Rick Simpson Birding Services

I received an e-mail a short time ago from my friend Dimitri who runs the Itamambuca Eco Resort. One of his guests, none other than the illustrious Fernando Pacheco, found a new bird for the Ubatuba list; Orange-winged Parrot. This was good news for Ubatuba as the list just keeps growing.

This morning as I was lying in bed, it was about 06.30 so you could say I was having a lay-in, I heard a hell of a commotion coming from the roof of our apartment. As I became fully conscious I realised it was an Orange-winged Parrot, squawking away for all it was worth! Leaping forth I tried all angles to get a look at the beast, but failed miserably, the bird finally flew off and away in the one direction I can’t see from the apartment.

Still, this does constitute apartment tick number 83 depsite being heard only and incredibly, the second record for Ubatuba.

Orange-winged Parrot. Photo copyright Arthur Macarrão.

January:

Nacunda Nighthhawk, New year’s day 00.15hrs. Ubatuba, São Paulo.

Grey-bellied Goshawk, 16th at Horto Florestal Campos do Jordão, São Paulo.

February:

Brown-backed Parrotlet, 5th, found by Jeremy Minns at Praia Vermelha, Ubatuba, São Paulo.

Brown-backed Parrotlet - photo Rick and Elis Simpson.

April:

Unicoloured Blackbird, 11th, found at the São Paulo Antwren site at Biritiba Mirim, São Paulo.

White-rumped Hawk, 4th, Agulhas Negras Road, Itatiaia, Minas Gerais.

Rufous-breasted Hermit, 15th at Folha Seca, Ubatuba, São Paulo.

Rufus-breasted Hermit - photo Flavio Guglielmino.

May:

Blue-naped Chlorophonia, 10th at Toninhas, Ubatuba, São Paulo.

Blue-naped Chlorophonia - photo Elsie Rotenberg.

June:

Dark-billed Cuckoo, 21st at the Ubatuba Birdwatching Centre, Pancho Pica Pau, Ubatuba, São Paulo.

July:

Unicoloured Blackbird, 13th at Cambucá, first record for Ubatuba, São Paulo.

Unicoloured Blackbird - photo Markus Lagerqvist.

Black-backed Tanager, 22nd at Toninhas, Ubatuba, São Paulo.

Black-backed Tanager - photo Elsie Rotenberg.

Barred Forest Falcon, 25th at Fazenda Angelim, Ubatuba, São Paulo.

Crowned Eagle, 29th, a pair at Agulhas Negras, Itatiaia, Minas Gerais.

August:

Brassy-breasted Tanager, 2nd, normally a highland bird, near Rancho Pica Pau, Ubatuba, São Paulo.

Red and White Crake, 7th at Intervales, São Paulo.

Ruby Topaz Hummingbird, 11th at Folha seca, Ubatuba, São Paulo.

Ruby Topaz Hummingbird - Marnick Vanelslander.

September:

White-rumped Sandpiper, 16th on Itaguá beach, Ubatuba, São Paulo.

White-rumped Sandpiper - photo Rick and Elis Simpson.

American Golden Plover, 21st on Itaguá beach, Ubatuba, São Paulo.

Rufous Crab-Hawk, 22nd at Fazenda Angelim, Ubatuba, São Paulo.

Semipalmated Plover, 22nd, 2 at Perequê Açu, Ubatuba, São Paulo.

Black-faced Piping-Guan and Blackish-blue Seedeater, 28th at Intervales, São Paulo.

Pavonine Cuckoo, 29th at Intervales, São Paulo.

October 2009:

Buff-breasted Sandpiper, 4th – 6th at Itaguá beach, Ubatuba, São Paulo.

Buff-breasted Sandpiper - photo Rick and Elis simpson.

Brazilian Merganser, 9th, 6 together Serra da Canastra, Minas Gerais.

Brazilian Mergansers - photo Tommy Pedersen.

Grey-headed Tanager, 17th at Serra do Cipó National Park, Minas Gerais.

Grey-headed Tanager - photo Tommy Pedersen.

Hook-billed Kite, 20th at Folha Seca, Ubatuba, São Paulo.

Hook-billed Kite - photo Knut Hansen.

American Golden Plover, 28th, 2 on Itaguá beach, Ubatuba, São Paulo.

Juvenile (left) and adult winter American Golden Plovers - photo Rick and Elis Simpson.

November:

Chestnut-bellied Seedeater, 4th at Manaus, Amazonas.

Chestnut-bellied Seedeater - photo Rick and Elis Simpson.

Pied Puffbird, 5th at Manaus, Amazonas.

Pied Puffbird - photo Rick and Elis Simpson.

Bronzy Jacamar, 6th at Presidente Figureido, Amazonas.

Bronzy Jacamar - photo Rick and Elis Simpson.

Guianan Cock-of-the-rock, 7th at presidente Figureido, Amazonas.

Guianan Cock-of-the-rock - photo Rick and Elis Simpson.

Capped Heron, 18th at the Ubatuba Birdwatching Centre, Rancho Pica Pau, Ubatuba, São Paulo.

Capped Heron - photo Rick and Elis Simpson.

December:

Stygian Owl, 10th, São Sebastião, São Paulo.

Stygian Owl - photo Rick and Elis Simpson.

Scarlet Ibis, 13th, Ilha Comprida, São Paulo.

Scarlet Ibis - photo Rick and Elis Simpson.

Restinga Tyrannulet, 14th, Ilha Comprida, São Paulo.

Restinga Tyrannulet - photo Rick and Elis Simpson.

All photographs depict the actual bird recorded.

In all photographs on this page, copyright belongs to the photographer(s) named.

The beginning of 2009 was really tough with the world financial crisis hitting hard on travellers confidence, I think this is why numbers were down in 2009, the first six months were really quiet, but as confidence grew again, especially in the US, the second half of the year was hectic.

Last trip of the year with Barry, and old friend from England, Phil also from England, and Jan a Dutchman residing in England.

Species seen on all RSBS trips 502 (465 in 2008) at 30 sites (24 in 2008) In São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais.

This year’s Minas Triangle tour was an excellent trip. 236 species were seen at the three sites (175 in 2008 but with restricted time at each site).

One of the highlights of any Minas trip, the Maned Wolves at Caraça.

Statistics aside, and passing over the lean first half of the year, I have really enjoyed this year, meeting so many great people and birders, meeting some old friends from the past and repeat clients, always gratifying.

Birding isn't always easy, and it's not all in the canopy. Here Tommy Pedersen, a regular with RSBS, is getting 'in-your-face' views of a White-breasted Tapaculo at Intervales.

Away from RSBS this year has been busy aswell. I have done a couple of birding trips in Brazil with Elis to new sites, to Amazonas and Ilha Comprida in São Paulo, there was of course the usual month in the UK catching up with old friends, family and attending the British Bird Fair. One of the highlights of the trip was a visit to the British Natural History Museum at Tring to look at some specimens from our region.

At Tring Museum 'boning up' on the differences between Scalloped and Scaled Woodcreepers.

The end of the year became even more hectic for us when we opened the Ubatuba Birdwatching Centre at the Rancho Pica Pau, now every day that I am not guiding I am at the centre for at least part of the day, it is great fun and I hope that it will prove to be successful too in the future. Our aim is to provide visiting birders with as much up to date information as we can to help them find birds, obviously if they want a guide and I am available, we can provide that too, or for those confident in Portuguese a local guide. We are building a good library for reference purposes, hopefully visiting birders will become increasingly aware of its existance, and will feel they can come and check any ID problems they may have, or range queries etc and even discuss their thoughts with me or whoever is attending the centre at the time.

Inside the Ubatuba Birdwatching Centre, showing the growing library and items for sale.

The underlying reason for creating the centre however was to provide a focus for conservation and environmental education. This is to try and combat, the still significant, misuse of the local Atlantic Forest. We hope that birders visiting the area will want to help us preserve the region so that future birders will have something to come here for. Please see the Ubatuba Birdwatching Centre website www.ubwc.info

Talking to a group of local children about the importance of birds and the forest.

So it just leaves me to say, a very happy and successful 2010 to all my past clients and to my (hopefully) many future ones. I have enjoyed meeting you all without exception, and hope to see many of you again. To those of you who I have not yet met, I look forward to meeting you all and making new friends.

Happy New Year to you all.

All photos on this page copyright Rick and Elis Simpson.