Amazonia NP - The Gift That Keeps on Giving!

We birded the Gameleira Trail this morning, arriving at the viewpoint overlooking the Rio Tapajos at sunrise, which was rather spectacular.  As soon as we entered the trail a White-crested Guan was seen in a large tree showing well in the sunlight. 

White-crested Guan

Once we had walked in further we came across a flock that held Saturnine Antshrike, Dot-winged Antwren, a few Rufous-rumped Foliage-Gleaners, an Amazonian Trogon, a very brief Xingu Scale-backed Antbird, Plain-throated Antwren and Yellow-throated Woodpecker. We spent quite some time with this group before walking on until we heard some Golden Parakeets flying over. 

Golden Parakeet - mega!

Quick as ever, Pablo fired off the call and the birds seemed to have perched up nearby as we could still hear one or two calls. After a few minutes of walking quietly closer we came directly beneath the tree we thought they were in and through a few small gaps in the canopy could see some incredibly bright yellow blobs above us. And there they were. Wow! Golden Parakeets in all their glory and what a stunner! Moving on we had Rufous Motmot, Plumbeous Pigeon, some Red-necked Aracaris, Green-backed Trogon, Chestnut Woodpecker, Rusty-belted Tapaculo and a cracking Snow-capped Manakin before walking back towards the entrance of the trail. 

Long-winged Antwren

Rufous Motmot

The return walk gave us Long-winged Antwren, Spix’s Warbling Antbird, Reddish Hermit, White-flanked Antwren, Cinereous Antshrike, Olivaceous Woodcreeper, Snethlage’s Tody-Tyrant and a female Fiery-tailed Awlbill. What a morning. Amazonia National Park really is the gift that keeps on giving.

 

We spent the afternoon along the Trans-Amazonica Highway looking for fruiting trees and potential sites to stake-out for White-tailed Cotinga. No cotingas were forthcoming but we did find a large fruiting tree that we watched for several hours, during which time we saw our one and only Red-headed Manakin, and our first Crimson-crested Woodpecker, Strong-billed Woodcreeper and Black-necked Aracari. Other species coming in to feed included Spangled Cotinga, Dusky-chested Flycatcher, Channel-billed Toucan, many Blue-headed Parrots, Gould’s Toucanet and Santarem Parakeets. 

Channel-billed Toucan

We also noted flyby Scarlet Macaws and Southern Mealy Amazons, with a group of White-crested Guans feeding in another tree just a short distance along the road. 

Tawny-bellied Screech Owl

A spot of owling on the return journey to the lodge resulted in fantastic views of Southern Tawny-bellied Screech-Owl to round off another superb day in Amazonia National Park.