Iguazu

 We arrived at Surucua Lodge just after mid-day on 5th March. It is a very small, but comfortable & well run lodge around 50 kms from Iguazu. Most importantly it has some really nice well maintained trails through excellent lowland forest. We set out to explore the area late afternoon.

Spot-billed Toucanet

Spot-backed Antshrike

Ochre-breasted Foilage-Gleaner

Brown Capuchin

Toco Toucan

Masked Tityra

Crested Becard

Plain Xenops

Sepia-capped Flycatcher

Large-headed Flatbill

Cream-bellied Gnatcatcher

Streak-capped Antwren

White-bearded Manikin

Unfortunately we had to leave the lodge just after lunch. We both could have done with another days birding here, as everything was excellent & conducive to a longer stay.

Bananaquit

Versicolored Emerald

Violet-capped Woodnymph

Male Black-throated Mango

This is a very aggressive species, 

driving many other species from the feeders.

Female

Swallow-tailed Hummingbird

Planalto Hermit

Black Jacobin

We then went to our hotel & enjoyed a quiet evening there. Early night ready for the big day at the falls in the morning!

7th March & we arrived at Iguazu Falls National Park just before they opened at 8am. First we birded the more open scrubby areas close to the former airstrip, before moving on to one of the long trails through the forest. The park is vast & despite the huge numbers of daily visitors, there are places which seem remote & pristine. The forest trails are good & the birding is even better!

We then drove into Iguazu & visited the famous Hummingbird Garden. The place is quite small but full of feeders & hummingbirds! They have been feeding them for over thirty years! It is a delightful place to spend some time & we saw all the expected species for this time of year.

We were up early & birding the trails at dawn on 6th March. As the light was poor we first birded the edge of the forest, which proved to be a good move.