Latest News
Here is the latest news from REGUA and Guapi Assu Bird Lodge. For older news see the news archive page.
01 January 2012
Birding highlights of 2011
What a truely amazing year 2011 has been for birding at REGUA, with another 9 new birds found for the reserve (including a regional first) as well as a number of regional and local rarities.
Adilei got the year off to a great start by finding REGUA's second Chimango Caracara at the wetland in January, where it was seen successfully killing and eating a juvenile Southern Lapwing before being chased off by Yellow-headed Caracaras. Chimango Caracara is rare in RJ state, with the nearest populations around Iguape in São Paulo state, some 540 km to the south-west of REGUA. Chimango Caracara is largely resident but some non-breeders do move northwards. Other notable birds in January included a Barn Swallow - a very scarce bird indeed at REGUA! In February, Adilei found the first new bird for the reserve of 2011 - an Olivaceous Flatbill, photographed on the Onofre Cunha Trail on 4th (photo 1). REGUA lies at the southern of the range of this species' range, so perhaps more can be expected in future. An Anhinga at the wetland was a notable find by volunteer Will Freeman, and the Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks returned to breed once again. REGUA's third Wing-barred Piprites was also seen on the Waterfall Trail.
In March several species associated with higher altitudes were found around the wetland, with 3 Green-chinned Euphonia, 2 Blue-bellied Parrot and a Plumbeous Pigeon all recorded! Perhaps this is an indication that the habitat around the wetland is improving? March also produced one of the very few records of Lineated Woodpecker at REGUA, with a bird seen at Waldenoor. In April the second new bird for the reserve (and a new bird for the Serra dos Órgãos region) was found by Leonardo on the Elfin Forest Trail in the form of a Fork-tailed Tody-Tyrant (photo 2). Usually found much futher south, there are at least 2 birds present still present on the trail and so maybe this is the beginnings of a new small population?
On 4 May, Leonardo did it again by finding and photographing REGUA's first Grey-eyed Greenlet at the wetland (photo 3). This species inhabits caatinga woodland and scrub, mainly in eastern Brazil. The nearest populations are in Minas Gerais state and they are rare in RJ state where they are replaced by Rufous-crowned Greenlet in the Atlantic Forest. July saw two more new birds added to the REGUA list. The first was a female Green Honeycreeper found by Adilei on the Veludo Trail on 12th, followed by RJ state's third Stygian Owl, seen and photographed at the wetland on the evening of the 31st by just three very lucky observers (photo 4).
On 18 October, Kevin Cox and Renton Righelato were birding at the wetland when 3 beautiful Swallow-tailed Kites appeared overhead! Thought to be another new bird for REGUA, it then became apparent that Adilei had actually seen this beautiful raptor at REGUA in the past and was unaware that it wasn't on the list! 2 more were also seen over Waldenoor in November. November produced another two new birds for the reserve. On 2nd, brothers Gabriel and Daniel Jorge were photographing birds at the wetland when they located a Narrow-billed Woodcreeper (photo 5). This widespread species has been predicted at REGUA for some time now, having been seen on excursions to several sites close to the reserve. Then on 12th, REGUA supporter Lee Dingain found a Black-backed Water-Tyrant at the wetland (photo 6). This wetland species is slowly spreading into RJ state from the north and could therefore could become more frequent in the future. It was still present the next day but has not been seen since (more on this bird here). REGUA's second record of Yellow-billed Cuckoo (on our Casa Anibel Trail) was also found in November.
December started well with at least 2 Blackpoll Warblers seen by several observers around the wetland, including a pair together seen by volunteer Eric DeFonso on 3rd. Then on the 9th things got even better when Marcos Felipe located another new bird for the reserve in the form of a juvenile Black Skimmer flying around over the wetland (photo 7), while leading a group of students. This record brings the total number of bird species recorded at REGUA to 461! The incredibly high avian diversity here proves just how important the Atlantic Forest is, and how vital it is to save what remains. We look forward to seeing what birds 2012 brings.
Posted by Lee Dingain
Puma sighted on Lost Trail
Guest Tom Kompier was walking on the Lost Trail yesterday when he encountered a Puma on the trail! Tom writes:
"I found myself all of a sudden eye to eye with a mountain lion! What an adreneline rush! It was about 80m away standing smack in the middle of the trail, then moved to the side, but started to walk towards me. As it was already quite close I decided not to grab my camera, but rather to shout oi at it, before we reached a mexican standoff. It reacted by sauntering off into the forest. I do not know how often this happens, but I guess it is a once in a lifetime sort of thing. Lovely forest there too."
What a way to end 2011!
Posted by Lee Dingain
Happy New Year from the REGUA team!
The year 2011 has been a very good year for us and we have been able to make progress not only by attracting more guests, but by planting more trees (33,500 trees) adding another 200 ha to the reserve and lastly receiving more students than ever not only conducting research on site and in events such as workshops. With its determined team, REGUA is recognized as a dynamic model of development and perceived as a beacon of conservation in a country where conservation is still luke-warm and not perceived as priority, even if its population is becoming richer and country advancing economically. The bird list has increased to over 460 species and over the years we have been able consolidate the permanent protection of 7,500 ha of the 30,000 ha watershed having a direct effect on the surrounding community and land use.
One area we have made significant progress is in scientific research and training. This year saw 4 symposiums and 6 workshops attended by students from all over Brazil, a clear testimony of an increasing demand. We have identified this area for development, a niche with little competition where we can exploit the protected environment and pass on our beliefs and experience to others. Perhaps the World Cup and Olympics looming ahead could benefit REGUA with the possibility of corporate sponsorship for the future?
We are determined to make REGUA one of SE Brazil's most successful conservation projects, building a competent model and setting standards for the future. Our learning curve has taken time but we feel that we have made much progress. Many thanks to everyone who has helped and visited us, and here's to more success in 2012!
Posted by Nicholas Locke
Birding in Ubatuba with Rick and Elis
Coordinating a lodge and a conservation project it is always hard to get away. Rick and Elis Simpson have invited us several times to visit the area of Ubatuba and they have done much to put that area on the map (see Ubatuba Birdwatching Centre). We had heard that the Brown-backed Parrotlets were seen recently and as visitor to REGUA Steve Brookes wanted to see them, and Adilei wanted a short break to see other birds, and volunteers Stefan Lithner and Erico de Fonso wanted to see other habitats, and finally our Helen Cavilla was ending her term as lodge volunteer helping with managing the guests at REGUA, so at the end of November we all set off for a marvellous three day tour. We passed Pereque where we saw a male and female Black-hooded Antwren Formicivora erythronotos (photos 1 (male) and 2 (female)), a Streak-capped Antwren Terenura maculate, building a nest on the side of the road and a Spot-backed Antshrike Hypoedaleus guttatus, always a hard bird to see calling in the tree above. We passed Paraty and stayed in a small hotel in Ubatuba to move out and look for Rick. Unfortunately Rick wasn't there and neither were the parrotlets, but we saw some great tanagers and the gorgeous Swallow-tailed Kite Elanoides Forficatus (photo 3) being mobbed, almost this bird's most southern occurrence and recently been seen at REGUA. Rick fortunately found us at the end of the day and we returned to bird a fabulous place with hundreds of hummingbirds, a place called Sitio de Jonas. We were all ecstatic seeing the Festive Coquette Lophornis chalybeus and the truly fabulous Versicoloured Emerald Amazilia versicolor (photo 4).
Back the next day early we went to a lowland forest with Rick and Elis to find the Squamate Antbird Myrmeciza squamosal (photo 5) and came across the Spotted Bamboowren Psilorhamphus Guttatus (photo 6) though its tail seems to have gone. We had come to look for the fabulous Buff-throated Purpletuft Iodopleura pipra (photo 7) and it didn't take Elis five minutes to find one for us. A final unsuccessful return for the Brown-backed Parrotlets though we found the Rufous-winged Antwren Herpsilochmus refimarginatus (photp 8) and we had to go home, tired, happy and grateful for the company of the Great Birding Pair, Rick and Elis Simpson. Adilei had seen new birds, Steve has promises of a return visit and Helen had tears in her eyes just at the thought of leaving.
It is quite interesting to reflect that in this region, some 300 km south of REGUA, the birds have changed habits. Those high altitude species are found in coastal regions. Could it be the lowland forest is better conserved, but where are the Hooded Berryeaters, the Black-and gold-Cotingas, or is it that the Atlantic rainforest has two clearly defined distribution zones. These need careful visits and further studies. Want to come with us the next time?
Posted by Nicholas Locke
Night birding at REGUA
It's always the same with all our guests wishing to go night birding looking for Atlantic rainforest owls at REGUA. Even if we have a large number of "Murucututu's" the Portuguese wonderful onomatopoeic word for the Tawny-browed Owl, the rare Black-banded Owl is the one species everyone wants to see. Found unexpectedly in the large forest fragment known as Onofre Cunha land - for those who have visited us, a large area of relatively undisturbed lowland forest - by Mieko and Igor Camacho two years ago, the Black-banded Owl or Strix hulula is the ultimate prize for long days birding after dinner. We just received a second super torch from our past guests Janet Duerr and Steve Shaffer from Athens, Ohio, and went looking for the owls yesterday. Just getting out of the Toyota pick-up we walked 10 paces to hear the unmistakable cry from above. Adilei, his sight as keen as a puma, looked up and in the very dim light he caught sight of something. The beam lit up and before our eyes was this magical bird, his orange toes and orange beak contrasting from his black barred belly feathers. The cameras light up for us to register this moment and we leave to look for the Murucututu. A glowing feeling of satisfaction swells. Birding at night is magic!!
Posted by Nicholas Locke
CSI: Paw Print
Walking through the rainforest every day is bound to reveal some exciting things. In the early days of my stay at REGUA I ventured out every day with the misguided notion I would at some point easily see one of the many cats species taking a stroll in broad daylight, waiting obligingly for me to spot them and allowing me to get some cracking photos (or at least some photographic evidence). No chance! Not as much as whisker or a glimpse of a tail. No. But what I did see excited me still. I felt a little like a detective scouring the trails for clues to the mammals that roam though the reserve. I was rewarded frequently and, even with my limited knowledge of where to look, I was able to find many traces that gave the game away. It doesn’t matter how elusive the animal may be, evidence of presence can be found if you know where to look. As my forensic course informed me, absence of proof isn't proof of absence.
It pains me to say that during my six months at the reserve I was unable to see any of the cat species, but it just goes to show that spotting them is no easy thing. Once I realised this (and this was hard to accept initially) I always made sure I took photos of anything I saw that I remotely considered important. So, I took copious amounts of photos of not only footprints, scrapes and possible animal kills but also many of droppings. Lovely! But droppings/scats can reveal an awful lot. For starters it tells you who has been out and about, where and possibly what they have eaten. Exciting stuff! Well for an amateur scatologist like me it is (and I know of others, believe it or not!) Poor old Adilei the guide had to study many photos of faeces during my stint at REGUA. The footprints I found in the last month showed a marvellous array of large mammal species: Puma Puma concolor, Ocelot Leopardus pardalis (photo 1), Oncilla Leopardus tigrinus, Crab-eating Fox Cerdocyon thous (photo 2) and Crab-eating Racoon Procyon cancrivorus (photo 3). The cat prints were all found around the Wetland and Forest Trails. The footprint photos were shown to a tracks expert, Marco Felipe, who identified them for me. He pointed out that the ocelot and oncilla tracks were together and that ocelot will occasionally prey on oncilla. So I think a bit of stalking was perhaps in action! The crab-eating racoon and fox prints were taken at the water’s edge of the little stream that crosses the Forest Trail. After scrambling under the bridge on the Forest Trail I found more tracks here too.
The cat species are largely nocturnal, shy and solitary and will hunt a wide variety of prey from armadillo, rodents such as Red-rumped Agouti (photo 4), birds, reptiles, amphibians, crustaceans and even invertebrates - the ocelot and oncilla stalk through trees so even monkeys are on the menu. And with the ocelot being able to swim well too the wetland habitat must be a fantastic restaurant for this particular cat! Similarly the crab-eating raccoon and fox will nearly always be found near water. Again both species are generally solitary, nocturnal and hunt an assortment of delicacies from the obvious crab through to eggs, fruit, amphibians, reptiles and carrion. With these animals feasting on virtually all the animal kingdom has to offer, it is impressive to see that the restored habitats are catering to their needs.
Knowing there are so many animals living secret lives makes for potentially exciting night-time surveillance. The issue here is these animals are so adept at detecting humans! The acquisition of more camera traps would be a great idea!
There is clearly much animal activity in the reserve, particularly at night. And with a lot of patience and time there is chance of reward! Who said working with animals was easy anyway?
Posted by Helen Cavilla
Canopy tower almost complete
Our new canopy tower, situated in the forest near the edge of the wetland, is now almost complete. Both floors have been built, the roof is in place, and the spiral staircase is being installed. For some more pics click here.
Posted by Lee Dingain
Loch Garten RSPB reserve manager blogs about REGUA
Richard Thaxton, site manager at Loch Garten RSPB reserve, famous for it's breeding Ospreys, spent a month at REGUA on sabbatical in mid October. Richard made many valuable contributions, including producing a report on how we can improve the reserve for visitors, building trail posts, marking out trails and building hide screens. Richard has blogged about his experiences on the RSPB website. To read, click here.
Posted by Lee Dingain
Review: A Guide to the Hawkmoths of the Serra dos Orgaos, South-eastern Brazil
Akito Y. kawahara from the McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity at the Florida Museum of Natural History has reviewed our first book - A Guide to the Hawkmoths of the Serra dos Orgaos, South-eastern Brazil by Alan Martin, Alexandre Soares and Jorge Bizarro. To read the review click here.
Posted by Lee Dingain
Narrow-billed Woodcreeper - a new bird for REGUA
On 2 November 2011, brothers Gabriel and Daniel Jorge were at the wetland when they sighted this Narrow-billed Woodcreeper - a new bird for the reserve! Gabriel managed to capture this beautiful photo of the bird with a spider in its bill. With the recent additions of Swallow-tailed Kite and Black-backed Water-Tyrant, the REGUA bird list now stands at an incredible 460 species. Check out more of Gabriel's fantastic photos on WikiAves
Posted by Lee Dingain
Mammals photo gallery on the REGUA Facebook page
Check out our new photo gallery Mammals of REGUA on our Facebook page (click here). Many thanks to everyone who has contributed photos. If you have any photos of mammals taken at REGUA that you would like to contribute to the gallery then please email Lee Dingain at webmaster@regua.co.uk.
Posted by Lee Dingain
Amendments to hawkmoths book
Since the publication of A Guide to the Hawkmoths of the Serra dos Orgaos, South-eastern Brazil in May 2011, there have been a number of taxonomic changes amongst the region's Sphingidae, and in addition we have also found two significant errors on the identification plates. Therefore, we have produced an addendum to accompany the book, which also includes details of two new species for Rio state. To download the addendum, click here. If you would like a copy of the book then you can purchase it either through NHBS (who can ship worldwide), or by emailing Alan Martin at alanjmart@gmail.com.
Posted by Alan Martin
REGUA's first canopy tower
We are very pleased to announce that our very first canopy tower is now almost complete. We've been thinking about building a canopy tower on the reserve for a few years now, but there have been many things to consider - how to construct it, what materials are best to use in our tropical climate, how high to make it, the cost of building and maintaining it, and crucially, where to put it? We looked at a few potential sites and with advice from our bird guide, Adilei, we decided to build it in the secondary forest near the beginning of our São José Trail (at about 70 metres above sea-level), where the trees are not too tall. Just a short walk from the lodge, when it's finished visitors will be able to watch canopy-dwelling birds and other wildlife at eye-level, and being located within a wintering area for Elegant Mourner it may prove to be a good place to observe these rare birds. The tower will also provide visiting local school children with the opportunity to get a birds-eye view of the forest.
Posted by Lee Dingain
New REGUA minibus
We now have a new minibus! A Renault with 16 seats, air conditioning, plenty of luggage space and a high roof to allow birders carrying scopes, tripods, cameras and bags easier access, we can now offer guests more comfortable transportation to and from the airport and on excursions. Our driver Alcenir is over the moon!
Posted by Lee Dingain
Black-backed Water-Tyrant at REGUA
On Saturday 12 November, REGUA supporter, Lee Dingain, was birding at the wetland when he found a new bird for the reserve in the form of a Black-backed Water-Tyrant Fluvicola albiventer. Distributed throughout eastern South America, the nearest populations to REGUA lie about 600 km away in northern Minas Gerais and central São Paulo states. However, Ricardo Gagliardi, who keeps the official Rio de Janeiro state bird list reports that Black-backed Water-Tyrant is slowly spreading into Rio de Janeiro state, and there have been a few recent records, though none as far south as REGUA. Maybe this species will become a permanent member of the REGUA's avifauna in the future? The bird was still present the next day but unfortunately hasn't been seen since. For the full story on this exciting find please visit Lee's blog.
Puma tracks found at the wetland
Last Sunday our lodge manager, Helen Cavilla, was walking on the Wetland Trail by the lodge when she discovered these fresh Puma prints on the track. These prints confirm the presence of Puma at the wetland and this another good indicator that the reforestation we've been carrying out around the wetland since 2005 is paying off. By replanting areas previously felled with native pioneer tree species, forest animals are able to move into these new areas and so biodiveristy gradually increases. Apex preditors such as Puma will expand into these areas once there is enough suitable habitat to support their prey, and prey animals such as Paca and Red-rumped Agouti are being seen much more frequently. Several forest interior bird species are also being seen with much more frequency around the wetland as well as in the lodge garden, such as Rusty-margined Guan, (now visiting the feeders), Rufous-browed Peppershrike, Red-ruffed Fruitcrow and Bare-throated Bellbird (click here for some nice footage of bellbirds by Ron Jackson here). As the forest around the wetland continues to mature, we expect more species associated with the forest interior to take up residence.-hc.jpg)
Check out more of wildlife at REGUA on Helen's Facebook photo gallery.
Recent bird sightings at REGUA
Avian highlights from around the reserve in September include: Tataupa Tinamou, Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, Masked Duck, Rusty-margined Guan (visiting the lodge feeders), Rufescent Tiger-Heron, Whistling Heron, Capped Heron, Grey-headed Kite, Snail Kite, Black-and-white Hawk-Eagle, Rufous-thighed Kite (lodge garden), Crane Hawk, Limpkin, Russet-crowned Crake, Rufous-sided Crake, Blackish Rail, Giant Snipe, Maroon-bellied Parakeet, Plain Parakeet, Blue-bellied Parrot (4x4 Track), Tropical Screech-Owl (at usual roost site), Long-tailed Potoo (roosting on the 4x4 Track), Common Potoo, Spot-tailed Nightjar, Scissor-tailed Nightjar, Sick's Swift, Saw-billed Hermit, Rufous-breasted Hermit, Black Jacobin, Frilled Coquette, White-chinned Sapphire (lodge garden), Buff-bellied Puffbird, White-eared Puffbird, Crescent-chested Puffbird, Spot-billed Toucanet, White Woodpecker (lodge garden), Spot-backed Antshrike, White-bibbed Antbird, Black-cheeked Gnateater, Rufous-capped Antthrush, Rufous-breasted Leaftosser, Ochre-breasted, Black-capped, Buff-fronted and White-eyed Foliage-gleaners, Sharp-tailed Streamcreeper, Southern Antpipit, Oustalet's Tyrannulet (Elfin Forest Trail - photo below), Russet-winged Spadebill (Waterfall Trail), Greyish Mourner, Dusky-capped Flycatcher, Large-headed Flatbill, Grey-hooded Attila, Bare-throated Bellbird (lodge garden), Pin-tailed Manakin, Sharpbill, Shrike-like Cotinga, Green-backed Becard, White-thighed Swallow, Long-billed Wren, Hooded, Olive-green, Azure-shouldered, Golden-chevroned, White-bellied, Red-necked and Rufous-headed Tanagers, Temminck's Seedeater (4x4 Track and lodge garden), Yellow-green and Black-throated Grosbeaks and Green-winged Saltator (Wetland Trail).
REGUA cycle ride
Forty young people from the local villages of Areal, Estreito, Guapiaçu and Matumbo joined in the third annual cycle ride organised by REGUA last month. Andre, the Environmental Education Officer, organised the finer details of the cycle ride. The ride was advertised in the Boletim Verde and was open to all ages and to all local people (not just Young Rangers). Many of the Young Rangers took part, most of them on bikes borrowed from family members (very few of the children had their own bikes), some placing conservation messages attached to their bikes/the REGUA bus.
The cycle ride started at 8am to beat the heat of the day (some of the children told me they had been so excited they had been up since 5am - even before their parents they couldn't wait to add!). Raquel, Josue and I followed (not lazy!) in the bus acting as the support vehicle with all the water the cyclists needed - it also served as transport for the tired ones! It was a hot morning, especially by the time the ride was over, so many pitstops were made along the way in the shade of trees.
The route was 8km long and began in the centre of Guapiaçu. The children cycled along the dirt tracks as the route wound its way through the local villages of Areal and Matumbo, the foothills of the mountains and across the Guapiaçu river. The ride ended back in the centre of Guapiaçu where all the participants gathered for a raffle - the prize being a brand new bike donated by REGUA!
After a dramatic prize draw the winner was revealed to be Marcelo, a Young Ranger (who didn't have his own bike). He was delighted as you can see by the photo! After this the children gathered at a well-deserved barbecue. They were certainly hungry by this time!
Everyone is looking forward to the next cycle ride. In fact, some adults have indicated they are quite keen to do one now! BUT MUCH SHORTER!!
A rare encounter - Muriqui at REGUA on the Waterfall Trail
The Muriqui, or Southern Woolly Spider Monkey Brachyteles arachnoides, is never an easy animal to see. It is the rarest primate in South America and endemic to the Atlantic Rainforest. These long faun coloured monkeys with delicate facial patterns are not aggressive but quiet and reclusive. With indiscriminate hunting and the loss of its habitat the Muriqui population crashed and the Guinness book of records for 1988 showed it to be the rarest primate in the wild with only 200 specimens alive. Fortunately REGUA has a small resident population in its medium altitudinal forests and every three or four months the group is seen generally with young by a ranger or a guest. The rangers have been instrumental in reducing hunting pressure and as result Adilei took some days off his guiding in determined pursuit to photograph this rare creature. On his third walk, just at the researcher's cabin on the Waterfal (Green) Trail at 650m above sea level in pristine forest he heard some fruit falling and a gentle call. Stealthily he approached a large tree and spied a female feasting on some fruit. She had seen Adilei but she didn't consider him a threat and continued to eat and lazily stretched herself to lie down and doze as is often their midday habit. Adilei wanted a slightly better image and after a while cautiously approached. She woke and took off merging into the canopy of the forest and was gone. Adilei was delighted with the images of this rare encounter.
Recent sightings
We've had some fantastic bird sightings around the reserve throughout June, July and August, including two more new birds for REGUA, a long overdue Green Honeycreeper and a completely unexpected Stygian Owl, bringing the reserve list up to 458!
4x4 Track to Casa Anibal: Black-and-white Hawk-Eagle, Blue-bellied Parrot, Long-tailed Potoo, Frilled Coquette, Yellow-fronted Woodpecker, White-bibbed Antbird, Bare-throated Bellbird, White-thighed Swallow and Temminck's Seedeater.-lp.jpg)
Elfin Forest Trail: There's been some excellent birding on this trail with several difficult species seen including; Solitary Tinamou, Spot-winged Wood-Quail, Blue-bellied Parrot, Least Pygmy-Owl, Planalto Hermit, 3 Buff-bellied Puffbird, Spot-billed Toucanet, Yellow-fronted Woodpecker, Giant Antshrike, a pair of Tufted Antshrike, White-bearded Antshrike, Salvadori's Antwren, 6 Ferruginous Antbird, Slaty Bristlefront, Short-tailed Antthrush, Such's Antthrush, Black-billed Scythebill, White-browed Foliage-gleaner, White-collared Foliage-gleaner, Pale-browed Treehunter, 2 Fork-tailed Tody-Tyrant, Grey-capped Tyrannulet, Oustalet's Tyrannulet, Black-tailed Flycatcher, Velvety Black-Tyrant, Sharpbill, Shrike-like Cotinga and Brown Tanager.
Grey Trail: Pileated Parrot, Black Jacobin, Spot-billed Toucanet, Rufous-capped Antthrush, Russet-winged Spadebill and 3 Black-legged Dacnis.
Lodge garden: Tataupa Tinamou, Rusty-margined Guan (up to 4 birds visitng the feeders), large numbers of Maroon-bellied Parakeets demolishing piles of bananas, Orange-winged Parrot, Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl, Common Potoo, Reddish Hermit, the first returning Black Jacobin, White-chinned Sapphire, White Woodpecker, Red-ruffed Fruitcrow photographed along the lodge driveway, Golden-chevroned Tanager, Fawn-breasted Tanager (coming to the feeders), Swallow-Tanager, Crested Oropendola, Green-winged Saltator in the lodge garden and 6 Blue-naped Chlorophonia (photo below) also in the lodge garden.
Onofre Cunha Trail: Excellent encounters with Giant Snipe showing down to just 3 metres (photo below) as well as Tawny-browed Owl, 2 Black-banded Owl and Common Potoo. Uniform Crake, Black-capped Screech-Owl, Mottled Owl and Long-tailed (Large-tailed) Potoo were also heard here.
Waldenoor and Veludo Trails: Mantled Hawk, Black-and-white Hawk-Eagle, Blue-winged Parrotlet, Plain Parakeet, Pileated Parrot, Scaly-headed Parrot, Least Pygmy-Owl, Scale-throated Hermit, Brazilian Ruby, Rufous-capped Motmot, White-eared and Crescent-chested Puffbirds, Channel-billed Toucan, Saffron Toucanet, Yellow-fronted Woodpecker, Giant Antshrike, White-shouldered Fire-eye, Rufous-breasted Leaftosser, Scaled Woodcreeper, Rufous-capped Spinetail, Buff-browed Foliage-gleaner, Pale-browed Treehunter, Southern Antpipit, Rough-legged Tyrannulet, Tropical Pewee, Blue-billed Black-Tyrant, Long-tailed Tyrant, Sharpbill, Black-tailed Tityra, Green-backed Becard, White-bellied Tanager, Brassy-breasted Tanager, REGUA's first Green Honeycreeper (a female), and Yellow-green and Black-throated Grosbeaks.
Waterfall Trail: White-necked Hawk, Mantled Hawk, Black Hawk-Eagle, Black-and-white Hawk-Eagle, Buff-bellied Puffbird, Spot-billed Toucanet, Spot-backed Antshrike, Scaled Antbird, Black-cheeked Gnateater, Variegated Antpitta, Rufous-capped Antthrush, Rufous-breasted Leaftosser, Ochre-breasted Foliage-gleaner, Black-capped Foliage-gleaner, Sharp-tailed Streamcreeper (at the waterfall), Southern Antpipit, Eye-ringed Tody-Tyrant, Tropical Pewee, Large-headed Flatbill, Pin-tailed Manakin, Sharpbill, 2 Shrike-like Cotinga (photo below and more here, White-thighed Swallow (at the waterfall), Hooded Tanager, Olive-green Tanager, Azure-shouldered Tanager, White-bellied Tanager, Red-necked Tanager, Brassy-breasted Tanager, Rufous-headed Tanager, Uniform Finch and Golden-crowned Warbler.
Wetland and adjacent forest trails: Up to 20 Muscovy Duck, Masked Duck (numbers slowly building to 10 birds in August), Rufescent Tiger-Heron, 2 immature Boat-billed Heron from the new hide, Pinnated Bittern, Cocoi Heron, Whistling Heron, Capped Heron, 1 Snail Kite, Crane Hawk, White-necked Hawk, Laughing Falcon, Aplomado Falcon, Limpkin, Grey-necked and Slaty-breasted Wood-Rails, Russet-crowned Crake, Rufous-sided Crake, Ash-throated Crake, Blackish Rail, Orange-winged Parrot, Tropical Screech-Owl (including 2 at the usual roost site), 3 Tawny-browed Owl, 1 Stygian Owl seen at close range on the evening of 31st, the first for REGUA, Common Potoo, Pauraque, Scissor-tailed Nightjar (photo below), Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift, Green Kingfisher, 2 Rufous-tailed Jacamar in residence behind the conservation centre, 1 Toco Toucan at the start of the São José Trail, Channel-billed Toucan, White Woodpecker, Giant Antshrike (heard), Sooretama Slaty Antshrike, White-bibbed Antbird, Black-billed Scythebill (1 along the São José Trail), Wing-banded Hornero, Southern Antpipit, Eared Pygmy-Tyrant, Bran-coloured Flycatcher, Fuscous Flycatcher, Vermillion Flycatcher, a very unseasonal Streaked Flycatcher, Grey-hooded Attila, Bare-throated Bellbird, Red-ruffed Fruitcrow, Shrike-like Cotinga (at the regular wintering area along the São José Trail behind the wetland), Lemon-chested Greenlet, Long-billed Wren, Black-capped Donacobius, Wedge-tailed Grass-Finch, Hooded Tanager, Golden-chevroned Tanager, Fawn-breasted Tanager, Swallow-Tanager, Pileated Finch, a very low altitude record of Green-winged Saltator and Giant Cowbird.
Mammals seen around the reserve recently have included South-eastern Common Opossum, Brown-throated Three-toed Sloth, Nine-banded Armadillo, Fishing Bat, Common (Tufted-ear) Marmoset, Brown Capuchin Monkey, Collared Peccary, Brazilian Squirrel, Orange-spined Hairy Dwarf Porcupine, Capybara, Paca and Red-rumped Agouti. Theres also been plenty of tracks and signs of Puma on our Elfin Forest Trail.
For more sightings at REGUA over the last few months please see Duncan Wilson's excellent trip report.
Birdfair 2011 competition results
Our competition on the stand at the Birdfair this year to win a membership of the Neotropical Bird Club proved to be very popular. All you had to do was name the Critically Endangered bird species that can be seen on our Cabo Frio excursion. The answer is Restinga Antwren. We are pleased to announce that the winner selected at random is Jenny Kingsland from Sheffield. Many congratulations!! Your Neotropical Bird Club membership pack is in the post on its way to you. Many thanks to everyone who entered.
Restinga Antwren - a Rio de Janeiro state endemic?
When we think of Rio de Janeiro state we wonder if it has any endemic bird species. Indeed though Brazil boasts 1600 bird species, Rio de Janeiro state, one of Brazil's smaller states, with its moutains covered in spectacular Atlantic Rainforest it boasts only four endemic species; the Grey-winged Cotinga Tijuca condita from the mountain tops, the little known Rio de Janeiro Antwren Myrmotherula fluminensis, the possibly extinct Kinglet Calyptura Calyptura cristata and the Critically Endangered Restinga Antwren Formicivora littoralis (photos below: male top, female bottom). This small antwren split was split from Serra Antwren Formicivora serrana in 1990, and has a very restricted range.
REGUA runs excursions to take guests to the restinga sand dune vegetation near Cabo Frio to see these very special birds. They are often seen in pairs scuttling in the undergrowth and recently we found a pair and registered these images. The restinga vegetation type is very special and is still under threat from the construction of seaside resorts, so the establishment of conservation sites is most important for the future of this unique species. On 15 April, a new reserve was established in Rio de Janeiro state to protect this ecosystem, the State Park of the Costa del Sol (PECS) (more here).
But is Restinga Antwren actually a good species? The latest issue of Neotropical Birding (Autumn 2011) reports that a recent study by Daniel Firme and Marcos Raposo has found insufficient characteristics to split Restinga Antwren from Serra Antwren, and that Restinga Antwren is best treated as a subspecies. Either way, our excursion to Cabo Frio to see this charasmatic bird is well worth it. At certain times of the year you might also even find small numbers of Magellanic Penguins Spheniscus magellanicus and tubenoses offshore, as well as a wide variety of North Amercian waders wintering on the salt lagoons.
David Miller
We are very saddened to report the passing away of our close friend David Miller. Over all the years we knew David, he kept his distinctive Irish humour and Brazilian passion very close to his heart. Married to Bel, and retired as an accountant, David fell in love with the cloud forests of the Atlantic Rainforest, purchasing two fabulous properties with pristine forest in the mountainous region of Nova Friburgo, better known as Macae de Cima. They dedicated their lives to the study and conservation of orchid species and brought friends from around the world to share in their studies, publishing several definitive books on the 600+ species found in the Serra dos Orgaos mountain range. David always maintained that this was the biodiversity hotspot for orchids, and he dedicated his time to travelling and unravelling the past history and show that it doesn't take much to destroy the fine equilibrium that had taken millions of years to reach. He particularly liked the narratives of George Gardener who avidly described his extensive travels in the early 19th century. David and Bel were always present with a ready cup of tea or coffee to welcome all his guests. His hummingbird feeders were the best around and were featured in the BBC documentary Life of Birds, by David Attenborough. He will be sorely missed and we hope that his wish to transform his sanctuary into an orchid study centre will come true.
Birdfair bribery!
If finding out all about the fantastic birds and the amazing conservation work going on here at REGUA wasn't enough to get you to the UK Birdfair this weekend, then how about the chance to win a membership of the Neotropical Bird Club? Or perhaps some free cakes courtesy of RAW Baking to keep you going, such as Bellbird Brownie, Spadebill Shortbread and Bananaquit or Fruitcrow Flapjack! Come and visit us in marquee 5, stand number 35.
Stygian Owl at REGUA!!!!
Birding at REGUA in July ended with a huge bang, when on the evening of the 31st lodge manager Helen Cavilla, volunteer Duncan Wilson and lodge guest Mikael Käll went out to the wetland looking for Scissor-tailed Nightjars and came face to face with this stonking Stygian Owl!! Mikael managed to take these incredible images while the bird showed down to 5 metres! This is just the third record for Rio de Janeiro state.
Roosting Long-tailed Potoo at REGUA
The Long-tailed Potoo is never an easy bird to see and though we went last night with Leonardo to the lowland area of Onofre Cunha to see the Giant Snipe and Tawny-browed Owl at such close distances, we didn't even hear the Long tailed Potoo's unmistakeable eery call. If you have heard this bird call you can understand why many locals think that it comes from the other side of life!! Adilei had similarly walked with guests Federic and his French friends anxious to see this bird.
This morning, driving up the 4x4 Track to Casa Anibal, Adilei bashed the top of the cabin and said "stop stop!!", pointing excitedly to the ball of feathers ontop of a dead snag. It didn't take long for us to recognize the Long-tailed Potoo and as we took our photos he commented what a shame Federic did not get to see it. I came back to the lodge and found Federic and the group having their last breakfast on the veranda as they prepared to leave for Sumidouro. When I mentioned we had a stake out for the potoo no one was that interested and only when I added that Adilei had mentioned how keen they were to see the bird, did Federic say I must have made a mistake. The group dashed for cameras and jumped on the pick-up to return to the same spot on the 4x4 Trail for a glorious photographic session. And even the Shrike-like Cotinga came to say goodbye to us as we returned to the lodge and a final farewell.
British Birdfair 2011
REGUA will once again be at the UK Birdfair. REGUA supporters Rachel Walls, Alan Martin and Lee Dingain will be manning the stand which we are sharing with our friends Rick Simpson and Elis Simpson of the Ubatuba Birdwatching Centre. We will have full details about birding at REGUA, our excursions, the lodge and the latest developments at the Reserve. Come and visit us in marquee 5, stand number 35. The Birdfair will be held at Egleton Nature Reserve in Rutland from the 19th to 21st August, click here for details.
29 June 2011
Recent bird sightings on excursions
Over the last few months we've had some fantastic sightings on our excursions. Highlights include:
Cabo Frio: Excellent views of the Critically Endangered Restinga Antwren (top photo), along with White-cheeked Pintail, Brown Booby, Little Blue Heron, Roseate Spoonbill, Clapper Rail (look carefully in the second photo below), Semipalmated Plover, Collared Plover, Whimbrel (second photo), Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, Ruddy Turnstone, White-rumped Sandpiper, Grey-headed Gull, Sooretama Slaty Antshrike, Hangnest Tody-Tyrant and Tawny-crowned Pygmy-Tyrant.
Macaé de Cima: Mantled Hawk, Brown-backed Parrotlet, Red-capped Parrot, Scale-throated Hermit, Plovercrest (photo below), White-throated Hummingbird, Brazilian Ruby, Amethyst Woodstar, Yellow-browed Woodpecker, Giant Antshrike, Rufous-backed Antvireo, Bertoni's Antbird, Ochre-rumped Antbird, Rufous Gnateater, Rufous-tailed Antthrush, White-throated Woodcreeper, Planalto Woodcreeper, Black-billed Scythebill, Rufous-capped Spinetail, Pallid Spinetail, Red-eyed Thornbird, White-browed Foliage-gleaner, White-collared Foliage-gleaner, Grey-capped Tyrannulet, Shear-tailed Grey-Tyrant, Hooded Berryeater, Bare-throated Bellbird, Black-and-gold Cotinga, Sharpbill, Greenish Schiffornis, Azure-shouldered Tanagers, Fawn-breasted Tanager, Brassy-breasted Tanager and Bay-chested Warbling-Finch.
Pico da Caledônia: Then undoubted highlight has been great views of the rare Grey-winged Cotinga, but other sightings have included Dusky-legged Guan, White-necked Hawk, Red-legged Seriema, Golden-tailed Parrotlet, Plovercrest, Glittering-bellied Emerald, White-throated Hummingbird, Brazilian Ruby, Yellow-browed Woodpecker, Giant Antshrike, Large-tailed Antshrike, Rufous-capped Antshrike, Variable Antshrike, Rufous-backed Antvireo, Rufous-tailed Antbird, Dusky-tailed Antbird, Rufous Gnateater, Mouse-coloured Tapaculo, Black-billed Scythebill, Itatiaia Thistletail, Pallid Spinetail, Orange-eyed Thornbird, Sharp-tailed Streamcreeper, Grey-capped Tyrannulet, Highland Elaenia, Mottle-cheeked Tyrannulet, Blue-billed Black-Tyrant, Velvety Black-Tyrant, Shear-tailed Grey Tyrant, Swallow-tailed Cotinga, Bare-throated Bellbird, Black-and-gold Cotinga (photo below), Saffron-crested Tyrant-Manakin, Diademed Tanager, Bay-chested Warbling-Finch, Buffy-fronted Seedeater, Green-winged Saltator, Thick-billed Saltator and Hooded Siskin.
Sumidouro: Fantastic views of the Vulnerable Three-toed Jacamar, along with a supporting cast of Blue-winged Macaw, White-eyed Parakeet, Common Barn Owl, Sapphire-spangled Emerald, Serra Antwren, Hangnest Tody-Tyrant, Eared Pygmy-Tyrant, Crested Black-Tyrant, White-rumped Monjita, Gilt-edged Tanager, Yellow-bellied Seedeater (photo below) and Crested Oropendola.
26 June 2011
Presentation of the Guide to the Serra dos Órgãos in Rio de Janeiro
The First Rio de Janeiro's Symposium of Entomology (10 EntomoRio) was held on the 4, 5 and 6th May at the library of the Museu Nacional (UFRJ). The event featured around 130 participants from most Rio public universities and 61 paper presentations and 9 lectures on various topics. Among these, the highlights were a few studies on the insects of the Organ Mountains, like for example: "Species of Nymphalidae (Lepidoptera-Papilionoidea) occurring in Samabaia Farm, Petrópolis, RJ" presented by the staff of Oswaldo Cruz Institute consisting of: Marcio Abreu Silva, Aline Vieira Miranda, Daniele Cerri, and Jane Costa, with the collaboration of Mr. Nirton Tangerini, which participated on the research concerning the preliminary checklist of REGUA's diurnal Lepidoptera (butterflies).
Invited by the EntomoRio Organizing Committee, Alexandre Soares and Jorge Bizarro attended the event to make an informal first presentation of REGUA Books first publication - Guide to Hawkmoths of Serra dos Órgãos - to the Brazilian Research community in the State of Rio. So, we were provided with the opportunity to distribute a leaflet flyer featuring the books web address at the NHBS bookshop to around 80 personal contacts the. Unfortunately, we still lack copies available in Brazil for selling to the already 30 or more people that showed interest in acquiring the book.
Grey-eyed Greenlet - another new bird for REGUA!
Last month our bird guide, Leonardo Pimentel, was birding at the wetland when he found yet another new bird for REGUA - an immature Grey-eyed Greenlet Hylophilus amaurocephalus (photo below). This range of this Brazilian endemic stretches across eastern Brazil from the state of Piauí in the north down to São Paulo State, but the nearest they get to Rio de Janeiro State is eastern Minas Gerais, and so it is very unusual and unexpected to find one at REGUA. This addition brings the REGUA bird list to an incredible 456 species!
Latest sightings
There have been some excellent bird sightings in April and May, including yet another new bird for the reserve - Fork-tailed Tody-Tyrant.
Elfin Forest Trail: Least Pygmy-Owl, Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl, Dusky-throated Hermit, Brazilian Ruby, Buff-bellied Puffbird, Saffron Toucanet, Giant Antshrike, Tufted Antshrike, White-bearded Antshrike, Ferruginous Antbird, White-bibbed Antbird, Slaty Bristlefront, Rufous-breasted Leaftosser, Black-billed Scythebill, White-browed Foliage-gleaner, Ochre-breasted Foliage-gleaner, Black-capped Foliage-gleaner, Buff-fronted Foliage-gleaner, Pale-browed Treehunter, Fork-tailed Tody-Tyrant (another REGUA first - see here), Oustalet's Tyrannulet, Large-headed Flatbill, Shrike-like Cotinga (photo below), Rufous-crowned Greenlet and Brown Tanager.
Onofre Cunha Trail: Giant Snipe, Mottled Owl and Black-banded Owl (photo below).
Waldenoor and Veludo Trail: Maroon-bellied Parakeet, Plain Parakeet, Saffron Toucanet, Yellow-fronted Woodpecker, Blond-crested Woodpecker, Scaled Woodcreeper, Sharpbill (photo below), Green-backed Becard, Chestnut-crowned Becard, White-winged Becard and Yellow-green Grosbeak.-lp.jpg)
Waterfall Trail: White-necked Hawk, Saw-billed Hermit, Reddish Hermit, Surucua Trogon, Rufous-capped Motmot, Crescent-chested Puffbird, Spot-billed Toucanet, Yellow-eared Woodpecker, Yellow-throated Woodpecker, Blond-crested Woodpecker, Spot-backed Antshrike, Spot-breasted Antvireo, Unicoloured Antwren, Rufous-winged Antwren, Scaled Antbird, Black-cheeked Gnateater, Rufous-breasted Leaftosser, White-throated Woodcreeper, Spix's Spinetail, Ochre-breasted Foliage-gleaner, Black-capped Foliage-gleaner, Buff-fronted Foliage-gleaner, White-eyed Foliage-gleaner, Plain Xenops, Southern Antpipit, Eye-ringed Tody-Tyrant, Greyish Mourner, Large-headed Flatbill, Grey-hooded Attila, Pin-tailed Manakin, White-thighed Swallow, Rufous-headed Tanager and Black-throated Grosbeak.
Wetland, adjacent forest trails and lodge garden: Tataupa Tinamou, Rusty-margined Guan, Anhinga, Rufescent Tiger-Heron, Capped Heron (photo below), Harris' Hawk, Laughing Falcon, Slaty-breasted Wood-Rail, Russet-crowned Crake, Rufous-sided Crake, Ash-throated Crake, Blackish Rail, Pale-vented Pigeon, Blue-winged Parrotlet, Orange-winged Parrot, Striped Cuckoo, Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl, Saw-billed Hermit (now coming to the lodge feeders), Rufous-breasted Hermit, Reddish Hermit, White-chinned Sapphire, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, Crescent-chested Puffbird, White Woodpecker, Blond-crested Woodpecker, Sooretama Slaty Antshrike, White-flanked Antwren, White-bibbed Antbird, Black-cheeked Gnateater, Wing-banded Hornero, Southern Antpipit, Yellow-breasted Flycatcher, Bran-coloured Flycatcher, Euler's Flycatcher, Fuscous Flycatcher, Lemon-chested Greenlet, Moustached Wren, Long-billed Wren, Black-capped Donacobius, Hooded Tanager, Swallow-Tanager, Black-legged Dacnis, Red-legged Honeycreeper and Pileated Finch.
REGUA plans for the Red-billed Curassow reintroduction gaining strength
REGUA and Crax Brazil worked together for four years on the IBAMA approved reintroduction of a locally extinct bird species, the Red-billed Curassow at REGUA. This magnificent species was last seen in Rio state in 1962 and now only a few isolated populations live in both northern Espirito Santo and southern Bahia states. These are large ground dwelling birds endemic only to south-east Brazil, and though they are capable of short flights and roost in trees for protection, they would never be able to roam these forests near Rio de Janeiro, the most southern tip of their former distribution area, due to the devastation of the forests in between and the wide Paraiba de Sul river.
In spite of all the odds against a successful reintroduction which takes years in the best of situations, birds rescued by Roberto Azeredo from the front line of falling forests over 30 years ago have been successfully raised in captivity and he has already contributed birds to the CENIBRA project in Minas Gerais for their own successful reintroduction programme over the last 15 years. Christine Steiner developed her doctorate paper on the reintroduction of these cracids at REGUA with radio telemetry monitoring of introduced birds raised at Crax Brasil, a project funded by the Wetland Trust, UK. The reintroduced birds had to be of a certain size yet young enough to adapt to the new forest conditions and to fit UK tailor developed transmission back packs made by Biotrack, UK. Though REGUA still hasn't evidence of any young chicks in spite filming adult's copulating and evidence of nest building, but Christine successfully caught the attention of the community by informing them of the importance of these birds and was able to turn them into a flagship species for this project (photo below).
REGUA has had to reduce the momentum of this project, but having completed her study, Dr Christine was appointed a professorship in South Bahia and is now spearheading a project with BirdLife International and zoos for their continued reintroduction. Various zoos have examples of these birds in their collections but suppress their reproduction as there are few sites to reintroduce them. Christine is seeking partners, IBAMA approved sites, and coordinating a big effort to return these birds to the forest. They are an essential component of healthy forest ecology due to their seed dispersal performance. We hope Christine is successful and these birds will not take long to become a common bird as it was in the days of the early Atlantic Rainforest explorers.
More about Red-billed Curassows here:
http://10000birds.com/re-introducing-the-red-billed-curassow.htm
http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/speciesfactsheet.php?id=109
http://www.arkive.org/red-billed-curassow/crax-blumenbachii/#src=portletV3api
New articles on the birds of REGUA
The last few months have seen two articles published on the birds of REGUA. The first is an article written by our guide Leonardo Pimentel and Fábio Olmos, published in Cotinga, summarising the results of survey work carried out at REGUA since 2003. Cotinga is now available online and you can download the article from the Neotropical Birding website. The second article, published in Neotropical Birding, is by REGUA supporter Lee Dingain, and describes where and when to find the REGUA's speciality birds (more on Lee's blog). Neotropical Birding is available to Neotropical Bird Club members. To join please visit their website.
New bird for the Serra dos Órgãos region found at REGUA
On 11 April, our bird guide, Leonardo Pimentel, was guiding some guests on the Elfin Forest Trail when he heard a call that he immediately recognised as a Fork-tailed Tody-Tyrant Hemitriccus furcatus! After a little playback the bird came in and although it kept to the dense vegetation he managed to get some photos (below). Fork-tailed Tody-Tyrant, otherwise known as Fork-tailed Pygmy-Tyrant, is a very rare Brazilian Atlantic Forest endemic with a tiny fragmented population, and is classified as Vulnerable by BirdLife International. The nearest populations to REGUA are in southern Rio de Janeiro State and this is the first record for the Serra dos Órgãos region of this distinctive tyrannid (check out the tail pattern). This record brings the total number of birds recorded at REGUA to an incredible 455, including 62 Brazilian endemics and 118 Atlantic Forest endemics! Well done Leonardo for finding such a fantastic bird!
17 April 2011
REGUA’s first book is published
Over the last two years Alan Martin with his co-authors Alexandre Soares and Jorge Bizarro have been working on the comprehensive A Guide to the Hawkmoths of the Serra dos Orgaos, South-eastern Brazil, which is due to be printed at the end of April. This book is the first to provide a comprehensive guide to all the 110 species of hawkmoths that have been recorded in the region, and for each species there is a detailed text which includes taxonomic nomenclature, distribution and flight times, along with key identification features. There are 37 colour plates illustrating all the species from above and below for males and females, and there are over 120 colour photos showing many of the hawkmoths in their natural resting postures which were mostly taken at REGUA. Using these illustrations, photos and text any keen observer, with no prior knowledge, should be able to readily identify any of the species described. The book also includes several introductory chapters which cover general information on the Serra dos Órgãos and hawkmoth life history and development, and these chapters are provided in both English and Portuguese. The Appendices also include a comprehensive list of larval host plants by genera. Although the book focuses on the Serra dos Órgãos, many of the species covered have wide distributions across the neotropics. This book should therefore appeal not only to those interested in the hawkmoths of Brazil, but to a much wider audience.
This is planned to be the first of a series of guides to be produced on REGUA and the immediate area, and will hopefully help to stimulate further interest and research into the remarkable biodiversity of the area. The profits from the sale of this book will support the research programme at REGUA.
The book will be distributed by NHBS Environment Bookstore but there is a pre-publication offer for REGUA supporters of £20.00 plus postage and packing (£2.50 in the UK) for orders sent direct to Alan Martin at alanmart@globalnet.co.uk.
StatOil tree planting day at REGUA
The company staff at StatOil were at REGUA for a planting day and we had a terrific time planting close to 200 trees. This was an activity arranged by the IBIO organization from Rio de Janeiro and the group arrived early for a coffee. We went to the nursery, selected the native trees species and we headed out to the fields where we all participated in the general activity of planting. The day was boiling and not the best to plant trees in, but with Soil Gel the trees were happier in the soil than out of it. We had a great swim in the river to cool off, a wonderful lunch and then REGUA gave a presentation on the project development to date and after a walk around the wetlands to see the Capybara we called it a day. We hope this is will be the beginning of a yearly event.
14 April 2011
An unexpected role for REGUA's plant nursery
The old plant nursery of REGUA was located near a small stream and surrounded by secondary and riparian forest, making it a very attractive playground for all kinds of insects, such as butterflies. Actually, it was an excellent spot to observe the rather elusive metalmarks (Riodinidae) and magnificent hairstreaks (Lycaenidae). It was not unusual to see female butterflies ovipositing on the young tree saplings, attracted by the tender leaves and shots; a couple of new REGUA records were found by rearing some of those caterpillars.
Last year REGUA's nursery was moved to an open sunny area, by the side of the reserve main gates, thus potentially becoming less attractive for the mentioned arthropod fauna. So, it was quite a surprise and joy to see a female of one of the largest south American hairstreaks – Pseudolycaena marsyas (Linnaeus, 1758), a flying 'piece of the Sky' - laying eggs on seedlings of at least three different species of Leguminosae (Pterocarpus violaceus, Inga sp. and Mimosa sp.). Not only is REGUA 'planting forest', but the saplings are moved to the field already carrying some of its related insect fauna!
March sightings
Some interesting sightings this month, including Snail Kite, Brown-backed Parrotlet, very low records of Blue-bellied Parrot, Plumbeous Pigeon and Green-chinned Euphonia around the wetland and one of the few records of Lineated Woodpecker on the reserve! Highlights from some of the trails include:
4x4 Track to Casa Anibal: Rusty-margined Guan, Saw-billed Hermit, Surucua Trogon, Black-throated Trogon, Rufous-capped Motmot, Crescent-chested Puffbird, Channel-billed Toucan, Yellow-fronted Woodpecker, Yellow-eared Woodpecker, Yellow-throated Woodpecker, Spot-backed Antshrike, Sooretama Slaty Antshrike, Spot-breasted Antvireo, Unicoloured Antwren, Rufous-winged Antwren, Scaled Antbird, White-bibbed Antbird, Black-cheeked Gnateater, Slaty Bristlefront, Eared Pygmy-Tyrant, Ochre-faced Tody-Flycatcher, Long-tailed Tyrant, Brazilian Tanager, Red-necked Tanager, Rufous-headed Tanager and Yellow-green Grosbeak.
Onofre Cunha Trail: White-necked Hawk, Limpkin, Tawny-browed Owl, Saw-billed Hermit, Reddish Hermit, White-chinned Sapphire, Rufous-capped Motmot, Eye-ringed Tody-Tyrant and Long-billed Wren. Unfortunately, Giant Snipe, Mottled Owl and Black-banded Owl were just heard this month.
Waldenoor: Mantled Hawk, Black Hawk-Eagle, Maroon-bellied Parakeet, Plain Parakeet, Brown-backed Parrotlet, Scaly-headed Parrot, Frilled Coquette, Rufous-capped Motmot, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, White-eared Puffbird, Channel-billed Toucan, Spot-billed Toucanet, Saffron Toucanet, Yellow-fronted Woodpecker, Yellow-eared Woodpecker, Yellow-throated Woodpecker, Blond-crested Woodpecker, Lineated Woodpecker, Spot-breasted Antvireo, Plain Antvireo, Star-throated Antwren, Scaled Woodcreeper, Sharpbill, Black-crowned Tityra, Black-tailed Tityra, Green-backed, Chestnut-crowned, White-winged and Crested Becards, Azure-shouldered Tanager, Golden-chevroned Tanager, Brassy-breasted Tanager and Yellow-backed Tanager.
Waterfall Trail: White-necked Hawk, Black Hawk-Eagle, Long-tailed Potoo, Saw-billed Hermit, Reddish Hermit, Surucua Trogon, Rufous-capped Motmot, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, Crescent-chested Puffbird, Spot-billed Toucanet, Saffron Toucanet, Yellow-eared Woodpecker, Yellow-throated Woodpecker, Blond-crested Woodpecker, Spot-backed Antshrike, Unicoloured Antwren, Scaled Antbird, Black-cheeked Gnateater, Rufous-capped Antthrush, Rufous-breasted Leaftosser, White-throated Woodcreeper, Spix's Spinetail, Ochre-breasted, Black-capped, Buff-fronted and White-eyed Foliage-gleaners, Plain Xenops, Southern Antpipit (photo below), Eye-ringed Tody-Tyrant, Russet-winged Spadebill, Greyish Mourner, Large-headed Flatbill, Grey-hooded Attila, Pin-tailed Manakin, Thrush-like Schiffornis, White-thighed Swallow, Red-crowned Ant-Tanager, White-bellied Tanager, Rufous-headed Tanager and Black-throated Grosbeak.
Wetland, adjacent forest trails and lodge garden: Tataupa Tinamou, 12+ Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, Masked Duck (first photo below), Rusty-margined Guan, Anhinga, Rufescent Tiger-Heron, Capped Heron, Snail Kite, Harris' Hawk, Laughing Falcon, Slaty-breasted Wood-Rail, Russet-crowned Crake, Rufous-sided Crake, Ash-throated Crake, Blackish Rail, South American Snipe, Scaled Dove, Blue Ground-Dove, Pale-vented Pigeon, Plumbeous Pigeon (very low altitude for this species), Maroon-bellied Parakeet (including 50+ daily in the garden), Blue-winged Parrotlet, Orange-winged Parrot, 2 Blue-bellied Parrot, Striped Cuckoo, Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl, Striped Owl, Biscutate Swift, Rufous-breasted Hermit, Reddish Hermit, White-chinned Sapphire (including birds now coming to the lodge garden), Crescent-chested Puffbird, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, White Woodpecker, Blond-crested Woodpecker, Sooretama Slaty Antshrike, White-flanked Antwren (third photo below), White-bibbed Antbird, Black-cheeked Gnateater, Wing-banded Hornero, Southern Antpipit, Yellow Tyrannulet (photo below), Yellow-breasted Flycatcher, Bran-coloured Flycatcher, Euler's Flycatcher, Fuscous Flycatcher, Lemon-chested Greenlet, Moustached Wren, Long-billed Wren, Black-capped Donacobius, Hooded Tanager, 8+ Swallow-Tanager, 3+ Black-legged Dacnis, 6+ Red-legged Honeycreeper in the lodge garden (second photo below), Lined Seedeater, Pileated Finch and 3 immature Green-chinned Euphonia by the REGUA conservation centre.
Finally, mammal sightings have included a good number of Brown-throated Three-toed Sloths and this fantastic Southern Tamandua wandering around the lodge garden (photo below).
10 April 2011
Blue-bellied Parrots on the brown trail
On 30 March, Adilei was walking on the brown trail at the back of the wetland with Finn from Denmark, Heather Mandow and Jorge with Cornelia when he saw two birds glide into a fruiting tree. He had a hunch as to their identity and asked everyone to hush up and follow him. Quietly they stalked the birds and and came across a pair of Blue-bellied Parrots feeding on some fruits. They looked in awe as this is the first time they have been seen so low, just 38m above sea level, and he was able to take these photos with his new lens. He did return the following day to try for a better image but alas they were no longer present. The Blue-bellied Parrot is an Atlantic rainforest endemic with a very unlike parrot call and in Brazil they call this bird "Sabia cica" as if it was a thrush. So the next time you hear a thrush in the forest, take a close look as it might be this near-threatened species.
When Adilei came to the office last week and said in his normal tranquil voice, "it is nice to see the Green-chinned Euphionias are coming to the wetlands", of course everyone jumped off their seats, grabbed their binoculars and went rushing to see these birds. We were rewarded by two males and a female at the top of the Guarea trichiloides tree busy eating and chirping in their familiar manner. These Atlantic rainforest endemics are normally associated with quality habitat and we do take guests to see them though everyone will tell you these are the toughest euphonias to see!! To have them come down the mountain side and feed close by is another fantastic bit of evidence that our wetlands are working very well and habitat restoration is the best thing to do to help the local bird populations.
07 April 2011
Does anyone have any old unwanted digital cameras?
REGUA currently employs 10 rangers who regularly patrol the forest to prevent hunting and other illegal activities, but they also maintain the forest trails and help guide visitors, volunteers and University students. Most of the rangers are ex-hunters who have had a very limited formal education, and so it is difficult to expect them to maintain written records of anything interesting they may encounter on their walks – such as evidence of hunting, animal tracks, snakes, orchids etc. One solution that seems to work well is to provide them with a cheap small ‘point and shoot’ camera that they can use to record anything of interest, and these photos can then be downloaded in the office by our volunteers and written records made. The cameras need to be easy to use and they don’t have to be the latest model, so if you know anyone who is buying a new camera and discarding the old one, then we could find a very good use for it. Obviously they have to be in good working order as the cost of repairs can outweigh the replacement cost.
If you can help then the cameras should be sent to Alan Martin at Alureds Oast, Northiam, East Sussex TN31 6JJ and he will ensure they get to REGUA. Thanks.
05 April 2011
A new Metalmark discovered in REGUA (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae)?
Rio de Janeiro is one of the best researched states in Brazil concerning the inventory of its flora and fauna, even so new taxa pop up from time to time and some groups, like the Arthropoda, or some areas are still poorly represented in state checklists.
Being a connoisseur in butterflies, around May 2010, Jorge spotted what seemed to be an unknown blackish metalmark of the genus Symmachia - remarkable among other characters by the 'bent' shape of its anterior forewing margin - when inspecting the saplings of the old REGUA nursery for butterfly caterpillars. Without a net and a camera at hand, the bug went unidentified with the hope of finding it soon again, given the notorious metalmark habit of coming back to the same spots at the same hours of the day, generation after generation.
Therefore, did it happen... on 25 March 2011, a Symmachia specimen was seen and netted while hill toping and perching near the lodge swimming pool. This time it was photographed indoors. Investigation is still going on, but its identity has been established as related to Symmachia probetor (Stoll, 1782), a remarkable range extension for what is usually taken as a central american/amazonian species: not only seems to be new for REGUA, the PETP park area or Rio de Janeiro State itself, but for the whole south and eastern part of Brazil. The question if it might be an undescribed subspecies or the nominotypical race is still being addressed and investigated. A visit to the Museu Nacional (UFRJ) collection is scheduled to inspect the Symmachia holdings and check the records from the available label data.
Findings like this, more than exciting, highlight the faintness of our knowledge of tropical faunas, even in the best or historically sampled territories. Novelty can be lurking in places not as far as remote Amazonian areas, the Congolese forests or the Papuan mountains, the difference being on the speed at which what is left of this rich Biodiversity near human settlements is vanishing before it can even be registered. This remarkable record was found about a two hour drive from the second largest Brazilian metropolis and main tourist hub, and is a showcase on the importance of the Conservation work carried out by the REGUA project.