Rick Simpson Birding Services

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.