BRAZIL 13–23 September 2010 1–11 December 2010 2–12 February 2011 3–13 August 2011 Leader: Pete Fraser

Brazil is the second most endemic-rich country in the world and the threatened rainforests in the southeast contain many of the endemics. To see a lot of these you have to cover vast distances, but this tour is designed to see as many endemics as possible from one comfortable base and at an affordable price.

Day 1 Departure from the UK on an overnight flight to Rio de Janeiro.

Day 2 Morning arrival in Rio de Janeiro where we will be met by our guide and transferred to the beautifully-located and extremely-comfortable Serra dos Tucanos Lodge in the heart of the rainforest. We will have the chance to either explore the extensive grounds and trail network or relax by the swimming pool.

Day 3 One of the most sought-after birds of southeast Brazil is the endemic Three-toed Jacamar and today we will make a full-day excursion to visit several sites where this bird is regularly found. Along the way we pass through a variety of habitats and make many stops to look for other species. These may include Capped and Whistling Herons, Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture, Plumbeous Kite, Savannah and White-tailed Hawks, Aplomado, Bat and Laughing Falcons, Red-legged Seriema, Blue-winged Macaw, White-eyed Parakeet, Blue-winged Parrotlet, Striped Cuckoo, Planalto Hermit, Glittering-bellied and Sapphire-spangled Emeralds, Amethyst Woodstar, Crescent-chested and White-eared Puffbirds, Black-necked Aracari, White Woodpecker, Tail-banded Hornero, Red-eyed Thornbird, Narrow-billed Woodcreeper, Ochre-faced Tody-flycatcher, Grey and White-rumped Monjitas, Long-tailed, Streamer-tailed and Yellow-browed Tyrants, White-rumped and Tawny-headed Swallows, Black-capped Donacobius, Long-billed Wren, Curl-crested Jay, Brazilian, Gilt-edged, Hepatic, Hooded, Magpie and Orange-headed Tanagers and Hooded Siskin. We should see between 65 and 100 species during the day.

Day 4 The superb Theodoro Trail is just a 15-minute drive from the lodge. Starting at 1100m, this path offers wonderful birding. As we walk through both primary and secondary forest, birds that can be seen include Brown Tinamou, Mantled Hawk, Maroon-bellied and Plain Parakeets, Scale-throated Hermit, White-throated Hummingbird, Brazilian Ruby, Black-throated and Surucua Trogons, Spot-billed Toucanet, Yellow-eared and Yellow-browed Woodpeckers, Rufous-capped Spinetail, Streaked Xenops, Sharp-tailed Streamcreeper, Black-capped and White-browed Foliage-gleaners, Lesser and Scaled Woodcreepers, Variable Antshrike, Star-throated Antwren, Brazilian Antthrush, Variegated Antpitta, Bare-throated Bellbird, Pin-tailed Manakin, Grey-hooded Attila, Greenish Schiffornis and Brassy-breasted Tanager. We return to Serra dos Tucanos for lunch.

In the afternoon we will fully explore the gardens and trails around the lodge, which provide excellent birding opportunities. To date in excess of 160 species have been found, of which over 50 are endemic to the Atlantic rainforest! Some of the birds we can expect to see include Scaly-headed Parrot, Saw-billed Hermit, Sombre and Swallow-tailed Hummingbirds, Black Jacobin, Violet-capped Woodnymph, Channel-billed Toucan, Blond-crested Woodpecker, Olivaceous and Thrush-like Woodcreepers, Spot-backed Antshrike, Streak-capped Antwren, Ferruginous Antbird, Black-cheeked Gnateater, Eye-ringed Tody-tyrant, Yellow-lored Tody-flycatcher, White-throated Spadebill, Chestnut-crowned Becard, Burnished-buff, Flame-crested, Golden-chevroned, Green-headed, Ruby-crowned and Red-necked Tanagers, Violaceous, Orange-bellied and Chestnut-bellied Euphonias, Buff-throated Saltator and Black-throated Grosbeak.

Day 5 A short drive from the lodge is the Cedae Trail where, this morning, we will look for the following species amongst others: Yellow-faced Parrot, Rufous-capped Motmot, Buff-bellied Puffbird, Saffron Toucanet, White-barred Piculet, Rufous-capped Spinetail, Pale-browed Treehunter, Black-billed Scythebill, White-shouldered Fire-eye, Grey-hooded Flycatcher, Oustalet’s Tyrannulet, Eared Pygmy-tyrant, Black-tailed Tityra, Sharpbill, Black-goggled, Olive-green, Rufous-headed and Yellow-backed Tanagers and Black-throated Grosbeak. The afternoon can be spent either at leisure or birding around the trails. Slaty-breasted Wood-rail is a possibility on the lawns in the evening.

Day 6 Today we will spend the whole day out, taking a packed lunch with us. After aout 50 minutes we will reach Nova Friburgo, where we will stop to look for Cinnamon Tanager. Continuing for a short distance to our final destination, we will spend the rest of the day walking a trail at an altitude of approximately 1600 metres. Here we hope to see, amongst many birds we have already seen, Plumbeous Pigeon, Plovercrest, Pallid Spinetail, Sharp-billed Treehunter, Black-billed Scythebill, Giant, Large-tailed and Rufous-capped Antshrikes, Rufous-backed Antvireo, Dusky-tailed and Rufous-tailed Antbirds, Mouse-coloured Tapaculo, Black-and-gold and Swallow-tailed Cotingas, Serra do Mar Tyrant-manakin, Olivaceous Elaenia, Blue-billed and Velvety Black-tyrants, Yellow-legged Thrush, White-rimmed Warbler, Azure-shouldered, Chestnut-headed, Diademed and Fawn-breasted Tanagers, Bay-chested Warbling-finch and Green-winged and Thick-billed Saltators.

Day 7 This morning we will visit a local wetland nature reserve called Reserva Ecologica de Guapi Acu. It was established in 2002 and a large wetland restoration project has been very successful in the amount of species that it has attracted since then. The reserve management also protects a large amount of forest within the local area and employs rangers to ensure that species on the reserve are safeguarded. Species we hope to see here include Least Grebe, Brazilian Teal, Masked Duck, Grey-headed Kite, Crane Hawk, Limpkin, Yellow-chinned Spinetail, White-headed Marsh-tyrant, Yellowish Pipit and Chestnut-capped Blackbird. Lowland forest (a habitat very difficult to find elsewhere due to large-scale destruction) surrounds this wetland and, as we venture into it, we will search for species such as Reddish Hermit, White-chinned Sapphire, Rufous-capped Motmot, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, Crescent-chested Puffbird, Yellow-throated Woodpecker, Chestnut-backed Antshrike, White-flanked, Unicolored and Rufous-winged Antwrens and Shrike-like Cotinga. We return to the lodge for lunch, after which we will be able to further explore the trails in the grounds.

Day 8 The famous Serra dos Orgaos National Park is only a 45-minute drive away but we will stop briefly en route to look for American Purple Gallinule and Amazon, Green and Ringed Kingfishers. The National Park is split into two sections, the upper and lower sections, and we will begin in the lower section where we will spend an hour or so looking for White-necked Hawk, Yellow-fronted Woodpecker, Buff-fronted and White-eyed Foliage-gleaners, White-throated Woodcreeper, Plain and Spot-breasted Antvireos, Rufous-capped Antthrush, Blue Manakin, Ochre-bellied Flycatcher and Red-rumped Cacique. Next we will drive for a further 20 minutes to the upper section of the park. Depending upon weather conditions, we hope to take the higher trail within the park for the remainder of the day. This is quite a hard walk and there will be the opportunity to ‘opt out’ and return to the vehicle at any time. Some of the birds we aim to see include Dusky-legged Guan, Spot-winged Wood-quail, Tawny-throated Leaf-tosser, Tufted Antshrike, Bertoni's and Ochre-rumped Antbirds, Rufous Gnateater, Hooded Berryeater and Rufous-crowned Greenlet.

Day 9 Today we head off for a 30-minute drive from the lodge to spend a half day birding our way towards Macae de Cima. This forested track can provide some excellent endemics. Depending upon weather conditions we may leave the minibus and take a gentle walk or the minibus will accompany us for the next few hours. Birds we hope to see on this half day include Barred Forest-falcon, White-throated Hummingbird, Brazilian Ruby, Red-eyed Thornbird, White-collared Foliage-gleaner, Giant Antshrike, Tufted Antshrike, Rufous Gnateater, Black-and-gold Cotinga, Saffron-crested Tyrant-Manakin and Drab-breasted Bamboo-tyrant. We will also have further chances to see birds we may have missed earlier in the tour. We return to the lodge for lunch and the final afternoon is free for some last-minute photography or some relaxation within the lodge grounds.

Day 10 After breakfast and early morning birding around the grounds, we will return to Rio de Janeiro for our afternoon flight to the UK.

Day 11 Arrival back in the UK at the end of the tour.

General Information Brazil can be hot and humid with rain likely at any time. The tour pace is moderate with generally easy walking, although at altitude some extra effort is needed. The upper trail at Serra dos Orgaos National Park can be quite strenuous. There are some health requirements, which should be referred to your GP. Insects can be a problem at times and repellents are recommended. Visas are not required for British citizens.

Group Size Minimum number for tour to go ahead: 6; maximum group size: 10 with 1 leader.

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