San Rafael Day 2 - La fiesta de las Aves!!

15^th

We started out early passing the lake making our way towards the longest trail through the Atlantic Forest. Fifteen previously recorded species made it into the notebook before my first Paraguayan tick was seen.

The Sharpe tailed Streamcreeper was on my wish list at San Rafael and this species did not disappoint with two birds dancing around a covered area at the top of the stream. A Slaty-backed Wood-Rail who had obviously had a bad nights rest was seen chasing the other birds off the edges of the stream so it could drink.

A Yellow Tyrannulet provided ample photo opportunities in a mixed flock just before the trail entrance of the forest.

Amongst this group was the ever calling Sirystes a bird I had hoped to see at Laguna Blanca. A White=shouldered Fire-eye was the next lifer to appear. 

There were also several Wing-barred Piprites and a Ruby-crowned Tanager as we walked along the trail. A Lesser Woodcreeper was heard and then made a brief appearance in front of us along the trail.

Black Goggled Tanager was another feature throughout the day. By lunchtime fifty species had been logged during the walk. A Scale-throated Hermit made an appearance feeding on the flowers around the porch to the reception.

Just as we were settling down for some down time a Suruya Trogan flew into an area of trees close by. Without hesitation binoculars and cameras were busy watching this amazing bird as it fed high in the trees. The bird even had a short look at the group before departing in search of more treats.

The afternoon took us along the forest edge looking for mixed flocks of birds. Large-tailed and Spot-backed Antshrike were both add to the life list. The Large-tailed proving difficult to spy in the scrub on the edge of the field. Johnathan struck gold again finding the monkeys before we had entered the small tip of the forest.

The day was rounded off with a Burrowing Owl sat on a fence-post and then a fly over screeching Barn Owl just after supper.

Day list 65 species 10 life and 11 Paraguay ticks:-

Spot-winged Wood-quail (Odontophorus capueira)

Picazuro Wood-pigeon (Patagioenas picazuro)

Pale-vented Pigeon (Patagioenas cayennensis)

White-tipped Dove (Leptotila verreauxi)

Eared Dove (Zenaida auriculata)

Scale-throated Hermit (Phaethornis eurynome)

Slaty-breasted Wood-rail (Aramides saracura)

Blackish Rail (Pardirallus nigricans)

Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata)

Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis)

Southern Lapwing (Vanellus chilensis)

American Barn Owl (Tyto alba)

Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia)

Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus)

Roadside Hawk (Rupornis magnirostris)

Surucua Trogon [surrucura] (Trogon surrucura)

Rufous-capped Motmot (Baryphthengus ruficapillus)

Chestnut-eared Aracari (Pteroglossus castanotis)

White-barred Piculet (Picumnus cirratus)

Ochre-collared Piculet (Picumnus temminckii)

Robust Woodpecker (Campephilus robustus)

Green-barred Woodpecker (Colaptes melanochloros)

White-spotted Woodpecker (Veniliornis spilogaster)

Collared Forest-falcon (Micrastur semitorquatus)

American Kestrel (Falco sparverius)

Pileated Parrot (Pionopsitta pileata)

Scaly-headed Parrot (Pionus maximiliani)

White-eyed Parakeet (Psittacara leucophthalmus)

Rufous Hornero (Furnarius rufus)

Rufous-capped Spinetail (Synallaxis ruficapilla)

White-eyed Foliage-gleaner (Automolus leucophthalmus)

Sharp-tailed Streamcreeper (Lochmias nematura)

Lesser Woodcreeper (Xiphorhynchus fuscus)

Sharp-tailed Streamcreeper (Lochmias nematura) - Paraguay only

Scale-throated Hermit (Phaethornis eurynome)

Spot-backed Antshrike (Hypoedaleus guttatus)

Large-tailed Antshrike (Mackenziaena leachii)

Variable Antshrike (Thamnophilus caerulescens)

Plain Antvireo (Dysithamnus mentalis)

Dusky-tailed Antbird (Drymophila malura)

White-shouldered Fire-eye (Pyriglena leucoptera)

Rufous Gnateater (Conopophaga lineata)

Wing-barred Piprites (Piprites chloris)

Yellow Tyrannulet (Capsiempis flaveola)

Sepia-capped Flycatcher (Leptopogon amaurocephalus)

Eared Pygmy-tyrant (Myiornis auricularis)

Yellow-olive Flycatcher (Tolmomyias sulphurescens)

Cattle Tyrant (Machetornis rixosa)

Great Kiskadee (Pitangus sulphuratus)

Boat-billed Flycatcher (Megarynchus pitangua)

Creamy-bellied Gnatcatcher (Polioptila lactea)

Sirystes (Sirystes sibilator)

House Wren (Troglodytes aedon)

Creamy-bellied Thrush (Turdus amaurochalinus)

Pale-breasted Thrush (Turdus leucomelas)

Rufous-bellied Thrush (Turdus rufiventris)

Creamy-bellied Gnatcatcher (Polioptila lactea)

Rufous-browed Peppershrike (Cyclarhis gujanensis)

Golden-crowned Warbler (Basileuterus culicivorus)

White-rimmed Warbler (Basileuterus leucoblepharus)

Magpie Tanager (Cissopis leverianus)

Black-goggled Tanager (Trichothraupis melanops)

Ruby-crowned Tanager (Tachyphonus coronatus)

Guira Tanager (Hemithraupis guira)

Purple-throated Euphonia (Euphonia chlorotica)

Red-crowned Ant-tanager (Habia rubica)

Golden-winged Cacique (Cacicus chrysopterus)

Variable Oriole (Icterus pyrrhopterus)