Tuesday, September 23, 2008

I'm Back to Mato Grosso...

Hello!
Well, I’m back to Mato Grosso.
It was loooong bus ride: 24h!
But, I’m glad to be back to the main office, specially, after some very good rains on the last days…We are now in the Spring – The Rufous-bellied Thrushes are singing ( a lot) again!
But, I’m NOT fully happy – Just got the information about a tragedy : The Grandson – The only one – Of my aunt Emilia, died on a motorbike crash – He was just 19 years old!...
Very, Very Sad…
He lived on a town called ARAPONGAS, which means BELLBIRDS. The most interesting fact about his place is: ALL the streets & Avenues have BIRD NAMES!
As I said, I went there , last weekend. Driving or walking on that towns was like finding lifers:
Hey! This is the Toucan Street – I never had been here before…Then, I was excited to find out the name of the coming street…What? Swallow avenue? Great! I like that!...
Even, extinct birds of Birds of the Ancient Greek, have room there!
Cheerio!

Paulo Boute.

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Side Walk Picture


Campo Mourao side walks – Picture.




Hello!


I’ m glad in sharing a picture, I took , today about the side walks of this village.

Many years ago a past mayor passed a law that people should have their side walks with the shape of Martins.
But, there is a problem: They used white stones that get brown , due the fact the soil on this area is very rich in iron…
Unless it is nice and clean – It’s kind of hard to appreciate the beauty of the side walk…
I’m leaving, tomorrow, to visit some relatives in a near by town…Then, I will combine it with my trip, by bus – 24h ride – Back to Mato Grosso.
Tuesday is a the day, when I shall place my next message & hopefully, some pictures too!
Enjoy the Weekend.


Paulo Boute.

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Plan Change...

...Hello!

Well, I may post the side walk pictures, only tomorrow...

Today, I had a change on my plans...I went to a near by village , called CIANORTE, where I spent my childhood...It took me one hour driver thru. farm country: Lots of corn, which just got harvested.

I saw lots of Eared Dove and some Souther Crested Caracaras.

Best Regards,

Paulo Boute.

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

I'm in Heaven!

Hello!

I have very good news: I'm cured from my pneumonia!
Thanks God!
I got a "fresh" x-ray , yesterday.
So, yesterday night, I took a overnight bus ride from Sao Paulo City & came to Campo Mourao.
It's is not far from Iguassu Falls. Here lives my mother ( 86 years old!!!) and sister and her daughter.
Tomorrow, I intend to post some pictures of the side walks of this village - It has silhoute of Martins!!!
In the past, this village was been visited by huge flocks of Gray-breasted & Purple Martins!

Bye for now,

Paulo Boute.

Monday, September 15, 2008

Thanks!

Hello!

Thanks to everyone that has been wishing me a recovery from my pneumonia.
I'm feeling better. I went to a doctor, Saturday night. He says my lungs are OK. But, I should get a x-ray to be sure...Which I will try to get, today.
Yesterday, I had the pleasure of sending a group of birders to the Atlantic Forest. They went with Giuliano.
I was booked for another tour that ended up being cancelled. Any how, it was great to meet the tour participants. I met them , at the airport Saturday night when they arrived from the Pantanal. I shared a room with Giuliano & had breakfast with the group. They will bird at Itatiaia and Ubatuba. I'm excited to hear them about the nest of the Swallow-tailed Cotinga, that I found last August...
Tonight, I may take a bus ride to visit my mother. She lives near Iguassu Falls. I might spend the week with her, because, after this gap on my agenda I only will be able to see her by the third week of December.

May Everyone have a great day & Wonderful Week !

Again: Thanks!

Paulo Boute.

Friday, September 12, 2008

My Trip to Sao Paulo City.

Hello!

Tomorrow, I will take a flight to Sao Paulo City.
I have a few things to do there: Including meeting a group of birders on their way to the Atlantic Forest.
They are three Americans guided by Giuliano Bernandon - Member of the Boute Expeditions Guide Team.
They are taking our Fixed Departure for the September tour.
I also shall visit my two brothers that live there and last but, not least: See a GOOD Doctor, that can give me an up date on the status of my Pneumonia! I'm not feeling totally good and I don't like it - I have a tour to guide around the corner...
I may need to ask my readers to be patient in case, I won't be able to place posts for the next days...
But, as soon as I can, I hope to bring good news - Specially , about the Harpy Eagle Nesting site at Serra das Araras, which I scheduled to bird.

Enjoy the Weekend!

Paulo Boute.

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Scarlet Ibis II

Hello!
Yesterday, I went for the Scarlet Ibis, with Prof. Marcelo Cardoso. We had a great time watching this magnificent bird - We spent about 20 minutes there...
By the way, we found a young man, watching birds too. He didn't have a pair of binoculars so, he used on of ours.
Prof. Marcelo told me this particular individual has been seen in the Coast of the State of Sergipe for the past five years. Always alone, having a very erratic behaivour.
Any how, anyone birding in Aracajú can have hopes of seeing the Scarlet Ibis. Isn't that great?
Best Regards,
Paulo.

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Scarlet Ibis II

Hello!
Today, I shall go back to the egret & heron roosting place, trying to have a second look at the Scarlet Ibis.
I may have the Company of my very good friend: Marcelo Cardoso.
In the past, the Scarlet Ibis was a commom bird in Brazil ( about 500 years ago). The Brazilian Indians were even doing dresses with their feathers!!!
Polutions & destruction of their Natural Habitat, made them almost disapear...But, there are some places they still can be found: Marajó Island ( where the Amazon River flows into the Atlantic Ocean) and in Cubatão village , near São Paulo City.
Best Regards,
Paulo Boute.

Sunday, September 7, 2008

Scarlet Ibis in Aracaju - Brazil.

Hello,
Just a few minutes ago, I had my first Scarlet Ibis in Aracajú.
I went to visit a roost for Great & Cattle Egrets, when, I found one Scarlet Ibis, among them.
What a nice surprise!!!
Here is a link for a nice photo, that I just found on the NET:
http://static.photo.net/attachments/bboard/00J/00JgeM-34625084.jpg
Best Wishes,
Paulo Boute.
www.boute-expeditions.com
In time: The location of Aracajú, can be seen at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aracaju

Friday, September 5, 2008

Fierce Competition among Cattle Egrets.

Today, doing a morning walk with my four year old son, we stoped to watch about 10 caws there were grazzing, mostly of them were followed by cattle eggrets. There was a particular one that has two cattle egretts, a bit away from the other, when it started grazzing in a taller grass, aparently, a bit more bug productive, two more cattle eggrets, joined them...the first one , was OK but, the second one chased away a previous one...which attracted one more cattle eggret...I got impressed with this "Fierce Competition"!
Since the cattle is not that bad...We tend to get the cattle behaviour would be "contagious"...Another thing I noted: There where NEW eggrets joining the flocks...apparently, they are not true to a particular flock...
instead, keeping searching for food watching other flocks/individuals...
I wish everyone a great weekend!
Yours,
Paulo Boute.

Thursday, September 4, 2008

Recommended Repellent.

Hello!
Today, I would like to mention how impressed I got, with the success of PERMETHRIN.
I went to the Pantanal, recently, with a couple.
They, both, were using PERMETHRIN. I didn't. Instead, I trusted my leather boots to keep chiggers & ticks away from me.
It didn't work!
I ended up catching three ticks...
They got none!
The good thing about PERMETHRIN is : You don't need to use it directly on your skin, only on clothes.
From now on...I will recommend it to my guests.
Very Best Regards,
Paulo Boute.
www.boute-expeditions.com

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Fork-tailed Flycatcher.

Hello!
Recently, I saw something that I don't remember seeing before or heard about it: Fork-tailed Flycatchers feeding on fruits.
http://identify.whatbird.com/img/4/4800/image.aspx
This time of the year, they are migrating South, since the end of the winter is around the corner...
I was in my way to Chapada dos Guimarães National Park, when I saw a flock of about 10 Fork-tailed Flycatchers, feeding on a very small fruit, produced by a native trip Curatella americana.
The birds never perched to get the fruit but, were catching them, flying right next to the branches.
Surely, it was a "private performance!" :-)
In time: Thanks God - The huricane Gustav was not as bad as it was supposed to be...
Yours,
Paulo Boute.

Monday, September 1, 2008

My Papaya Tree.

Hello!
I hope everyone had a nice weekend.
(At this moment, my heart goes to the ones that may be affected by the “Gustav”).
Today, I want to talk about a corner of my yard, here in Aracajú, where I have a Papaya Tree.
Very similiar to the one shown at: http://www.pattybrdarphoto.com/USAHawaii/M_ae-R17-08a_PapayaTreeLarge.jpg
It is being the “natural feeder” for Palm Tanagers, Great Kiskadees and Tufted-ear Marmoset. They cause a “mess” because they end up dropping the seeds on the ground and some pieces of the fruit, as well.
In other hand, it makes me very happy knowing these lovely creatures are being well fed!
Again: Let pray for the dwellers of Baton Rouge…
Paulo.