Brownsberg - Day III

The drive to the foot of the MAZARONI PLATEAU is straight forward enough, but once there things change dramatically. What may be described as a 'road' up the 500 meter incline (treacherously steep in parts) is nothing more than a 'mud chute' only advisable in a 4 x 4. In our case, we were lucky to have one of the elevated wheel type but what was going through my mind was not so much reaching the top, but having to face the return journey. Half a dozen days or so to worry about that, so let's get on with the 'birding'.

First to fall to the camera was
FULVOUS SHRIKE TANAGER,
but unfortunately only a female. The far more 'showy' male was in there
but simply wouldn't come out. 

Seems the GREY-WINGED TRUMPETER
is something of a 'star' around here, and while by no means tame
do appear in camp from time to time.

One creature that certainly doesn't pay a visit is the very shy

BLACK CURASSOW
these 2 scrurrying back into the depths of the forest the moment the shutter started clicking.

We have encountered 2 species of SQUIRREL since arrival, this tiny, white eared effort and a Red akin to our own in GB. There is a perfectly good Mammal Field Guide to the country here but all in Latin and I ain't going there!

PLAIN XENOPS
was photographed deep in the jungle, as were

WING-BARRED PIPRITES

and WHITE-TAILED TROGON
and we've already been through the bad light scenario, so we'll leave it at that.

By contrast this WHITE HAWK was well clear of the trees,
in fact so high above them we could hardly see it.

So, back to the 'old faithful' GREY-WINGED TRUMPETER
and quickly on to

SCREAMING PIHA
which I am told is not usually so showy.

Some of the 'goodies' collected this morning
from around the porch light.

A good find by Otte (pronounced OTTER)
ATELOPES Sp FROG

Another Forest Novelty (at least it intregued me)
an ANT'S GARDEN

Susspended from that single, thin strand at the top, the Ants carry soil to form a 'plot' before gathering seeds to sow. As the plants mature, the Insects use the root-stock to nurture their offspring.

This is GAVIN our dedicated driver, who is a 'dab-hand' behind the wheel despite his youth. It is he who will be taking us down the hill at the end of our stay, I told you not to mention 'going down the hill'!

We have a spectacular view from our verandah, and in the vegitation some 30 feet below are plenty of these large LIZARDS.

Just a scene from the Rain Forest to finish off today, along with the List Update.

BLACK CURASSOW, SPOTTED ANTPITTA, LINED FOREST FALCON, BLACK-HEADED PARROT, PLUMBEOUS PIGEON, BLACK-EARED FAIRY, CHESTNUT-RUMPED WOODCREEPER, FLAME-CRESTED TANAGER, FULVOUS-CRESTED TANAGER, DUSKY-THROATED ANTSHRIKE, CINEREOUS ANTSHRIKE, TAWNY-CROWNED GREENLET, GREYISH MOURNER, WING-BARRED PIPRITES, WHITE HAWK, PLAIN XENOPS, WEDGE-BILLED WOODCREEPER, BROWN-BELLIED ANTWREN, RUFOUS-RUMPED FOLIAGE-GLEANER, SLENDER-FOOTED TYRANNULET, FULVOUS SHRIKE-TANAGER, RED-and-BLACK GROSBEAK, LONG-BILLED ANTWREN, GREY ANTWREN.