May 16th at Barranco Alto
This morning we’re all headed out in canoes. We load up at 5:30am, yes, that’s early. But, to hear all the birds and everything waking up, we need to be in the canoes and quietly paddling before sunrise.
There is a cacophony all around us and large groups flying overhead. All the birds seem to be squawking as they wake up. Apparently the parrots all sleep in several trees close to each other. Upon awaking they head out to find food, so it seems that they are all flying together. But, as the day progresses and they get further a field, they will split into smaller groups.
Through the binoculars I watch two skimmers lowering themselves to the water, with wings still flapping, then climbing out again about a foot or two above the water, then descending and touching the water again, then up again. This goes on and on up and down the river. Later Gerard explains that they are washing, not eating. When they eat, it’s only one dip in the river and out to eat. This washing ritual was fascinating.
We stop for a picnic breakfast on the bank and while there, four giant otters swim close by. Once they hear us, their heads pop up and down several times then they head off to the far bank.
We continue paddling slowly downstream enjoying the views, birds and animal sounds on the river banks. After a while, Marina, our hostess and guide, points out that everything is quiet. I listen and it is. Around 9am the morning chanting is over and peace descends on the river. From time to time, we hear birds squawking, but nothing like the morning sunrise songs. As the sun has risen and warmed the banks we see more Caiman on the banks sunning themselves.
Finally we reach our beach and stop for a swim; yes, with Caiman on the opposite river bank. I’m convinced that they won’t come after us and enjoy the fresh, cool water.
Afternoon outing:
It was a hot day, so we didn’t expect to see much activity during our afternoon and evening outing. The first thing we saw, in the grass just as we started out was a False Water Cobra about four feet long. It is very fast and aggressive, but not poisonous.
As we continued, we started to smell dead meat and saw vultures in a tree. Lucas stopped the jeep and got out to investigate. It was a dead calf that had been attacked by a Puma more than a week ago. They’d treated and released the calf, but obviously it had succumbed to its wounds.
Lucas continued to a tree where he knew there was a Jabiru stork nest. It is huge, over six feet across. Both storks were there, which is unusual. When they have young, normally they take turns and as soon as one returns, the other leaves. Now they were both pruning themselves. We waited, hoping to see one take off, but no luck.
We went for a nice walk through the fields and forests and saw Plumbis Ibis, named for its grey color and the national bird of Brazil, the Orange-bellied Thrush which is a beautiful song bird.
Before this outing and continuing afterwards, we were watching the weather for our departure tomorrow. Iguacu Falls and around that area were forecasting thunderstorms and it looked like a front was moving through. We’ll look again in the morning and make our decision then, but we discussed options during the evening. Everyone else had to make it back to Brasilia within a day or two; I was heading south and could wait for weather. We have two planes, besides mine, with ten seats for seven people. So, the most logical option was for everyone to return to Brasilia and for me to wait out the weather and continue south afterwards. We’ll see what the morning weather brings.
This morning we’re all headed out in canoes. We load up at 5:30am, yes, that’s early. But, to hear all the birds and everything waking up, we need to be in the canoes and quietly paddling before sunrise.
There is a cacophony all around us and large groups flying overhead. All the birds seem to be squawking as they wake up. Apparently the parrots all sleep in several trees close to each other. Upon awaking they head out to find food, so it seems that they are all flying together. But, as the day progresses and they get further a field, they will split into smaller groups.
Through the binoculars I watch two skimmers lowering themselves to the water, with wings still flapping, then climbing out again about a foot or two above the water, then descending and touching the water again, then up again. This goes on and on up and down the river. Later Gerard explains that they are washing, not eating. When they eat, it’s only one dip in the river and out to eat. This washing ritual was fascinating.
We stop for a picnic breakfast on the bank and while there, four giant otters swim close by. Once they hear us, their heads pop up and down several times then they head off to the far bank.
We continue paddling slowly downstream enjoying the views, birds and animal sounds on the river banks. After a while, Marina, our hostess and guide, points out that everything is quiet. I listen and it is. Around 9am the morning chanting is over and peace descends on the river. From time to time, we hear birds squawking, but nothing like the morning sunrise songs. As the sun has risen and warmed the banks we see more Caiman on the banks sunning themselves.
Finally we reach our beach and stop for a swim; yes, with Caiman on the opposite river bank. I’m convinced that they won’t come after us and enjoy the fresh, cool water.
Afternoon outing:
It was a hot day, so we didn’t expect to see much activity during our afternoon and evening outing. The first thing we saw, in the grass just as we started out was a False Water Cobra about four feet long. It is very fast and aggressive, but not poisonous.
As we continued, we started to smell dead meat and saw vultures in a tree. Lucas stopped the jeep and got out to investigate. It was a dead calf that had been attacked by a Puma more than a week ago. They’d treated and released the calf, but obviously it had succumbed to its wounds.
Lucas continued to a tree where he knew there was a Jabiru stork nest. It is huge, over six feet across. Both storks were there, which is unusual. When they have young, normally they take turns and as soon as one returns, the other leaves. Now they were both pruning themselves. We waited, hoping to see one take off, but no luck.
We went for a nice walk through the fields and forests and saw Plumbis Ibis, named for its grey color and the national bird of Brazil, the Orange-bellied Thrush which is a beautiful song bird.
Before this outing and continuing afterwards, we were watching the weather for our departure tomorrow. Iguacu Falls and around that area were forecasting thunderstorms and it looked like a front was moving through. We’ll look again in the morning and make our decision then, but we discussed options during the evening. Everyone else had to make it back to Brasilia within a day or two; I was heading south and could wait for weather. We have two planes, besides mine, with ten seats for seven people. So, the most logical option was for everyone to return to Brasilia and for me to wait out the weather and continue south afterwards. We’ll see what the morning weather brings.
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