Swallow-tailed Cotinga 

 Our Tour Itinerary

Days 1 - 3
We will take an overnight flight from London, bound for Rio de Janeiro, where we will transfer to the wonderful Serra dos Tucanos lodge. Set amidst lush Atlantic rainforest, the gardens and immediate vicinity support over 450 bird species plus 117 endemics. Each action-packed day will take excursions of varying duration from the lodge, as well as allowing time to relax and build up an excellent garden list! Our first excursion will be to the nearby Theodoro Trail, where an altitude of 1,100m offers us our first insight into the superb birding on offer. The entire length of this gradually descending trail runs through both secondary and primary forest making for an easy and relaxed excursion. We will be on the look-out for Brown Tinamou, Mantled Hawk, Maroon-bellied Parakeet, Plain Parakeet, Scale-throated Hermit, Brazilian Ruby, White-throated Hummingbird, Black-throated and Suruca Trogons, Spot-billed Toucanet, White-barred Piculet, Yellow-eared and Yellow-browed Woodpeckers, Rufous-capped Spinetail, Streaked Xenops, White-browed, Black-capped and White-eyed Foliage-gleaners, Variable Antshrike, Sharp-tailed Streamcreeper, White-throated, Lesser and Scaled Woodcreepers, Bare-throated Bellbird, Grey-hooded Atilla, Greenish Schiffornis and Brassy-breasted Tanager. And that’s just for the morning! After lunch we will explore the grounds of the lodge, which to-date have recorded in excess of 190 species, of which nearly 60 are endemic to the Atlantic rainforest. The various trails provide excellent birding opportunities, and some birds we expect to see include Maroon-bellied Parakeet, Blue-winged Parrotlet, Plain Parakeet, Scaly-headed Parrot, Saw-billed Hermit, Sombre and Swallow-tailed Hummingbirds, Black Jacobin, Violet-capped Woodnymph, Surucua Trogon, Spot-billed Toucanet, Channel-billed Toucan, White-barred Piculet, Yellow-eared and Blond-crested Woodpeckers, Spot-Backed Antshrike, Thrush-Like and Olivaceous Woodcreepers, Spot-breasted and Plain Antvireos, Star-throated and Streak-capped Antwrens, Ferruginous Antbird, Rufous-capped Antthrush, Black-cheeked Gnateater, Blue Manakin, Eye-ringed Tody-Tyrant, Yellow-lored Tody-Flycatcher, White-throated Spadebill, Grey-hooded Attila, Chestnut-crowned Becard, Rufous-headed, Flame-crested, Ruby-crowned, Brazilian, Golden-chevroned, Green-headed, Red necked and Burnished-buff Tanagers, Violaceous, Orange-bellied and Chestnut-bellied Euphonias and Buff-throated Saltator.

Day 4
Many birders who visit south-east Brazil go in search of the endemic Three-toed Jacamar, so today we will visit several sites where this bird is regularly found. Along the way we pass through a variety of habitats, stopping regularly to look for other species such as Whistling and Capped Heron, Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture, Plumbeous Kite, Savannah Hawk, White-tailed Hawk, Laughing Falcon, Aplomado and Bat Falcons, Red-legged Seriema, Blue-winged Macaw, White-eyed Parakeet, Blue-winged Parrotlet, Striped Cuckoo, Common Barn Owl, Planalto Hermit, Glittering-bellied and Sapphire-spangled Emeralds, Amethyst Woodstar, White-eared and Crescent-chested Puffbirds, Black-necked Aracari, White Woodpecker, Tail-banded Hornero, Red-eyed Thornbird, Narrow-billed Woodcreeper, Ochre-faced Tody-Flycatcher, Gray and White-rumped Monjita, Streamer-tailed Tyrant, Yellow-browed and Long-tailed Tyrants, White-rumped and Tawny-headed Swallows, Black-capped Donacobius, Long-billed Wren, Curl-crested Jay, Orange-headed, Hooded, Hepatic, Brazilian and Gilt-edged Tanagers and Hooded Siskin.

Day 5
Another short drive and another new birding trail to explore this morning. On this excursion we hope to see amongst others, Maroon-bellied and Plain Parakeet, Yellow-faced Parrot, Saw-billed Hermit, Black-throated and Surucua Trogon, Rufous-capped Motmot, Buff-bellied and Crescent-chested Puffbirds, Saffron and Spot-billed Toucanets, Channel-billed Toucan, White-barred Piculet, Yellow-eared and Yellow-browed Woodpeckers, Rufous-capped Spinetail, Pale-browed Treehunter, White-browed, Black-capped and White-eyed Foliage-Gleaners, Lesser and Scaled Woodcreepers, Black-billed Scythebill, Spot-backed Antshrike, Spot-breasted and Plain Antvireos, Star-throated and Streak-capped Antwrens, Ferruginous Antbird, White-shouldered Fire-Eye, Black-cheeked Gnateater, Blue and Pin-tailed Manakins, Grey-hooded Flycatcher, Oustalet’s Tyrannulet, Eared Pygmy-Tyrant, Black-tailed Tityra, Sharpbill, Rufous-headed, Yellow-backed, Olive-green, Flame-crested, Ruby-crowned, Black-goggled, Green-headed, Red-necked and Brassy-breasted Tanagers and Black-throated Grosbeak. The afternoon can be spent exploring the gardens and immediate vicinity of the lodge, or simply relaxing by the pool!

Days 6
Our destination today is Serra dos Orgaos National Park in Teresopolis. En-route there is a small pool to check out, which usually holds Whistling and Capped Herons, Limpkin, Brazilian Teal, Purple and Common Gallinules, and Ringed, Amazon and Green Kingfishers. The National Park is split into two sections and we will spend an hour or so at the lower park where White-necked Hawk, Violet-capped Woodnymph, Rufous-capped Motmot, Spot-billed Toucanet, Yellow-fronted, Yellow-eared, Yellow-throated and Yellow-browed Woodpeckers, Pale-browed Treehunter, Buff-fronted Foliage-Gleaner, White-throated Woodcreeper, Plain and Spot-breasted Antvireos, Rufous-capped Antthrush, Ochre-bellied Flycatcher, Grey-hooded Atilla, Rufous-headed, Yellow-backed, Olive-green, Flame-crested and Golden-chevroned Tanagers and Red-rumped Cacique can be seen. We then return to the vehicle and drive for a further 20 minutes to the upper section of the park, where depending upon weather conditions we hope to take the higher trail for the remainder of the day. Some of the birds we aim to see include Brown Tinamou, Mantled Hawk, Dusky-legged Guan, Spot-winged Wood-Quail, Plumbeous Pigeon, Plovercrest, White-throated Hummingbird, Brazilian Ruby, Surucua and Black-throated Trogons, Saffron Toucanet, Yellow-eared Woodpecker, Pallid Spinetail, Sharp-billed Treehunter, Lesser and Scaled Woodcreepers, Tawny-throated Leaftosser, Black-billed Scythebill, Giant and Tufted Antshrikes, Rufous-backed Antvireo, Bertonis, Rufous-tailed and Ochre-rumped Antbirds, Brazilian Antthrush, Rufous Gnateater, Mouse-coloured Tapaculo, Swallow-tailed and Black and Gold Cotinga, Hooded Berryeater, Bare-throated Bellbird, Pin-tailed Manakin, Rufous-crowned Greenlet, White-rimmed Warbler, Chestnut-headed, Azure-shouldered, Diademed, Fawn-breasted and Brassy-breasted Tanagers, Bay-chested Warbling-finch, and Green-winged Saltator.

Day 7
This morning we shall head towards Nova Friburgo, stopping along the way to look for White-tailed Hawk, Red-legged Seriema, and Hepatic and Cinnamon Tanagers. A little later we leave the minibus and start our day’s walk at an altitude of approximately 1600 metres. The remainder of the day will be spent on a trail looking for White-tailed Hawk, Aplomado Falcon, Plumbeous Pigeon, Scaly-headed Parrot, Plovercrest, Glittering-bellied Emerald, White-throated Hummingbird, Brazilian Ruby, White Woodpecker, Yellow-browed Woodpecker, Rufous-capped Spinetail, Pallid Spinetail, Red-eyed Thornbird, Sharp-billed Treehunter, Black-billed Scythebill, Giant, Large-tailed, Variable and Rufous-capped Antshrikes, Rufous-backed Antvireo, Rufous-tailed and Dusky-tailed Antbirds, White-shouldered Fire-Eye, Mouse-coloured Tapaculo, Swallow-tailed and Black-and-Gold Cotingas, Serra do Mar Tyrant-Manakin, Olivaceous Elaenia, Ochre-faced Tody-Flycatcher, Blue-billed and Velvety Black-Tyrants, Shear-tailed Grey-Tyrant, Yellow-legged Thrush, White-rimmed Warbler, Chestnut-headed, Azure-shouldered, Diademed and Brassy-breasted Tanager, Bay-chested Warbling Finch and Thick-billed Saltator.

Day 8
This morning we will leave early to get to Guapi Assu Bird Lodge. Here we can see good numbers of wetland birds and with luck a few specials that include Masked Duck, Blackish Rail, Rufous-sided and Ash-throated Crakes and with even more good fortune Giant Snipe. In the afternoon we take a short drive to a trail called Macae de Cima, where we will search out even more Atlantic Rainforest endemics. Depending on weather conditions we will either begin this trail with a gentle walk or we will have the minibus slowly follow us for the next few hours. There will be plenty of birds to keep us busy as we scan the tree tops, search the leaf litter and check for hummingbirds feeding on wealth of native flowers. Our guides will endeavour to search for spectacular species such as Plovercrest, Brazilian Ruby, Scale-throated Hermit, Yellow-browed Woodpecker, Plumbeous Pigeon, Barred Forest-Falcon, Rufous-capped Spinetail, Pallid Spinetail, Red-eyed Thornbill, White-collared Foliage-Gleaner, Giant Antshrike, Tufted Antshrike, Bertonis Antbird, Ochre-rumped Antbird, Rufous Gnatcatcher, Black and Gold Cotinga, Bare-throated Bellbird, Pin-tailed Manakin, Saffron-crested Tyrant-Manakin, Drab-breasted Bamboo-Tyrant, White-rimmed Warbler, Chestnut-headed, Azure-shouldered and Brassy-breasted Tanagers, plus Green-winged Saltator to name a few.

Days 9 - 10
Unfortunately we have to leave the amazing Serra dos Tucanos lodge and transfer to the airport where you will either catch the international overnight flight back to the UK arriving the following morning, or anyone continuing on to the Pantanal tour you will catch the internal flight to Cuiaba where you will join the start of this tour.

Leaders: Chris Townend and local Andy Foster

BRAZIL - Serra Dos Tucanos                       Booking Form>> Monday 5th October – Wednesday 14th October 2009 TOUR PRICE: RDJ/RDJ £995.00 per person London/London flights £750 (provisional) Single supplement: £100.00     Deposit: £350.00 Maximum group size: 10 Excluding leaders Included in cost: All meals, accommodation in twin rooms, transport throughout the tour, and all services of the guides and leaders. Not included: International flight, insurance, drinks, items of a personal nature, and optional tips for the local guides. Note: This holiday can be taken as a pre-tour extension of the Pantanal Tour where you will have your internal flight from Rio included. Cost as pre-tour extension to Brazil Pantanal is £1200.00