This is one of the spiders that cast their webs across the forest trails, sometimes spanning a space 3-4 metres across. You have to be careful not to walk straight into them.
Male. A pair giving their very high-pitched, silky call seen hopping about the palm leaves and bromelias just behind house. Subsequently heard frequently around the property.
I don't know of an English common name. This is a common palm the lowland Atlantic Forest, with sharp needle-like spines on the trunk and these large orange-brown fruit. Theory is that the spines were evolved as protection against large, now-extinct megafauna such as Megatherium.
Posed for me very close while flitting about on some orange blossoms in our orchard.
One of three woodcreeper species common in this location.
Seen only in austral spring in this location.
Dead leaf mantis, seen on ladder behind house in lowland Atlantic Forest property. Has been suggested as Acanthops falcataria.
Vulnerable hawk species seen regularly in this location, flying inside covered forest and circling above.
Single stand of this chestnut-red barked tree near riverbank. Bark peels off reveal smooth, very hard trunk.
This extraordinary hummingbird for some reason took a liking to a blanket hanging over the rail of our balcony, and kept coming back to investigate it. Also seen around butterfly-lily patch.
Heard commonly from lower mid-storey in denser parts of this well-preserved secondary forest fragment.
Perching on fruit tree in open area. Identified as immature male after some discussion (see comment string on Flickr) but willing to open further discussion.
This species was heard and seen lekking noisily in the understorey from about August to February in an area near the forest edge rich in heliconia plants.
Resident in human-altered areas of this location, perching on electricity poles and nesting on house pillars.
Common in middle branches at or near forest edge in this location.
Hopping about animatedly about eye-level in understorey, approaching quite close without playback.
Common year-round in this location, pair shown here investigating holes in hollow trunk made by - and still occupied by - Yellow-fronted woodpeckers (Melanerpes flavifrons). The parrotlets subsequently nested elsewhere.
Common in family groups year-round at this location, coming out to feed especially at dawn and dusk on Euterpe edulis and Syagrus romanzoffiana palm fruits.
Remained perched in same location about 10m above bank of stocked fish pond for months on end especially during austral winter.
Commonly seen in pairs or mixed flocks with Ramphastos vitellinus ariel, here feeding on fruit of Euterpe edulis which ripens March-July in this location.
Males display noisily just inside forest edge throughout austral spring at this location, and respond to playback at other times.
Very territorial visitor to feeder at this location, chasing off and attacking all other hummingbirds. Commonly seen in forest especially near stream.
Got agitated along with another male as I played back its alarm call on our forest trail. The white rump feathers are only visible during display.
This tiny flycatcher hops around on low branches at the forest edge. Very responsive to playing back of its call.
Came to perch near banana feeder. Seen commonly singly or in pairs in this location, perched for long periods in the canopy.
Orphan rescued after apparently being dropped by a hawk. Flew off after being fattened up with moths and a bit of steak.
Fairly common in this location, flying in bands of 10-15, occasionally coming to banana feeder.
Male. Seen year-round especially at forest edge and riverbanks in this location.
