Guyane
CAYENNE AREA
From the sea wall in visitors can see Magnificent Frigatebirds and Plumbeous Kites.
If the tide and season is right, at the port you may find waders such as American Whimbrel,
Ruddy Turnstone, Semipalmated Sandpiper,
Short-billed Dowitcher, and others, plus
Black Skimmers and terns (Gull-billed, Common, Least, Cayenne, and Royal).
The reservoir area near Le Rorota can have among other birds Cinereous Becard, Crimson-hooded Manakin, Mouse-colored Tyrannulet, Coraya Wren, Pale-breasted Thrush, and North American migrants in season.
At Fort Diamant look for White-lined Tanager, Bran-colored Flycatcher, Lemon-colored Greenlet, Epaulet Oriole, Violaceous Euphonia, and Chestnut-collared Seedeaster, among others.
The secondary forest and savannah around Montsinery and Tonnegrande are worth a look.
For more information on Guyane birding see Wheatley, Where to Watch Birds in South America.
KOUROU AND PARAKOU
The city of Kourou, about 50 km west of Cayenne, has some good birds, both in and around the city and around the Golf de Kourou. Parakou, about 50 km west of Kourou, is an area with remnant forest. Prior permission required. Birds that occur in these spots include Little Tinamou , Scarlet Ibis., White-tailed Hawk, Yellow-headed Caracara , Black-tailed Titrya, Plain-crested Elaenia, Grey-breasted Martin, Tropical Mockingbird, Golden-headed Manakin. , Crested Oropendola, Carib Grackle, Yellow Oriole, Turquoise Tanager, and Grassland Sparrow.
SINNAMARY AND ST. ELIE
The town of Sinnamary, about 50 km west of Kourou and 100 km from Cayenne, is close to an estuary internationally famous for its shorebirds. For excellent resident birds, from Sinnamary head towards St. Elie through well-preserved forest, where the birds might include Slaty-backed Forest-falcon, Lilac-tailed and Sapphire-rumped Parrolets, Black-bellied Cuckoo, Sooty Barbthroat, Green Aracari, Spotted Antpitta, Dusky Purpletuft, Crimson Fruicrow, Pompadour Cotinga, Capuchinbird, Double-banded Pygmy-Tyrant, Glossy-backed Becard, Blue-backed, Opal-rumped, and Paradise Tanagers, and Red-and-black Grosbeak. SAUL
This remote gold-mining settlement, virtually in the middle of Guyane and accessible by air from Cayenne, is the gateway to some excellent forest. Although a number of species are uncommon owing to hunting, this site is blessed with many cotingas. Among the good birds you may find the White Bellbird, plus White-crowned and White-bearded Manakin, Forest Elaenia, McConnell’s and Sulfur-rumped Flycatchers, Coraya and White-breasted Wrens, Cocoa and White-necked Thrush, Long-billed Gnatwren, Blue Dacnis, Paradise, Bay-headed and Fulvous-crested Tanagers, Fulvous Shrike-Tanager, Buff-throated Saltator, Slate-colored Grosbeark, Pectoral Sparrow, and Violaceous Euphonia,
LA RESERVE NATURELLE DES NOURAUGES
The reserve, which is open for tourists, is accessed through the Arataï Base camp. Visitors are not allowed to walk by themselves at this site. A guide is required.
The boat-ride to Arataï takes about four hours from Régina along the
Approuague River. At the camp, good birds include the Gray-winged trumpeter, Caica Parrot, Fasciated Tiger
Heron. And the Crimson Topaz is a
magnificent hummingbird!
MANA
About 50 km by road from the border with Suriname, and 290 km west of Cayenne, the town of Mana is surrounded by several habitats, including primary and secondary forest, savanna, and rice fields. The bird list is quite substantial, and includes a number of very good birds, such as Marail Guan, Black Curassow, Spotted Rail, Green-throated Mango, Racket-tailed Coquette, Black-necked Aracari, Red-billed Toucan, Golden-collared and Waved Woodpeckers, Crimson Fruitcrow, and Capubhinbird. In the rice field areas birds include Fork-tailed Flycatcher, Crested Oropendola, Carib Grackle, Shiny Cowbird, White-winged Swallow, Barn Swallow (in the right season), Pied Water-Tyrant, White-headed Marsh-Tyrant, Re-breasted Blackbird, Variable Seedeater, and Ruddy-breasted Seedeater. |
