During this tour, among the gems in Minas Gerais that we'll seek 
will be avian endemics and specialties.

Among them, the rare Brazilian Merganser
(we've seen it during this tour in the past - one time as many as 7.)


And others including the Cipo Canastero, Brasilia Tapaculo, 
Three-toed Jacamar, and Cock-tailed Tyrant.


Among Birds possible in far-southern Brazil: 
2 swans, 2 dotterels, 3 coots,
many ducks including Ringed Teal,
Giant Wood-Rail, Trudeau's Tern, 
seabirds from shore,
and some blackbirds far from ordinary
notably the Scarlet-headed & Saffron-cowled.  

There should be an assortment of Mammals possible as well.
Among those previously during this tour:  
Maned Wolf, Giant Anteater, and various monkeys.

Giant Anteater 

Tour to be led by Armas Hill, who has traveled & birded in Brazil 
many times, with over 40 visits to the country, since 1982.

Links:

Itinerary   (price follows):

Sun: Oct 5  Departure from North America, or elsewhere.
Overnight flight to Brazil (either to Sao Paulo, or to Belo Horizonte).

Mon: Oct 6  Either a morning flight from Sao Paulo to Belo Horizonte, or arrival there directly from the U.S. 
Belo Horizonte is in Minas Gerais, the largest state in Brazil, and where we'll be spending this entire tour. Travel, from the airport, to the area of the Serra do Cipo National Park. Overnight at pleasant accommodations, near the park entrance.

Tue: Oct 7  Exploration in the area of the Serra do Cipo National Park. The higher parts of the park are true campo habitat. The lower parts are a mixture of cerrado and gallery forest - with some spectacular waterfalls and gorges. And, yes, some very interesting birds. Among them, 4 Brazilian endemics: the hummingbird known as the Hyacinth Visorbearer, the Gray-backed Tachuri, Buff-throated Pampa-Finch, and the Cipo Canastero. This last species was discovered only as recently as 1985.
Some other bird species to be sought in the area include: Lesser Nothura, Long-trained Nightjar, Horned Sungem, Checkered Woodpecker, Serra Antwren, Collared Crescentchest, White-winged Black-Tyrant, and White-naped Jay. Giant Snipe and Cinereous Warbling-Finch occur. The plant-life in the Serra do Cipo area is interesting as well. Overnight, again, by the Serra do Cipo Park entrance.

Wed: Oct 8   After some morning birding, travel back to Belo Horizonte, and then east to the Rio Doce Park, a place with perhaps the largest single tract of Atlantic Forest (the "Mata Atlantica") in southeastern Brazil. There's both primary and secondary forests, with numerous and interesting birds, from the Minute Hermit to the Great Potoo. Golden-capped Parakeet occurs. Overnight either in or close to the park.

Thu: Oct 9   A full-day of birding in and around the Rio Doce Park. More time to look for the specialty birds of the region such as: Crescent-chested Puffbird, Tail-banded Hornero, Black-cheeked Gnateater, and Cinnamon-vented Piha, just to mention a few. Again, an overnight in or near Rio Doce.

Fri: Oct 10  A short-trip, after some morning birding, west, to the Caraca Natural Park, near Belo Horizonte. In a beautiful mountainous region, one of the most idyllic settings in Brazil. Our two overnights at Caraca will be at a monastery. After the sun sets, it'll be worth remembering that Caraca is a famed location for the Maned Wolf. Some of these elegant, shy, and rare animals have come for years, after dark, to the steps of the monastery, where food has been put for them. During the day, one of the nicest of the numerous birds at Caraca should be the exquisite Swallow-tailed Cotinga.

   
Monastery in the hills at Caraca (left)
and Maned Wolf (right) as seen there after dark.
(The animals we've seen at Caraca have not been collared.)

Sat: Oct 11  A full-day in Caraca National Park, a location exceedingly good for birds. Both Brasilia and White-breasted Tapaculos are said to occur. More easily seen are Gray-breasted Sabrewing and an assortment of antbirds (mostly southeast Brazil specialties). Also possible is the  Brazilian Laniisoma (a rarity that has been known as the Shrike-like Cotinga). Other birds, in their appropriate habitats include: the Red-eyed Thornbird and Streamside Lochmias (a bird that has been known as the Sharp-tailed Streamcreeper). After a nice birding day, another night at the monastery.

Sun: Oct 12:  This day, travel west for a very special objective - one of the rarest of the world's birds, the Brazilian Merganser, at a special place, the Serra da Canastra National Park.
Hopefully, we'll see it (the merganser, that is - as we have during 6 FONT tours in the that area, from 1997 thru 2008). We'll certainly try. The entire population of the Brazilian Merganser has recently been estimated at just about 200 birds.
We'll definitely be able to explore and enjoy the pristine grassland habitat, with an assortment of birds and mammals, and with clear streams (favored by the merganser) atop a high plateau. Around the perimeter of the vast plateau there are over two dozen waterfalls, favored by various species of nesting and roosting swifts. The Brazilian Merganser occurs at the top and the bottom of one of those waterfalls. This remote area of Brazil is a tremendous place.
Overnight in the area of Serra da Canastra.

One of the waterfalls at Canastra National Park,
photographed during the FONT tour in March 2008. 

Mon, Oct 13:  The first of two days in the area of Serra da Canastra. During our previous tours, in this region, in addition to the merganser, we've also seen other special birds such as the: Cock-tailed Tyrant, Sharp-tailed Grass-Tyrant, Black-masked Finch, Ochre-bellied Pipit, and Brasilia Tapaculo.
During our most-recent tour in the region, we had wonderful looks at a pair of Crowned Solitary Eagles. Other notable birds such as Red-legged Seriemas, Toco Toucans, White Woodpeckers, and Least Nighthawks were seen in numbers. During another recent tour, the rare Sickle-winged Nightjar was seen.
Canastra National Park is a striking place - as noted, a vast grassland, atop a high plateau, where in addition to birds, mammals included the Giant Anteater, Giant Armadillo, and Maned Wolf.
Overnight again in the area of Serra da Canastra.

A Cock-tailed Tyrant.
photographed during the FONT tour in March 2008.

Tue: Oct 14  Return, during the day, to the Belo Horizonte area, but we'll spend our this, our last night, and following morning, not in the city, but rather a few miles to the south, in a fine hotel atop a forested hill, above one of the most interesting places in Brazil, the historic city of Ouro Preto. 
At the hotel, there will be numerous birds, notably hummingbirds and tanagers.        

            
The historic city of Ouro Preto (left). 
Nearby, we've seen Swallow-tailed Cotingas (right).   

Wed: Oct 15  After an enjoyable morning in the area of Ouro Preto, flights in the afternoon from Belo Horizonte south to Puerto Alegre, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, in southern Brazil. Overnight in Puerto Alegre.  

Thu: Oct 16: From Puerto Alegre, our birding begins this morning as we head further south to some coastal habitats where our targets we will be those birds in Brazil restricted to this most-southerly region in the country.  It's a wonderful area, that we've enjoyed during our tours there in the past, with mostly open habitats, and some very good birding. Our overnight will be in the city of Rio Grande.

Fri: Oct 17 & Sat Oct 18: Among the waterbirds, we should see, during these two days, are two species of swans. Among the shorebirds, we could see the Rufous-chested Dotterel. Among seabirds, we could see from shore, an albatross or a penguin is possible. Others, such as an assortment of gulls, terns, or even a jaeger, are likely. During our last tour, along this coast, we saw Black-browed Albatross, White-chinned Petrel, and many Wilson's Storm-Petrels. (Not bad for Brazil - after when birds of that country are normally thought of, they're in the realm of those more tropical, such as  macaws, parrots, motmots, trogons, and toucans.)
Among the landbirds, we'll be aiming for this day will be Freckle-breasted Thornbird, Sulphur-bearded Spinetail, and Bay-capped Wren-Spinetail (just to name some). 
We'll be visiting some marshes with fine birding as well. Among the many birds in the area, a few should be: Brown-and-yellow Marshbird, Scarlet-headed Blackbird, Warbling Doradito, Ringed Teal, and Giant Wood-Rail. Overnights in Rio Grande.            

Sun Oct 19: This day, our time in Rio Grande do Sul, and in Brazil, will end. Our last birding, in the morning, will be along the way from Rio Grande north to Porto Alegre. From there, we'll board a flight to Sao Paulo. And from there, departure will be on an overnight flight, either to North America, or wherever home is.

Mon: Oct 20  Morning arrival (after overnight flight) back in North America.



Or, for those who wish, an Optional Extension to Mato Grosso do Sul for Birds & Animals of the Pantanal:

Sun Oct 19:  A flight, continuing after Porto Alegre to Sao Paulo, from Sao Paulo to Campo Grande. Overnight in Campo Grande. 


Mon Oct 20:  From Campo Grande, we'll travel west into a region rich in wildlife, and especially birds, the Pantanal. We'll be in the southern portion of the Pantanal. 

The accommodations and the meals at the lodge, where we'll be staying in the Pantanal, are good indeed, but the best aspect of the tour would be the close accessibility there to some spectacular wildlife. Travel in the Pantanal, from the lodge, would be in vehicles (designed for observation) during day-trips and night-trips, and by boat. There will be 2 overnights at the lodge. The lodge where we'll staying in the Pantanal is about 150 miles from Campo Grande. There will, of course, be birding between the lodges & along the way, both ways, in between Campo Grande & the Pantanal.

Mon Oct 20 thru Wed Oct 22:  Our diversified experience in the Pantanal, with birds (many birds!) and other nature. There are lists of the birds & other wildlife of the Pantanal (that we've seen there during our previous tours) elsewhere in this website, but, we'll note here, that just a few of the birds would be: Hyacinth Macaw (the largest macaw in the world), Golden-collared Macaw, Great Rufous Woodcreeper, Red-billed Scythebill, Helmeted Manakin, and the Mato Grosso Antbird. 
What can be particularly spectacular is the large concentrations of waterbirds. Ducks can be numerous in certain rice-fields (where, during previous tours, we've seen many whistling-ducks, comb-ducks, and some others). Other aquatic birds, numerous in the Pantanal, would be:  egrets, herons, ibises, and storks (Wood & Maguari Storks & Jabiru).  Also adding to the mix would be Limpkins and Roseate Spoonbills. 
Landbirds, in the trees or in the air, would be parrots and parakeets, and raptors of various kinds.
Possible at dusk, and after dark, would be 2 species of Potoos (the Great & the Gray, formerly called the Common), nightjars & nighthawks, and an owl or two. (This year, during our Sept '06 tour, we enjoyed tremendous looks, after dark, of Striped Owls and Barn Owls.)   
Mammals after dark should be those that are common, such as fox and bats, but it must be noted there's JAGUAR in the area. With good luck, we'll see it ....  In September 2006, we saw this elusive cat. We'll be making, if necessary, 2 night-time excursions for it, and other creatures. Pumas can also be seen (with luck). Also during our September 2006 tour, we had, during two nights, nice looks at 7 Ocelots, a Pantanal (formerly Pampas) Cat, 2 Brazilian Tapirs, a Maned Wolf, in addition to other animals including: Marsh Deer, Crab-eating Fox & Crab-eating Raccoon, and Giant Anteaters. During a previous stay at this lodge, we saw as many as 8 Giant Anteaters. 
Another anteater, the Tamandua is also possible. During the day, monkeys and marmosets can be seen in the trees. Numerous caimans will be in & near the water. 
During our overnights in the Pantanal (and after our evening excursions), we should hear, from the lodge, an assortment of sounds including those of limpkins, owls, and nightjars. At dawn, howler monkeys.
Our last night (Wed, Oct 22) in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, would be back in the city of Campo Grande. Overnight, there, would be convenient to the airport.

Thu, Oct 23:  The flight from Campo Grande to Sao Paulo, connecting to international overnight flights home from Brazil.
(arriving in North America, the a.m. of Fri, Oct 24)  

Price for the Oct 5-19 Tour : US$ 3,375 per person, based upon double-occupancy.
Single supplement (when applicable): US$ 395.

Price for the Mato Grosso do Sul Extension until Oct 23:  US$ 1,495 per person, based upon double occupancy.
Single supplement (if applicable): US$ 265.
   

Includes:   
All overnight accommodations.
All meals.
Ground transportation in Brazil.

Does not include:    
Drinks and any other items of a personal nature.  
International flights to/from Brazil and domestic flights within Brazil.