemic that birders sometimes struggle to distinguish from the much more abundant Sayaca Tanager Thraupis sayaca. However, given reasonable views they can be told apart fairly easily.

Azure-shouldered is slightly but noticeably larger and bulkier than Sayaca Tanager, but the size is not always apparent unless the two species are seen side by side. Much more obvious is the general colouration - Azure-shouldered Tanager is turquoise above with brighter turquoise outer edges to the flight feathers, tertials and greater coverts, and a contrasting duller turquoise grey below (this contrast is sharply defined even on the head and neck). Sayaca Tanager is a very variable grey-blue and generally concolorous above and below, with turquoise tones restricted to outer edges of the wing feathers. On Azure-shouldered Tanager the electric blue lesser coverts are diagnostic but not always visible (especially on 1st winter birds), and the blackish lores and black extending very slightly behind the eye forming a very short faint eye-stripe (visible at very close range) are another key feature. Azure-shouldered also shows a slightly heavier bill (that is often blackish on the upper mandible and greyish on the lower mandible, but not always), but both species show very dark (blackish) inner webs to the tertials, upper wing coverts and flight features on the closed wing.

Sayaca Tanager is abundant in forest edge and semi-open habitats and very conspicuous, even in cities, whereas Azure-shouldered Tanager is a scarce forest interior species that tends to stick to the canopy and is therefore much harder to find. Last July I spent some time at Andy and Cristina Foster's superb photo hide at their Serra dos Tucanos lodge in Rio de Janeiro state, and was able to study this Near-threatened species in some detail. These photos illustrate the features nicely.

Azure-shouldered Tanager Thraupis cyanoptera, Serra dos Tucanos, July 2011.
Note the contrast between the turquoise nape and crown and the grey blue face,
ear coverts and underparts. The electric blue lesser coverts are not always
visible.

Azure-shouldered Tanager Thraupis cyanoptera, Serra dos Tucanos, July 2011.
The blackish lores are a key identification feature when distinguishing from Sayaca
Tanager, but are not often mentioned or illustrated in field guides.

Azure-shouldered Tanager Thraupis cyanoptera, Serra dos Tucanos, July 2011.
The blackish lores create a rather aggressive facial expression (cf. Sayaca
Tanager below).

Azure-shouldered Tanager Thraupis cyanoptera, Serra dos Tucanos, July 2011.
The faint dark eye-stripe is easier to see in this shot of the same bird in the shade.
Note the dark upper mandible.

Azure-shouldered Tanager Thraupis cyanoptera, Serra dos Tucanos, July 2011.
Note the turquoise forehead, crown and nape contrasting sharply with the greyer
ear coverts and neck. The black inner webs to the tertials, coverts and primaries
and black primaries contrast vividly with the turquoise outer webs.

Sayaca Tanager Thraupis sayaca, REGUA, RJ state, July 2011. Note the grey blue
plumage, with turquoise tones restricted to the outer edges of the wing feathers.
The lores are concolorous with the rest of the face, isolating the dark eye. The
race found in south-eastern Brazil, T. s. sayaca, has no white in the wing.

The main contact call of Azure-shouldered Tanager is a sharp high-pitched thin seep (reminiscent of Redwing Turdus iliacus), that is more drawn out than Sayaca Tanager, which has a shorter call with a more noticeable upwards deflection in the middle and an almost squeaky quality at the end. The songs are also similar, both being a high-pitched, squeaky warble, but Azure-shouldered is a little faster, more repetitive and more continuous.

The taxonomy of tanagers (Thraupidae), as with many Neotropical bird families, is currently in a state of flux. Azure-shouldered Tanager and Sayaca Tanager are traditionally both placed in the Thraupis genus along with 7 other species. But molecular studies have revealed that the Thraupis is actually paraphyletic (have more than one common ancestor) and consists of 2 clades. Azure-shoudered Tanager, despite having a similar morphology, is actually part of a different clade to Sayaca Tanager, and so will probably be moved to a different or new genus at some point. In the meantime, the Brazilian Committee of Ornithological Records (CBRO), rather confusingly, has moved all species currently in Thraupis into the Tangara genus, effectively removing the Thraupis genus altogether. However, other authorities (including the AOU) have yet to adopt this taxonomy and so I've remained faithful to the traditional classification here.

A new conservation-minded bird tour company

2012-01-23T20:29:00.002Z

Today a new bird tour company was launched! So what you might ask? Well, this one really does offer something actually quite different. Rather than blindly aiming for the largest possible species list on each tour (YAWN!!), Wise Birding, set up by my good friend Chris Townend, aims to show people all the endemics and key birds, along with a decent number of other species on their tours, as well as make a financial contribution to the conservation projects they visit. Where possible, the tours are carefully designed to visit sites with active conservation programmes and/or lodges that (really) support conservation. This means that birders joining a tour will be directly helping to conserve the birds and habitats that they visit. To check out the tours available for 2012 visit http://www.wisebirding.co.uk/. One leader in particular comes highly recommended!! :-)

Birding in the shadow of Christ

2012-01-21T22:57:00.004Z

Many major cities around the world have a botanical garden that is excellent for birds - Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden in Cape Town, South Africa, and the Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney, Australia are a couple of good examples. Rio de Janeiro in south-east Brazil is no exception, and if you find yourself in the city with some time for birding then a visit to the botanical garden is well worth it.

I first visited Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro in 2006 and was struck not only by the diversity of birds, but also by how tame many of them were. The three main target species here Rusty-margined Guan, Slaty-breasted Wood-Rail and Channel-billed Toucan. These three normally very shy species are conspicuous here and often allow excellent photographic opportunities.

Rusty-margined Guan Penelope superciliaris, Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden,
July 2006. A secretive species, birds here are very confiding.

Slaty-breasted Wood-Rail Aramides saracura, Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden,
July 2006. A usually shy Atlantic Forest endemic that is unusually bold here.

186 species have now been recorded here, including many Atlantic Forest endemics such as White-necked Hawk, Maroon-bellied Parakeet, Plain Parakeet, Tawny-browed Owl, Saw-billed Hermit, Yellow-fronted Woodpecker, Spot-breasted Antvireo, Scaled Antbird, Black-cheeked Gnateater, White-eyed Foliage-gleaner, Black-capped Foliage-gleaner, Pin-tailed Manakin, Blue Manakin, Bare-throated Bellbird, Yellow-lored Tody-Flycatcher, Eye-ringed Tody-Tyrant, Brazilian Tanager, Green-headed Tanager, Red-necked Tanager, Rufous-headed Tanager, Temminck's Seedeater and Chestnut-bellied Euphonia. It is worth checking the small streams and ponds here for Striated Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret and even Little Blue Heron.

The botanical garden also holds a population of Common Marmoset Callithrix jacchus. This species has unfortunately been introduced into the area from north-east Brazil and, together with released Common Marmoset C. jacchus x Black-tufted Marmoset C. penicillata hybrids, have largely displaced the native, and now extremely rare, Buffy-tufted Marmoset C. aurita through competition and hybridisation.

Common Marmoset Callithrix jacchus, Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden, July 2006.

The 140 hectare Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden (now a UNESCO biosphere reserve) was created in 1808 by Prince Regent of the United Kingdom of Brazil and Portugal, Dom João VI, to acclimate spices imported from the West Indies. The garden contains 8,000 plants and has an Bromeliário, an Orquidário, and houses for carnivorous plants and cacti.

The famous Avenue of Royal Palms is comprised of 134
Royal Palms. (Photo by Rachel Walls)

The botanical garden holds 8000 plant species, including many mature trees.
(Photo by Rachel Walls)

Located in a wealthy area of Rio de Janeiro close to Copacabana and Ipanema, and adjacent to Tijuca National Park (the largest urban nature reserve in Brazil, covering 3237 hectares and encompassing the famous Cocovado Mountain and Christ the Redeemer statue), the botanical garden is very safe and I feel completely at ease here with binoculars and camera equipment on show. The garden is open from 08:00 to 17:00 daily and admission costs R$6 per person (plus R$7 for parking). There are two entrances, both along Rua Jardim Botânico; one (with a car park) at 1008, and another at 920, and there is a visitor centre, cafe, gift shop and toilets on site (to see location in Google Maps click here). I'd recommend spending at least a half day here, or a whole day if wildlife photography is your thing.

For a list of birds recorded in the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden click here.

Midwinter apathy

2012-01-20T23:25:00.006Z

I'm struggling to find a shred of motivation, or dare I say it, interest even, for any local birding whatsoever at the moment. Maybe its the cold dark days? Maybe its living in one of the most birdless places on the planet? Whatever it is, I really could do with a rocket up my arse! Sadly, even a Little Egret flying over and adding itself to my garden list today failed to ignite, well, anything really!

More photos from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest

2012-01-19T22:59:00.001Z

The Atlantic Rainforest of south-east Brazil, north-east Argentina, Paraguay and coastal Uruguay is one of two main centres of endemism in South America, the other being the Chocó region of western Colombia and Ecuador. Around 200 bird species are found here and nowhere else, including 80% of all of Brazil's endemics. Here's a few more photos taken in Rio de Janeiro state in 2011.

Male Brazilian Tanager, Serra dos Tucanos, July 2011. This stunning Atlantic
Forest endemic is a frequent visitor to feeders.

Guira Cuckoo, REGUA, November 2011. A common species of more open habitats.

Greenish Elaenia, REGUA, November 2011. Another image of the first record for
Rio de Janeiro state and was first seen at REGUA in May 2008.

Rufous-bellied Thrush - Brazil's national bird, Serra dos Tucanos, July 2011.

Scaled Antbird, REGUA, November 2011. A lowland Atlantic Forest endemic.

White-faced Whistling-Ducks, REGUA, November 2011.

Yellow-lored Tody-Flycatcher, REGUA, November 2011. A common
Atlantic Forest endemic

Purple Gallinule, REGUA, July 2011. It always looks
odd seeing rails clambering around high up in bushes.

Birds vs cake

2012-01-16T11:24:00.003Z

Spent the weekend in Devon for a REGUA meeting, but managed to sneak in a little birding as well. A look at the Otter Estuary and the sea at Budleigh Salterton on Saturday morning (14th) with the Cream Tea Birder found no sign of the long staying Snow Bunting or the reported 4 Pale-bellied Brents in a freezing south-easterly. 1 Red-breasted Merganser, a single Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 2 Stonechat, 1 Peregrine, 4 Reed Bunting, a few Rock Pipit and lots of Northern Gannet and auks moving east were the best we could could muster, so in true Cream Tea Birding style we abandoned the birds and loaded up on cakes at the Lawn Bakery instead!

The Lawn Bakery in Budleigh Salterton - for when there's no birds about

The meeting itself was held at a beautiful house on the edge of Dartmoor. Owners Kevin and Donna are passionate conservationists, in the process of restoring the hay meadows, wet meadows and oak and beech woods in their land, and even creating a small wetland. They have also put up nest boxes for Pied Flycatchers, Common Redstarts, Goosanders and Barn Owls, and now have six pairs of Pied Flycatchers (fledging 17 young last year). A walk around their land yesterday was fairly quiet but did produce an accidentally flushed Tawny Owl. Many thanks Kevin and Donna for being wonderful hosts and facilitating a very productive meeting.

Pied Flycatcher (left) and Common Redstart nest boxes

Birds at the bar

2012-01-03T18:45:00.013Z

Birding is growing rapidly in popularity in Brazil and birding tourism in the REGUA area continues to increase. It seems some locals are taking more of an interest in birds as well, and a couple of years ago the owners of a small roadside bar at Duas Pontes in the Três Picos State Park, Rio de Janeiro state, began putting out fruit to attract them. The birds have become used to people and so this is a great place to see and photograph many Atlantic Forest endemics at very close range, and grab a good Brazilian coffee or Agua de coco (the coconut water drink, not the swimwear) at the same time.

The feeders are situated at 470 metres above sea level and attract a different mix of species to the feeders at REGUA. Sayaca Tanager, Green-headed Tanager, Red-necked Tanager, Burnished-buff Tanager, Violaceous Euphonia, Chestnut-bellied Euphonia and Blue-naped Chlorophonia are common (especially in the austral winter when numbers build up), with smaller numbers of Maroon-bellied Parakeet, Spot-billed Toucanet, Olive-green Tanager, Black-goggled Tanager, Ruby-crowned Tanager, Brazilian Tanager, Azure-shouldered Tanager, Golden-chevroned Tanager, Blue Dacnis, Purple-throated Euphonia and Orange-bellied Euphonia. One or two Green Honeycreepers, a scarce bird in the this part of the Atlantic Forest, are usually present, and the hummingbird feeders here attract Sombre Hummingbird – a rather drab but often elusive Atlantic Forest endemic, and one that is extremely difficult at REGUA.

Bar do Russo is located along the main road (RJ-116) between Cachoeiras de Macacu and Nova Friburgo at km 56 (click here to see location in Google Maps). Excursions from REGUA's Guapi Assu Bird Lodge to Pico da Caledônia, Macaé de Cima and the Theodoro Trail stop here en route.

Blue-naped Chlorophonia. Birds at the feeders are used to people and allow close
approach. (Photo by Alan Martin)

Bar do Russo (Photo by Rachel Walls)

Blue-naped Chlorophonias crowd the fruit during the austral winter, when natural
food in the forest is harder to find. (Photo by Adilei Carvalho da Cunha)

The widespread Green Honeycreeper is difficult in this part of the Atlantic Forest
but there are usually one or two at the feeders here.

Violaceous Euphonia. Birds often sit in the trees overhanging the feeders which
provides opportunities for more natural looking photos.

Green-headed Tanager is a common Atlantic Forest endemic that is easy to
photograph here.

Female Chestnut-bellied Euphonia, as Adilei would say "very close". These birds
are a photographer's dream! Like all of the photos on this post, this was taken
hand-held and without flash (click to enlarge).

Acknowledgments

Many thanks to Adilei Carvalho da Cunha, Alan Martin and Rachel Walls for permission to use their photos.

Night-birding at REGUA

2011-12-28T22:09:00.028Z

It was the ghostly sight of 2 Barn Owls on a family holiday to the Isle of Wight when I was 9 years old that ignited my interest in birds, and ever since then owls and other nocturnal families have held a special fascination for me. So when I first visited REGUA in Brazil's Atlantic Forest back in 2006, I soon found myself birding the trails around the wetland at night. Over the last five years, Adilei (one of REGUA's sharp-eyed bird guides) and I have spent many hours birding around the reserve at night, and we've found reliable sites for several sought-after nocturnal species.

For many birders visiting REGUA, Giant Snipe is near the top of the list of target birds. REGUA is one of the best sites for these large, mainly nocturnal waders, with birds often showing down to just a few metres! A few years ago Giant Snipe could be seen at the REGUA wetland, but with the grassy areas here now replanted, birds are easier to find in pasture just outside the reserve. Giant Snipe are most vocal, and are therefore easier to find, between July and December, when they display by calling overhead (they are very difficult outside of this period). Joining a guided excursion from the lodge to one of several known feeding grounds at dusk or dawn is essential, where Barn Owl and Spot-tailed Nightjar are also possible.

Giant Snipe Gallinago undulata, REGUA wetland, November 2008. REGUA is one
of the best sites for these large nocturnal waders, however, they are almost
impossible to locate if they are not calling.

The Wetland Trail provides the easiest night-birding at REGUA. Beginning just a few minutes walk from the lodge, the trail is easy, not too long (2.8 km), and (since November 2011) well marked with yellow posts every 50 m. The main targets here are Tawny-browed Owl, Striped Owl, Tropical Screech-Owl, Common Potoo and Scissor-tailed Nightjar. Allow at least two hours to walk the whole trail.

Tawny-browed Owl is usually found in the larger trees by the Conservation Centre but sometimes perch up in the cecropias around the volunteer accommodation at the very start of the trail (as well as in the lodge garden). Also try the forest edge around post 1400. Common Potoo can be found anywhere along the trail, but especially between posts 900 and 1750 - scan the tops of any bare trees, and from post 1450 to 1740 can sometimes be good for Striped Owl. Scissor-tailed Nightjar prefer the less wooded areas - from post 1600 onwards, scan the hillsides with a torch to pick birds up in flight and eye-shine of perched birds, and at post 1900 carefully scan the ground to the right, where birds can often be found. Barn Owl are sometimes seen hunting over the more open areas (although as the replanted trees mature they are becoming less frequent, and the fields just outside the reserve main entrance are a much more reliable spot nowadays), and occasionally also Short-tailed Nighthawk and Spot-tailed Nightjar. Tropical Screech-Owl and Pauraque can be found anywhere along the trail.

Striped Owl Asio clamator, REGUA wetland, November 2008. Imagine a
Long-eared/Short-eared Owl hybrid!

Male Scissor-tailed Nightjar Hydropsalis torquata, REGUA wetland, July 2010.
Although the reforestation at the wetland is now become quite mature, this
species can still be found around the remaining scrubby hillsides.

Tropical Screech-Owl Megascops choliba, Forest Trail, adjacent to the REGUA
wetland, July 2011. This species prefers forest edge habitats and can be seen
anywhere around the wetland.

It is worth keeping your eyes peeled for a variety of mammals around the wetland at night. You should encounter plenty of Capybara, and at dusk Fishing Bats appear in good numbers over the larger bodies of open water. Common Grey Four-eyed Opossum and South-eastern Common Opossum are often seen, and if you're lucky you might glimpse a Nine-banded Armadillo or Paca crossing the trail. On a cautionary note, tracks of Puma and Ocelot (and other smaller cat species) are now being found very frequently on the Wetland Trail, and in 2011 some birding groups even heard Puma growling on the trail at night! Therefore, potentially you could encounter a Puma at night which might be dangerous, and therefore walking this trail at night in a group, preferably with a guide, is strongly recommended.

The 1.3 km Onofre Cunha Trail, located 3 km from the lodge, passes through a fragment of lowland humid evergreen forest. Over the last two years this trail has proven to be excellent for night-birding and in particular for allowing easy access to forest interior species such as Long-tailed Potoo, Black-capped Screech-Owl and Mottled Owl. Tawny-browed Owl, Common Potoo and Ferruginous Pigmy-Owl are frequently encountered, and an area of rough pasture at the end of the trail is worth trying for Giant Snipe, but the real prize here is Black-banded Owl, with a pair of birds in residence.

It is worth spending at least a couple of hours walking slowly along the trail listening for calls (use recordings/playback very sparingly as the birds soon get wise to them (plus using recordings/playback as little as possible is to be encouraged to reduce any adverse effect on the birds) and keeping an eye out for birds perched up quietly beside the trail. I’ve often picked up Black-banded Owls just by scanning with a torch or even finding them perched up in trees over the trail, and once a Mottled Owl flew in and landed just a few metres from me (without any encouragement from recordings) while I was looking for a calling Long-tailed Potoo! In my experience, the last few hours of dark before dawn are best, and birds are seemingly more vocal on clear moonlit nights.

Black-banded Owl Strix huhula, Onofre Cunha Trail, December 2011.
Birds in the Atlantic Forest are a unique subspecies S. albomarginata.
(Photo by Nicholas Locke)

Tawny-browed Owl Pulsatrix koeniswaldiana, Onofre Cunha Trail, May 2010.
This species is endemic to the Atlantic Forest where it replaces the widespread
Spectacled Owl Pulsatrix perspicillata. There are good numbers at REGUA.

For the Onofre Cunha Trail, hiring one of REGUA's bird guides is strongly recommended. Transport is required to reach the trail head from the lodge (although I guess you could walk at a push), and the entrance to the trail is very difficult to find. It is usually Adilei who will accompany you and he knows the best spots for all the birds.

We've only scratched the surface as far as birding at night at REGUA is concerned. The reserve is huge and most of the forest interior remains unexplored at night. The Near-threatened Rusty-barred Owl is probably present at higher elevations, the mysterious Ocellated Poorwill is possible in the forest interior and surely Great Horned Owl is waiting to be found in the more open habitats? Even relatively well-explored areas continue to yield surprises. In July, RJ state's third Stygian Owl was found at the wetland, and there have been several records of Nacunda Nighthawk from just outside the reserve.

Black-capped or Variable Screech-Owl Megascops atricapilla, Waterfall Trail,
November 2008. This Atlantic Forest endemic is only found in forest interiors.

Acknowledgments

Many thanks to Nicholas Locke for permission to use his photo of Black-banded Owl.

Brazilian moorhens - a laughing matter

2011-12-19T10:20:00.005Z

When I first visited Brazil over five years ago, I soon became aware of how different the long 'cackling' calls of the local race of Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus galeata are compared to the familiar short calls of nominate G. c. chloropus back in the UK. A closer look at these birds also revealed that they look a little different too, being slightly bigger with a larger red shield with a broad square top edge, giving the head profile a peak at the front of the crown. With the recent taxonomic scrutiny of moorhens focusing on the variation between Old World and New World forms, much has been written about the morphological differences between the North American race G. c. cachinnans and Old World chloropus, that might allow a transatlantic vagrant to be identified. Adult cachinnans, in addition to the features above, tend to show a different bill pattern with less extensive yellow on the lower mandible and a more clearly defined red/yellow border, a duller red iris and richer reddish-brown upperparts, particularly on the upper mantle where there is a more clearly demarcated contrast with the dark grey neck (see here and here). Immature birds are much more similar and possibly indistinguishable in the field?

In July, the AOU (but so far not the BOU) decided to split all New World forms from Old World chloropus as Common Gallinule (in favour of the name Laughing Moorhen suggested by The Sound Approach). However, it is galeata, the most widespread form across South America, that has been designated the nominate race rather than cachinnans. I'd like to know what features distinguish these two races? As far as I can tell they are vocally inseparable (compare the calls of galeata and cachinnans here and chloropus here), but I've observed that galeata does appear to be much greyer on the upperparts than both Old World chloropus and North American cachinnans, with brown tones restricted to the lower mantle, rump, greater coverts and flight feathers (compare below), and perhaps they are also a little darker overall. Are there other differences?

Former race G. c. galeata, now split by the AOU as Common Gallinule Gallinula
galeata, REGUA, Brazil, November 2011. Note the large, square-topped shield, the
well defined lower mandible pattern and the dark eye. galeata seem to have much
greyer upperparts than both North American cachinnans and Old World chloropus.

Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus, London Wetland Centre, UK, December
2011. Note the smaller, narrower shield with a rounded top, slightly more extensive
yellow on the lower mandible with a slightly less demarcated pattern, brighter red
iris and browner upperparts (click to enlarge). North American cachinnans is
apparently even browner above.

At REGUA, galeata also exhibit some differences in behaviour compared to the Old World Common Moorhen. Here the birds seem to be more social, forming large flocks throughout the year, often containing 40 or so individuals that feed and rest together. They also appear to be more aquatic in their feeding habits, preferring to forage in open and often quite deep water, picking plant material from the surface, and feed much less frequently on land than Common Moorhen do in the UK, where bird seem to prefer to graze on grass. Has anyone noticed a similar feeding behaviour in cachinnans, or in any other race? For some excellent footage by Ron Jackson showing the behaviour, calls and features of galeata at REGUA, click here.

A typical feeding group of Common Gallinule Gallinula galeata, REGUA, July
2011. Based on observations at REGUA, Brazilian birds are seemingly much
less terrestrial in their feeding habits than their Old World counterparts?

Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus London Wetland Centre, UK, December
2011. Birds in the UK seem to prefer grazing on land.

So is the situation as straightforward as separating New World from Old World moorhens? Looking at photos, meridionalis from sub-Saharan Africa and St. Helena in the mid South Atlantic (here), orientalis of south-east Asia (here), and pyrrhorrhoa from Madagascar and surrounding islands (here), all look very similar to galeata to me, with perhaps a very slightly more rounded top to the shield. Have these been allied to Common Moorhen or Common Gallinule, and are they also different species?

Winter at the London Wetland Centre

2011-12-18T18:00:00.006Z

A quiet afternoon with cold north-westerlies produced 2 drake Pintail, 5 Shelduck, 56 Wigeon, 5 Pochard, 30 Gadwall, 1 Water Rail, 17+ Common Snipe, 15+ Lapwing, 2-3 Stonechat, 15+ Lesser Redpoll, 14+ Siskin and 5 Redwing. Good numbers of Great Tit and Blue Tit were seen, but 4 Long-tailed Tit, 3 Robin, a few Blackbird were the only other passerines of note. Many of the smaller pools are partially frozen and although there were plenty of Teal around there seemed to be less wildfowl than usual, with just small numbers of Northern Shoveler and Tufted Duck. There was also a pair of Mandarin on the Main Lake, which I guess could be from the collection?

Staines Bore

2011-12-11T16:31:00.002Z

A couple of hours at Staines Moor produced almost bugger all, with 1 Water Pipit (terrible photo below) associating with a lone Meadow Pipit and a Pied Wagtail along the Colne, 17+ Fieldfare, 15 Linnet and a Reed Bunting being about it. Also, 80+ Linnet were kicking about on adjacent Stanwell Moor.

Papercourt Short-eared Owls

2011-12-10T19:11:00.006Z

A brief visit to Thursley today found no sign of the Great Grey Shrike, or much else for that matter, with only 10 Lesser Redpoll, 2 Stonechat and a few Meadow Pipits seen. Mid afternoon I found myself back at Papercourt water meadows for some more owl action (I can't believe how many people were out to watch them! Around 50 or so!). At least 4 Short-eared Owls put on a fantastic display, hunting over the rough grass, being mobbed by 2 Kestrels and Carrion Crows, and occasionally even fighting and calling right overhead! This time I managed a few rubbish photos. 1 Barn Owl, 1 Stonechat and a Roe Deer were also seen.

There's been a large influx of Short-eared Owls into the UK this autumn, see here.

Two of my favourite birds together in Surrey

2011-12-02T18:06:00.005Z

Surrey is not the best place in the world for birds (what an understatement!), and it's not often you get the opportunity to see two of your favourite birds in the world, in Surrey, at the same place, and on the same day. Therefore I couldn't resist a quick visit to Papercourt water meadows this afternoon to give it a shot. Just a few minutes after arrival I caught sight of the unmistakable deep wing beats of a Short-eared Owl in the distance, and after a few minutes I realised there were actually 3 birds hunting over the rough grass. They showed fairly well but unfortunately stayed a little distant and I didn't manage a single half decent photo! One down, one to go, but I didn't have to wait too long before a Barn Owl appeared quartering the fields. Simply amazing birds! I never tire of watching Short-eareds or Barn Owls! Also seen were c.100 Siskin, c.50 Fieldfare and a single Redwing. I must make a return visit to try and get a few snaps!

Overcoming euphonia phobia

2011-11-28T23:50:00.015Z

Euphonias are a genus of small short tailed passerines found throughout the Neotropics, which together with the chlorophonias, comprise the subfamily Euphoniinae. Showing a higher degree of sexual dimorphism than their chlorophonia cousins, male euphonias of most species are brightly coloured, distinctively marked and generally fairly easy to identify. The females on the other hand are mainly dull olive-green with various amounts of grey, and their similarity, along with often poor illustrations in field guides, means that unless they call many birders simply don't bother with them. Six species of euphonia occur regularly in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest and at first glance the females of all but one of these, Golden-rumped Euphonia, are fairly similar in appearance. However, given good views and knowing what to look for, separating them is not too difficult.

The most common species in the Atlantic Forest is Violaceous Euphonia. The female (Fig. 1 & 2) is uniform olive-green above and below with dark grey inner webs to the primaries, tertials, medium and greater coverts. This is the only euphonia in this group with no grey on the underparts (note that female Golden-rumped also has olive-green underparts, but is easily distinguished - see here).

Perhaps the most distinctive is female Chestnut-bellied Euphonia (Fig. 3 & 4). The upperparts, flanks, ear coverts, chin and forehead are a rich yellow-green and it is the only species with red undertail coverts and vent. The grey center to the breast and upper belly extends onto the neck sides to form a half collar that is separated from the grey nape by green ear coverts.

Click to enlarge

Female Purple-throated Euphonia (Fig. 5 & 6) is also distinctive, once you get your eye in. The general jizz is of a paler but more contrasty bird, with the colours on the upperparts often looking rather washed out. The upperparts are mainly pale olive-green becoming greyer on the mantle, nape and crown, and contrast sharply with the bright lemon yellow flanks, vent and undertail coverts. The breast and belly are pale grey (sometimes almost white) which set off the dark grey legs. The head pattern is also rather distinctive, with dark grey or black lores (meeting across the top of the bill) and faint narrow black eyestripe behind the eye, contrasting with a bright yellow forehead and hint of a yellow supercilium before the eye. The bill is a little longer and more conical than the other species, with a blackish distal half (more so on the upper mandible), and at close range the split white eye-ring is diagnostic. The blackish upper tail, and inner webs to the tertials and inner primaries add further contrast to the upperparts.

The two most similar of the set are Orange-bellied Euphonia and Green-chinned Euphonia. The females of both are olive-green above, pale grey below with olive-yellow flanks extending onto the undertail coverts. Orange-bellied Euphonia (Fig. 7 & 8) is polymorphic, but the form in the Atlantic Forest has a grey nape that stretches around the neck forming a very diffuse grey collar. In comparison, Green-chinned (Fig. 9 & 10) shows obvious grey neck sides extending onto the ear coverts, an olive-green nape and dark grey lores. Structurally, Green-chinned is a heavier looking bird with a noticeably thick bill, compared to Orange-bellied that has a small and rather delicate looking bill.

Acknowledgments

Many thanks to Leonardo Pimentel for permission to use his photos of Green-chinned Euphonia.

A bird in the bush is worth two in the cage

2011-11-21T22:09:00.020Z

The trapping and trading of wild birds has been illegal in Brazil since the Fauna Protection Law was introduced in 1967, but like across much of the country, hunting wild birds in the Atlantic Forest for the cage-bird trade remains commonplace and a major threat to many species, several of which are classified as Threatened. Many of the birds trapped are destined for the international black market, however, in Rio de Janeiro state, as in many parts of Brazil, keeping native species as cage-birds is very popular within the local community, and cages containing trapped wild birds can be found hanging outside homes, bars and shops everywhere. In Cachoeiras de Macacu, a small town about 21 km from REGUA, rows of cages of all shapes and sizes can be found for sale outside several shops, indicating just how popular cage-birds are, and bizarrely, you can even sometimes see people taking their caged birds for a walk!

Green-winged Saltator in a cage outside a shop in Cachoeiras de Macacu in Rio
de Janeiro state. This high altitude species is commonly kept as a cage-bird despite
legislation in place to protect them, and most are trapped locally.

Rows of bird cages for sale in Cachoeiras de Macacu, a small town near REGUA
in Rio de Janeiro state. Most cage-birds in RJ state are native species caught
from the wild and sold in illegal markets. The quantity of cages for sale indicates
just how popular keeping cage-birds remains in the local community.

Captive Blue-bellied Parrot at a small rural property near REGUA. This Atlantic
Forest endemic is one of the more unusual species seen as a cage-bird in the
area. Although trapping places some pressure on this species, habitat loss is
a far more serious threat. Blue-bellied Parrot is classified as Near Threatened.
(Photo by Alan Martin)

In the REGUA area, the most common method employed by hunters to trap birds for the cage-bird trade is to use a captive bird placed next to an empty cage baited with food to attract the targeted species. The unsuspecting bird enters the cage to get to the food and becomes trapped. Birds are then transported for sale in illegals markets in local towns or Rio de Janeiro, often in huge quantities. Hunting is therefore an easy and inexpensive way to make money, and with demand remaining high and some local authorities turning a blind eye, it is difficult to imagine this threat going away any time soon. However, the enforcement wing of the Brazilian Ministry of the Environment IBAMA (Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources), INEA (RJ state government authorities), with help from the Brazilian NGO Renctas, are having some success tackling illegal hunting and trade, but the scale of the problem means that resources are nowhere near enough to enforce the law effectively.

Although rather drab in plumage by neotropical standards, seedeaters are particularly sought after as cage-birds for their songs, and in the REGUA area male Buffy-fronted and Double-collared Seedeaters are common in cages. Another species very commonly kept as a cage-bird in the area is Green-winged Saltator, and they can frequently be heard singing from apartments and shops in the nearby towns. Thrushes, especially Rufous-bellied Thrush, are also very popular as are Saffron Finch and Bare-throated Bellbird, and Temminck's Seedeater are also sometimes kept.

Double-collared Seedeater is one of the most common seedeaters in southern
South America, with a very large range. Preferring semi-open country, including
agricultural land, deforestation together with the spread of exotic grasses
has helped the population increase and although they are one of the most
popular cage-birds in Brazil, they are not considered threatened.

Male Buffy-fronted Seedeater. A nomadic bamboo specialist, this Atlantic Forest
endemic is heavily targeted by the cage-bird trade for its loud song, and large
numbers are often sold illegally in Rio de Janeiro. Adding to this problem,
deforestation has reduced their bamboo habitat and extended the length of time
between large scale scale bamboo flowerings, which in turn affects breeding.
Buffy-fronted Seedeater is classified as Vulnerable. (Photo by Leonardo Pimentel)

Rufous-bellied Thrush, the national bird of Brazil since 2002, is highly sough after
as a cage-bird for its song, and very popular in the REGUA area.

Another popular cage-bird, male Saffron Finches are very territorial and sometimes
used for blood sports, with two males placed in a cage to fight. This barbaric
practice was banned in Brazil 20 years ago, but has recently been reported from
the US.

Immature male Bare-throated Bellbird. Endemic to the Atlantic Forest, this cotinga
is under pressure from the cage-bird trade for its unmusical but extremely loud
song. They are relatively uncommon in cages in the REGUA area due to policing
by IBAMA, and a local in the village of Mutumbo near REGUA had four birds
confiscated by IBAMA during my visit this month. Trapping pressure is much
higher in other states such as southern Bahia, São Paulo and Santa Catarinam,
and they remain relatively common in the forest of Rio de Janeiro state. Also
threatened by deforestation, Bell-throated Bellbird is classified as Vulnerable.
(Photo by Tasso Leventis)

Key to addressing this problem is a change in local attitudes towards biodiversity, and as is so often the case, small NGOs are making more progress with this than government legislation or the authorities. REGUA is one of the few protected areas in the Atlantic Forest employing local people, mostly ex-hunters, as rangers to patrol the reserve. As a result, since 2001 hunting at REGUA has declined by an estimated 98%! Obviously some hunting activity would simply have been displaced onto adjacent land, so perhaps even more importantly, REGUA has been helping to slowly change local attitudes towards the forest and it's wildlife. REGUA's education programme teaches local school children about the Atlantic Forest and it's wildlife is unique and therefore in need of preserving. REGUA is now the second largest employer in the local area, with 30 full-time staff (and more employed during the tree planting season), many of whom are involved in wildlife tourism to the reserve. By providing employment REGUA is demonstrating that the Atlantic Forest and its wildlife, traditionally viewed as worthless and to be exploited, can provide a sustainable source of income if conserved and respected.

Culturally, there's been a shift away from hunting towards the observation of wild birds amongst wealthier Brazilians. Birding has grown rapidly in popularity in Brazil over the last few years, with increasing numbers of young men and, refreshingly, women, becoming interested in birds, often through photography (take a look at the excellent WikiAves website). Brazil now has it's own bird fair (Avistarbrasil), and in contrast to when I first visited REGUA five years ago, there doesn't seem to be a week that goes by without several Brazilian birders visiting the reserve, with the active Rio de Janeiro Birdwatchers' Club also making regular visits. Earlier this year some Brazilian birders even found themselves twitching when a flock of ultra rare Brown-backed Parrotlets turned up in Ubatuba.

In addition, REGUA's Raquel Locke also reports that computer games appear to be replacing hunting as a pastime amongst the local young men. I wonder how long it will be before Ultimate Bellbird Hunting becomes available on the Wii?

Acknowledgments

Many thanks to Adilei Carvalho da Cunha for providing information on the bird species targeted by hunters and the methods of capture, to Nicholas and Raquel Locke for additional information about trapping and trafficking, and to Tasso Leventis, Alan Martin and Leonardo Pimentel for permission to use their photos.

Read more about the problem of illegal wildlife trafficking in Brazil here.

Black-backed Water-Tyrant - a new bird for REGUA

2011-11-19T13:55:00.005Z

On Saturday 12 November 2011, I found a Black-backed Water-Tyrant Fluvicola albiventer at REGUA, a private nature reserve located in the Serra do Mar mountains, in the municipality of Cachoeiras de Macacu, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil. A vagrant to RJ state, this is the first record of this species at REGUA.

The bird was seen twice throughout the day, briefly in the morning and then again later in the afternoon. Initially picked up in flight, it landed in a bare dead bush at the water's edge on a small grassy island by post 300 of the Wetland Trail. With previous experience of this species in the Pantanal I knew immediately what it was. Although the bird was distant and remained fairly deep in cover, I managed to take a few record shots that show the key features: black upperparts including the nape and rear crown and black tail, white tips to the greater and medium coverts forming two faint broken white wing bars, a thin white band across the rump, white forehead and forecrown, face and underparts and black eye, bill and legs. After a few minutes it flew off and despite searching for an hour or so I couldn't relocate it.

Late afternoon, while on my way back from mapping a new trail, I refound the bird around the replanted tabebuia trees, just a short distance from the first sighting, and this time I was able to watch it for about 30 minutes. It was quite active, spending most of the time foraging from vegetation overhanging the surface of the water by just a foot or so, and sallying out over the water presumably to catch insects and frequently fanning the tail slightly and flicking it downwards. Unfortunately, it remained distant and tended to perch a little way into the vegetation, which prevented me from getting any good photos.

Black-backed Water-Tyrant, REGUA wetland, 12 November 2011. The tail, wing coverts, secondaries and tertials
are all rather worn - note the lack of any white tips to the tail, very faint white the wing bars and almost absent
white fringes to the tertials (just visible in the photo top right).

There are only two potential confusion species. Pied Water-Tyrant Fluvicola pica (its closest relative and sometimes considered conspecific), is found in northern South America is similar but shows white scapulars, no white wing bars, a completely white rump and white mottling on the mantle. In RJ state, female or immature White-headed Marsh-Tyrant Arundinicola leucocephala are superficially similar at first glance, but are easily separated by their slightly smaller size, more upright stance, much less contrasting demarcation between the grey/black upperparts (with no white on the wing coverts, tertials or secondaries) and greyish white underparts, as well as a largely orange-yellow lower mandible. They also rarely fan their tail.

Black-backed Water-Tyrant, Pantanal, Brazil, August 2006. Note the obvious white
wing bars, white fringes to the tertials and secondaries and tips to the tail.

Female White-headed Marsh-Tyrant, REGUA, November 2011. With poor or brief
views this is the only potential confusion species in RJ state, but note the greyish
mottling on the white underparts, the diffuse border between the underparts and
the pale grey on the crown, nape, mantle and edges to the scapulars and
orange-yellow on the lower mandible.

Black-backed Water-Tyrant is distributed throughout eastern South America, mainly in central and eastern Brazil south to northern Minas Gerias and north-west São Paulo states, as well as locally into eastern Bolivia, Paraquay, north-east Argentina and south-west Uruguay (click here for a map). It is resident throughout much of its range, but in the austral winter some migrate westwards into western Amazonia (western Brazil, north-west Bolivia, extreme southern Columbia, eastern Ecuador and eastern Peru). The nearest populations to REGUA are found approximately 600 km away, either to the north in northern Minas Gerais or to the west in central São Paulo state.

So is this a late overshooting spring migrant from Amazonia? Ricardo Gagliardi maintains the official RJ state bird list and he informs me that Black-backed Water-Tyrant is in fact spreading south into RJ state (a paper is currently in preparation) and there have been several recent sightings in the north of the state. However, he is surprised the species has already reached as far south as REGUA and writes that this record "indicates a continuity in the process of colonization of new areas for the species". The bird was still present the next day but hasn't been seen since.

Acknowledgments

Many thanks to Ricardo Gagliardi for kindly providing information regarding the status of the species in RJ state, and to Eric DeFonso for taking the time to find the bird the following day.

REGUA, Atlantic Forest, Brazil: 12 November

2011-11-12T19:54:00.004Z

Our final day in Brazil, and a marathon day at that! At 02:45, Adilei, Helen and I found ourselves blurry eyed and yawning on the Onofre Cunha Trail for our last night walk. Once again things were rather quiet but a Black-capped Screech-Owl (photo 1) showed well, and 2 Black-banded Owl were seen in their usual spot but typically remained just out of DSLR range. A Mottled Owl was heard but there was no sign of any Tawny-browed Owls so we drove to another site, where immediately on arrival we found a Tawny-browed perched up in a cecropia. Mission accomplished! 3 Pauraque on the dirt roads were a bonus, but by now the rapidly gathering light was bringing the mornings night-birding to an end.

Black-capped Screech-Owl on the Onofre Cunha Trail

We decided on a dawn visit to the area of agricultural land at Areal (photo 2) that has become another regular Giant Snipe site, to try and catch up with a few species that are difficult on the reserve now that the reforested areas are becoming more established. 1 Savanna Hawk, 2 Plain-breasted Ground-Dove (scarce here), a Burrowing Owl, 2 Grassland Sparrow, 2 Wedge-tailed Grass-Finch, 1 Red-cowled Cardinal, 2 Chopi Blackbird, several White-browed Blackbird and a group of Common Waxbill were amongst the birds seen against a backdrop of displaying Blue-black Grassquits and a beautiful sunrise. There's nothing quite like grasslands at dawn.

Sunrise at Areal

After breakfast back at the lodge I was out again, this time mapping in detail the two trails we marked yesterday. Starting on the Wetland Trail, I had only got to post 300 when I noticed a small black and white tyrant-flycatcher flying out from the bank towards a small grassy island. I knew immediately that this was no White-headed Marsh-Tyrant, but a Black-backed Water-Tyrant, and a new bird for REGUA! Landing in a dead bush, it frustratingly remained rather obscured before flying off just a minute or so later. I was sure that this species was not normally found in RJ state, and only had a few terrible record shots. After over an hour of searching there was no further sign of it so I continued walking the trail hoping to refind it. By now it was getting hot and several White-faced Whistling-Duck (photo 3), 3 Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, 18 Masked Duck (the highest count of the trip), 1 Capped Heron, 2 Snowy Egret, 1 Squirrel Cuckoo, 2 Greater Ani, 1 Wing-banded Hornero, 1-2 Cattle Tyrant (now rather scarce at the wetland), 1 Short-crested Flycatcher and a Black-capped Donacobius were the best of the other birds seen.

White-faced Whistling-Ducks

A quick walk mid afternoon to map the new Forest Trail found very little bird activity, with a Blond-crested Woodpecker being the most noteworthy sighting. With only two hours left before we had to leave for the airport, I was almost back at the lodge when I refound the Black-backed Water-Tyrant. It was a little distant but I spent half an hour watching it and taking some slightly better photos, before all too soon I had to leave it and rush back for dinner, pack and say my goodbyes. It would have been nice to have had another day to try and get some better shots but I couldn't have asked for a better end to the trip (separate post on this bird to follow).

Trail marking at REGUA

2011-11-11T19:52:00.004Z

Although there are plenty of trails in the lodge area at REGUA, few have ever been marked out with posts and there is no information readily available to visitors about these trails and the wildlife that can be seen along them. So back in July, Rachel, Raquel Locke, Helen Cavilla and I began the task of developing the trail network and designed two new trails, the Wetland Trail and the Forest Trail, working out and measuring the routes and deciding where to place signs and benches etc. Over the last few days Rachel has been working hard with volunteers and REGUA staff building and painting marker posts and signs, and today (11 November) we were finally ready to mark out the trails.

The Wetland Trail is a circular route that runs for 2.8 km around the edge of the wetland, taking in lakes, marsh, reed beds and reforested areas. It is marked with yellow posts every 50 m and also gives access to two hides. The Forest Trail is a 2.4 km linear route that runs through well established secondary forest, areas recently replanted with pioneer tree species and wet grassland. Rachel and I assembled a team consisting of REGUA ranger Barata, lodge manager Helen Cavilla, REGUA guide Adilei and volunteers Richard Thaxton and Eric DeFonso, and although it was very hot we made light work of what would otherwise have been a time consuming task, and had a lot of fun in the process. Many thanks to everyone for helping out!

Newly painted marker posts for the Forest Trail.

From left: Richard Thaxton (Loch Garten RSPB site manager), Barata and Rachel.

From left: me and Helen Cavilla.

Richard Thaxton and Rachel.

REGUA, Atlantic Forest, Brazil: 10 November

2011-11-10T21:24:00.001Z

Another hike up the Elfin Forest Trail today, this time via the Waterfall Trail. An adult Rufous-thighed Kite just before the trail head by Casa Pesquisa got things off to a good start, and then things got even better shortly afterwards with one of the highlights of the trip. Luciana Barcante, a student from Rio de Janeiro State University studying changes in bird populations with altitude, was ringing on the Waterfall Trail and had just caught a pair of Russet-winged Spadebill (photos 1 & 2)! Its not everyday you get the opportunity to see such rare a bird at close range, so I stayed and watched Luciana process the birds, taking a few pics in the process. Check out the white crest - I've never seen this in the field. Incredible birds! This pair was not caught at one of the regular spots on the reserve for this species, so they could be yet another pair. A White-throated Spadebill seen shortly afterwards provided a timely comparison.

Male Russet-winged Spadebill

Female Russet-winged Spadebill

Also caught were 1 Saw-billed Hermit, 1 Violet-capped Woodnymph, 1 Rufous-capped Antthrush (photo 3), 1 Ochre-bellied Flycatcher (photo 4) and a Grey-hooded Flycatcher.

Rufous-capped Antthrush

Ochre-bellied Flycatcher

On the Elfin Forest Trail I finally managed to connect with Fork-tailed Tody-Tyrant (at post 2250), with 1 or 2 birds seen after a what felt like a very long wait. Unfortunately they weren't very showy so I was unable to get any decent photos. Also seen on the Elfin Forest Trail were 1 Mantled Hawk, 1 Least Pygmy-Owl being mobbed by 2 Red-necked Tanagers, a Scale-throated Hermit, 1 Saffron Toucanet, 1 Yellow-throated Woodpecker, a male Salvadori's Antwren, 1 White-bibbed Antbird, 1 Spotted Bamboowren, 1 Planalto Woodcreeper, 1-2 Scaled Woodcreeper, 1 Ochre-breasted Foliage-gleaner, 2 Black-capped Foliage-gleaner, a Pale-browed Treehunter, 1+ Sharpbill, the male Elegant Mourner again, 2 Black-capped Becard, 1-2 Rufous-browed Peppershrike, 4 Brown Tanager, 2 Black-throated Grosbeak and a Golden-crowned Warbler.

REGUA, Atlantic Forest, Brazil: 9 November

2011-11-09T18:22:00.000Z

A hot and very quiet day on the Veludo Trail today. 2 Saw-billed Hermit (photo below), 1 male Frilled Coquette, 1 Rufous-tailed Jacamar, 1 Yellow-throated Woodpecker, a male Variable Antshrike, a pair of Spot-breasted Antvireo, 1 Ochre-breasted Foliage-gleaner, 1 White-eyed Foliage-gleaner, 2 Grey-hooded Flycatcher, 1 White-throated Spadebill, 2 Euler's Flycatcher, 1 Blue Manakin, 3 Yellow-green Grosbeak, 1 Orange-bellied Euphonia and a Chestnut-bellied Euphonia were the best of the few birds seen, and yet again we came frustratingly close to a calling Variegated Antpitta but failed to see it. Elsewhere, a White-eared Puffbird was on the dirt road leading to the trail head.

Austral migrant tyrant-flycatchers

2011-11-08T23:52:00.002Z

During the austral spring (September and October), large numbers of migratory birds arrive in the Atlantic Forest and across southern South America to breed. Avian migration in South America is very poorly understood compared to many other parts of the world, with seasonal distribution and migration routes unclear for many species. However, some species, particularly some tyrant-flycatchers, are known to migrate very long distances, and a few are potential vagrants to North America and perhaps beyond.

Several Fork-tailed Flycatchers (photo 1) are currently about on agricultural land around REGUA. There are four races of this stunning bird, and the nominate Tyrannus savana savana is a long distance migrant, breeding in southern South America, mainly south of the Tropic of Capricorn², and spending the austral winter (April to August) in the northern half of the continent, as far north as western Columbia, Venezuela, and Trinidad and Tobago. Fork-tailed Flycatcher occurs almost annually as a vagrant in the US and Canada with over 120 records, mainly in the east and involving 1st winter birds of the nominate race³. Most have occurred as reverse migrants in September and October, when birds wintering in northern South America move south to their breeding grounds, but some have occurred as overshoots in the northern spring when birds are heading north for the austral winter. Incredibly, one even made it to Spain in October 2002³!

Fork-tailed Flycatcher of the nominate form T. s. savana, REGUA, November 2011.
This long distance migrant is recorded almost annually as a vagrant in North
America, and the first record for the Western Palearctic occurred in 2002.

Variegated Flycatcher (photo 2) is also a common summer visitor to the Atlantic Forest and can be seen around the wetland and at forest edge habitats at REGUA at the moment. Widespread throughout South America east of the Andes, nominate Empidonomus varius varius is highly migratory in the southern part of its breeding range, with birds moving as far north as Trinidad, Venezuela and as far west as eastern Colombia and eastern Ecuador for the austral winter. Variegated Flycatcher shows a similar pattern of vagrancy in North America to Fork-tailed Flycatcher, albeit but with far fewer records (Fork-tailed Flycatcher is a very conspicuous species, so maybe Variegated Flycatchers are going unnoticed?) - 3 have been recorded in the US (2 in the east) and 1 in south-east Canada, with all but one recorded between September and November. None have been assigned to race for certain, but a bird in Washington in 2008 showed characteristics of the nominate varius⁴, suggesting migrants from southern South America are involved rather than the nearer but sedentary Mexican population. With Fork-tailed Flycatcher having made it across the Atlantic, could Variegated Flycatcher follow?

Variegated Flycatcher of the highly migratory nominate race E. v. varius, REGUA,
October 2007. Birds breeding in southern South America winter in the far north of
the continent. 4 have so far occurred in North America, including 3 in the east, but
more possibly go unnoticed. The larger size, longer bill and rufous tail separate it
from the similar Piratic Flycatcher.

Piratic Flycatcher is similar to Variegated in appearance, but is smaller with a shorter bill and less rufous tones in the tail and rump. Like Variegated, the nominate L. l. leucophaius is migratory and moves north for the austral winter. Nine had been recorded in North America up until 2009⁴, with one record from eastern US (Florida). Similarly, the local race of Streaked Flycatcher, M. m. solitarius (photo 3), is also highly migratory in the southern end of its range. So far Streaked Flycatcher has not been recorded north of Mexico⁴, but this is one of the most common austral summer migrant tyrant-flycatchers in RJ state, and must be considered a potential vagrant to North America.

Streaked Flycatcher of the migratory race M. m. solitarius, Vale das Taquaras,
November 2007. This common long distance austral migrant is a potential vagrant
to North America and maybe elsewhere.

References

¹ del Hoyo, J., Elliot, A. & Christie, D. (eds.) 2004. Handbook of the Birds of the World, 9. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions.
² Erickson, H.T. 1982. Migration of the Fork-tailed Flycatcher through southeastern Brazil. American Birds 36: 136-138.
³ Gutiérrez, R. 2008. The Fork-tailed Flycatcher in Spain - a new Western Palearctic bird. Birding World 21: 325-328.
⁴ Mlodinow, S.G. & Irons, D.S. 2009. First Record of the Variegated Flycatcher for Western North America. Western Birds 40: 47-50.

REGUA, Atlantic Forest, Brazil: 8 November

2011-11-08T23:29:00.004Z

A very long but fantastic day birding to the top of the Elfin Forest Trail today, with plenty of Atlantic Forest endemics seen. A quick walk along the Grey Trail en route produced 1 each of Plain Parakeet, Blue-bellied Parrot, Spot-backed Antshrike, Black-cheeked Gnateater, Rufous-breasted Leaftosser, Planalto Woodcreeper, Ochre-breasted Foliage-gleaner, Eared Pygmy-Tyrant, Russet-winged Spadebill, Grey-hooded Attila, Pin-tailed Manakin and Blue-naped Chlorophonia.

The Elfin Forest Trail reaches 950 m above sea level, and although rocky and very steep in places, is one of my favourite birding trails anywhere. The forest here has only ever been selectively logged and the trees are dripping with bromeliads and orchids, supporting a whole range of animals scarce in secondary forest. A calling male Elegant Mourner (photos 1 & 2) showed very well between posts 850 - 900, with another seen briefly in the same place. At the top of the trail 1 Spotted Bamboowren (photo 3) was eventually coaxed out into a relatively open area of bamboo, and 1 Mantled Hawk, 1 Scale-throated Hermit, 1 Versicolored Emerald, 4 Saffron Toucanet, 1 Yellow-browed Woodpecker, 2 Ferruginous Antbird (photo 4), 1 White-bibbed Antbird, 1 White-throated Woodcreeper, 1 Black-billed Scythebill and a Rough-legged Tyrannulet were seen. Other notables logged include 1 Surucua Trogon, 1 Rufous-capped Motmot, 3 Spot-billed Toucanet, 1-2 White-collared Foliage-gleaner, 1 Pale-browed Treehunter, 1 Azure-shouldered Tanager and a Black-throated Grosbeak. Frustratingly, we failed to see the Fork-tailed Tody-Tyrants recently found on this trail despite hearing them call at close range. The return walk along the Waterfall Trail added a Plain Xenops and a White-thighed Swallow.

Above and below: Male Elegant Mourner at the regular breeding spot at
post 850 on the Elfin Forest Trail

Spotted Bamboowren - rubbish photo, tough bird

The brightest coloured Drymophila antbird, Ferruginous Antbird is found at higher
altitudes and is often associated with bamboo.

REGUA, Atlantic Forest, Brazil: 7 November

2011-11-07T23:19:00.001Z

A quiet day on forest trails around the wetland produced nothing out of the ordinary. A walk along an unmarked trail and then onto the Forest Trail produced 1 Rufous-thighed Kite, a pair of Sooretama Slaty Antshrike (photo 1), 5 White-flanked Antwren, 4 Unicoloured Antwren, 1 Plain-winged Woodcreeper, 1+ Grey-hooded Flycatcher, 1 Sepia-capped Flycatcher, 2 Streaked Flycatcher, 1 Variegated Flycatcher, 1 Short-crested Flycatcher, 2 Moustached Wren (photo 2), 1 Long-billed Wren and the Green-winged Saltator. A short hike up the São José Trail found little activity, with just 2 more White-flanked Antwren, 1 Unicoloured Antwren, a Streaked Xenops and another Long-billed Wren for company.

Male Sooretama Slaty Antshrike

Moustached Wren

In the evening a group of low swifts over the lodge included a few Biscutate Swifts and some Sick's Swifts and a night walk around the wetland produced a male Scissor-tailed Nightjar and several Pauraque (photo 3).

Male Pauraque

Três Picos State Park, Brazil: 6 November

2011-11-06T23:44:00.004Z

Spent the day birding in higher altitude forest on the Theodoro Trail at the nearby Três Picos State Park that borders REGUA. On route to and from the trail we stopped at the fruit feeders set up by locals on the road up into the mountains. The feeders provide good photographic opportunities and attracted small numbers of Ruby-crowned, Brazilian, Green-headed (photo 1) and Red-necked Tanagers, a pair of Burnished-buff Tanagers (photo 2), 3 Green Honeycreepers (photo 3), Violaceous Euphonias (photo 4), at least 3 Chestnut-bellied Euphonias (photo 5) and a couple of Blue-naped Chlorophonias (photo 6), as well as a few other species. We only spent half an hour or so here, but with more time you could get some excellent images.

Green-headed Tanager

Male Burnished-buff Tanager

First summer male Green Honeycreeper

Male Violaceous Euphonia

Male Chestnut-bellied Euphonia

Female Blue-naped Chlorophonia

My second lifer of the trip, a Bertoni's Antbird, was seen soon after starting up the Theodoro Trail, and other decent birds seen here include 1 Plumbeous Pigeon, 1 White-throated Hummingbird, 1 Yellow-browed Woodpecker, 3 White-shouldered Fire-eye, 1 Slaty Bristlefront, 1 Rufous-capped Spinetail, 1 White-collared Foliage-gleaner, 1 Ochre-faced Tody-Flycatcher (photo 7), 1 Bare-throated Bellbird, 1 Sharpbill, 2 Brassy-breasted Tanager and 2 White-browed Warbler.

Ochre-faced Tody-Flycatcher

Back at REGUA in the late afternoon, a few Biscutate Swifts were picked out from a low flock of White-collareds feeding over the lodge, and the Rufous-thighed Kite and Greenish Elaenia were still around. A night trip to the Onofre Cunha Trail wasn't very productive with just a Black-banded Owl and 1 Tropical Screech-Owl seen, and Tawny-browed Owl, Mottled Owl and Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl heard.

View of the reserve from the lodge garden

REGUA, Atlantic Forest, Brazil: 5 November

2011-11-05T13:40:00.002Z

Only had time for a morning walk around the Wetland Trail and the Forest Trail today as we had a barbecue to go to this afternoon. Got a lifer in the form of a flushed Pinnated Bittern, and a Green-backed Becard collecting nest material is a very good record for the wetland area (photo below). 9 Masked Duck, 8 Black-bellied Whistling-Duck (my highest site count so far), 1 White-necked Hawk, 1 Aplomado Falcon, 1 Limpkin, 1 Channel-billed Toucan, 1 White-flanked Antwren, 3 Southern Beardless-Tyrannulet, 2 Variegated Flycatcher, 1 White-winged Becard, 1 Crested Becard, 1 Lemon-chested Greenlet and 3 Black-capped Donacobius were about the best of other birds seen.

Green-backed Becard. Not a great photo, but a good record for the wetland area.

REGUA, Atlantic Forest, Brazil: 4 November

2011-11-04T23:13:00.015Z

Spent the morning birding the Casa Anibal Trail, which leads through lowland humid forest up to 350 metres. Things are still very quiet but we managed to find some good birds, the highlight being a Yellow-billed Cuckoo that appeared briefly before moving off into the forest. This is only the second record for the reserve and a REGUA tick for me. Also seen were 1 Squirrel Cuckoo, 2 Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl, 1 Surucua Trogon, 2 Crescent-chested Puffbird, 2 Channel-billed Toucan, a Spot-billed Toucanet, a pair each of Yellow-fronted Woodpecker and Sooretama Slaty Antshrike, 1 Spot-breasted Antvireo, 1 White-flanked Antwren, 4 Unicoloured Antwren, 2 Rufous-winged Antwren, 2 Scaled Antbird (photo 1), 1 White-eyed Foliage-gleaner, 1 Ochre-bellied Flycatcher, 2 Grey-hooded Flycatcher, 1 Eye-ringed Tody-Tyrant, 1 Euler's Flycatcher, 1 Fork-tailed Flycatcher, 1 Moustached Wren, a Uniform Finch and 2 Chestnut-bellied Euphonia.

Scaled Antbird is the only completely black and white Drymophila antbird. A
lowland species, found in good numbers in the lower parts of the reserve.

We also witnessed a spider wasp successfully capture, sting and paralyse a tarantula. Spider wasps lay an egg inside the spider, which on hatching, eats the spider while keeping it alive for as long as possible. I've seen spider wasps many times before but never seen one actually attacking a spider. The tarantula was overpowered surprisingly quickly.

Spider wasp fighting a taratula. The spider was easily overpowered.

Arriving back at the lodge we had brief views of a female Frilled Coquette in the garden (only the second record for the lodge garden), a Rufous-thighed Kite (photo 3), 1 Channel-billed Toucan and several Argentine black and white Tegu sunbathing around the pool (photo 4). An afternoon look at the wetland produced a few notables including a flyover Toco Toucan (a rare bird at REGUA), 2 Rufous-sided Crake, a Blackish Rail, 1 Blue-winged Parrotlet and several White-chinned Sapphire (photo 5).

This Rufous-thighed Kite is hunting insects each evening around the lodge.

Argentine black and white Tegu Tupinambis merianae

White-chinned Sapphire is a lowland species and is now regular at the
lodge feeders.

Night-birding this evening on agricultural land around the nearby village of Areal produced 3-4 Giant Snipe (photo 6) and 2 Barn Owl.

REGUA must be the best place to get up close and personal views of this difficult
nocturnal species. This bird showed down to 3 metres.

REGUA, Atlantic Forest, Brazil: 3 November

2011-11-03T20:02:00.006Z

A much better day today with the morning spent birding the Waldenoor Trail. 2 Swallow-tailed kites were a REGUA tick for me but unfortunately remained very high. Also seen here were 1 Whistling Heron, 2 Mantled Hawk, 2 Blue-winged Parrotlet, Plain Parakeet, Grey-rumped Swift, Sick's Swift, a nice male Frilled Coquette, 1 Surucua Trogon, 2 Rufous-capped Motmot, 3 Rufous-tailed Jacamar, 1 White-eared Puffbird, 2 Crescent-chested Puffbird, 1 Yellow-eared Woodpecker, 1 Yellow-browed Woodpecker, 1 Spot-breasted Antvireo, 2 Planalto Tyrannulet building a nest, 1 Southern Beardless-Tyrannulet, 1+ Piratic Flycatcher, 2 Variegated Flycatcher, 1 Fork-tailed Flycatcher, 1 Dusky-capped Flycatcher, 1 Pin-tailed Manakin, 1+ Green-backed Becard, 3 Chestnut-crowned Becard, 2 White-winged Becard, 3 Crested Becard, 1 Olive-green Tanager, 2 White-bellied Tanager, 1 superb male Rufous-headed Tanager, 1 Tropical Parula and Orange-bellied Euphonia.

We are currently building a new canopy hide at REGUA and Nicholas and I climbed the scaffolding to check out the view (photo below). There are no canopy towers in this part of the Atlantic Forest and this will be awesome when it is finished. 2 early Swallow-Tanager and 13 Masked Duck were seen at the wetland, and 2 Rusty-margined Guan were back on the fruit feeders at the lodge this evening.

Photo by Helen Cavilla

REGUA, Atlantic Forest, Brazil: 2 November

2011-11-02T22:15:00.003Z

The rain finally stopped overnight but heavy cloud and low temperature kept bird activity very low. Birding the Waterfall Trail and the Elfin Forest Trail today was slow going, and, frustratingly, photographic opportunities were non-existent. Highlights were 1 Shrike-like Cotinga, 1 Russet-winged Spadebill, Saw-billed Hermit, 1 Crescent-chested Puffbird, 1 Spot-billed Toucanet, a pair of Plain Antvireo, 1 White-throated Woodcreeper, 1 Black-capped Foliage-gleaner, 2 Buff-fronted Foliage-gleaner, 2 Ochre-bellied Flycatcher, 2 Eye-ringed Tody-Tyrant, 1 Whiskered Flycatcher, 1 White-rumped Monjita, Fork-tailed Flycatcher, Greyish Mourner, 1 Pin-tailed Manakin, 1 White-thighed Swallow, 1 White-rumped Swallow, 1 Yellowish Pipit and 3 Red-legged Honeycreeper. A Rufous-thighed Kite hunting over the lodge late evening was a nice finish to the day.

REGUA, Atlantic Forest, Brazil: 1 November

2011-11-01T22:40:00.004Z

Another very wet and cold day at REGUA with little bird activity. We decided against any of the forest trails and took another walk around the wetland. 4 Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, 3 Muscovy Duck, several Masked Duck, Rufescent Tiger-Heron, 2 Tropical Screech-Owl, several White-collared Swift, White-chinned Sapphire, 1 Amazon Kingfisher (quite a scarce bird here), 2 Wing-banded Hornero, 1 Short-crested Flycatcher, Brown-chested Martin, 2 Grey-breasted Martin and several Chestnut-capped Blackbirds were about the best of the birds seen. Around the lodge, 1 Greenish Elaenia, the Green-winged Saltator, 1 Streaked Flycatcher, 2 Maroon-bellied Parakeet, 1 Long-billed Wren, a stonking male Red-legged Honeycreeper and 1 Yellow-backed Tanager were the highlights.

Greenish Elaenia. The first record for Rio de Janeiro state was found here in May
2008.

Bored with getting soaked we decided to go machete shopping, but I just couldn't decide which one to get! The rain is forecast to clear tonight so hopefully we'll be able to bird the forest tomorrow.

This amazing local shop near Matumbo sells just about everything and has a
whole range of machetes hanging up over your head as you walk in! Photo by
Helen Cavilla, aka 'Lodge Master'. I have to acknowledge her as photographer
otherwise she'll only get the arse!

Back to Brazil

2011-10-31T22:27:00.001Z

Not had the best start to this trip! We finally arrived in Brazil yesterday afternoon rather than Saturday evening as planned, thanks to Iberia delaying our connecting flight in Madrid by 18 hours and shoving us in a crap hotel overnight, and today (31 October) saw very heavy rain for most of the day, restricting birding opportunities. A brief walk around the wetland this morning did, however, produce a REGUA tick in the form of two Grey-necked Wood-Rails. I've only heard them once at REGUA in the past, so this was a welcome addition to the patch list. Other 'highlights' on this rather highlight-less morning were 1-2 Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, 14 Masked Duck, a nice adult Rufescent Tiger-Heron, 2 Capped Heron, 1 Ringed Kingfisher, a Greater Ani, 1 Black-capped Donacobius and a noisy colony of nesting Red-rumped Caciques. This afternoon the lodge garden was also very quiet apart from a fly-over Ringed Kingfisher and good numbers of hummingbirds enjoying the rain: 10+ Black Jacobin, 1 Reddish Hermit and several Rufous-breasted Hermit, Swallow-tailed Hummingbird, Violet-capped Woodnymph and Glittering-throated Emerald. In the evening 2 Rusty-margined Guan appeared on the fruit feeders.

Hummers do love the rain. Black Jacobin is a summer migrant to REGUA and
there's plenty around at the moment.

Cotingas and Manakins

2011-10-28T20:40:00.002+01:00

Just received my complimentary copy of Cotingas and Manakins by Guy Kirwan and Graeme Green. It's always nice to see some of your own photos published in a book, and I'm really pleased to have photos of Blue Manakin and Shrike-like Cotinga published in this incredible monograph. The amount of information on each species is monumental, and the plates, by Eustace Barnes, are simply stunning! This is without doubt the definitive work on these Neotropical families and if you are interested in Neotropical birds then I strongly recommend you buy a copy. I can't put it down, and the timing couldn't be better as I'm off to Brazil tomorrow morning. Check out the plumage of the Shrike-like Cotinga chick in the plate below (click to enlarge)!

Update on new Long-tailed Potoo ID feature

2011-10-14T10:08:00.003+01:00

I've finally submitted a paper to the Neotropical Bird Club, describing in detail a previously unknown feature I observed last year in south-east Brazil on a couple of Long-tailed Potoos Nyctibius aethereus. The tips to the scapulars, wing coverts, tertials and some of the mantle are sharply upturned on Long-tailed Potoo (click on the photo below to enlarge), whereas on all other potoo species the feathers lie flat. This feature is not mentioned in the literature or shown in any field guide illustrations, but a study of photos and museum specimens of all seven potoo species found the feature to be unique to Long-tailed Potoo, and therefore a useful identification feature in the field.

Three subspecies of Long-tailed Potoo are currently recognised: the nominate N. a. aethereus, found across south-east South America (previously split as Large-tailed Potoo); N. a. longicaudatus of Amazonia; and N. a. chocoensis of the Chocó region of west Colombia and north-west Ecuador. I found upturned feathers on aethereus and longicaudatus, albeit less pronounced on the later, but unfortunately I couldn't find any photos or skins of chocoensis. Hopefully the paper will be accepted and published in either Cotinga or Neotropical Birding next year.

A quiet autumn afternoon at Staines Moor

2011-10-07T23:45:00.003+01:00

Moderate north-westerlies and showers produced a few migrants at the patch this afternoon: a flighty male Stonechat (photo below) at the north end associating with 3 Northern Wheatear, 40 Meadow Pipit, 40 Linnet, 3 Chiffchaff and 1 Yellow Wagtail (heard overhead). Also seen were 2 Reed Bunting, 10 Goldfinch, 1 Kestrel, 1 Sparrowhawk (on Stanwell Moor) and a Kingfisher and Little Egret on the Colne.

Owling

2011-09-25T16:25:00.009+01:00

Spent this weekend in Bedfordshire visiting friends Steve Blain and Caroline Geary. An hour or so yesterday evening sorting through the gull roost at Stewartby Lake failed to find the putative Azorean Yellow-legged Gull found by Steve on 21st (pics here). However, an adult Caspian Gull and at least 3 Yellow-legged Gulls (1 ad & 2 1st yrs) in amongst several thousand Lesser Black-backs, Herring and just a single Common Gull, provided some compensation. Much more successful was a couple of hours owling from 23:45 to 01:45, with a Barn Owl and 4 Tawny Owls (photos below) seen at very close range. Amazing birds! About 5 Muntjac Deer were also seen.

Tawny Owl tucking into a Grey Squirrel. I didn't know Tawnies took prey as large
as this. Perhaps this bird had scavenged some road kill?

Pallid Harrier, Burpham, West Sussex: 23 September

2011-09-23T23:23:00.019+01:00

Throughout the week I'd managed to put the idea in my head of twitching the juvenile Pallid Harrier in West Sussex if it hung around (I'd seen Pallid Harrier in Britain before but never seen a juvenile anywhere). Despite my valiant efforts at resisting a flithy twitch, this afternoon I found myself scanning a huge area of the South Downs just north of the village of Burpham. After about an hour the bird was found sitting on the ground at the edge of a field preening.

Even partially obscured on the ground, the well defined pale cinnamon-buff neck collar contrasting with the dark brown 'boa' and facial markings and crown was obvious. In flight the plain rich cinnamon underparts and under wing-coverts contrasting with the blackish secondaries and the white, blackish barred primaries and black and white barred tail made for a striking bird. On the underwing, the secondaries looked so dark at times that it was difficult to see the barring on them (on Monte's the barring on the secondaries is more obvious), but the inner primaries didn't appear as pale as I expected, being grey rather than white, and actually appeared quite dark at times (compare photos 1 and 3). The buff scapulars and pale tips to the upper wing-coverts were also obvious in flight.

Throughout the afternoon the bird covered a huge area and would disappear for long periods, sometimes appearing quite high overhead (even mobbing a Red Kite at one point). When it did show at close range the heat haze prevented me from getting any sharp images, but what a fantastic bird!

Also seen were 1 male Hen Harrier, 6+ Red Kite, c10 Common Buzzard, 4 Kestrel, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Northern Wheatear, c20 Meadow Pipit, 6 Chiffchaff, c100 Barn Swallow moving south, c20 House Martin and a Sand Martin.

As nuts as I feel for driving for 1.5 hours for a bird I don't even 'need', when I could have been seeing bugger all at the moor instead like a normal well-rounded individual (?), at least I can console myself as not being as far gone as the good friend of mine (who shall remain nameless) who sent me this text this morning: Am considering flying Bristol to Inverness on Sunday lunchtime returning Monday lunchtime for crane. Cost would be £120 rtn plus hire car and fuel split plus Travelodge room share, probably with three, £170 quid. Any takers, or have I lost the plot?

That's crazy talk!

Passage migrants at Staines Moor

2011-09-18T23:20:00.007+01:00

A reasonable number of common migrants around this afternoon. A Whinchat (poor record shot below) associating with 5 Northern Wheatear (photo 2) on the open grassland on Staines Moor was the highlight, where 11 Meadow Pipit, 4 Skylark and 40 Goldfinch were also logged. In the bushes 1 Reed Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Common Whitethroat, 15 Chiffchaff and 8 Blackcap (gorging themselves on blackberries) were seen, and overhead a light trickle of hirundines heading south in a very light westerly totalled 76 Barn Swallow, 15 House Martin and a Sand Martin. Also seen were 10 Linnet, and a Little Egret and Kingfisher along the Colne.

Dungeness, Kent: 16 September

2011-09-16T23:46:00.005+01:00

A three hour seawatch in the morning found very little moving despite the fresh south-easterly. A mixed flock of 12 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 3 Wigeon and 2 Teal heading south west was nice to see (photo below), and 7 Common Scoter, 40+ Sandwich Tern, 30 Northern Gannet, and a Marsh Harrier heading south out to sea were the only other notables. An adult Little Gull, a 2nd winter Mediterranean Gull, 1 Kittiwake, 1-2 Juv Arctic Tern, 20+ Common Tern and 15+ Sandwich Tern were at the Patch and the 2nd cycle Glaucous Gull was following fishing boats offshore.

Migrating Dark-bellied Brent Geese, Wigeon and Teal.

Common migrants were in evidence on the land. At the point 6 Northern Wheatear, 1 Stonechat and 5 Pied Wagtail were noted. At the RSPB reserve, Chiffchaffs (photo 3) were seemingly in every bit of cover with at least 30 seen and many more heard, along with 2 Willow Warbler, 2 Sedge Warbler, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Common Whitethroat, 4 Blackcap and a female Pied Flycatcher that appeared briefly on the Willow Trail trying its utmost to avoid being photographed (top photo). 5 Whinchat (photo 4), 3 Stonechat, 2 Northern Wheatear, 1 Yellow Wagtail and small numbers of Meadow Pipit were also noted as well as 2 Common Buzzard and a Hobby overhead.

On the ARC pit, 2 Little Gull (1 ad & 1 juv), 2 juv Black Tern, 2 juv Arctic Tern and 1 juv Common Tern were flying around, and 2 Little Stint, 3+ Ruff, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Ringed Plover, 5+ Dunlin, 200 European Golden Plover and 4 Wigeon were logged. A steady southwards movement of Barn Swallow (about 20 per minute) and Sand Martin from late morning onwards probably involved thousands of each.

Other notables seen were a 1st winter Shag and an injured Ruff on Burrow's Pit, the Great White Egret on Denge Marsh, 2 Sparrowhawk, 1 Peregrine, 3 Marsh Harrier, 5 Common Snipe, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 4 Eurasian Wigeon, 5 Black Redstart, presumably the local breeding birds, feeding along the power station perimeter fence (photo 5), 4 Stonechat, 1 Cetti's Warbler seen well for a change (with several others heard), c80 Linnet and a Raven.

Dungeness, Kent: 3 September

2011-09-03T22:35:00.025+01:00

A fairly productive day with a steady trickle of migrants. 1 Hobby, 26 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Whimbrel, c70 Barn Swallow and 3 Sand Martin were all logged heading south-west, and over the mid-afternoon high tide, 59 Red Knot (photo 1), 11 Dunlin, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, c200 European Golden Plover and c30 Oystercatcher were at the ARC Pit. A 40 minute seawatch this evening produced 1 Balearic Shearwater, c80 Sandwich Tern, and small numbers of Common Tern all moving west, c80 Northern Gannet and a Guillemot lingering, and 2 Little Gull (1 ad & 1 juv) and an adult Black Tern feeding at the Patch.

Other notables seen include the long staying Great White Egret, 1 Spotted Redshank, 2-3 Greenshank, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1+ Marsh Harrier, 7 Common Tern and an odd-looking leucistic Grey Heron (pics here) all on Denge Marsh, 1 adult Little Gull, a female Goosander and an eclipse drake Pintail on the ARC Pit, and c800 Lapwing, lots of Gadwall, Pochard, Tufted Duck and Northern Shoveler (in eclipse plumage) around the RSPB reserve, and 3-4 Sparrowhawk. Also, 6+ Harbour Porpoise were milling about offshore at the point and lots of Common Darters Sympetrum striolatum were about (photo 2 - male & photo 3 - female).

Autumn migration at Staines Moor

2011-08-27T20:48:00.008+01:00

A reasonable passage of warblers today comprising 23 Chiffchaff (photos 1 & 2), including 15 associating with a large tit flock on Stanwell Moor, 2 Willow Warbler (photo 3), 3+ Lesser Whitethroat, 12 Common Whitethroat, 4 Blackcap and 1 Garden Warbler seen. Other migrants included 5+ Yellow Wagtails around the cattle (photo 4), 3 Hobby, 2-3 Common Buzzard and 41 Barn Swallow. Also on the moor were flocks of 60 Linnet and 20 European Goldfinch including many moutling juveniles (photo 5), 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel and a Kingfisher along the Colne.

Chiffchaff moulting its tail.

Juvenile Willow Warbler

First winter Yellow Wagtail (inset), one of at least five present.

Rains Moor

2011-08-26T21:23:00.005+01:00

An early morning visit to Staines Moor today proved a non-starter due to relentless heavy rain. A large mixed tit flock along the path between Stanwell Moor and King George VI Reservoir included a Garden Warbler, 2-3 Blackcap, 2 Common Whitethroat, 1 Willow Warbler and several willow-chiffs flitting about that defied positive ID in monsoon conditions. 4+ Barn Swallow were the only other migrants noted before I admitted defeat after 45 minutes of getting thoroughly soaked.

Back home, a group of juvenile Wood Pigeons on the paddy field (previously a lawn) were doing their best to clean out the feeders - yep, you know its a bad day when a photo of a Wood Pigeon makes it on to your blog!

British Birdwatching Fair 2011

2011-08-22T18:52:00.012+01:00

Just back from the Birdfair where for the fifth year running Rachel and I had a stand representing REGUA in Brazil. Sharing a stand with Rick Simpson Birding Services worked out very well and REGUA again received a great deal of interest. Each year more and more people we speak to have previously heard about REGUA and many had even visited the Reserve. Many thanks to everyone who came by to see us and show their support!

It wasn't all work though and we occasionally managed to get away from the stand to catch up with friends and take a look around. This year we bought some excellent prints from John Gale and Steve Cale and I decided to commission an original painting from Steve of Atlantic Forest tanagers. I can't wait to see the finished article! Many thanks to Alan Martin and Richard Robinson for their invaluable help on the stand and also to Rick and Elis for making the event so much fun!

From the left: Rick Simpson, Elis Simpson, Rachel Walls, Alan Martin and me.

Birdfair bribery - Rachel's 'Bellbird Brownie', 'Spadebill Shortbread' and 'Fruitcrow
Flapjack' went down a storm (click to enlarge)! For more excellent home baking
check out Rachel's blog at http://rawbaking.blogspot.com/

Sam Woods of Tropical Birding doing his bit to promote REGUA.

REGUA banners

2011-08-15T22:39:00.019+01:00

I collected the three new 6ft high banners we've produced for the REGUA stand at the Birdfair from the printers today, and they look absolutely superb! Now I've just got a trip report, a 7 day birding itinerary and a photo album left to produce.

Come and see REGUA at the Birdfair

2011-08-15T10:20:00.008+01:00

The last few weeks have been hectic preparing the REGUA stand for the Birdfair this week. In previous years we've gratefully been allocated some space on the World Land Trust stand, but this year we are sharing a whole stand with our friend Rick Simpson of Rick Simpson Birding Services. This means we've got a lot more space for displays about our conservation work and the incredible birding at REGUA, and this has mean't a lot of hard work producing new banners and materials. We've also organised a competition to win a membership of the Neotropical Bird Club. If you are planning to come to the Birdfair then please stop by our stand in marquee 5, stand number 35. The Birdfair takes place at Egleton Nature Reserve, Rutland Water, from Friday 19th to Sunday 21st August.

The Birdfair is a lot of hard work but well worth it!

The trouble with a foreign patch?

2011-08-01T15:00:00.021+01:00

Is that it is far too far away to twitch and you can be seriously gripped! If there was ever an email that I dreaded receiving just days after returning from REGUA, it was the one I received from our project manager, Nicholas Locke, this afternoon: "We have just photographed a Stygian Owl in the wetlands last night!! WOOOWWWWW!! You are just going to have to come. I will be getting photos."

Owls are my favourite family and this email has completely and utterly destroyed me!! Stygian Owl is very scarce throughout Latin America and this is only the third record for Rio de Janeiro state, the first being recorded in 1985 and the second at Vale das Taquaras in 2009. Many thanks to Mikael Käll who has kindly given me permission to use this fantastic image he took of the bird. Somehow I MUST see it!!

Whatever next from REGUA? Kinglet Calyptura?

What can you expect to see out of a Guapiaçu hotel bedroom window?

2011-07-29T16:26:00.026+01:00

Well maybe not the Hanging Gardens of Babylon or herds of wildebeest, but certainly views like this!

The view from the veranda

The view from room 1

REGUA set up Guapi Assu Bird Lodge to provide accommodation for people visiting the reserve and raise funds for protecting the Atlantic Forest. The lodge has changed a lot since I first visited in 2006. We've built new rooms increasing the capacity to up to 18 people, all rooms are now en suite, there is a new car park and a courtyard has been created planted flowers to attract hummingbirds and nectar feeding insects. The lodge now even has Wi-Fi and a webcam trained on the feeders! For more details on the lodge including rates click here.

Guapi Assu Bird Lodge

Rooms 9 & 10

Here are a few images of the scenery at REGUA.

The REGUA wetland

The Waterfall Trail

The Wetland Trail

The Serra dos Órgãos mountains at REGUA

The Waterfall Trail

Rachel and I will be representing REGUA at the British Birdfair at Egleton Nature Reserve, Rutland, from the 19th to 21st August, in Marquee 5, stand number 35. Please come and visit us if you can.

REGUA, Atlantic Forest, Brazil: 23 July

2011-07-23T23:33:00.004+01:00

Woke to heavy rain early this morning which put paid to the planned pre-dawn night-birding around the wetland for Tawny-browed Owl and Common Potoo. In fact any birding or photography whatsoever was looking very unlikely but then around mid morning the rain stopped. As this was the last day of the trip I dashed off to the wetland to try and catch up with some of the more common species that I have so far neglected.

A Slaty-breasted Wood-Rail and a Bran-coloured Flycatcher showed at the start of the Wetland Trail but then the heavens opened again! Taking shelter in the new hide, I had another look for the recently seen Boat-billed Herons, but had to make do with 1 Rufescent Tiger-Heron, 10 Black-crowned Night-Herons, 1 Bananaquit (surprisingly scarce at REGUA) and a Broad-snouted Caiman Caiman latirostris lying in wait for an unsuspecting Least Grebe or Common Moorhen. The downpour escalated to biblical proportions but after an hour it finally stopped and I set out again, and this time the rain held off.

A mixed species flock contained 1 Green-winged Saltator (a very low altitude record for this species and probably the same bird seen on the 15th), 2+ Yellow-browed Tyrant, a pair of White-bearded Manakin (photo 1 of the female), a female White-winged Becard, an immature male Crested Becard, 1 Long-billed Wren, 2 Yellow-legged Thrush, 1 Brazilian Tanager, 1 Ruby-crowned Tanager, at least 2 Golden-chevroned Tanager and a Tropical Parula. A Bare-throated Bellbird started singing from the hillside above but refused to show itself (if you don't know what they sound like click here) and the number of Masked Duck have increased to 1 male (photo 2) and 6 female.

Other birds seen before I ran out of time and had to return to the lodge include 4 Capped Heron, 1 Squirrel Cuckoo, 3 Chestnut-backed Antshrike, 3 Yellow-chinned Spinetail (photo 3), 1 Yellow-lored Tody-Flycatcher, 3 Planalto Tyrannulet, 1 Yellow-bellied Elaenia, 1 Southern Beardless-Tyrannulet, 1 Yellow Tyrannulet, 2 White-headed Marsh-Tyrant, 2 Short-crested Flycatcher, 1+ Grey-breasted Martin and 1-2 Black-capped Donacobius.

After watching 3-4 Channel-billed Toucans scoped from the veranda and 3 flyover Orange-winged Parrots, we said our goodbyes to Adilei, Helen, Nicholas and Raquel and then it was into the minibus and off to Rio airport. Gangs of Magnificent Frigatebirds patrolling the skies over Rio gave close views as we drove through the outskirts of the city and proved to be the last species of note for the trip.

REGUA has changed a lot over the last five years and thinking back to when we first got involved in 2006 its incredible how different the place is now. Back then the lodge was empty for much of the time, but REGUA is becoming a well known birding destination and now the lodge receives many more guests and is often full during the spring months. The wetland was about a third of the size and still bordered by fields with cattle and crops that held open country birds such as Yellowish Pipit and Grassland Sparrow, whereas today the fields have been replanted with native trees and these birds have been replaced by forest species such as Rufous-capped Motmot and even Red-ruffed Fruitcrow. Adilei was a ranger who couldn't speak any English but is now an excellent guide who knows a great deal of English including all the English bird names. In 2006 there were only two houses for volunteers to stay in compared to four now and a lot more volunteers, and REGUA now attracts many university researchers studying the biodiversity of the forest.

The success of REGUA is a true testament to the vision and resolve of Nicholas and Raquel Locke, who have created a robust model for nature conservation that proves it is possible to restore much of what has been lost. They have worked tirelessly to include the local community who now fully support REGUA and attitudes towards the forest are slowly changing. Rachel and I are honoured to be part of the team and we can't wait to see what the next five years will bring. A full report on this trip will follow soon.

REGUA, Atlantic Forest, Brazil: 22 July

2011-07-22T23:27:00.002+01:00

I awoke this morning to the calls of a Common Potoo and a Tawny-browed Owl drifting through the window. A quick search before dawn failed to find them but I didn't have time for a longer look as we had an early start today. At least I've got early tomorrow morning to try. The moon isn't rising until the early hours at the moment which might explain why these birds are not so vocal in the evening?

The Elfin Forest Trail is one of the best trails for birds at REGUA and is particularly good for several Threatened and Near-threatened Atlantic Forest endemics such as Golden-tailed Parrotlet, Blue-bellied Parrot, Salvadori's Antwren, Spotted Bamboowren and Brown Tanager. But this is a long and difficult hike and not the easiest trail to bird. For starters, the trail begins at post 2350 of the Waterfall Trail and so there is a long walk before you even reach the trail head, and also much of the trail is rocky and very steep, particularly the final kilometer to the top, which lies at 950 metres above sea level. However, the forest here is excellent quality primary and selectively logged forest and is some of most beautiful Atlantic Forest I've seen. The trees are dripping with bromeliads and orchids and the pristine stunted elfin forest and views at the top are awesome.

We arrived at the start of the Elfin Forest Trail at around 08:30. The forest was fairly quiet and many more birds were heard than seen, but as we moved up the trail we encountered some good mixed species flocks which included 2 Pale-browed Treehunters busy ripping apart bromeliads while 2 Black-capped Foliage-gleaners, 2 Buff-fronted Foliage-gleaners, a Spot-breasted Antvireo and a Rufous-browed Peppershrike were amongst the species foraging under the leaves. A little higher up the trail at post 1700, another mixed species flock contained a male Salvadori's Antwren along with at least 1 White-collared Foliage-gleaner and a White-throated Woodcreeper, and a Shrike-like Cotinga started calling! Post 1700 is a location of a breeding territory for Shrike-like Cotinga, which are thought to move to lower altitudes in the austral winter, so what is this bird doing here at this time of year? Maybe the adults remain higher up all year and the immatures move lower after being forced out of their parents territories? One thing is for sure, there is a lot more to discover about altitudinal migration and post breeding dispersal in the neotropics!

Things were very quiet at the top of the trail with a Spot-billed Toucanet, 1 Velvety Black-Tyrant (photo 1) and 1 Long-tailed Tyrant being the only noteworthy sightings. At this point the weather closed in and we decided on a rapid descent. On the way down 2+ Ferruginous Antbirds and a Large-headed Flatbill were seen in the bamboo and 4 Spot-winged Wood-Quail ran/flew across the trail in front if us (only my second lifer on this trip)! Also seen on this trail throughout the day were a pair of Surucua Trogon, 1 Plain-winged Woodcreeper, 1 White-throated Spadebill, 1 Crested Becard, Black-goggled Tanager and 2-3 Golden-crowned Warbler.

View at the top of the Elfin Forest Trail overlooking remote Atlantic Forest
with a cold front approaching

The top of Elfin Forest Trail

At this altitude bromeliads grow on the forest floor

Birds seen on the dash up and down the Waterfall Trail include a White-barred Piculet, a pair of Plain Antvireo, 1 Unicoloured Antwren, 1 Scaled Antbird, a female Black-cheeked Gnateater, 1 Plain-winged Woodcreeper, 1 Olivaceous Woodcreeper, 1 Buff-fronted Foliage-gleaner, 2 Eye-ringed Tody-Tyrant, 1 White-throated Spadebill, 1 Crested Becard, 3 Red-crowned Ant-Tanager, 4+ Flame-crested Tanager and a Tropical Parula.

Also found today on the Elfin Forest Trail were no fewer than three signs where a Puma Puma concolor had scent marked the trail. We see tracks and signs of these cats almost every time we come up here and I'd love to camp out sometime to try and see one.

REGUA, Atlantic Forest, Brazil: 21 July

2011-07-21T22:36:00.002+01:00

Decided on a morning visit to the Waldenoor area today. The dirt road up the Matumbo valley produced a very obliging Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl (photo 1), 4 White-eared Puffbirds, a pair of Double-collared Seedeaters (the first of this common bird I'd seen this trip), 2 Shiny Cowbirds and this Brown-throated Three-toed Sloth Bradypus variegatus (photo 2) crossing the road and blocking our path. After taking a few photos Adilei placed it gently in a tree out of harms way (photo 3).

Eyes in the back of the head - click photo to enlarge

Towards the top the 'road' becomes too steep to drive safely and you need to walk the last few hundred metres to the trail head. However, it was very windy from this point onwards and there were few birds in evidence. 2 Mantled Hawk and a Black-and-white Hawk-Eagle were soaring overhead and 2 Blue-winged Parrotlet, a Tropical Pewee (a winter visitor here), 1 Chestnut-crowned Becard and a showy Blue-naped Chlorophonia were the only birds of note actually seen.

The trail at the end of the dirt road that leads to the disused house where Waldenoor (the previous owner of the land here) once lived was more productive but still relatively quiet. The highlights were a flock of 10 Brassy-breasted Tanager (a good record for the reserve) and a troop of Brown Capuchin Monkeys Cebus apella moving through the trees. Other birds seen include 1 Grey-fronted Dove (the first I've ever seen on the deck), about 10 Plain Parakeet, 3-4 Pileated Parrot, 2-3 Grey-rumped Swift, 1 White-chinned Sapphire, 1 Rufous-breasted Leaftosser out in the open, 1 Sepia-capped Flycatcher, 1 Yellow-olive Flycatcher, 1 Blue Manakin, another Chestnut-crowned Becard, 1 Black-goggled Tanager, 1 Flame-crested Tanager, just a single Green-headed Tanager and 3 Yellow-green Grosbeak.

REGUA, Atlantic Forest, Brazil: 20 July

2011-07-20T23:35:00.003+01:00

Had an excellent day birding on the Waterfall Trail. One of the first birds we found was a superb male Shrike-like Cotinga at post 400, a very low altitude. This bird performed brilliantly, calling just a metre or so above our heads and feeding on caterpillars, and despite the severe lack of light I still managed a few reasonable pics (photos 1, 2 & 3). Note the rufous tips remaining on some of the greater and lesser coverts in photos 2 & 3 which indicate that this is an immature bird (click on photos to enlarge). Interestingly, it appears that most of the birds found at lower altitudes at REGUA at this time of year are immatures. Shrike-like Cotinga is something of a REGUA speciality, being much easier to find here than anywhere else. A second bird was later heard calling a little higher up the trail.

These three photos are dedicated to my good friend Sam Woods - one day mate!

We saw a lot of birds today but some of the highlights include a White-necked Hawk soaring with a Black-and-white Hawk-Eagle, a Saw-billed Hermit seen well at last (with many others heard), 3 Surucua Trogon, 1 Buff-bellied Puffbird (photo 4), 1 Blond-crested Woodpecker, 1 Scaled Antbird, 1 Black-cheeked Gnateater, 1 Sharp-tailed Streamcreeper (at the waterfall), 1 Southern Antpipit, 2 Eye-ringed Tody-Tyrant, 2 Large-headed Flatbill, a fantastic male Pin-tailed Manakin, 1 White-necked Thrush, several Olive-green Tanager, 1 Azure-shouldered Tanager, 2 White-bellied Tanager, 2 Brassy-breasted Tanager (another atitudinal migrant found in small numbers on the lowland trails at this time of year) and a pair of Rufous-headed Tanager. We also came very close to finally connecting with Variegated Antpitta today, but unfortunately despite Adilei succeeding in calling it into an area of relatively open forest floor, only he managed to catch a glimpse of it.

Also noted today were 2 Whistling Heron, an Aplomado Falcon and a White-rumped Monjita on the dirt road from the lodge to the trailhead, and at the Conservation Centre 2 more Whistling Heron and the resident pair of Tropical Screech-Owl were seen. Last but not least, a Brown-throated Three-toed Sloth was watched clambering about in a tree at the junction of the Waterfall Trail and Lost Trail.

The Waterfall Trail remains one of my favourite trails at REGUA. Over the last few years I've accumulated many many hours birding here, completely absorbed in the rainforest ecosystem, and I never tire of the birds or the views (photos 5 & 6). On my next Brazil trip I hope to explore the largely unexplored rough upper section of the trail.

REGUA, Atlantic Forest, Brazil: 19 July

2011-07-19T18:44:00.002+01:00

An overcast day spent with Helen Cavilla (the newly appointed lodge manager), Rachel and Raquel Locke designing the trail network around the lodge. Now that the final phase of the wetland restoration at REGUA is complete, the trails can be formally marked and mapped. Once marked out we will create an accurate map of the wetland showing the trails and in addition produce leaflets for each of the main trails around the lodge, which will make it much easier for guests to bird the area without a guide. Birding opportunities today were limited but 35 White-faced Whistling-Duck (a good site count), 4 female Masked Duck, an adult Cocoi Heron (scarce at REGUA), 7 Snowy Egret (my highest site ever count), 1 Savanna Hawk, 1 Aplomado Falcon, 1 Squirrel Cuckoo, 10 Greater Ani and 1 Ringed Kingfisher were amongst the many birds noted while walking around the wetland. Up at the lodge a Reddish Hermit and a Purple-throated Euphonia were noted amongst the more common species.

Serra dos Tucanos, Atlantic Forest, Brazil: 18 July

2011-07-18T23:05:00.016+01:00

A visit to the photo hide at Serra dos Tucanos this morning was less productive than yesterday but I still managed some reasonable images including one of the male of a pair of Purple-throated Euphonias (photo 1) and a male Orange-bellied Euphonia (photo 2) which shows a nice comparison of these similar species (note the less extensive yellow forehead and duller overall colouration on Purple-throated, the later feature not often made obvious in field guides). Other birds seen on the feeders include a Slaty-breasted Wood-Rail, Plain Parakeet, at least 20 Sombre Hummingbird, 1 Blond-crested Woodpecker, a pair each of Red-crowned Ant-Tanager and Ruby-crowned Tanager and an Azure-shouldered Tanager. Many thanks Andy and Cristina for a fantastic few days and we can't wait for our next visit. Next time we'll bring a bumper supply of Jaffa Cakes!

Back at REGUA in the afternoon and a Tiger Rat Snake Spilotes pullatus was found up in the trees behind the lodge (photo 3). Named after their yellow markings, Tiger Rat Snakes are the longest members of the Colubridae family and I estimated this one to be over two metres long. Mainly arboreal, they feed on small mammals, birds, amphibians and reptiles and have some of the best vision of any snake, judging distance using triangulation by moving their head from side to side, in much the same way as a bird of prey.

A walk down to the wetland late afternoon revealed an odd raptor perched up on a tree - a female Snail Kite! This is only the second time I've seen one here and it is still a rare bird at REGUA. I also managed to finally see a Blackish Rail and the partial albino Pale-breasted Thrush was still about. A night walk along the Onofre Cunha Trail in cloudy and misty conditions drew a blank with just 2 Burrowing Owl seen on the way back to the lodge.

Serra dos Tucanos, Atlantic Forest, Brazil: 17 July

2011-07-17T23:11:00.004+01:00

Serra dos Tucanos is a well known birding lodge located in the Três Picos State Park, about an hour drive from REGUA. The fruit feeders here are some of the best I've seen in the neotropics with almost constant activity. Andy and Cristina, the lodge owners, have built an excellent photography hide (photo 7) next to the feeders which provides amazing photo oppotunities, so after a walk around the grounds I spent a few hours busily snapping away in the hide. With the lodge lying at around 400 metres above sea level the feeders here attract a different mix of species to those at the lodge at Guapi Assu Bird Lodge. Highlights on the feeders this morning include Sombre Hummingbird (Serra dos Tucanos is easily the most reliable place to see this Brazilian Atlantic Forest endemic), a very brief Rufous-capped Motmot, 1 Spot-billed Toucanet, 1 Blond-crested Woodpecker, 2 Ruby-crowned Tanager, a pair of Brazilian Tanager (photo 1), fantastic views of an Azure-shouldered Tanager - an altitudinal migrant (photo 2), lots of Green-headed Tanager (photo 3), a pair of Burnished-buff Tanager (photo 4 - female), a stunning male Green Honeycreeper (photo 5), Orange-bellied Euphonia, 2 Chestnut-bellied Euphonia and a Blue-naped Chlorophonia (photo 6). I also managed some nice shots of Rufous-bellied Thrush (photo 6).

Other species seen around the grounds were 1 Black Hawk-Eagle, 1 Slaty-breasted Wood-Rail, Plain Parakeet, 1 White-eyed Foliage-gleaner, 1 White-throated Spadebill, a pair of Red-crowned Ant-Tanager and several Red-necked Tanager. I strongly recommend a stay at Serra dos Tucanos, especially if bird photography is your thing, and make sure you bring plenty of memory cards! Check out their website at www.serradostucanos.com.br.

Rachel and I then spent a relaxing afternoon catching up with our dear friends Andy and Cristina, chilling out on the veranda of their beautiful house overlooking the forest, eating and drinking - which is what we do best!

REGUA, Atlantic Forest, Brazil: 16 July

2011-07-16T19:43:00.003+01:00

A few hours watching the lodge garden this morning found a female Blue-naped Chlorophonia visiting the feeders (photo 1). This species is a good record for the garden, only occurring here in the austral winter when they move to lower altitudes. Usually a canopy species, it was interesting to watch this bird feeding on the ground. A Purple-throated Euphonia and 2 Brazilian Tanager were also seen and I managed some half decent photos of Maroon-bellied Parakeet (photo 2), Rufous-breasted Hermit (photo 3) and Sayaca Tanager (photo 4). In the afternoon we travelled an hour north-east of REGUA into the mountains to Serra dos Tucanos to visit our friends Andy and Cristina Foster for a couple of nights.

REGUA, Atlantic Forest, Brazil: 15 July

2011-07-15T22:41:00.004+01:00

I felt ill for much of the day so birding was once again restricted to the wetland. Mist early morning provided some challenging conditions for photography but I managed some reasonable images of Yellow-legged Thrush (photo 1), Burnished-buff Tanager (photo 2) and White-barred Piculet (photo 3). The most noteworthy sighting of the day was unfortunately one that got away - a saltator at the wetland with a white looking throat could have been a Green-winged Saltator but unfortunately I didn't get a good look at it. Frustratingly, Adilei found a Green-winged Saltator nearby in the lodge garden later in the afternoon which might have been the same bird. This is a high altitude species and is very unusual at just 30 m or so above sea level. Equally frustrating was a Grey-necked Wood-Rail heard calling but refusing to show itself. This would be a new bird for me at REGUA.

Other birds seen throughout the day include 5 Muscovy Duck, 1 Rufescent Tiger-Heron, 1 Aplomado Falcon, 1 Rufous-sided Crake, 1 Yellow-lored Tody-Flycatcher, 1 Yellow-browed Tyrant, a pair of White-winged Becard, 2 Lemon-chested Greenlet, an interesting partial albino Pale-breasted Thrush (photo 4), a pair of Brazilian Tanager, 1 Yellow-backed Tanager and Chestnut-capped Blackbird. In the lodge garden a Reddish Hermit showed at very close range. A walk around the wetland trail and along the adjacent forest trails at night was very quiet but still produced a Tropical Screech-Owl (photo 5), 4 Pauraque and a male Scissor-tailed Nightjar which showed down to 3 metres (photo 6)!

REGUA, Atlantic Forest, Brazil: 14 July

2011-07-14T20:25:00.003+01:00

I didn't have much time for birding today but I did spend part of the morning at the wetland and on the adjacent forest trails. Highlights along the Brown Trail, which runs through an area replanted with pioneer tree species in 2007, were 1 Crane Hawk, 5 Sooretama Slaty Antshrike (including a pair feeding a juvenile), a Euler's Flycatcher and 2 Fawn-breasted Tanager. Afterwards a quick walk along the São José Trail once again failed to find any Shrike-like Cotingas, but 1 White-bibbed Antbird, 1 Black-billed Scythebill, 1 Eared Pygmy-Tyrant, 2 Whiskered Flycatcher, a pair of Black-capped Becard, 1 Rufous-browed Peppershrike, a Flame-crested Tanager and 2 more Sooretama Slaty Antshrike provided some compensation, along with a White Witch Moth Thysania agrippina (photo below), which has the largest wing-span of any moth or insect in the world at up to 280 mm! I was in a meeting for the whole afternoon but still managed to catch up with the Rufous-tailed Jacamar that has taken up residence at the conservation centre.

REGUA, Atlantic Forest, Brazil: 13 July

2011-07-13T23:57:00.003+01:00

An early morning walk up the Grey Trail eventually produced our target bird for the day - Russet-winged Spadebill - but unfortunately it wasn't co-operating for the camera. REGUA has become one of the most reliable sites for this Vulnerable Atlantic Forest endemic, with at least three areas on the reserve where they can be seen. An unexpected bonus on the Grey Trail came in the form of 3 Black-legged Dacnis feeding in a flowering tree. Black-legged Dacnis have become a regular feature at the REGUA wetland in the autumn but it is still unusual to see them at this time of year.

Other birds seen today include 2 Pileated Parrot, Grey-rumped Swift, Black Jacobin, 2 Spot-billed Toucanet, 2 Yellow-eared Woodpecker, Black-cheeked Gnateater, 3 Rufous-capped Antthrush (photo below), 1 Eared Pygmy-Tyrant, 2 White-rumped Monjita, 1 Greyish Mourner, 1 Rufous-browed Peppershrike, Azure-shouldered Tanager and Golden-crowned Warbler.

REGUA, Atlantic Forest, Brazil: 12 July

2011-07-12T23:32:00.006+01:00

Spent the day birding an area of REGUA known as Waldenoor - a collection of small holdings only recently purchased by REGUA which contains some excellent quality, and not to mention beautiful, forest (photo 1). The excellent new Veludo Trail drops steadily in altitude through primary forest, secondary forest and dense scrubland, as well previously cleared areas that REGUA has replanted with native pioneer tree species.

The most notable sighting of the day was a female Green Honeycreeper, found by the superhuman eyes of Adilei, one of REGUA's guides. This is a new species for the Reserve and brings the REGUA list up to an incredible 457! Highlight of day for me though was finally catching up with Saffron Toucanet! This little bugger has given me the runaround on previous trips, often reappearing in the very places I had looked just a day or so later and so finding one feeding in a fruiting tree caused for a celebration!

Although the forest was relatively quiet with few birds calling (to be expected in early July) we found some some fantastic winter mixed species flocks and still managed to notch up a long list of birds, including: 4 Whistling Heron, 2 Mantled Hawk soaring with a Black-and-white Hawk-Eagle, Plain Parakeet, 1 Pileated Parrot, Scaly-headed Parrot, a superb Least Pygmy-Owl being heavily mobbed (photo 2), Scale-throated Hermit and Brazilian Ruby (two altitudinal migrant hummingbirds), 1 Surucua Trogon, 1 Black-throated Trogon, 1 Rufous-capped Motmot, 1 Rufous-tailed Jacamar, 2 Crescent-chested Puffbird, 1 Yellow-throated Woodpecker, Spot-breasted and Plain Antvireos, 1 Star-throated Antwren, 1 Rufous-winged Antwren, Streak-capped Antwren (including one bird at eye level for a change - photo 3), 1 White-shouldered Fire-eye, 2 Rufous-breasted Leaftosser, 2 Scaled Woodcreeper, 2 Rufous-capped Spinetail, Black-capped and Buff-fronted Foliage-gleaners, 1 Pale-browed Treehunter, Eye-ringed Tody-Tyrant, 1 Eared Pygmy-Tyrant, 2 Rough-legged Tyrannulet (photo 4), 1 Planalto Tyrannulet (photo 5), 2 White-throated Spadebill, 1 Blue-billed Black-Tyrant, 1 Black-tailed Tityra, Black-capped Becard, 1 Rufous-browed Peppershrike, several Olive-green Tanager, 1 Uniform Finch, 9 Yellow-green Grosbeak, 1 Black-throated Grosbeak, 2 Chestnut-bellied Euphonia and a Blue-naped Chlorophonia.

REGUA, Atlantic Forest, Brazil: 11 July

2011-07-11T23:12:00.004+01:00

With a meeting arranged for this afternoon followed by a sorte to decide where to site a new hide, birding was once again restricted to the wetland and trails near the lodge. Today turned out to be one of the quietest days for bird activity I've experienced at REGUA, but we still had a few reasonable sightings. An Azure-shouldered Tanager over the lodge is a very low altitude record and good numbers of Yellow-legged Thrushes around are mainly altitudinal migrants, moving lower the escape the low temperatures higher up the mountains.

At the wetland 2 Greater Ani, 4 Masked Duck, 1 Striated Heron, 1 Snowy Egret, 4 Wing-banded Hornero, 3 Black-capped Donacobius and 2 Brazilian Tanager were the pick of the bunch, and 1 White-flanked Antwren, 2 Unicoloured Antwren, 1 Plain-winged Woodcreeper, 1 Black-capped Foliage-gleaner, 1 Plain Xenops and 1 Grey-hooded Flycatcher were the highlights along the Brown Trail. The São José Trail was even quieter with a White-necked Hawk being the only noteworthy bird seen. Frustratingly we twice heard a Red-ruffed Fruitcrow but couldn't see it.

Still, all was not lost. A two hour night walk around the wetland resulted in great views of a male Scissor-tailed Nightjar singing from a termite mound (with another 2 heard) as well as several Pauraque and 2 Tawny-browed Owl heard.

REGUA, Atlantic Forest, Brazil: 10 July

2011-07-10T23:25:00.003+01:00

Spent a quiet day around the restored wetlands and adjacent forest trails. Highlights at the wetland were 5 Masked Duck, a very unseasonal Streaked Flycatcher (a summer migrant here), 12 Muscovy Duck (a high site count), 1 Ochre-bellied Flycatcher, 1 Lemon-chested Greenlet, 1 Moustached Wren, a very showy Long-billed Wren (photo 1), 1 Green Kingfisher, 2 White-tipped Dove (surprisingly difficult to see well at REGUA), 1 Yellow-legged Thrush and this superb male Chestnut-backed Antshrike (photo 2). A search along the São José Trail for one of REGUA's speciality birds, Shrike-like Cotinga, drew a blank, but a very brief Toco Toucan, my first at REGUA, more than made up for it! Other species seen on a quick visit to this trail include 1-2 White-barred Piculet, 1 Black-cheeked Gnateater, 2-3 Lesser Woodcreeper, 3 Yellow-legged Thrush, 1 Grey-hooded Attila, 4 Black-goggled Tanager, 1 Flame-crested Tanager, 1 Ruby-crowned Tanager, 1 Rufous-headed Tanager and 3 Yellow-backed Tanager.

A night walk along the excellent Onofre Cunha Trail this evening produced incredible views of Giant Snipe down to 2 metres (photo 3), with another 2 birds heard, along with 2 Black-banded Owl and a Common Potoo (another was also heard). Unfortunately a calling Tawny-browed Owl refused to show for us, but maybe next time.

REGUA, Atlantic Forest, Brazil: 9 July

2011-07-09T23:43:00.002+01:00

Arrived in Rio de Janeiro at 5:30 this morning after a mainly sleepless overnight flight. The early morning two hour drive north-east to REGUA in the Serra dos Órgãos mountains produced the usual common birds including several Little Blue Heron in Guanabara Bay, a Savannah Hawk, 2 Ringed Kingfisher and a Burrowing Owl. On arrival at REGUA's Guapi Assu Bird Lodge all traces of tiredness were forgotten with the sight of the fruit and hummingbird feeders heaving with birds. Good numbers of Swallow-tailed Hummingbirds, 60 Maroon-bellied Parakeets and lots of Blue Dacnis (photo 1) on the bananas made great viewing in the garden. 1 Rufous-breasted Hermit, several Violet-capped Woodnymphs and Glittering-throated Emeralds and a Yellow-lored Tody-Flycatcher (photo 2) were amongst the other species seen.

A walk to the new wetland hide to look for Boat-billed Heron failed to find any of these charismatic birds, but the sun was quite intense and they were probably just taking cover in the shade. However, the REGUA wetland is very birdy and it was good to take it easy getting reacquainted with the more common species. Most noteworthy were 1 Rufescent Tiger-Heron, 2 Capped Heron, 1 Aplomado Falcon, 1 Blue-winged Parrotlet, 2 Tropical Screech-Owl (at the usual roost site), 1+ Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift, 3 Chestnut-backed Antshrike, 2 Rufous Hornero (photo 3), 1 Yellow-browed Tyrant (one of my favourite Tyrant-Flycatchers), 2+ Grey-breasted Martin and 1 Fawn-breasted Tanager. Also this Great Kiskadee (photo 4) provided excellent entertainment diving into the water after small prey items!

Back to the Bird Continent

2011-07-08T16:17:00.002+01:00

I am about depart for a two week trip to Brazil's endemic-rich Atlantic Forest. One of the world's top biodiversity hotspots, the Atlantic Forest, or Mata Atlântica as its known in Brazil, stretches along the coast of south-east Brazil into coastal Uruguay and inland into north-east Argentina and eastern Paraguay. Geographically isolated from other forested areas of South America, the Atlantic Forest has a high degree of endemism, and supports about 200 endemic bird species!

Once again I'll be staying at Guapi Assu Bird Lodge located at REGUA, an Atlantic Forest reserve in Rio state and my foreign patch (photo below). REGUA spans two Endemic Bird Areas identified by BirdLife International - the Atlantic forest lowlands and the Atlantic forest mountains. So far an incredible 456 species have been recorded on the Reserve, including 118 Atlantic Forest endemics and 62 Brazilian Endemics! The Atlantic Forest is also one of the world's most threatened ecosystems with only around 7% of the original forested area remaining and virtually all of the lowland Atlantic Forest destroyed. REGUA contains a large area of continuous lowland forest which makes it an important reserve.

Since my last trip 14 months ago REGUA has planted another 32,500 native trees (105,000 now planted in total), purchased another 35 ha of rainforest, built a second hide at the wetland, opened a new laboratory at the conservation centre, landscaped the lodge gardens and developed new trails. I can't wait to see for myself how much things have changed!

Red Fox kill

2011-06-23T23:39:00.006+01:00

The local Red Foxes have successfully raised two cubs which have been visible most evenings over the last week or so, playing at the back of a neighbours garden, while an adult stands guard sitting on a shed roof! The cubs are now well grown and this evening one of them made its first kill, a Wood Pigeon. It decided to bring its prize into our back garden where it proceeded to get stuck in, at one point even burying part of it in our flower bed (nice)! Keeping with tradition I decided to shoot this video 'Cream Tea Birder style', you know, with the trademark shake and the animal rarely, if ever, looking at the camera!

New Forest: 19th - 21st June

2011-06-22T12:55:00.001+01:00

The aim of this trip was to search for Honey Buzzard and as many heathland specialities as we could find over three days. But once again our plans were scuppered by bad weather (this time persistent heavy rain being the culprit) as well as the impeccable timing of a flu virus that decided to wipe me out for the duration of the trip, so we were far from successful.

Things couldn't have got off to a slower start when an evening walk around the heathland at Beaulieu Road on the 19th produced just a single Curlew, 2 Stonechat and a Reed Bunting! These weren't the highlights, this was about all that we saw! The 20th was our only full day and we had planned to spend several hours looking for Honey Buzzard, but being very overcast and with heavy rain predicted we decided to try for some of the specialities at Boulderwood instead. Fortunately the rain held off long enough for us to find several Firecrest (although only one was actually seen), 2 Wood Warbler, 2 Common Redstart (a female and a nice spotted juvenile), a lone Common Crossbill singing, several Siskin, 1 Treecreeper, 1 Grey Wagtail and a Roe Deer, but unfortunately photo opportunities amounted to nil.

Our final day dawned overcast and windy but at least it had stopped raining. I felt so rough by this point that we decided to spend the few hours we had left before we had to head home walking along the River Beaulieu from our hotel at Bucklers Hard to Beaulieu village. Birds were noticable by there absence (1 Redshank and 1 Little Egret being about it), but the wildflower meadows along this route were full of Common Spotted Orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii (photo 1), Bitter Vetch Lathyrus linifolius (photo 2), Bird’s-foot-trefoil Lotus corniculatus (photo 3) and Meadow Vetchling Lathyrus pratensis (photo 4).

Subbuteo not playing ball

2011-06-09T23:24:00.004+01:00

Haven't had a chance to get out birding of late, so a Hobby hunting insects over the garden at dusk this evening was much appreciated, even if it did fly off every time I pointed the camera at it! A few years back a pair nested in a large tree viewable from my house, so maybe this bird is nesting nearby and I'll get another chance at a shot? The only other bird of note seen in the last week or so has been a Red Kite heading east over the A283 near Sullington in West Sussex on 4th June.

In search of Dunlin

2011-05-27T22:45:00.002+01:00

Spent today once again battling into a strong westerly wind, this time on the high blanket bogs of Dartmoor in search of the world's most southerly breeding population of Dunlin. Unfortunately a tough 12 km hike through very remote and rough terrain and a scan of a vast area of bog (photo below by Chris Townend) produced not a single decurved bill or black belly. In fact there were hardly any birds at all, with just 1 Hobby, 2 Common Snipe, 1 Raven and 2 Northern Wheatear of note. Dunlin return to their breeding grounds on Dartmoor in late May so perhaps we were just a little too early? Fernworthy Forest provided some compensation with a singing Wood Warbler, 2 Redstart (1 heard), 3+ Tree Pipit and a pair of Bullfinch.

Lundy: 24th - 26th May

2011-05-26T22:32:00.002+01:00

Just arrived back from a short trip to Lundy (Isle of Puffins) - a small remote granite island lying 12 miles off the north Devon coast. Our aim was to search for any late spring migrants and to check out the seabird colonies, but unfortunately our visit coincided with very strong westerly winds that developed into storm force as time went on, and so things didn't go quite as we hoped.

The 24th started off well enough with a Hobby seen dashing over Jaffa and Helen's back garden in Budleigh Salterton early morning. However, anticipation of close seabird encounters on the crossing over to Lundy were dashed on arrival at Ilfracombe by the rough conditions, and in fact seabird numbers going over were very disappointing with just c.15 Manx Shearwaters, 6+ Razorbill, 1 Guillemot, 1-2 Fulmar and a few Gannet seen. After arriving on Lundy and dumping our gear at our accommodation we trekked north to Halfway Wall, where we quickly located the male Trumpeter Finch that had been present since the 13th (my second in Britain). This 13th for Britain performed brilliantly in the bright evening light to just the four of us, showing down to just 6 m at times. It spent most of the time on the grass tracks and gravel paths feeding on seeds and small shoots, but did start calling and even singing on one occasion. Despite the strong winds we managed some reasonable shots (photos 1-3). Migrants noted throughout the afternoon were a Turtle Dove and 2 Willow Warbler in Millcombe Valley, 1 Sedge Warbler in St. John's Valley and c10. House Martin and good numbers of Swallow elsewhere. 2 Peregrines were amongst the resident birds seen.

Trumpeter Finch with the Lundy landmark of Tibbets in the background

With light south-easterlies forecast for the 25th, it looked like this was going to be our best chance for passage migrants. But instead the day dawned with a strong southerly blowing that quickly changed to a blustery south-westerly. A few hours birding early morning produced virtually no migrants, with just 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Blackcap and the Turtle Dove noted in Millcombe Valley and the same Sedge Warbler in St. John's Valley. An afternoon walk to the north end of the island while being blasted by the wind was equally unproductive for migrants, with just 1 Spotted Flycatcher noted on the East Sideland and small numbers of House Martin knocking about. The Trumpeter Finch was also seen again at Halfway Wall.

Local breeding birds provided the only other wildlife photo opportunities. Northern Wheatears (photo 4) were everywhere on the island plateau, with at least 2 pairs seen visiting nests, and Meadow Pipit (photo 5), Skylark and Linnet were abundant. Also noted were 4 Peregrine (including a pair at the nest), 4 Raven, an adult Water Rail feeding a chick in St. John's Valley and Pied Wagtail and Wren both with fledglings in Millcombe. The strong wind made viewing seabirds very difficult but lots of Manx Shearwater, Fulmar, Razorbill, Guillemot, Northern Gannet and Shag were seen offshore, mostly very distant, along with a few Grey Seal around the rocks. Finally, a late night visit to one of the Manx Shearwater breeding slopes found just a few birds calling.

St. John's Valley looking towards Millcombe Valley - one of the few areas on
Lundy with bushes and trees and a well known migrant trap. Our
accommodation - Bramble Villa West - is the background.

Lundy is characterised by grassy slopes between the cliffs and the island
plateau known as the Sidelands. This is the East Sideland - one of the only
spots sheltered from the wind duing our visit.

Looking north towards Gannets' Rock


North Light at North West Point. Thousands of Atlantic Puffins once bred on the grassy slopes here, but today only around 32 pairs breed, and Lundy is close to losing Puffin as a breeding species. Since 2006 Lundy has been rat free thanks to the Seabird Recovery Programme, which will hopefully help lead to an an increase in Puffin numbers.

On our last day the winds were so strong (force 6) that the Oldenburg couldn't make the crossing back to the mainland and so we had to be 'evacuated' by helicopter! I managed to grab the seat next to the pilot so the views over Lundy and Hartland Point on the mainland were incredible (photos below). This was my first visit to Lundy and although the weather stopped us doing much of what we wanted to do I can't wait to go back, hopefully in conditions where you can at least stand upright.

Hartland Point, Devon

For an alternative take on this trip, which highlights some of psychological issues that arise within a group stuck on a lump of rock in the Atlantic in storm force winds seeing bugger all, click here.

Lundy calling

2011-05-23T17:16:00.009+01:00

Down in Devon this week visiting the Cream Tea Birder and his better half, the Cream Tea Bird. A quick look at the sea off Budleigh Salterton this morning revealed 33 Manx Shearwaters, 2 very distant skuas, probably Arctic, several Northern Gannet, several Northern Fulmar and an Oystercatcher, all moving west in a moderate south-westerly. A few hours filling our faces at the River Cottage Canteen in Axminster was undoubtedly the highlight of the day. Off to Lundy tomorrow for a few days so lets hope the weather improves and we find a stonking rare!

As a footnote to this post, later that evening we had a Nightjar flying around over the park outside Jaffa and Helen's house as well as over the garden. A local breeding bird from the nearby heathland or a migrant?

Late spring at Staines Moor

2011-05-20T23:36:00.015+01:00

A few hours at Staines Moor this morning failed to locate any late passage migrants, however, it was good to see some early breeding successes. Recently fledged Starlings have formed a small flock around the cattle on the moor, and Great Tits were also seen feeding fledglings. Breeding is also well underway for summer visitors - this fledgling Blackcap (1st photo) was being fed by an adult and Common Whitethroats are now busy feeding young (2nd photo).

Counts today include 1-2 Hobby, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Garden Warbler, 3 Sedge Warbler, 3 Reed Warbler, 10 Common Whitethroat, 3 Chiffchaff, 10 Swallow, 10 House Martin, 8 Swift, 3 Common Tern over, 1 Little Egret on the Colne (3rd photo), 3 Reed Bunting (including a female performing a 'broken wing' display at me), just 1 Lapwing, 2 Greylag Geese, several displaying Meadow Pipit and the usual Skylark and Linnet.

Lots of Banded Demoiselles Calopteryx splendens are now on the wing (male - 4th photo, female - 5th photo) as well as a few Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum, and the moor is covered with flowering Marsh Marigolds Caltha palustris and Yellow Flag Iris Iris pseudacorus.

Neotropical Birding article on REGUA

2011-05-19T19:14:00.010+01:00

Just had an article I wrote about REGUA published in the spring 2011 issue of Neotropical Birding. REGUA is an NGO in south-east Brazil protecting over 7,000 ha of Atlantic Forest - the second most threatened biome in the world and home to a very high number of endemics. An incredible 455 bird species (and counting) have been recorded at REGUA, including 62 Brazilian endemics and 118 Atlantic Forest endemics! 13 species classified as Threatened by BirdLife International are also found here - a very high total for one site. REGUA is a fantastic birding destination, and moreover, the lodge is non-profit, with all income going towards REGUA's conservation work. This article, Seeking out Atlantic Forest specialities at Reserva Ecológica de Guapiaçu, describes where and when to find the Reserve's specialities, such as Elegant Mourner, Russet-winged Spadebill, Salvadori's Antwren and Giant Snipe. If you would like a copy, or are interested in neotropical birds, please join the Neotropical Bird Club.

Polish colour-ringed Caspian Gull at Dungeness

2011-05-18T23:23:00.018+01:00

While photographing gulls around the fishing boats at Dungeness on Sunday evening (15th), I found this colour-ringed bird that I suspected might be a first-summer Caspian Gull Larus cachinnans (below). The mainly unmarked white head and underparts (with just a few faint brown markings on the breast sides, flanks and under tail-coverts), dark beady eye, worn dark tertials and the worn and therefore rather plain pale brown greater coverts contrasting with fresh grey feathers on the scapulars made it stand out (oh, not to mention the bright yellow ring on the right leg). Structurally it also fit the bill: narrow bill, long legs (particularly the tibia), fairly small head with a gently sloping forehead and slight peak at the nape, long primaries and a full-chested appearance. I often struggle identifying immature large gulls, but after checking the literature I'm happy with the ID. A look at the European colour-ring Birding website reveals the bird was ringed in Poland (click to enlarge).

Also present was this adult colour-ringed Herring Gull, ringed somewhere on the south coast of the UK (below).

Late spring at Dungeness

2011-05-15T23:17:00.018+01:00

Spent the day at Dungeness with Rachel (yep, you read right! After hearing so much about this unusual place, Rachel wanted to see Dungeness for herself!). With a high pressure situated south-west of the UK producing moderate WNW winds, migrants were thin on the ground today, with just 1 Whimbrel, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Dunlin and c.80 Swift noted on the RSPB reserve and 3 Turnstone at the point. Personal highlight today was a pair of breeding Black Redstart at the power station, that did their best to avoid being photographed as they collected food along the perimeter fence (photo 1 below).

The long staying tail-less first-cycle Glaucous Gull gave excellent views at the fishing boats in the evening (photos 2-5). Also present here were large numbers of (mainly immature) Herring, Great Black-backed and Lesser Black-backed Gulls (as well as a few interesting birds I'm not certain of), exhibiting some interesting behaviour as they squabbled over Spider Crabs and fish scraps dumped by the local fishermen (interestingly, discarded dog fish were completely ignored?). A couple of Herring Gulls were also cracking open periwinkles by dropping them from the air onto the pebbles (photo 8).

The most intriguing sighting of the day was a possible Montague's Harrier, heading south over the A259 near Old Romney, seen briefly from the car on the way home! Unfortunately, a thorough scan after frantically turning the car around failed to relocate it. The only other notables were a male Northern Wheatear at the point (looked like a nominate oenanthe and so probably a local breeder), a 2nd summer Mediterranean Gull and c.200 Common Tern at the Patch, and 1 Hobby, 4 Marsh Harrier (1 male and 3 females), 4 Reed Warbler, 1 Lesser Whitethroat (heard), 1 Cuckoo (heard), 1 Cetti's Warbler (heard), 20+ Barn Swallow, 2 House Martin, 1 Sand Martin and 1 Gadwall at the RSPB reserve. Also, many wild flowers on the shingle are now in bloom, such as Yellow Horned Poppy Glaucium flavum (1st photo below), Sea Kale Crambe maritima (2nd photo below) and the invasive Red Valerian Centranthus ruber.

Bundles of joy

2011-05-14T21:00:00.009+01:00

Amazingly, this year we've got a pair of Blue Tits nesting in our garden. I first noticed the birds checking out the nest box during the winter and nest building began a couple of months ago, but I say amazingly because these birds have had a lot to contend with, including a local moggie sitting on top of the nest box peering into the entrance hole and even a Red Fox trying to get at them! The chicks are now pretty well developed (photo below) and should fledge in the next week or so. Although impossible to tell for sure from this photo, this brood appears to be very small, perhaps as few as 3 or 4 chicks, but hopefully I'll be around when they fledge so I can find out exactly how many there are.

Pulborough Brooks RSPB

2011-05-08T23:54:00.015+01:00

Spent a very relaxing afternoon with Rachel and good friends Geraldine and Dave sauntering around this excellent reserve in West Sussex. The highlight was great views of my first Nightingale of the year (with at least another 2 heard). Other species seen include 1 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Greenshank, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Hobby, 3 Redshank, 2 Common Swift, c.15 Sand Martin, 5+ Barn Swallow, 6 Eurasian Wigeon, a pair of Gadwall, 18 Shelduck, 2 Teal, 1 Little Egret, 3 Sedge Warbler, 4 Blackcap, 6 Common Whitethroat, 4 Chiffchaff, 2 Bullfinch and 2 Lapwing chicks were also noted. Heard only were 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Lesser Whitethroat and 1-2 Willow Warbler and a return visit at dusk to the heathland on the reserve produced my first Nightjar of the year heard churring away. A male and female Broad-bodied Chaser were also seen.

Wader passage at Dungeness

2011-05-02T23:59:00.051+01:00

With the persistent high pressure over northern Europe continuing to produce strong north-easterly winds, I was hoping to catch some of the incredible seawatching thats been happening at Dungeness over the last couple of days. However, soon after arrival it became apparent that there was far less moving today and seawatching was a little disappointing, perhaps due to the increased wind. Unfortunately I wasn't able to arrive until quite late so I missed out on 10 Pomarine Skuas, Little Gulls, Velvet Scoters and greater numbers of passage waders (see here). Nevertheless, a three hour seawatch still produced 150 Bar-tailed Godwits passing in small flocks (1st and 2nd photos), many in full summer plumage, along with 21 Whimbrel, 4 Grey Plover and 12 Sanderling, all heading east up the Channel. 68 Common Scoter, 4 Little Tern, 2 Gannet, a Yellow Wagtail 'in off' (3rd photo) and 3 Barn Swallow were also seen, and at the Patch another 2 Little Tern, 2 Black Tern, 1 Sandwich Tern and 200+ Common Tern were noted.

An afternoon visit to Dungeness RSPB found very little activity due to the very windy conditions. However, this Red-rumped Swallow was a nice surprise (found just before I arrived) and showed well for about an hour between Hooker's Pit and Boulderwall Farm, although it was far from easy to photograph (below)!

Also seen around the RSPB reserve were a further 60 Bar-tailed Godwits, 11+ Whimbrel (photo below), 1 Spotted Redshank, 6+ Greenshank, 1 Turnstone, 4 Dunlin, 4+ Common Swift, 20+ Barn Swallow, c.25 Sand Martin, a House Martin, another 2 Yellow Wagtail, 3 Marsh Harrier, 1 Redshank, 6 Ringed Plover, 2 Oystercatcher and 4+ Shelduck.

Migrants trickle through

2011-04-30T16:52:00.011+01:00

With strong easterlies blowing there was some light visible migration going on overhead at Staines Moor this morning. 1 Common Swift heading N was my first of the year, and 3-4 Common Buzzard NE, 3 Common Tern E and 20+ Barn Swallows N were also seen moving through. A female Northern Wheatear in the north-west corner was the only passage migrant on the deck (2nd photo), but summer visitors on territory were everywhere with 3 Cuckoo (1 heard), 2 Garden Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroat (1st photo), 18 Common Whitethroat, 7 Sedge Warbler, 2 Reed Warbler (heard), 10 Blackcap, and 7 Chiffchaff all noted. 1 Peregrine (3rd photo), 3+ Shelduck, 4 Gadwall, 3 Egyptian Geese and 15 Lapwing (a high site count) were also seen.

I really miss the muddy pools that existed on Stanwell Moor a few years ago. Back then, passage waders such as Bar-tailed Godwit, Dunlin, Little Ringed Plover, Ringed Plover and Green Sandpiper were regular, but nowadays the pools are almost dried up and overrun with reeds and sallows, and so there's absolutely no chance of any of these beauties dropping in! :-(

Spring male Northern Wheatears

2011-04-27T21:24:00.032+01:00

With reports nationally of an early passage of Greenland Wheatears (Ssp. leucorhoa), I was interested to see if any of the Northern Wheatears passing through Staines Moor over the last couple of weeks could be assigned to this race based on field observations. In his article, Greenland Wheatears (Birdwatch 214: 26-27), Peter Clement points to several features that help separate leucorhoa from the nominate oenanthe in the field: larger size (up to 20%), richer orange-buff underparts extending onto the belly and down the flanks (not restricted to the throat and breast like oenanthe), a broader black tail band, longer wings (by up to 9 mm) and, on males, deeper blue-grey upperparts. However, with variation within our own birds and Icelandic birds showing an intermediate morphology, surely positive identification of birds bound for Greenland would be difficult if not impossible in the field?

At the moor the majority of male birds seen in the last two weeks have showed characteristcs associated with Greenland Wheatear. However, there was a fait bit of variation, and often the structure, posture and colour of a particular bird has appeared to change slightly depending on the light conditions and behaviour.

Click to enlarge

Figs 1 & 2 show fairly classic looking oenanthe birds - a slight, fairly compact structure with the orange-buff largely confined to the throat and upper breast and the rest of the underparts whitish. Note that the bird in fig 2 has a more clearly defined mask and supercilium, appears bulkier due to its posture and is whiter below. In comparison the birds in figs 4 & 5 show a heavier structure, richer orange-buff extending throughout the underparts and perhaps a clearer and bolder black mask and white supercilium. Fig 5 shows the same bird as fig 3 in flight - note the broad black tail band that's over a third, and almost half the length of the tail. Martin Garner suggests an interesting supporting feature for Greenland birds, where their longer wings show between 7-8 primary tips on the closed wing, compared to 6-7 on the nominate race. The bird in fig 6 clearly shows 7 primary tips (click to enlarge), which I guess could place it either camp, but doesn't rule out Greenland. To my eyes, the blue-grey on the upperparts looks pretty much the same on all these birds.

I suspect the identification of actual Greenland Wheatears can only be confirmed with biometrics, but we can at least say a bird 'shows characteristcs of' a bird from Greenland, Iceland or Fenno-Scandinavia, and it was certainly good fun trying to work it out!

More on Greenland Wheatears here:
http://www.birdwatch.co.uk/categories/articleitem.asp?item=692
http://birdingfrontiers.com/2011/04/09/greenland-wheatears/
http://steveblain.blogspot.com/2011/04/leucorhoa.html
http://peteralfreybirdingnotebook.blogspot.com/2011/04/northern-northern-wheatears.html

Oare Marshes

2011-04-23T23:45:00.008+01:00

A change of scenery today with a late afternoon visit to Oare Marshes in Kent over the high tide. I used to come here quite a bit but its been almost two years since my last visit! There were a few summer migrants around including 5 Common Tern, 8 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Reed Warbler, 2 Sedge Warbler and a Cuckoo (heard). Not much of a sense of movement going on apart from a Whimbrel that dropped in to bathe on the east flood, 1 Hobby over and 5 Barn Swallow. About 200 islandica Black-tailed Godwits (1st photo) on the east flood eventually started heading off high north in small flocks (including a couple of colour ringed birds), and other birds seen include 1 male Marsh Harrier, 16 Avocet (including a pair on two eggs), 11 Redshank and 3 Little Egret (2nd photo).

Quiet evening at Staines Moor

2011-04-22T22:51:00.006+01:00

A marked reduction in the number of migrants around this evening. A Garden Warbler along Bonehead Ditch was new for the year, but warbler numbers were much lower than of late (although I guess this is partly down to time of day) with just 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Common Whitethroat, 3 Sedge Warbler, 3 Blackcap and 4 Chiffchaff in evidence. Other notables seen were 2 Cuckoo (1 heard only), 1 Hobby over S, 6 Barn Swallow, 1 Sand Martin, 6 Northern Wheatear (3 male, 3 female) at the north end, 2 Redshank and a Little Egret.

High pressure continues

2011-04-21T16:45:00.019+01:00

With warm dry weather and largely clear skies continuing, spring passage on the ground was much reduced at Staines Moor today. 5 Lesser Whitethroat and a Cuckoo were my first of the year but both have been reported over the last few days, a female Ring Ouzel (first reported two days ago) was my third at the moor this spring and 11 Northern Wheatear (5 male, 6 female) were still at the north end. Skywatching was better, producing 1-2 Hobby (N then S), a Red Kite over NW at 11:30 (1st photo) and 2 Common Buzzard N at midday (2nd photo) - all high up, along with 1 Yellow Wagtail over W, 8 commic tern E, 12 Sand Martin, 1 House Martin and 5 Barn Swallow. Also noted were 10 Blackcap, 6 Sedge Warbler, 2 Reed Warbler (heard only), 6 Chiffchaff, 7 Common Whitethroat, 2 Cetti's Warbler (heard only), 2 Redshank, 2 Egyptian Geese and 1 Little Egret along the Colne, 4 Lapwing harrassing the Carrion Crows, 6+ Shelduck and also 2 Gadwall on Stanwell Moor.

Highlight of the day for me though was this fantastic Grass Snake (photo below).

Yellow Wagtails

2011-04-16T19:51:00.009+01:00

The north-west corner of Staines Moor is heaving with birds at the moment. A Tree Pipit and a Cuckoo were seen before I arrived this morning, but I had to settle for 4 Yellow Wagtails (2 males and 2 females) and 15+ Northern Wheatears (one of which was singing) in amongst 15 Meadow Pipits and 15 Linnets. A commic tern over distantly, 18 Sand Martin, 5 Barn Swallow, 4 Sedge Warbler, 6 Common Whitethroat, 5 Chiffchaff, 1 Willow Warbler, 6 Blackcap, 2 Redshank, 3 Lapwing, 3 Shelduck and 1 Little Egret was the best of the rest.

More migrants

2011-04-15T23:54:00.031+01:00

Back to Staines Moor today. A late start didn't fill me with optimism about the days birding, but this quickly changed. I had only made it a few metres along the footpath between Stanwell Moor and King George VI Reservoir when I picked up the distinctive reeling of a Grasshopper Warbler (at 11:10). Unfortunately viewing was very restricted and the bird was in an inaccessible area so I had little chance of seeing it.

On the moor itself at least 20 Northern Wheatears (12 males and 8 females) were hopping around at the northern end (4th, 5th and 6th photos), and while I was trying to work out if any 'Greenland' birds were present a female Whinchat appeared amongst them (1st photo). Minutes later a stunning male Common Redstart appeared briefly in one of the hawthorns, but despite searching I couldn't relocate it. Then things got even better when a walk around the scrub at the northern end of the moor brought me face to face with a female or perhaps 1st summer male Ring Ouzel chacking away (2nd photo). While attempting to get a few record shots another bird appeared (3rd photo)!

Also noted today were 2 Common Buzzard E, 10 House Martin, 2 Sand Martin and 15+ Barn Swallow overhead, 1 Reed Warbler (heard), 5 Sedge Warbler, 4 Common Whitethroat, 10 Blackcap, 8 Chiffchaff, 1 Willow Warbler (heard), 2 Redshank, 1 Common Snipe, 9+ Lapwing, 2 Shelduck, a Little Egret along the Colne and a Speckled Wood butterfly.

Staines Moor springs to life

2011-04-08T18:00:00.029+01:00

Had a fantastic few hours at Staines Moor today. Summer migrants were everywhere and there was some good visible migration going on overhead. The undoubted highlight was a Red Kite over S at midday being joined by a Short-eared Owl that proceeded to mob it before heading off high to the NE!! A group of 7 Common Buzzard drifting NE at 10:25 (photo below), 1 Yellow Wagtail W and 5 Sand Martin were also logged overhead. Things were just as good on the ground with 8 Northern Wheatears around the ant hills (4 males and 4 females), 1 Green Sandpiper and a Little Egret on the Colne, 2 Common Whitethroat, 2 Sedge Warbler, and at least 10 Willow Warbler, 17 Chiffchaff and 27 Blackcap! Other bits seen include a Red-legged Partridge (a patch tick), 6 Reed Bunting, 2 Redshank, 2 Shelduck, plenty of Skylark and Meadow Pipit displaying, as well as good numbers of Linnet. Cetti's Warbler were heard, and Comma, Orange-tip, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell and Brimstone butterflies were also noted.

Plastic fantastic!

2011-03-31T09:47:00.003+01:00

Not much time for birding at the moment. Had a Barnacle Goose fly over the A3 this morning and land in a field to join 10 Canada Geese (just east of the A244 junction, by Claygate Common). I guess this is just one of the increasing number of feral birds roaming Surrey.

Bold as brass!

2011-03-27T10:31:00.009+01:00

One of our neighbours has been feeding the local Red Foxes and they have now become very tame, allowing great photographic opportunities from the living room. Found all around the northern hemisphere, the Red Fox is now the most widespread canid on Earth (and has 45 subspecies!), and the UK is well known for its urban populations. This vixen was still out foraging at 10am this morning, suggesting she has a den nearby with hungry cubs.

The tail end of winter

2011-03-13T20:27:00.013Z

A few hours traipsing around Staines Moor this afternoon failed to produce the hoped-for first Sand Martin, Wheatear or LRP of the year, but a singing Chiffchaff, 4 displaying Lapwing and 5 singing Skylark added a spring-like feel. 4-5 Water Pipits along the River Colne, 2 Goosander and a flock of 70+ Fieldfare were the highlights.

Staines Moor is littered with the oldest Yellow Meadow Ant Lasius flavus nests
in Britain, and are a good indication that the ground here has never been ploughed!
This is also a great area for Green Woodpeckers.

A tale of two gardens

2011-03-05T14:00:00.022Z

Twitched the 1st winter Oriental Turtle Dove at Chipping Norton this morning (I know, I'm weak!). With my back improving I wanted some easy birding, and what could be easier than watching a ninth for Britain from a warm kitchen? With the crowds now subsided I was able to spend 45 mins watching the bird feeding and preening just metres away in the garden of no. 41 The Leys (many thanks to the Akers family). I knew very little about this species before today so it was an education studying the salient ID features. Great bird! Also amongst the common species on the feeders were 4+ Brambling (including a very bright male), 4+ Bullfinch and a Reed Bunting.

The journey back along the M40 was livened up by 36 Red Kite, 2 Common Buzzard and a Sparrowhawk, but then things got even better when a detour for petrol at Sunbury led me to at least 150 Bohemian Waxwings feeding on berries on the A308/A316 roundabout at Sunbury Cross (present at 11 am).

Back home watching the feeders in my own back garden, I was thinking birding for the day was over when at 13:20 a Red Kite flapped lazily low over heading north! Not a bad day so far!

Toughest trip ever?

2011-03-03T00:00:00.007Z

A year ago I went on one of the hardest wildlife watching trips I've ever done - searching for Iberian Lynx in Spain. Scanning miles of dehesa for days on end without so much as a faint meow was hard work!! Eventually we had excellent views, but next time I'm going prepared...

Brazil photos on WikiAves

2011-02-18T19:11:00.025Z

WikiAves is an interactive online encyclopedia of Brazilian birds, that allows people to upload photos and audio files of any wild bird in Brazil, as well as data on identification features, distribution, habitat and taxonomy. WikiAves has been around since 2009, and with over 225,000 photos and 14,000 sound recordings now uploaded, of almost 1,700 species, the site has become a powerful resource for birders in Brazil. If you are planning to go to Brazil then I highly recommend you take a look. Some of my favourite photos are these of Toco Toucan, Buff-fronted Owl, Crowned Eagle and Spot-tailed Nightjar. I've set up my own account to showcase some of the many photos I've taken in Brazil over the years. Check them out here.

Dream bird

2011-02-13T13:03:00.005Z

With the exception of the Atlantic Forest Holy Grail that is Kinglet Calyptura, the bird I dream of finding at REGUA is Atlantic Royal Flycatcher. Check out this stunning photo on WikiAves by Joao Quentali here.

Garden megas!!!

2011-02-12T11:23:00.005Z

Why all the garden birding of late? Well, at the end of last year I managed, somehow, to mess my back up again, which has led to me spending a lot of time hobbling around the house in pain (two weeks now until I see an orthopedic surgeon). Still, big news! There's been two megas in the garden over the last two days - a Stock Dove yesterday and 2 Starling today.

More Waxwings!

2011-02-10T11:58:00.008Z

Driving down the A3 this morning on my way to work, I glimpst what looked like a small flock of Waxwings flying around over the Sainsbury's car park at Cobham. Thinking they were probably actually Starlings I decided to check them out, and I'm glad I did, because on entering the car park I located a flock of about 40 Waxwings flitting about in tall trees between the car park and the small housing estate in the south-east corner. I was about to drive off when I noticed another 16 birds feeding on berries on the northern edge of the car park. Once at work I found out that a group of 20 was seen here two days ago.

Brazilians get twitchy

2011-02-03T14:06:00.010Z

As if having a resident Stygian Owl roosting outside your apartment isn't enough, a few weeks ago Rick Simpson reported that a 70+ strong flock of Brown-backed Parrotlets, a very rare Brazilian Atlantic Forest endemic, had taken up residence at the Ubatuba Birdwatching Centre. Classified as Endangered by BirdLife International, Brown-backed Parrotlet is notoriously difficult to catch up with, and even harder to see well. The birds are still present and have been showing very well at times, even sparking a twitch in Brazil, a country where twitching is virtually unheard of! Hopefully they'll hang around for my next Brazil trip! Check out Rick's account and Elis Simpson's excellent photos on Rick's blog here. Also, more photos here.

RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch 2011

2011-01-30T11:15:00.010Z

Took part in this years RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch. Activity in the garden has been high in recent weeks (see here), but despite the ridiculous number of feeders I've got hanging up and a thick layer of 'Robin Seed and Insect Blend' on the lawn, today was rather disappointing. The Goldfinch swarm that has been plaguing the sunflower hearts recently was down to a pitiful 2, and the regular Great Spot decided it had better things to do. The remaining tally was: Blackcap 1 male, Nuthatch 1, Coal Tit 1, Long-tailed Tit 2, Great Tit 2, Blue Tit 2, Robin 2, Dunnock 1, Chaffinch 3, Blackbird 4, Ring-necked Parakeet 4, Woodpigeon 4 and Magpie 7.

For some proper feeder action click here.

Rat race

2011-01-26T22:30:00.010Z

I love this program, it cracks me up! But what on earth has this great opening scene from Scrubs got to do with birding? Well, absolutamente nada! Although this race does kind of sum up life quite well - we're all trying to prove ourselves one way or another. The lift scene is classic!

Caution, Waxwings on road!

2011-01-10T19:00:00.011Z

Driving through Tolworth (Greater London) actually became exciting today with a flock of 17 Waxwings seen from the car. The birds spent most of the time perched at the top of a London Plane overlooking Ewell Road (junction with Derby Road), occassionaly dropping down to feed on Rowan berries. Ewell Road is extremely busy so I was very surprised when a couple of birds flew down towards me and landed on the tarmac, right in amongst the traffic, to drink water that had collected in a drain cover situated in the middle of the road! Unfortunately though, there weren't many gaps in the traffic and after a couple of attempts they gave up. Suffice to say I didn't have my SLR with me (it's not often I take it to Waitrose) and I didn't manage to capture this great moment. However, I did manage a few record shots, which are quite possibly the worst Waxwing photos in the history of photography!

Garden birding

2011-01-07T18:55:00.010Z

During the recent snowy conditions I was surprised to find a large drop in the number of birds visiting the garden (did anyone else notice this?). However, since the thaw numbers have steadily increased and the past few days have seen a large number and diversity of birds coming in, including an impressive flock of 60+ Goldfinch, 30+ Redwing, 8+ Blue Tit, 6+ Long-tailed Tit, 4+ Great Tit, 4 Blackbird, 2 Coal Tit, 2 Chaffinch, 2 Nuthatch, 2 Robin, 4 Ring-necked Parakeets, 6 Magpie, lots of Woodpigeon and singles of Great Spotted Woodpecker (photo above), Green Woodpecker, Pied Wagtail, Greenfinch, Mistle Thrush, Jay, Wren, Dunnock, Blackcap, Goldcrest, Collared Dove and a flyover Skylark!

This list reflects population trends in gardens throughout Britain. Goldfinch, Blackcap and Great Spotted Woodpecker are amongst the species that have increased in gardens over the last 40 years, whereas House Sparrow, Starling and Song Thrush continue to decline (incredibly, in 11 years I've not once recorded House Sparrow in the garden). Another species that has declined sharply in the last five years is Greenfinch. This has largely been attributed to trichomonosis - a parasitic desease that prevents birds from swallowing food.

Waxwings at the sales

2011-01-03T23:39:00.004Z

Finally caught up with some Waxwings today, with a flock of 17 seen while shopping in Teddington (several flocks have been in the area for a couple of weeks). But lets face it, with so many Waxwings around this winter, the shiney new pair of New Balance running shoes I picked up at a bargain are far more noteworthy!

Whistle-stop sea watch

2011-01-02T17:35:00.005Z

Another look at the sea of Budleigh Salterton this morning revealed a steady westerly movement of Red-throated Divers, with 40+ past in 30 minutes. 4 Common Scoter east, a Gannet, several Fulmar and 10 Skylark out at sea heading east were the only other birds noted. A dusk vigil for the world's most elusive Barn Owl produce cracking views of an empty grassy field.

All is quiet on new years day

2011-01-01T18:01:00.011Z

My search for a local patch continues and until I find one my birding forays will remain rather erratic to say the least. Still, spending the new year at good friends Jaffa and Helen down in Devon meant a wander around Jaffa's fantastic local patch at the Otter Estuary (photo below). Things were pretty slow, hindered further by the hoards of 'Jo' milling about, but 400 Wigeon was a good site count along with 7 Black-tailed Godwit, a Bar-tailed Godwit, 2 Dunlin, a male Gadwall and a female Goosander. On the sea there was a Great Northern Diver and a fairly decent movement of Red-throated Divers.