Garden of the Amazon

We drove the short distance (68 kms) between Cunhatai Pora & Jardim da Amazonas (Garden of the Amazon) on 23rd July. Yet again it was quite a depressing drive, seeing large open fields where not so long ago there would have been forest. 

The lodge.

The ponds next to the lodge,

 which was good evening birding.

Bare-necked Fruit Crow

Yet another neck-breaker!

Jonathan proved to be an 

excellent bird guide.

We arrived at mid-day, settled in to our accommodation & went on an afternoon bird walk into the forest with Jonathan, the resident bird guide.  It turned out to be rather surprising, as we recorded 40 species in a relatively short time. 

That evening we met up with two English girls, who were travel writers & agents & had a bit of a drunken evening!

Red-wattled Piping Guan

Orange-cheeked Parrot

A pair came into the lodge gardens

 every morning.

Cryptic Forest-falcon

Deep in the forest we 

heard one calling &

after a while it came in!

Yet another recent

new bird to science.

One of my most wanted 

species.

Yellow-throated Woodpecker

Striped Woodcreeper

Blue-cheeked Jacamar

We finally saw this species, after hearing it

 so many times.

Pied Puffbird

Red-headed Manakin

As evening approached we climbed up to a small tower, 

which proved to be quite birdy.

Spectacled Owl

Always great to see.

The end of another great day!

Just off the main river was a lovely ox-bow lake,

where we spent some time birding.

American Pygmy Kingfisher

Very uncommon & difficult to see.

It inhabits small streams & sluggish back waters.

Green Kingfisher

Lesser Kiskadee

Proboscis Bat

On the morning of 25th July we went on a boat trip down the Rio Claro. It was a beautiful day & we both enjoyed the morning.

Coming out of the ox-bow lake

 back into the main river.

Black-faced Spider Monkey

Female Amazonian Antshrike

We then birded a short trail looking for Rufous-necked Puffbird, which we heard but failed to see. We did see a Dotted Tanager, but it was too high up in the canopy for a photo.

Eastern Striolated Puffbird

Got it!

In the afternoon we went searching for Eastern Striolated Puffbird, which we eventually found after a long search. This was a new species not only for us, but for Jonathan as well! So it was celebrations all round.

Long-billed Starthroat

The 26th July was our last full day here. We decided to bird the entrance road early morning for Tooth-billed Wren & it paid off, as we saw two individuals, but too distant to get a photo. The walk was very birdy & we both enjoyed the morning.

The trail sign boards need a little work!

Spot-backed Antbird

We then birded a long primary forest trail which was birdy, but we saw nothing new. We heard Cinereous, Great & Little Tinamous & spent a long time trying to see them but without success.

Collared Trogon

A stunning male.

In the afternoon we once again tried for Rufous breasted Puffbird but only succeeded in seeing Collared Trogon.

The ox-bow lake looking very serene.

Enjoying the late afternoon.

Champers in the Amazon!

We finished off the day by once more going to the ox-bow lake next to the river. The weather was fantastic & we had a nice social time on the boat. 

The next day we had a last little walk around the lodge, before packing up & driving to Cuiaba where we caught the flight to Sao Paulo landing around 10.30pm.

 It had been a very pleasant time here at The Garden of the Amazon. The people were pleasant & welcoming & the ambience was good. However, it was Jonathan that made the place special, with his intimate knowledge of the trails & its birds. He has been here twelve years & this experience shows. In hindsight, we should have booked another two days here, to try & see those pesky secretive species that we missed this time around. 

All too soon our six & half week trip was over! We flew out to South Africa on 28th July, landing on home soil early the next day. Till the next time......

The next day were went on a long walk through primary forest. Parts were vareza (flooded) forest but most was terra firma.