Travel to Cristalino
We had an early breakfast, and returned to the Agua Frio Rd., where we had spent yesterday morning. New birds included Tawny-crowned Pygmy-Tyrant and Plumbeous Seedeater. Generally, birding was a little slower this morning. Some of the expected birds remained absent.
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| Campo Flickers | Chopi Blackbird |
By 9, we were on our way back to Cuiabá. We checked our luggage, and got an early lunch. Then it was time to get on the plane to Alta Floresta. The plane was a turboprop ATR. After landing in Alta Floresta, we filled out our registration forms at the Floresta Amazonica Hotel, which is connected with the lodge, then got into 3 vehicles for the drive to the river.
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| Plane to Alta Floresta |
On the way we stopped at a site known for Point-tailed Palmcreeper. We found Greater Yellow-headed Vulture and Plumbeous Kite while waiting for Nick. Although he was in the lead car, they had to return to the hotel to pick up something for the owner. After he arrived, we walked over to the moriche palm grove that harbors the palmcreeper. Eventually, we saw 3 or 4 Point-tailed Palmcreepers, at least one of them well. A Sulphury Flycatcher showed up at about the same time. As we started to leave, a hawk started calling. There was speculation it was a light morph Short-tailed Hawk that had flown over previously. However, it was actually a Gray Hawk.
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| Termites and Palms | Palmcreeper Site |
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| Moriche Palm | Gray Hawk |
The landing is on the Rio Teles Pires near the mouth of the Rio Cristalino. We got into the boat and headed toward the Rio Cristalino. Some Drab Water Tyrants were on the beach on the far side. A Pied Lapwing flew into an inaccessible area, and was only seen by a couple of us, although we tried to get a look at it. Then we headed up the Rio Cristalino.
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| Teles Pires Landing | Green Kingfisher |
Some Wood Storks flew overhead. Southern Rough-winged Swallows were joined by White-banded Swallow and White-winged Swallow over the river. A Yellow-bellied Dacnis was in one of the trees near the river. A little later, we spotted a Black-fronted Nunbird. Some Pale-rumped Swifts flew overhead, and a couple of Anhingas were down at water level. As the sun got lower in the sky, some Blue-and-yellow Macaws flew over. Other birds seen on the river included Green Kingfisher, Swallow-winged Puffbird / Swallow-wing, Red-necked Woodpecker, and Blue-headed Parrot.
We made a brief foray into the woods in search of some noisy Dark-winged Trumpeters foraging alone the shore and spotted by the guide. However, we could not find them. It was getting near sunset when we arrived at Cristalino Jungle Lodge.
My bird total for the day was 69 species, 5 of them lifers. The trip total increased by 21 to 349 species (345 seen), with 197 lifers.
Cristalino Jungle Lodge, Rio Cristalino