Brazil (Tour 2)

Atlantic Forest Special

11 September to 20 September 2010

Leaders: Colin Bushell and local guides

Maximum of 9 clients

Cost £2,199 single room supplement £50

Brazil is one of the world's most exciting birding destinations. Its huge size and diverse range of habitats enable it to harbour a staggering 1,700 bird species, nearly 200 of them only found in Brazil. The coastal forests in the southeast of the country have been seriously depleted over the last two centuries with less than 7% of the original cover remaining, much of it fragmented. These Atlantic Forests are important refuges for bird species, once widespread here before the impact of man on the landscape. REGUA (Reserva Ecolagica de Guapiaeu) protects one of the last stands of tropical rainforest left in the severely depleted Atlantic Rainforest, or Mata Atlcntica, in Brazil. REGUA's primary objective is to protect the remaining forest and biodiversity from deforestation, hunting and over-extraction of natural resources. We are indeed fortunate to be able to spend our one-centre tour here, travelling out to various sites to bolster the impressive list of birds (currently around 435 species) available at the reserve.

The Guapiaeu Bird Lodge is ideally situated for our requirements with birding on our doorstep. Green-headed and Ruby-crowned Tanagers, Blond-crested Woodpecker, Swallow-tailed Hummingbird and Chestnut-backed Antshrike may be found in the borders of the garden. There are many trails accessed by foot or after a short ride in the vehicle and we will see a great variety of Atlantic Forest endemic birds which may include White-necked and Mantled Hawks, Crescent-chested Puffbird, Rufous-capped Motmot, Pin-tailed Manakin, Bare-throated Bellbird, Spot-billed Toucanet, several dazzling tanagers and with luck the rare Elegant Mourner (Shrike-like Cotinga). After a great day in the field we can relax with a Caipirinha (a delicious Brazilian cocktail) outside the lodge with the sound of rails and crakes ringing out from the wetland bordering the forest. There is even a swimming pool if you want to cool off that way. Journey with Colin, our South American specialist, on this tour into the Atlantic Forests of south-east Brazil.  Please note this tour does not visit any malarial areas.