Today's wake up call came at 04:00 - we were off to see the clay lick! We got ready and boarded the boat at 04:30, soon speeding up the brown but flat river. It took about an hour to reach our destination, where a lot of squawking birds were also waiting, poised in the trees on the bank.
A few minutes later the birds started swooping down onto the clay banks, licking them once they landed in order to get at the minerals. This is quite a (noisy) spectacle to see - and through binoculars we could identify a number of mccaw, parrot and paraket species. After having our fill of this fascinating sight, we were served breakfast on the boat, before heading back to the lodge - about an hours journey out, and a little less back as we were with the current.
When we returned we had an hour's break, before our next excursion. This was a little more local, being on the lodge's own lagoon. We picked up a cushion each (sit bones say thanks after yesterday's Lake Sandoval excursion) and clambered into a canoe. The lagoon was surprisingly large, in a winding sort of fashion, and we paddled through watching the water and banks carefully. The first things we spotted were a large group of terrapin, hovering mainly just below the murky surface. Also lurking below the surface was a well disguised white caimen, which promptly came to the surface when we came close to observe.
Once we got back to our start point, we were given fishing rods and bait, and started fishing. This proved frustrating for me, as the fish around me seemed very good at nibbling the bait off my line, without getting hooked! Peter had more luck, catching a very small dog fish, and between our group we also caught two species of piranha - which the our guide, Fray, picked up in order to show us their teeth.
After fishing, we went in for lunch (trout, no piranha in sight - apparently the small ones are very boney) and then prepared for our final excursion, which was to be a proper jungle hike. Equipped with a machete and many gumboots (wellies to you and I!) the group set off into the jungle. Rather than following wide, surfaced trails, we were now tracking through following narrow and loosely trodden paths. Progress was fairly slow and headroom limited, but eithin our first mile we had seen some monkeys and a very large and bright green caterpillar.
Another mile and a half on we came to our destination - what is known as a mammal clay like. This was a muddy lowland, with numerous mammal tracks, including wild pigs and monkeys. Given the high proportion of mammals evidently regularly visiting the area (that we were adding to), it was also popular with mosquitoes! Whilst swatting a particularly persistent one (I have seven bites on own shoulder to show for it) I spotted something move slowly in the mud - it was a huge tortoise!
For the return journey, we followed the same route, eyes peeled for things moving in the twilit jungle. Another very bright caterpillar made itself known, as well as a camouflaged, green blunt-headed snake, right at the end of the trail. Here we said goodbye to our guide, before heading on for a much needed shower and dinner.
Today's new fauna:
- Chestnut fronted mccaw
- Orange cheeked parrot
- Blue headed parrot
- White eyed paraket
- Dusty headed paraket
- Terrapin
- Silver bellied piranha
- Golden bellied piranha
- Dog fish
- Owl
- Tortoise
- Lots of caterpillars
- Common squirrel monkey
- Dusky titi monkey
- Whip snake
- Blunt headed snake
Today's new flora:
- Brazil nut tree
- Pineapple plant
- Bamboo
A few minutes later the birds started swooping down onto the clay banks, licking them once they landed in order to get at the minerals. This is quite a (noisy) spectacle to see - and through binoculars we could identify a number of mccaw, parrot and paraket species. After having our fill of this fascinating sight, we were served breakfast on the boat, before heading back to the lodge - about an hours journey out, and a little less back as we were with the current.
When we returned we had an hour's break, before our next excursion. This was a little more local, being on the lodge's own lagoon. We picked up a cushion each (sit bones say thanks after yesterday's Lake Sandoval excursion) and clambered into a canoe. The lagoon was surprisingly large, in a winding sort of fashion, and we paddled through watching the water and banks carefully. The first things we spotted were a large group of terrapin, hovering mainly just below the murky surface. Also lurking below the surface was a well disguised white caimen, which promptly came to the surface when we came close to observe.
Once we got back to our start point, we were given fishing rods and bait, and started fishing. This proved frustrating for me, as the fish around me seemed very good at nibbling the bait off my line, without getting hooked! Peter had more luck, catching a very small dog fish, and between our group we also caught two species of piranha - which the our guide, Fray, picked up in order to show us their teeth.
After fishing, we went in for lunch (trout, no piranha in sight - apparently the small ones are very boney) and then prepared for our final excursion, which was to be a proper jungle hike. Equipped with a machete and many gumboots (wellies to you and I!) the group set off into the jungle. Rather than following wide, surfaced trails, we were now tracking through following narrow and loosely trodden paths. Progress was fairly slow and headroom limited, but eithin our first mile we had seen some monkeys and a very large and bright green caterpillar.
Another mile and a half on we came to our destination - what is known as a mammal clay like. This was a muddy lowland, with numerous mammal tracks, including wild pigs and monkeys. Given the high proportion of mammals evidently regularly visiting the area (that we were adding to), it was also popular with mosquitoes! Whilst swatting a particularly persistent one (I have seven bites on own shoulder to show for it) I spotted something move slowly in the mud - it was a huge tortoise!
For the return journey, we followed the same route, eyes peeled for things moving in the twilit jungle. Another very bright caterpillar made itself known, as well as a camouflaged, green blunt-headed snake, right at the end of the trail. Here we said goodbye to our guide, before heading on for a much needed shower and dinner.
Today's new fauna:
- Chestnut fronted mccaw
- Orange cheeked parrot
- Blue headed parrot
- White eyed paraket
- Dusty headed paraket
- Terrapin
- Silver bellied piranha
- Golden bellied piranha
- Dog fish
- Owl
- Tortoise
- Lots of caterpillars
- Common squirrel monkey
- Dusky titi monkey
- Whip snake
- Blunt headed snake
Today's new flora:
- Brazil nut tree
- Pineapple plant
- Bamboo
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