Monday, Sept 27 - Birding the Cedae and Theodoro Trails

 - Birding

(pics:  lingerie as, explained below!!,  Green-headed Tanger, Our lodge)

Well I walked out to the pool last evening, and found the cable next to the BBQ pit and plugged it in. It’s slow but usable, but there’s competition from other birders as it’s the only access!

 

We had nice dinner of stewed beef and beans and rice, preceded by Caipirinhas, the national, and very potent, drink. And then I had a tepid shower and to bed. It was drizzling all night and quite cool, but we slept pretty well.

We got up at 5:15. I did a tiny bit of laundry and put the rest in a basket which I hope will come back in two days. We met for breakfast at six and had hard boiled eggs, coffee, toast and fruit. Unfortunately Bob is still pretty sick (and it’s his birthday!). He decided to go birding today as that’s why he’s here, so we joined the others and set off in our van for a 20 minute drive up the mountains to an elevation of 2700’ and pulled off the dangerous highway with its slow large trucks and fast passing cars onto a dirt road where we set off in the drizzle through beautiful second growth forest.


We hiked slowly down into a valley, logging in birds. John Rowlett is an excellent leader; very patient and calm and doesn’t get frustrated when one of us can’t locate a bird but makes sure we all see most of them. Among the Atlantic forest endemics we saw were
Oustalet’s Tyrannulet, Rufous-Headed Tanager and a magnificent Spot-billed Toucanet(!),

Bob spotted a Buff-bellied Puffbird (also an endemic) high in a towering tree even though he was staggering with fatigue and aching all over. And I spotted a beautiful Atlantic (we think) Coral Snake slipping through the undergrowth! It rained for a while and then got a little brighter. We returned to the Lodge at one for lunch and then relaxed until 2:30 PM when we set off again, this time to an elevation of abut 3700’. Bob was finally beginning to feel better!!

We took off at 2:30 and drove further up the road, past some lurid bill boards advertising the wares of Nova Friburgo, a town famous for its lingerie manufacturer! Xmas presents anyone?? We walked along an old railroad bed on a concrete surface alternating with a muddy trail. We heard the wonderful bell-like chimes of the Bare-throated Bellbird and finally saw one far away on the top of a tall tree: a large pure white bird with blue skin on it face. Even far away it was amazing!

It was getting late and I was fading fast; we finally turned back about 4:30 and got back to the Lodge at 6:15. The Lodge only has solar heated water so there is a rush for the water when groups return at the end of the day. I, of course, have my blogging duties, so I skipped my shower hoping that the cool weather will let me last another day!

We gathered for dinner at seven. I went over to get a beer and the lights suddenly faded…I thought: Oh, great! No lights!” But it was the lodge and John bringing out a birthday cake for Bob! How cool was that! Bob had told me not to tell anyone, and I hadn’t, but I guess with all the info they need for international travel, they found out his birth date!

Pleasant dinner of roast chicken in wine sauce and yummy vanilla cake with dulce de leche filling and whipped cream frosting!