A thunderstorm is brewing. In the afternoon, the sky has been clouded over. We are sitting near Gumna Reserve, on the outskirts of Belém, Brazil. But the air still feels heavy with humidity and scent—earth, leaf litter, and the faint sweetness of blooming flowers. Amid the dense understory, flashes of reddish bronze move in quick… Continue reading Reddish Hermit at red flowers at Gumna
Category: Bird Trips (Pictures & Stories)
What could be seen, what to see, the landscape…
Ponta Poranga Jungle Lodge: a birders paradise
At sunrise, the chorus begins. Perched in the canopy above Ponta Poranga Jungle Lodge, a haunting cry from the Screaming Piha (Lipaugus vociferans) breaks the silence, echoing like a call from the forest itself. This lodge, tucked deep in the rainforest near Manaus, isn’t just a place to stay—it’s a front-row seat to one of… Continue reading Ponta Poranga Jungle Lodge: a birders paradise
Zimmer’s Woodcreeper, a Amazon specialist
Deep inside the flooded forest near Santarém, the air is dense with insects and the sweet smell of decay. A subtle motion draws my eye to a tree trunk dappled in filtered light—a slender, chestnut-brown bird spirals upward with careful, deliberate hops. Its short, only slightly decurved, bill gleams in the half-shade. This is Zimmer’s… Continue reading Zimmer’s Woodcreeper, a Amazon specialist
Long-tailed Hermit with a Bee at a hummingbird feeder at Gumna
In the afternoon, the sky clouded over. A thunderstorm was brewing. Despite this, the air in the Gumna Reserve on the outskirts of Belém, Brazil, was still teeming with life – chirping, buzzing, and the rustling of wings in the humid air. I sat on a plastic chair in front of a flowering bush, where… Continue reading Long-tailed Hermit with a Bee at a hummingbird feeder at Gumna
Long-billed Woodcreeper at Amazon shore
The river is high again, swallowing the forest edges and turning the lower branches into reflections. Along the flooded shore, a flicker of movement catches my eye — long, chestnut brown, with a bill like a gentle scythe. It’s a Long-billed Woodcreeper (Nasica longirostris), emerging curiously from the semi-submerged forest to inspect a line of… Continue reading Long-billed Woodcreeper at Amazon shore
Sandcolored Nightjar on perch in Amazon
The river is still half asleep when the first light glances off the broad, coppery surface of the Tapajós. The air smells of wet sand and driftwood. On a narrow, flooded island midstream, a Nightjar rests on a sun-bleached branch just above the waterline. It is a Sand-colored Nightjar (Hydropsalis intercedens) which formerly used to… Continue reading Sandcolored Nightjar on perch in Amazon
Black-bellied Gnateater male in thicket of FLONA Carajás
The afternoon light in the Carajás forest feels golden and slow, filtering through the canopy like dust through a lens. The forest hums softly—cicadas, the buzz of wings, a distant rustle of leaves. On a narrow perch beside the trail, a Black-bellied Gnateater (Conopophaga melanogaster) sits almost motionless. It’s small and round-bodied, with a dark… Continue reading Black-bellied Gnateater male in thicket of FLONA Carajás
Wedge-tailed Hillstar at the nest near Cochabamba
On our trip to Cochabamba we pass a road bridge that my companion, Francoise, knows well from recent years. At that time, a Wedge-tailed Hillstar (Oreotrochilus adela) had bred there. We found what we were looking for right at the first bridge near Copachunchu – just 92 km from Cochabamba. A pair of delicate wings… Continue reading Wedge-tailed Hillstar at the nest near Cochabamba
Fiery-tailed-Awlbill in 1st sunlight
Early in the morning, when the first light breaks over the canopy, I catch sight of a Fiery-tailed Awlbill (Avocettula recurvirostris). The bird perches quietly on a slender branch, its long, slightly upturned bill catching the glow of the rising sun. For a moment, the metallic green plumage shimmers, and the fiery tones of the… Continue reading Fiery-tailed-Awlbill in 1st sunlight
Migrating Birds at the Mullet Peninsula in County Mayo
As the cool autumn air begins to settle over Mayo, the windswept landscapes of Annagh Head and the Mullet Peninsula come alive with the flutter of wings. These coastal areas, known for their rugged beauty, become a haven for both passing and wintering birds, drawing bird enthusiasts from far and wide. The Mullet Peninsula and… Continue reading Migrating Birds at the Mullet Peninsula in County Mayo
Harlequin Antbird, a jungle jewel of the PN da Amazônia
The group is pushing through low vines already the whole morning, the air dense with the perfume of rotting leaves and flower sap. A distant rustle betrays something moving just off the trail. The leader stop. Wait. The silence thickens. Then—there it is. Indeed. Suddenly, a Harlequin Antbird (Rhegmatorhina berlepschi) clings to a hanging vine.… Continue reading Harlequin Antbird, a jungle jewel of the PN da Amazônia
Manaus: Ponta Poranga Lodge clearly scores with its location
Not far from the city of Manaus, which has a population of one million, yet still offers a real jungle feel. Ponta Poranga Lodge clearly scores with its location. It’s easily accessible from Manaus, yet you feel like you’re in the middle of nature. For me, a stopover traveler who wants to get a taste… Continue reading Manaus: Ponta Poranga Lodge clearly scores with its location