It may be because lots of our fruit trees are coming into flower, but suddenly there seems to be an explosion of hummingbirds at the farm, and I have been finding new species almost by the day. This tiny example -- barely bigger than a large bumblebee -- was perched on an acerola tree when I returned from a forest walk the other day. It was completely unafraid and sat without flying off as I got closer and closer to get these pictures, which for once did not need to be edited to crop them closer. I realised it was one I had not seen before, and it seems to be a White-throated Hummingbird (Leucochloris albicollis), more commonly found in the mountains. [Please see entry of 15 Oct for correction of this- in fact this is a Festive Coquette]
Among the fruit trees currently flowering is the large lychee we have growing near the guest house. It is absolutely covered in these delicate yellow and white flowers with a faint sweet scent a little like honeysuckle. I can't remember them being so abundant before, and hopefully it is an indication there will be plenty of fruit when the lychees ripen around October/November. This year I will remember to make lychee capirinhas which I had for the first time recently, and are sensational. Anyway, to the point: they were irresistible for this Versicoloured Emerald (Amazilia versicolor), one of the most common hummingbird species here. It's one of the varieties with an irridescence to its back feathers that changes the colour and hue depending on angle and light.
Next, an unexpected bonus to the hummingbird bonanza. I went out onto the bedroom terrace over the weekend to record the call of some White Woodpeckers that were in the trees just below. To my amazement, this Black-eared Fairy (Heliothryx auritus) -- who comes up with these names? -- had become obsessed with a blanket hanging over the railing to air. It kept coming back, also hovering right in front of my face to check me out, as hummingbirds sometimes do. It is one of the most extraordinary birds I have seen here, with its long white wisps of tail fluttering around crazily like paper decorations you cut out for kids. In this recording you can hear the buzz of the Fairy's wings (how many websites can claim that?) and its weak "cheep" in the foreground, with the louder call of the White Woodpecker (Melanerpes candidus), a kind of descending warble, heard more prominently from nearby trees.
Finally, a couple of seasonal notes. First of all, this morning the Yellow-legged Tinamou (Crypturellus noctivagus), a near-threatened endemic ground-bird, began sounding its haunting four-note call across the forest. Since March this has only been an occasional distant sound at dusk. From now on we can expect to hear them calling pretty much throughout the day. In this recording you can also hear the loud call of the Lesser Woodcreeper (Xiphorhynchus fuscus), another endemic species of the Atlantic Forest. I was also pleased to see the return of the White-necked Hawk (Leucopternis lacernulatus) circling above the forest at the weekend (see photo below). It is one of the five Vulnerable (ie threatened) species identified here, and I had not seen it since February.
