A particularly noisy species at the moment is the Boat-billed flycatcher (Megarhyncus pitangua), very similar looking to the ultra-common Great Kiskadee (Pitangus sulphuratus) but with a more pronounced bill and more black around the eyes. It only appears in spring and summer, and groups in the canopy near the house are calling from early morning, both with the characteristic "Nenenei" which provides one version of its Portuguese common name (Neinei), and a more insistent, querulous song that I have only heard at this time of year. I guess they may be getting ready for their Northern migration which can't be too far away. The recording linked to here, incidentally, includes a flock of Scaly-headed Parrots (Pionus maximiliani) on one of their regular morning flights high above the forest.
Two new identifications during a recent visit by ornithologist Bruno Lima have brought our bird species list here to the tantalising number of 199. The latest IDs included the call of Chicli Spinetail - aka Spix's spinetail (Synallaxis spixi) alongside the entrance track leading to the farm, which passes an open grassland area alongside some electricity pylons. In this area you tend to see many species associated with open landscapes rather than forest, some of which have spread their range due to deforestation. The second "new" species identified by its call was the Planalto Tyrannulet (Phyllomyias fasciatus), one of those very inconspicuous small flycatcher species that I would never spot without expert help. A visit from a bird guide nearly always adds an extra species or two, so hopefully the next one will tip the list over that magic 200 number!
The fruit of the juçara palm, although mostly still green, is already starting to attract forest fruit-eaters into the open areas where this tree grows. Most excitingly, we came across a Spot-billed Toucanet (Selenidera maculirostris) on one of the "palmito" trees just next to the entrance to our main forest trail - the first time I have seen this charismatic species outside the deep forest. Of course I did not have my camera with me, but hopefully there will be other chances as the fruit ripens over the next couple of months.
Finally, just as I was complaining that February was a dead month on the banana feeder, some snaps I took this morning during a break from the computer screen: first a Bananaquit (Coereba flaveloa)....
...Sayaca Tanager (Thraupis sayaca)
... and its cousin the Palm Tanager (Thraupis palmarum).
