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PANTANAL BIRDING TOUR

The Pantanal lies in the western part of central Brazil and encompasses about 140´000 square kilometers of savannas, forests, rivers and lagoons. It is considered the largest freshwater wetland in the world. During the rainy season from October through March this area floods and plant life explodes. Then in April as the waters recede, the birds return in vast numbers and variety. Due to the wide open areas between patches of forest, birds are easily seen. It is estimated that during the year over 600 species of birds call the Pantanal home! And on some places you might see 400 or more species ... The Pantanal is one of the most important breeding grounds for herons, storks, ibis and Roseate Spoonbills all of which can be observed frequently and in great numbers. The magnificent Jabirus (Tuiuiu) , with its distinctive black head and red neck pouch, is the largest stork in the world and the symbol of the Pantanal. There are 26 species of parrots, including the endemic Nanday or Black-hooded Parakeet. Interesting bird species are Undulated Tinamou, Anhinga, Capped Heron, Jabiru, Buff-necked Ibis, Roseate Spoonbills, Southern Screamer, Snail Kite, Hyacinthine macaw, Turquoise-fronted Parrot, Toco Toucan, Silver-beaked Tanager and Ferruginous Pygmy Owl. Macaws abound within this area. This is one of the last places where the largest hook bill, the endangered Hyacinth Macaw (Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus) can be seen daily. This tour starts in Cuiaba, the capital of Mato Grosso.

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ATLANTIC RAINFOREST (SOUTHEASTERN AND SOUTHERN BRAZIL)

The Lush Atlantic rainforest home to the largest number of endemics in the World, is found along the Brazilian coast and covers a series of coastal mountain ranges extending inland. This extremely rich birding area is the most commonly visited by birders due to its abundant endemics and its close proximity to Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo the major gate way of entry into Brazil. This habitat can be subdivided as follows;

a)Mountainous Atlantic rainforest: Several of these Atlantic forest endemics are found within a restricted elevation in the highlands. Main birding sites being are two in Rio state; Itatiaia National Park (Black-and-Gold Cotinga, Itatiaia Thistletail, Rufous-tailed Antbird, Rufous-backed Antvireo, White-bearded Antshrike and Black-capped Piprites) and Serra dos Orgoas National Park (Hooded Berryeater, Gray-winged Cotinga, Three-toed Jacamar and Elegant Mourner) and in Sao Paulo state, Intervales State Park (Black-throated Piping Guan, Long-trained Nightjar, Swallow-tailed Cotinga and Atlantic Royal Flycatcher).

b) Lowland coastal forest: These can be sub divided by different endemics into three distinct endemic centers, northern- in Espirito Santo, Novo Lombardia, Linhares and Sooretama (Red-browed Parrot, Long-tailed Potoo, Banded Cotinga, Black-headed Berryeater, Cherry-throated Tanager, Plumbeous Antvireo, Weid's Tyrant Manakin, Russet-winged Spadebill and Red-billed Curassow) and in Bahia, Una and Porto Seguro area (Red-browed Parrot, White-winged Potoo, Hook-billed Hermit, Bahia Antwren, Banded Cotinga) central- Ubatuba, Sao Paulo (Slaty Bristlefront, Red-eyed Thornbird, Buff-throated Purpletuft, Spotted Bamboo Wren, Fork-tailed Tody-Tyrant and Saw-billed Hermit) and southern- Curitiba area with Serra da Graciosa and nearby Santa Catarina state with its excellent restinga forests (Sickle-winged Nightjar, Marsh Antbird, Hooded Berryeater, Bare-throated Bellbird, Wetland Tapaculo, Canebrake Groundcreeper, Kaempfer's Tody-tyrant, Restinga Tyrannulet and Black-backed Tanager).

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IGUAZU FALLS BIRDING TOUR

This tour offers opportunities to bird in the amazing surroundings of the Iguazu Falls. We'll have some wonderful birding in the national parks on both sides of the river in Argentina & Brazil. In the area of Iguazu, numerous birds are to be seen, including toucans, trogons, and tanagers of various sorts. Some notable other birds inhabiting the forest would include the Ruff-ruffed Fruitcrow and Robust Woodpecker. Swarms of Great Dusky Swifts occur at the falls. Staying on the Argentinean side of the falls allows you the opportunity to walk many of the trails into the forest and to see species such as Solitary Tinamou, Black-Fronted Piping-Guan, Spot-winged Wood-Quail, Great Dusky Swift, Surucua Trogon, Red-breasted and Toco Toucan, twelve species of Woodpeckers including the rare Helmeted Woodpecker, Black-Billed Scythebill, Araucaria Tit-Spinetail, Tufted Antshrike, Red-ruffed Fruitcrow, Plush-crested Jay, Blue Manakin and Southern Antpipit.

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CHAPADA DOS GUIMARAES

In the transition between the Cerrado and the Amazon rainforest, the Guimaraes plateau acts as the dividing line between the Paraguay and Amazon River basins. It forms an ecosystem of great ecological interest and fascinating geological formations. The Cerrado is one of the South American lowland endemic centres for birds and we shall spend the first day mostly in this habitat. Some Cerrado specialties here at Chapada include White-eared Puffbird, Curl-crested Jay, Grey Monjita, Rufous-winged Antshrike, White-rumped and White-banded Tanagers, Black-throated Saltator, Coal-crested and Blue Finches. The monotonous song of the Collared Crescentchest will attract us to this charming tapaculo and we will cover the area in search of the tiny long-tailed Horned Sungem. We'll also spend some time in gallery forest in search of Helmeted Manakin, Pale-crested Woodpeckers and much more during our stay at the spectacular tablelands of Chapada dos Guimaraes where Cerrado birds take centre stage. Horned Sungem, White-rumped Tanager, Collared Crescentchest and White-eared Puffbird are just a few of the birds typical of this rarely visited habitat and we'll make a special effort to see these during our stay here. Birding in the semi-deciduous and gallery forest we may be rewarded with Cinnamon-throated Hermit, Yellow-ridged Toucan, Lettered Aracari, Blue-crowned Motmot, Ochre-cheeked Spinetail, Plain Antvireo, Southern Antpipit, Sirystes, Fiery-capped, Helmeted and Band-tailed Manakins, Planalto Tyrannulet, White-lined, Guira & Grey-headed Tanagers, Pectoral Sparrow and Sharp-tailed Streamcreeper.

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CERRADO, NATURAL GRASSLANDS AND GALLERY FOREST OF CENTRAL BRAZIL

A patch work of important habitats holding many sought after endemics unique to each habitat. In central south eastern Brazil area the state of Minas Gerais stands out as one of the best states in which to enter through Belo Horizonte its capital to explore this rich area. From Belo Horizonte one can visit Serra de Canastra (Lesser Nothura, Crowned Eagle, Brazilian Merganser, Campo miner, Brasilia Tapaculo, Cock-tailed Tyrant) and the area is excellent for mammals including Mained Wolf and Giant Anteater. Also visits to both Serra de Cipo (Hyacinth Visorbearer, Cipo Canastero, Cinerous Warbling Finch, Blue Finch) as well as Caraça which also holds some Atlantic rainforest too (Serra Antwren, Buiscutate Swift, Cinnamon-vented Piha). Other important birding locations outside Minas that offer excellent birding are Emas National Park (Goias) with its superb grasslands (Yellow-faced Parrot, White-winged Nightjar, rare seedeaters), Brasilia National Park (Planalto Foliage-gleaner, White-striped Warbler).

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ALTA FLORESTA & RIO AZUL LODGE

Rio Azul Lodge is a beautiful and rustic lodge set just off the black waters (no mosquitoes) of the Rio Azul in the Amazon of Mato Grosso. Exploring the various trails we'll have opportunities to see many of the Amazonian "wants" on the most experienced Neotropical birder's wish list. There is a fine network of trails through floodplain and terra firme forest, and access to riverine habitats by boats.

We'll stand a good chance of seeing ant swarms with the attendant antbirds (including Bare-eyed Antbird). Other possibilities include Pompadour Cotinga, Red-necked Aracari, Black-girdled Barbet and maybe we'll chance upon a group of Dark-winged Trumpeters here. Rios Azul is easily reached from Alta Floresta by our private bus (4 hour) . Comfortable chalets with private facilities and plentiful good food, warm weather and great birding makes Rio Azul an unforgettable Amazonian experience.

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RIO NEGRO PARADISE: MANAUS & THE AMAZON

The Rio Negro is the crown jewel of Amazonia. Born in the ancient sands of the Guianan Shield, her dark waters course over foaming rapids and through vast island archipelagos to meet the Amazon at Manaus. Second only to the Amazon in volume of water, the Negro drains a huge portion of the northern Amazon Basin. Manaus is a good base for Amazonian birding because of the accessibility from it. The city is a large port at the confluence of the Rio Negro and the Amazon, over a thousand miles from the Atlantic.

First we will take a boat-trip to the south side of the Amazon. We'll visit some islands with specialties of Amazonian islands, including furnarids, antbirds, and parrots most readily found there. And there would, of course, be other birds too, such as the Pearly-breasted Conebill and the Red-winged Wood-Rail. We pass through the "meeting of the waters" in the wide river where the brown water of the Amazon and the black water of Rio Negro merge. Then we'll venture north and west toward Novo Airao, which will be our base for another boat-trip into the Anavilhanas archipelago, a series of islands in the Rio Negro. Of interest will be places of permanently flooded forest (or "igapo") and seasonally flooded forest ("varzea") with birds indigenous to those places. Among them, antbirds are notable, such as the Leaden and Klage's Antwrens. Other birds that occur include the Zigzag Heron and Amazonian Umbrellabird. Also occurring in this area would be the Gray Dolphins, and Pink Dolphins, they can be easy to see. Our boat is comfortable, featuring air-conditioned cabins , shared bathrooms and great meals. Finally we'll spend a couple of days in the area of the town of Presidente Figueiredo. We'll go to the area of the Caverna Refugio de Mongoara, where the bright-orange Guianan Cock-of-the Rock occurs.

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