RPPN Serra Bonita, Day 2 - 30 Oct 2023
With clear skies and a light breeze blowing there was no hint of fog this morning. I was up at 4 am and ready to go by 4:30 am. Out on the balcony the Sun was starting to rise and I could hear a Common Pauraque calling nearby. As I stepped out onto the fronch porch 4 Short-tailed Nighthawks “WHEEEPED” and flew over the roof. The soft mournful call of the Variegated Antpitta could be heard.
As the group met at 5 am to walk to breakfast we were greeted by a dawn chorus of Boat-billed Flycatchers, Rufous-browed Peppershrikes, Lemon-chested Greenlets, and other birds. A Brown Tinamou was calling loudly from the woods next to the restaurant but we couldn’t coax it into the open. Maroon-breasted Parakeets squawked loudly as they flew over the trees.
After a quick breakfast we walked back to the lodge, stopping for Chestnut-crowned Becard and Euler’s Flycatcher.
Rich pointed out a bright Heliconia errata mimic butterfly.
A Plumbeous Antvireo sang loudly and was coaxed into the open to reveal its dark lead-colored body (a male).
We gathered our gear and headed off in the 4X4’s down the main road to past where we were last evening. As Rich played a mixed songbird record to try to bring a Pink Gravatierro in we were instead visited by a Violet-capped Woodnymph and a female and young male Swallow-tailed Manikin.
In the background a flock of Green-headed and Red-necked Tanagers bounced around the tops of the tallest trees.
We would then hike up a steep hill deep into the forest above an old citrus plantation (a few oranges still growing out of our reach) to the top where an undescribed Treehunter sp. was discovered a few years ago. Rich was hoping that it, or a Pink Gravitierro would materialize, but we dipped on both. Instead, we managed nice looks at Violet-capped Woodnymph,
Drab-breasted Pygmy-Tyrants,
Sombre Hummingbirds,
and another male and female Violet-crowned Woodnymph.
Brief looks were had at a very loud Pale-browed Treehunter while we attempted to photograph a tiny orchid growing on the tree to our left.
A Bahia Tyrannulet also paid a brief visit before started the long hike back to the main road. Along the way Rich pointed out a small Tortoise Beetle sp.
before we were able to get obscured looks at a loud-calling Spot-backed Antshrike.
I tried to get photos of a gorgeous Chestnut-backd Antshrike but for some reason the camera would not turn on. After removing the batteries and reinstalling everything worked fine again… I tested it on nearby wasp nests and orchids.
Plumbeous Pigeons are quite shy, but this one permitted a distant photo or two.
A Lemon-chested Greenlet was called in but remained in the canopy overhead long enough to give us warbler neck and back-aches (I had to sit down).
A flock of Red-necked Tanagers moved through the trees while we attempted to find a Black-capped Becard. We were able to see it, a becard nest, and a nest of a Sharpbill pair that may have been abandoned.
A pretty little Hairstreak butterfly landed nearby and we spent a few minutes admiring it. Just a minute later we came across a White-tipped Tarantula Hunter that was actively crawling along the side of the bank next to the road looking for prey; this large wasp is metallic blue in color with white tips to the wings. Lovely, but deadly.
A White-shouldered Fire-eye male hopped onto a downed log next to the road and flashed its tail for us. Finally, a bird in the open.
While photographing it I spotted a Striated Softail in the tree next to me and got nice pics as it devoured a recent insect catch.
We’d return to the restaurant for lunch and spend a few minutes watching the feeders. Green-headed Tanagers
and Red-necked Tanagers fed at cut-up bananas until a pair of Spot-billed Toucanets flew in and chased them away.
I took the time to finally get good looks and pics at a Sombre Hummingbird foraging at the Bottle-brush Bush next to the patio.
RPPN Serra Bonita (acesso restrito), Bahia, BR
Oct 30, 2023 5:45 AM - 12:00 PM
Protocol: Traveling
2.414 kilometer(s)
75 species (+1 other taxa)
Brown Tinamou (Crypturellus obsoletus) 4 Heard
Plumbeous Pigeon (Patagioenas plumbea) 1
Ruddy Quail-Dove (Geotrygon montana) 2
Squirrel Cuckoo (Piaya cayana) 1
Gray-rumped Swift (Chaetura cinereiventris) 2
Rufous-breasted Hermit (Glaucis hirsutus) 3
Reddish Hermit (Phaethornis ruber) 1
Violet-capped Woodnymph (Thalurania glaucopis) 4
Sombre Hummingbird (Eupetomena cirrochloris) 2
Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus) 2
Mantled Hawk (Pseudastur polionotus) 1
Green-backed Trogon (Trogon viridis) 2
Surucua Trogon (Trogon surrucura) 3
Atlantic Black-throated Trogon (Trogon chrysochloros) 2
Channel-billed Toucan (Ramphastos vitellinus) 1
new world piculet sp. (Picumnus sp.) 1
Red-stained Woodpecker (Dryobates affinis) 1
Cobalt-rumped Parrotlet (Forpus xanthopterygius) 2
Maroon-bellied Parakeet (Pyrrhura frontalis) 6
Spot-backed Antshrike (Hypoedaleus guttatus) 3
Chestnut-backed Antshrike (Thamnophilus palliatus) 2
Spot-breasted Antvireo (Dysithamnus stictothorax) 4
Plumbeous Antvireo (Dysithamnus plumbeus) 2
Rufous-margined Antwren (Herpsilochmus rufimarginatus) 2
White-shouldered Fire-eye (Pyriglena leucoptera) 2
Rufous Gnateater (Conopophaga lineata) 1 Heard
Plain-winged Woodcreeper (Dendrocincla turdina) 3
Lesser Woodcreeper (Xiphorhynchus fuscus) 3
Pale-browed Treehunter (Cichlocolaptes leucophrus) 3
Striated Softtail (Thripophaga macroura) 8
Pallid Spinetail (Cranioleuca pallida) 1
Swallow-tailed Manakin (Chiroxiphia caudata) 5
Pin-tailed Manakin (Ilicura militaris) 2
White-bearded Manakin (Manacus manacus) 2
Chestnut-crowned Becard (Pachyramphus castaneus) 2
Black-capped Becard (Pachyramphus marginatus) 1
Sharpbill (Oxyruncus cristatus) 5
Sepia-capped Flycatcher (Leptopogon amaurocephalus) 2
Bahia Tyrannulet (Phylloscartes beckeri) 1
Drab-breasted Pygmy-Tyrant (Hemitriccus diops) 2
Gray-headed Tody-Flycatcher (Todirostrum poliocephalum) 3
Yellow-olive Flatbill (Tolmomyias sulphurescens) 4
Planalto Tyrannulet (Phyllomyias fasciatus) 3
Euler's Flycatcher (Lathrotriccus euleri) 2
Southern Tropical Pewee (Contopus cinereus) 2
Long-tailed Tyrant (Colonia colonus) 4
Gray-hooded Attila (Attila rufus) 3
Grayish Mourner (Rhytipterna simplex) 2
Boat-billed Flycatcher (Megarynchus pitangua) 2
Variegated Flycatcher (Empidonomus varius) 1
Tropical Kingbird (Tyrannus melancholicus) 1
Rufous-browed Peppershrike (Cyclarhis gujanensis) 2
Lemon-chested Greenlet (Hylophilus thoracicus) 2
Blue-and-white Swallow (Pygochelidon cyanoleuca) 1
House Wren (Troglodytes aedon) 1
Rufous-brown Solitaire (Cichlopsis leucogenys) 4
Yellow-legged Thrush (Turdus flavipes) 1
White-necked Thrush (Turdus albicollis) 2
Rufous-bellied Thrush (Turdus rufiventris) 6
Blue-naped Chlorophonia (Chlorophonia cyanea) 1
Violaceous Euphonia (Euphonia violacea) 2
Orange-bellied Euphonia (Euphonia xanthogaster) 4
Golden-crowned Warbler (Basileuterus culicivorus) 2
Red-crowned Ant-Tanager (Habia rubica) 4
Magpie Tanager (Cissopis leverianus) 2
Flame-crested Tanager (Loriotus cristatus) 4
Sayaca Tanager (Thraupis sayaca) 2
Golden-chevroned Tanager (Thraupis ornata) 4
Green-headed Tanager (Tangara seledon) 20
Red-necked Tanager (Tangara cyanocephala) 12
Blue Dacnis (Dacnis cayana) 4
Green Honeycreeper (Chlorophanes spiza) 8
Rufous-headed Tanager (Hemithraupis ruficapilla) 4
Bananaquit (Coereba flaveola) 4
Buff-throated Saltator (Saltator maximus) 1
Black-throated Grosbeak (Saltator fuliginosus) 1
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S153445654
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
After an afternoon break we were back at it again at 3 pm.
Just outside the door of the room I spotted a Tegu Lizard scampering up the bank and out of sight. I managed a quick pic.
We drove down the hill to the junction of the road to the Antennae Hill. We walked the road and listened for birds. It was unusually quiet in this area this time of day. We did see a Yellow-Olive Flatbill nest and a pair of Squirrel Cuckoos performing a courtship ritual with the male feeding the female before both flying off.
A lot of warbler-necking got a few birds from the canopy overhead, but the best action came when we walked down the hill to an opening in the forest next to the valley overlooking miles of mountains and forests/pasturelands/farms. We found a surprising Green-backed Becard at scope distance in a tree filled with Green-headed Tanagers,
Red-necked Tanagers, a Yellow-green Grosbeak,
and trees filled with Blue Dacnis, Green and Red-legged Honeycreepers. Overhead we saw a King Vulture soaring with several Black Vultures.
The highlight of the afternoon was Rich hearing an Ash-throated Crake somewhere down the side of the mountain. On a lark he decided to try to call it in. As we gathered around him sitting in the grass next to a barbed-wire fence separating him from a several hundred feet fall he played the call of the Ash-throated Crake. Incredibly the tiny black and gray rail scampered out of the grass and walked right past him. Jack and I were able to get some pics in the waning light of the afternoon. Incredible find!
Tomorrow we leave Serra Bonita, drive down to the Fazenda (base camp), bird there for a bit, then drive to Porto Seguro for the last stop on this 2-week trip.
RPPN Serra Bonita (acesso restrito), Bahia, BR
Oct 30, 2023 12:05 PM - 6:05 PM
Protocol: Traveling
1.609 kilometer(s)
64 species
Brown Tinamou (Crypturellus obsoletus) 2 Heard
Ruddy Quail-Dove (Geotrygon montana) 2
Smooth-billed Ani (Crotophaga ani) 6
Squirrel Cuckoo (Piaya cayana) 2
Gray-rumped Swift (Chaetura cinereiventris) 2
Violet-capped Woodnymph (Thalurania glaucopis) 3
Sombre Hummingbird (Eupetomena cirrochloris) 2
Ash-throated Crake (Mustelirallus albicollis) 1
King Vulture (Sarcoramphus papa) 1
Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus) 9
Mantled Hawk (Pseudastur polionotus) 1
Green-backed Trogon (Trogon viridis) 4
Surucua Trogon (Trogon surrucura) 2
Spot-billed Toucanet (Selenidera maculirostris) 4
Yellow-throated Woodpecker (Piculus flavigula) 1
Crested Caracara (Caracara plancus) 3
Plain Parakeet (Brotogeris tirica) 4
Maroon-bellied Parakeet (Pyrrhura frontalis) 4
Spot-backed Antshrike (Hypoedaleus guttatus) 1
White-shouldered Fire-eye (Pyriglena leucoptera) 2
Variegated Antpitta (Grallaria varia) 1
Plain-winged Woodcreeper (Dendrocincla turdina) 2
Planalto Woodcreeper (Dendrocolaptes platyrostris) 1
Lesser Woodcreeper (Xiphorhynchus fuscus) 3
White-eyed Foliage-gleaner (Automolus leucophthalmus) 1
Green-backed Becard (Pachyramphus viridis) 1
Sharpbill (Oxyruncus cristatus) 2
Yellow-olive Flatbill (Tolmomyias sulphurescens) 4
Euler's Flycatcher (Lathrotriccus euleri) 1
Long-tailed Tyrant (Colonia colonus) 3
Gray-hooded Attila (Attila rufus) 1
Great Kiskadee (Pitangus sulphuratus) 2
Boat-billed Flycatcher (Megarynchus pitangua) 2
Social Flycatcher (Myiozetetes similis) 1
Variegated Flycatcher (Empidonomus varius) 3
Tropical Kingbird (Tyrannus melancholicus) 2
Rufous-browed Peppershrike (Cyclarhis gujanensis) 3
Gray-breasted Martin (Progne chalybea) 2
Blue-and-white Swallow (Pygochelidon cyanoleuca) 2
House Wren (Troglodytes aedon) 1
Thrush-like Wren (Campylorhynchus turdinus) 2
Moustached Wren (Pheugopedius genibarbis) 2
Rufous-brown Solitaire (Cichlopsis leucogenys) 2
Pale-breasted Thrush (Turdus leucomelas) 3
Yellow-legged Thrush (Turdus flavipes) 1
White-necked Thrush (Turdus albicollis) 4
Rufous-bellied Thrush (Turdus rufiventris) 7
Violaceous Euphonia (Euphonia violacea) 5
Orange-bellied Euphonia (Euphonia xanthogaster) 6
Chestnut-bellied Euphonia (Euphonia pectoralis) 1
Golden-crowned Warbler (Basileuterus culicivorus) 1
Red-crowned Ant-Tanager (Habia rubica) 2
Yellow-green Grosbeak (Caryothraustes canadensis) 2
Golden-chevroned Tanager (Thraupis ornata) 2
Palm Tanager (Thraupis palmarum) 2
Green-headed Tanager (Tangara seledon) 15
Red-necked Tanager (Tangara cyanocephala) 9
Blue Dacnis (Dacnis cayana) 4
Red-legged Honeycreeper (Cyanerpes cyaneus) 3
Green Honeycreeper (Chlorophanes spiza) 6
Rufous-headed Tanager (Hemithraupis ruficapilla) 2
Blue-black Grassquit (Volatinia jacarina) 1
Bananaquit (Coereba flaveola) 2
Buff-throated Saltator (Saltator maximus) 4
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S153445653
