Memories from Minas Gerais - Mergansers, Manakins, and Maned Wolves

We just had another fantastic tour to Minas Gerais!

We began in the pristine grasslands and gallery forests of the scenic Canastra National Park, where we found superb birds such as the elegant Sharp-tailed Tyrant, the displaying Cock-tailed Tyrant, the beautiful Blue Finch, the charismatic Red-legged Seriema, the stunning Helmeted Manakin and the elegant Streamer-tailed Tyrant.

We also had amazing views of a pair of critically endangered Brazilian Mergansers with a large chick, and a close encounter with a female Giant Anteater carrying a large cub!

Next, we spent a few days at the peaceful Caraça Monastery, where we discovered fantastic species such as Dusky-tailed and Ochre-rumped Antbirds, the elusive Large-tailed Antshrike, the very local Serra Antwren, the sparkling Hyacinth Visorbearer and the adorable Hangnest Tody-Tyrant, to name just a few. We also had a memorable meeting with two Maned Wolves, which came to the monastery for a plate of chicken bones just a few meters from delighted visitors!

Finally, we had a lovely visit to the Espinhaço Mountains near Serra do Cipó, where we enjoyed a beautiful walk in pristine scenery with unique vegetation. We had fantastic views of the stunning Horned Sungem, Burnished-buff Tanager and the uncommon Cinereous Warbling-Finch. We even ended the tour by finding the rare and very local Marsh Tapaculo!

eBird trip report: https://ebird.org/tripreport/575631

-Fabrice Schmitt