Camacan to Porto Seguro, Brasil - 31 Oct 2023
Day 13: After a final early morning at Serra Bonita, we’ll drive back to Camacan and then to Porto Seguro, the last stop of our trip. It’s a popular tourist location, well known for long sandy beaches and coconut trees, but we’ll spend our time in coastal mangroves and patches of humid forest. After checking in to our hotel and with a break during the hot hours of the day, we’ll explore the nearby mangroves looking for species all but restricted to this habitat, such as Bicolored Conebill, Mangrove Rail, Little Wood-Rail, and Plain-bellied Emerald. We’ll end the day with a short visit to the nearby Estação Veracel Reserve, where we should see Red-browed and perhaps Blue-headed (Reinchenow’s) Parrots as they travel to their night roost. The chorus of tinamous is usually impressive, and perhaps we’ll even see one of these beautiful singers. At dusk we’ll hope to see a Shorttailed Nighthawk and at least hear the rare White-winged Potoo! Night in Porto Seguro. - WINGS Birding Tours
HOTEL QUINTA DO SOL PRAIA HOTEL, Av. Beira Mar, 1674 Praia de Curuípe, Porto Seguro + 55 73 3268.8500 - BA www.hoteisquintadosol.com
Has laundry service and internet.
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I did not sleep well last night. Don’t know why. Perhaps the thought of leaving the mountain for the coast in the morning or the anticipation of heading home in 2 days. In either case the alarm woke me at 4 am, and I was packed and out the door at 4:30 am for a 5 am walk to breakfast. The Short-tailed Nighthawks were actively calling and one was even chattering away somewhere nearby.
After breakfast we looked for Rich but couldn’t find him, so we walked back to the cabins to get our suitcases. When the 4X4’s came we loaded them up and started down the mountain.
RPPN Serra Bonita (acesso restrito), Bahia, BR
Oct 31, 2023 5:45 AM - 7:45 AM
Protocol: Traveling
4.828 kilometer(s)
34 species
Brown Tinamou (Crypturellus obsoletus) 1 Heard
Gray-fronted Dove (Leptotila rufaxilla) 1
Smooth-billed Ani (Crotophaga ani) 2
Short-tailed Nighthawk (Lurocalis semitorquatus) 1 X
Common Pauraque (Nyctidromus albicollis) 1
Black Jacobin (Florisuga fusca) 1
Surucua Trogon (Trogon surrucura) 1
Spot-billed Toucanet (Selenidera maculirostris) 2
Yellow-throated Woodpecker (Piculus flavigula) 1
Plain Parakeet (Brotogeris tirica) 2
Maroon-bellied Parakeet (Pyrrhura frontalis) 6
Spot-breasted Antvireo (Dysithamnus stictothorax) 2
Lesser Woodcreeper (Xiphorhynchus fuscus) 1
Streaked Xenops (Xenops rutilans) 1
Striated Softtail (Thripophaga macroura) 2
Sharpbill (Oxyruncus cristatus) 1
Gray-headed Tody-Flycatcher (Todirostrum poliocephalum) 1
Euler's Flycatcher (Lathrotriccus euleri) 1
Southern Tropical Pewee (Contopus cinereus) 1
Masked Water-Tyrant (Fluvicola nengeta) 1
Gray-hooded Attila (Attila rufus) 1
Grayish Mourner (Rhytipterna simplex) 1
Variegated Flycatcher (Empidonomus varius) 1
Rufous-browed Peppershrike (Cyclarhis gujanensis) 2
Moustached Wren (Pheugopedius genibarbis) 2
Rufous-brown Solitaire (Cichlopsis leucogenys) 2
Rufous-bellied Thrush (Turdus rufiventris) 4
Violaceous Euphonia (Euphonia violacea) 2
Red-crowned Ant-Tanager (Habia rubica) 1
Green-headed Tanager (Tangara seledon) 4
Red-necked Tanager (Tangara cyanocephala) 2
Blue Dacnis (Dacnis cayana) 2
Blue-black Grassquit (Volatinia jacarina) 1
Bananaquit (Coereba flaveola) 2
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S153533681
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
The road curved just below the location where we had last night’s Ash-throated Crake, and it gave us gorgeous looks at the mountains covered in mist.
Ahead of us stood a lone tree where Rich was hoping to spot some Banded Cotingas. Instead, it was being occupied by a very active Black-necked Aracari that was singing from the top-most bare branches before flying off somewhere below us in the valley, only to return moments later to repeat the drill.
I managed a couple pics of Plain Parakeets in flight,
and White-eyed Parakeets next to large trees.
We drove on to lower elevation where we stopped to look at Blue-crowned, White-eyed, Peach-fronted, and Golden-crowned Parakeets. None of which gave any cooperative views.
Down the road at the Fazenda Paris, a Cacao Plantation, we stopped to look for Banded Cotinga again. No luck, but we did find a Pale-lored Tyrannulet, and many Green-headed Tanagers, Blue Dacnis, Green Honeycreeper and Red-legged Honeycreepers.
A Black-tailed Tityra flew in close enough for a photo record as a Yellow-headed Vulture soared overhead.
Rich heard and located a Crested Becard, and we all got canopy-top views of it, and a soaring King Vulture.
Scope views of a Green-backed Trogon were had just before a Bright-rumped Attila was located; its bright rump and piercing white eye is unmistakeable.
A bonus Grayish Mourner was a bit closer and easier to photograph.
Camacã--Fazenda Paris (acesso restrito), Bahia, BR
Oct 31, 2023 7:20 AM - 10:25 AM
Protocol: Traveling
2.012 kilometer(s)
Checklist Comments: Including birds along main road and Fazenda Santo Antônio
70 species
Least Grebe (Tachybaptus dominicus) 1
Squirrel Cuckoo (Piaya cayana) 2
Gray-rumped Swift (Chaetura cinereiventris) 6
Sick's Swift (Chaetura meridionalis) 2
Blue-chinned Sapphire (Chlorestes notata) 1
Wattled Jacana (Jacana jacana) 8
Striated Heron (Butorides striata) 1
King Vulture (Sarcoramphus papa) 1
Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus) 40
Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture (Cathartes burrovianus) 5
Double-toothed Kite (Harpagus bidentatus) 2
Least Pygmy-Owl (Glaucidium minutissimum) 1
Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl (Glaucidium brasilianum) 1
Green-backed Trogon (Trogon viridis) 3
Swallow-winged Puffbird (Chelidoptera tenebrosa) 4
Black-necked Aracari (Pteroglossus aracari) 1
Golden-spangled Piculet (Picumnus exilis) 1
Crested Caracara (Caracara plancus) 2
Plain Parakeet (Brotogeris tirica) 6
Cobalt-rumped Parrotlet (Forpus xanthopterygius) 2
Peach-fronted Parakeet (Eupsittula aurea) 4
Golden-capped Parakeet (Aratinga auricapillus) 18
White-eyed Parakeet (Psittacara leucophthalmus) 5
Rufous Hornero (Furnarius rufus) 4
Caatinga Cacholote (Pseudoseisura cristata) 2
Black-tailed Tityra (Tityra cayana) 2
White-winged Becard (Pachyramphus polychopterus) 2
Crested Becard (Pachyramphus validus) 1
Common Tody-Flycatcher (Todirostrum cinereum) 1
Gray-crowned Flatbill (Tolmomyias poliocephalus) 1
Ochre-lored Flatbill (Tolmomyias flaviventris) 2
White-lored Tyrannulet (Ornithion inerme) 1
Yellow-bellied Elaenia (Elaenia flavogaster) 2
White-headed Marsh Tyrant (Arundinicola leucocephala) 2
Masked Water-Tyrant (Fluvicola nengeta) 1
Bright-rumped Attila (Attila spadiceus) 1
Grayish Mourner (Rhytipterna simplex) 1
Cattle Tyrant (Machetornis rixosa) 2
Great Kiskadee (Pitangus sulphuratus) 4
Boat-billed Flycatcher (Megarynchus pitangua) 2
Social Flycatcher (Myiozetetes similis) 2
Tropical Kingbird (Tyrannus melancholicus) 4
Black-capped Donacobius (Donacobius atricapilla) 1
White-winged Swallow (Tachycineta albiventer) 6
Gray-breasted Martin (Progne chalybea) 2
Brown-chested Martin (Progne tapera) 4
Southern Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx ruficollis) 2
Blue-and-white Swallow (Pygochelidon cyanoleuca) 2
House Wren (Troglodytes aedon) 2
Yellow-legged Thrush (Turdus flavipes) 1
Violaceous Euphonia (Euphonia violacea) 8
Orange-bellied Euphonia (Euphonia xanthogaster) 6
Yellow-rumped Cacique (Cacicus cela) 6
Red-rumped Cacique (Cacicus haemorrhous) 8
Campo Troupial (Icterus jamacaii) 1
Shiny Cowbird (Molothrus bonariensis) 1
Giant Cowbird (Molothrus oryzivorus) 2
Chopi Blackbird (Gnorimopsar chopi) 2
Tropical Parula (Setophaga pitiayumi) 1
Yellow-green Grosbeak (Caryothraustes canadensis) 2
Sayaca Tanager (Thraupis sayaca) 2
Golden-chevroned Tanager (Thraupis ornata) 2
Palm Tanager (Thraupis palmarum) 5
Green-headed Tanager (Tangara seledon) 15
Red-necked Tanager (Tangara cyanocephala) 2
Blue Dacnis (Dacnis cayana) 8
Red-legged Honeycreeper (Cyanerpes cyaneus) 8
Green Honeycreeper (Chlorophanes spiza) 2
Bananaquit (Coereba flaveola) 4
Buff-throated Saltator (Saltator maximus) 1
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S153533678
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
Paulo greeted us at the foot of the road and we drove on to the Fazenda San Antonia where we bought chocolate from the owners and enjoyed the distant calls of a Masked Bellbird, one of the loudest birds on the planet. Sadly, we were told it was a caged bird. While loading up I took the opportunity for a few last-minute pics of Green-headed Tanager.
Staying only few minutes it was time to drive to Porto Seguro. We stopped at one pond to view some juvenile White-winged Swallows,
then a short distance later at another pond to view Yellow-rumped Caciques and a cooperativer Black-capped Donacobious that looks like a Spotted Towhee in flight and has bare neck pouches that inflate when it sings.
We arrived at the Quinta Do Sol in Porto Seguro shortly after 2 pm. This gorgeous hotel is located just across the main road to the ocean and a huge swimming pool in the courtyard that looked so inviting, especially when temperatures feel like they are in the 90’s. But, we only a short time to prepare for our 3 pm outing to the nearby mangroves.
At 3 pm the mangroves were still and hour or so from high tide so it was difficult to find any rails forced onto the tree roots near town. The walkway next to the trees were busy with people and the town noise made it difficult to hear anything; we’ll come back first thing when it is quieter. Still we had the best looks of the trip of Rufous-bellied Thrush,
Little Blue Heron,
Yellow-crowned Night Heron,
and a pair of Bicolored Conebills.
Porto Seguro mangroves, Bahia, BR
Oct 31, 2023 3:44 PM - 4:19 PM
Protocol: Traveling
0.483 kilometer(s)
15 species
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) (Columba livia (Feral Pigeon)) 1
Ruddy Ground Dove (Columbina talpacoti) 2
Scaled Dove (Columbina squammata) 1
Yellow-crowned Night Heron (Nyctanassa violacea) 1
Little Blue Heron (Egretta caerulea) 1
Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus) 3
Great Kiskadee (Pitangus sulphuratus) 2
Social Flycatcher (Myiozetetes similis) 2
Pale-breasted Thrush (Turdus leucomelas) 1
Rufous-bellied Thrush (Turdus rufiventris) 5
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) 2
Sayaca Tanager (Thraupis sayaca) 6
Burnished-buff Tanager (Stilpnia cayana) 2
Bicolored Conebill (Conirostrum bicolor) 2
Bananaquit (Coereba flaveola) 2
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S153533676
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
We’d continue on to the RPPN Estação Veracel: “RPPN Estação Veracel, created and maintained by Veracel Celulose, is the largest Private Atlantic Forest Natural Heritage Reserve in the Brazilian Northeast. It is located in the municipalities of Porto Seguro and Santa Cruz Cabrália in the south of Bahia.
There are more than 6,000 hectares of preserved Atlantic Forest. UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) has recognized RPPN Estação Veracel as a World Natural Heritage Site for its important role in protecting globally endangered species of fauna.
Estação Veracel represents the conservation and maintenance of life in all its manifestations. It houses 115 natural springs and is responsible for ecosystem services that go beyond its borders.
It promotes the maintenance of natural pollinators for the surrounding communities in their agroforestry production, connects forest fragments forming corridors that allow genetic exchange and the viability of life and contributes to the climate balance in the region and the planet.” - https://www.veracel.com.br/en/rppn-veracel-station/
Outside the gates we watched hummingbirds come to flowering bushes. White-winged Sapphire
and a female Rufous-throated Sapphire foraged among the blossoms and challenged our cameras and binoculars.
We didn’t go into the preserve but instead walked the main dirt road leading to it. The late afternoon heat had slowed the bird life and the place was quiet. Quiet until a White-flanked Antwren was heard deep in the forest and Rich was able to call in long enough for nice looks and a few pics despite low light and 1/60 sec shutter speeds at 1280 mm (handheld)!
Paulo then drove us as far as we could on the road before it deteriorated enough to force us to walk. Our quarry was potoos and owls (after dark). Rich marked out several locations that would be nice potoo perches, but we didn’t see any. Instead, we’d hear several Little Tinamou and Variegated Tinamou calling before the tree frogs and cicadas powered up.
As it got dark we began hearing calls from Atlantic Mottled Owl, Black-capped Screech Owl, and either Spectacled Owl or Tawny-browed Owl (both species sound very much alike). Rich would eventually find the Mottled Owl with his thermal scope and it was close enough to photograph with help of flashlights.
We’d fail to find the other owls, but enjoyed hearing them call close by.
A drive back to the hotel for a late dinner, review of the day’s birds, and preparation for flying home was the schedule for our last night here in Brasil.
Tomorrow we’ll have a 5 am breakfast followed by our last morning bird walk before coming back to the hotel and packing for the airport.
Happy Halloween from Brazil!
Porto Seguro--RPPN Estação Veracel, Bahia, BR
Oct 31, 2023 4:54 PM - 7:15 PM
Protocol: Traveling
2.0 mile(s)
16 species (+1 other taxa)
Little Tinamou (Crypturellus soui) 2
Variegated Tinamou (Crypturellus variegatus) 1 Heard
Common Pauraque (Nyctidromus albicollis) 2
Sick's Swift (Chaetura meridionalis) 1
Reddish Hermit (Phaethornis ruber) 1
Rufous-throated Sapphire (Hylocharis sapphirina) 1
White-chinned Sapphire (Chlorestes cyanus) 2
Black-capped Screech-Owl (Megascops atricapilla) 1 Heard
Pulsatrix sp. (Pulsatrix sp.) 2
Mottled Owl (Strix virgata) 2
White-flanked Antwren (Myrmotherula axillaris) 1
Plain-winged Woodcreeper (Dendrocincla turdina) 1
Buff-throated Woodcreeper (Xiphorhynchus guttatus) 1 Heard
Ochre-lored Flatbill (Tolmomyias flaviventris) 1
Boat-billed Flycatcher (Megarynchus pitangua) 1
Social Flycatcher (Myiozetetes similis) 1
Bananaquit (Coereba flaveola) 1
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S1
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
