New bird records from Lagoa do Peixe National Park , southern Brazil

The Lagoa do Peixe National Park, situated on the coastal plain of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, had its avifauna investigated initially in the 1970s and 1980s, and the first published list of the species of the park appeared in 1995. Several following papers reported the occurrence of additional species in the park, resulting in a total of 211 species known in the area. The present note adds 19 species to the list of birds of the park, increasing the known richness of its avifauna to 230 species. Three of these (Tachybaptus dominicus, Buteo albicaudatus and Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) are also new records for the entire Mostardas peninsula, the long and narrow sand ridge separating the Patos lagoon from the Atlantic Ocean.

M. S. Pereira e F. Poerschke Created in 1986, the Lagoa do Peixe National Park (LPNP) includes parts of the municipalities of Mostardas and Tavares and is situated on the coastal plain of Rio Grande do Sul (the southernmost Brazilian state), on a narrow strip of land separating the 265km long Patos Lagoon from the Atlantic Ocean (Figure 1).This region is known in the ornithological literature as the "Mostardas peninsula" after Belton (1984).The LPNP is one of the most important areas for migratory shorebirds in South America.It was recognised as a Ramsar Site in 1993 and is part of the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network (WHSRN), besides being included within UNESCO's Mata Atlântica Biosphere Reserve (Knak, 1999).
The avifauna of Lagoa do Peixe was first studied by Belton (1984;1985;1994), who visited the area in the 1970s and 1980s.Later, Nascimento (1995) published the first list of the birds of the LPNP.This list, which originally included 181 species, was subsequently updated as an unpublished manuscript (Nascimento, unpublished data), available from the park administration at Mostardas, in which five species were added.Since then, a number of new records for the park have been published (Maurício and Bencke, 2000;Mohr, 2003;2004;Mohr et al., 2005;Bencke et al., 2007), resulting in an addition of 13 species to the updated list of Nascimento.Furthermore, Lara-Resende and Leeuwenberg (1987) listed an additional 12 species not mentioned by any of the other sources (Table 1).
During a study on the wintering ecology of the Buff-breasted Sandpiper Tryngites subruficollis in Brazil (Almeida, unpublished data), we recorded 19 species previously unreported from the LPNP.Three of these species are also new for the Mostardas peninsula (as indicated in the accounts below).Our field work was concentrated in four areas: the marsh of Scirpus giganteus (Cyperaceae) just north of the road to the beach resort of Mostardas (31º06'S 50º51'W; locality also worked by Maurício and Bencke, 2000), Talha-Mar Road (31º15'S 50º58'W), Fazenda do Boiadeiro (31º13'S 50º56'W), and Fazenda do Manduca (31º26'S 51º09'W) (Figure 1).Observations were distributed over three periods:

Species accounts
Rhea americana (Greater Rhea).A couple was seen several times and in all observation periods at Fazenda do Boiadeiro.Additionally, one of us (FP) observed a group of some 50 individuals foraging in open fields (campos) about 20km north of the park, on November 9 th , 2005.
Nothura maculosa (Spotted Nothura).This species is widely distributed throughout open areas of Rio Grande do Sul, including the Mostardas peninsula (Belton, 1984(Belton, , 1994)).Our records for the LPNP were obtained in all observation periods, in the campos of almost all the localities surveyed.
Tachybaptus dominicus (Least Grebe).On December 6 th , 2005, one was observed for 10min at a distance of about 25m in a small stream originating from the marsh along the road leading to the beach resort of Mostardas.The bird was dark grey with a blackish head and yellowish iris, and its size was compatible with T. dominicus.This is the first record of this species for the Mostardas peninsula.

Theristicus caerulescens (Plumbeous Ibis).
Uncommon in Rio Grande do Sul and known in the extreme southern and northern portions of the Mostardas peninsula (Belton, 1994;Guadagnin et al., 2005;Bencke et al., 2007).Our records are from Fazenda do Boiadeiro, on December 23 rd , 2003 (one flying over wet fields) and also on February 4 th , 2004 (three foraging on waterlogged ground).The species was observed regularly in the same place in November and December 2005.
Buteo albicaudatus (White-tailed Hawk).One soaring over coastal fields at Fazenda do Manduca on December 11 th , 2005 (seen with a 20-60x scope) had the ferruginous upper wing coverts and the white tail with subterminal black band typical of this species.FP observed another bird outside the limits of LPNP on January 6 th , 2006, flying over the RST-101 road together with Rupornis magnirostris (Roadside Hawk).These records are the first ones for the Mostardas peninsula.
Anas bahamensis (White-cheeked Pintail).Two were resting on the margin of a temporary pond surrounded by dunes at Fazenda do Manduca on October 28 th , 2004.Another one was spotted amidst a large flock of Yellow-billed Pintails Anas georgica in the Talha-Mar Road, on November 15 th , 2005.On both occasions, the use of a scope allowed the visualization of the red colour at the base of the birds' bills, besides other distinctive fieldmarks of the species.This species has only recently been recorded in the Mostardas peninsula (Bencke et al., 2007).
Nomonyx dominicus (Masked Duck).Seven males and three females were plunging in the lagoon at Fazenda do Boiadeiro on November 9 th , 2006.This species has only recently been recorded in the Mostardas peninsula (Guadagnin et al., 2005).
Patagioenas picazuro (Picazuro Pigeon).Even though this species is widely distributed in Rio Grande do Sul (Belton, 1994), it has not been cited for the LPNP.We recorded it on a regular basis in all areas and observation periods.
Zenaida auriculata (Eared Dove).Abundant throughout the state (Belton, 1994), this species was recorded by us in all areas and in all observation periods.
New bird records from Lagoa do Peixe National Park At Fazenda do Boiadeiro, many were feeding on leftover food at livestock feeders installed in the field, not far from a strip of restinga woodland.
Bubo virginianus (Great Horned Owl).On November 20 th , 2003, MSP heard two birds singing alternately in the strip of restinga woodland at Fazenda do Boiadeiro.Previously known from the vicinity of the park (Belton, 1994).
Podager nacunda (Nacunda Nighthawk).This nighthawk was flying over restinga woodland edges at Fazenda do Manduca on November 15 th and also on December 5 th , 2005.Additionally, 12 were seen resting on the RST-101 road, south of Mostardas, in the 2003/2004 observation period.Although this latter record was outside the LPNP, it is worth mentioning because of the number of individuals involved, since the species has only recently been reported for the Mostardas peninsula (Bencke et al., 2007).
Syndactyla rufosuperciliata (Buff-browed Foliagegleaner).This species is very common in the eastern half of Rio Grande do Sul and widespread in the Mostardas peninsula (Belton, 1994).Recorded by FP on November 10 th , 2004, at the restinga woodland edging the Talha-Mar Road.

Thamnophilus caerulescens (Variable Antshrike).
Common throughout Rio Grande do Sul, except in the extreme south (Belton, 1994).We recorded this species in all areas and in all observation periods.It was often heard in the narrow strip of restinga woodland that stretches north-south all along the LPNP.

Elaenia flavogaster (Yellow-bellied Elaenia).
Recently recorded in the Mostardas peninsula (Maurício and Bencke, 2000), this species was heard by FP in all observation periods in 2004/2005 and 2005/2006 at restinga woodland edges along Talha-Mar Road and at Fazenda do Boiadeiro.The identification was confirmed through comparison with the voices of Elaenia spp.presented in Vielliard (1995).
Lathrotriccus euleri (Euler's Flycatcher).This summer resident was only recently reported for the Mostardas peninsula (Maurício and Bencke, 2000).FP, who was familiar with the species from previous experience in other parts of Rio Grande do Sul, saw an individual on November 10 th , 2004 in the restinga woodland at the Talha-Mar Road.
Pygochelidon cyanoleuca (Blue-and-white Swallow).This species was recorded in all sampling areas, always associated with human constructions or perched on fence wires.Distinguished from other small swallow species present in the region by the entirely dark blue upperparts, including rump.Widespread in the Mostardas peninsula (Belton, 1985;1994).

Petrochelidon pyrrhonota (Cliff Swallow).
Recorded on November 8 th , 2004, in fields along the Talha-Mar Road, amid a small group of Barn Swallows Hirundo rustica.On December 28 th , 2005, c.200 were in the same area, together with White-rumped Swallow Tachycineta leucorrhoa and Brown-chested Martin Progne tapera.The use of a scope on both occasions allowed us to discern clearly the species' typical chestnut nape and cinnamon rump.These are the first records for the Mostardas peninsula.
Saltator similis (Green-winged Saltator).Recorded only recently in the Mostardas peninsula (Bencke et al., 2007), this species was heard regularly and in all observation periods in restinga woodland edges at Fazenda do Boiadeiro.Sight records were sporadic, but both authors were familiar with the species' voice from previous experience elsewhere in Rio Grande do Sul.
Tachyphonus coronatus (Ruby-crowned Tanager).This species was only recently recorded in the Mostardas peninsula (Bencke et al., 2007).On November 10 th , 2004, FP observed a male calling repeatedly in the strip of restinga woodland crossed by the Talha-Mar Road.
October 2003 to March 2004, October 2004 to March 2005, and October 2005 to January 2006.

FIGURE 1 :
FIGURE 1: Location of the Lagoa do Peixe National Park, Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil, with localities cited in the text.

TABLE 1 :
Nascimento (1995)y cited for the Lagoa do Peixe National Park not mentioned in the list ofNascimento (1995), with indication of the sources.