San Rafael Day 1 - Monkeying Around!!

14^th

I took the long journey to Encarnacion via Acuncion to link up with Paul Smith (Fauna Paraguay) to learn some guiding skills as he took a general tour with Lilian, Sara and Johnathan from FL USA.

Lilian was keen to see the birds at San Rafael Reserve which is run by PRO COSARA and is supported by the World Wildlife Fund. The reserve is situated in SE Paraguay consists of 73000 hectares of pristine Atlantic Forest a lake and a joining farmland.

We arrived in time for lunch and set out soon after towards the lake and one of the smaller trails in the Atlantic Forest. A group of Yellow-fronted Woodpeckers greeted us as we made our way down the track. This was to be the first of four lifers of this walk.

Golden-winged Caciques were observed on the far side of the lagoon along with a brief view of an Amazon Kingfisher. There were a couple of mixed flocks were seen in the canopy which included Guira Tanager and the nosey Golden-crowned Warblers. The scrub contained Grey-bellied and Rufous-capped Spinetail.

A Planalto Woodcreeper gave good views which allowed some prime camera time! Golden-winged Cacique and Chestnut-crowned Becard were the next additions. Dusky-tailed Antbird completed the four life ticks for the day.

At dusk we drove to the edge of the Atlantic Forest to see if the Capuchin monkeys would use a sleeping site. Eagle eyed Johnathan spotted the monkeys as they entered the area. An added bonus was a picture although it was pretty dark inside the forest.

Daylist total 49 species lifers in bold;- 

Rusty-margined Guan (Penelope superciliaris)

White-tipped Dove (Leptotila verreauxi)

Pauraque (Nyctidromus albicollis)

Blackish Rail (Pardirallus nigricans)

Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata)

Whistling Heron (Syrigma sibilatrix)

Southern Lapwing (Vanellus chilensis)

American Barn Owl (Tyto alba)

Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus)

Ringed Kingfisher (Megaceryle torquata)

Amazon Kingfisher (Chloroceryle amazona)

Robust Woodpecker (Campephilus robustus)

Lineated Woodpecker (Hylatomus lineatus)

Yellow-fronted Woodpecker (Melanerpes flavifrons)

White-spotted Woodpecker (Veniliornis spilogaster)

American Kestrel (Falco sparverius)

Yellow-chevroned Parakeet (Brotogeris chiriri)

Scaly-headed Parrot (Pionus maximiliani)

Rufous Hornero (Furnarius rufus)

Rufous-capped Spinetail (Synallaxis ruficapilla)

Grey-bellied Spinetail (Synallaxis cinerascens)

Olivaceous Woodcreeper (Sittasomus griseicapillus)

Planalto Woodcreeper (Dendrocolaptes platyrostris)

Variable Antshrike (Thamnophilus caerulescens)

Dusky-tailed Antbird (Drymophila malura)

Chestnut-crowned Becard (Pachyramphus castaneus)

Grey Elaenia (Myiopagis caniceps)

White-throated Spadebill (Platyrinchus mystaceus)

Cattle Tyrant (Machetornis rixosa)

Social Flycatcher (Myiozetetes similis)

Great Kiskadee (Pitangus sulphuratus)

Boat-billed Flycatcher (Megarynchus pitangua)

House Wren (Troglodytes aedon)

Chalk-browed Mockingbird (Mimus saturninus)

Pale-breasted Thrush (Turdus leucomelas)

Rufous-bellied Thrush (Turdus rufiventris)

Plush-crested Jay (Cyanocorax chrysops)

Tropical Parula (Parula pitiayumi)

Golden-crowned Warbler (Basileuterus culicivorus)

White-rimmed Warbler (Basileuterus leucoblepharus)

Magpie Tanager (Cissopis leverianus)

Hooded Tanager (Nemosia pileata)

Ruby-crowned Tanager (Tachyphonus coronatus)

Guira Tanager (Hemithraupis guira)

Chestnut-vented Conebill (Conirostrum speciosum)

Rufous-collared Sparrow (Zonotrichia capensis)

Golden-winged Cacique (Cacicus chrysopterus)

Red-rumped Cacique (Cacicus haemorrhous)

Variable Oriole (Icterus pyrrhopterus)