AMAZING AMAZONIA NATIONAL PARK

With the main tour over it was time for the exciting extension to Amazonia National Park, which entailed a short 1h 15 mins flight to Itaituba where we arrived at 10.30am, met our driver and local guide Gilberto and drove just over an hour along a rather bumpy road to Pousada Portal Lodge. It was definitely hotter here but less humid thankfully and after dropping our bags into our rooms we had a quick look around the gardens that adjoin the huge Rio Tapajos. We were pleased to see White-banded and Black-collared Swallows flying around in front of us, and we scoped a Black Caracara across the river as well. After lunch we sat discussing the possibilities that lay ahead and noted Yellow-bellied Elaenia and Glittering-throated Emerald in the trees in front of us before retiring to our rooms for a siesta.

 

At 3.30pm we set off and drove just under half an hour to the Acalzal Trail where we began walking into the forest, seeing a Great Jacamar almost immediately. Nearby a pair of superb Spix’s Warbling Antbirds responded almost immediately to the tape and we enjoyed nice looks at them before continuing our walk. At a shady section of canopy we got to grips initially with a White-eyed Stipplethroat before Pablo declared that there was also a pair of  Ornate Stipplethroats above us as well. We spent quite a while getting to grips with both species although mainly getting underpart views made it decidedly tricky. Within a hundred metres Gilberto was pointing to a looping vine not far away that had an absolutely awesome Rufous-necked Puffbird perched on it. Wow! 

Rufous-necked Puffbird - stunner!

But the best was yet to come as a bit further on an Alta Floresta Antpitta began calling, so we knuckled down for a game of cat-and-mouse which was eventually rewarded with everyone getting eyeballs on this absolute stonker!  So by now it was 5.45pm and we headed back to the road, stopping along the way when a pair of Plain-throated Antwrens appeared and an Elegant Woodcreeper was spotted, along with a pair of Red-stained Woodpeckers to round off a brilliant bit of afternoon trail birding. 

 

Out on the main park road we called in to the HQ to register our permits and took in the amazing view across the Rio Tapajos, before checking out a marshy area at dusk where a colony of Olive Oropendolas were present in a large tree. There was also a pair of Yellow-tufted Woodpeckers, and a Short-tailed Nighthawk flew over us. We celebrated our antpitta success tonight with Caipirinhas and beer before calling it a night.