Pacaya River
Early this morning we were sitting silently in the skiffs, way up the River Pacaya. I thought to myself, “Can it get any better than this?” It was calm, relatively cool (for here), partly blue skies, and alive. Surrounding us was a scene of flooded grasses, interspersed with massive green-striped Bombacaceae trees. Frogs were calling from the nearby grass and Horned Screamers were making an incredible racket from all around us. In front of us, a group of Squirrel Monkeys were busy feeding on fruit and insects. Their acrobatic jumps challenged the photographers amongst us. Following them were the anis and nunbirds that we have grown accustomed to. Perched high above us was a Black-collared Hawk and a few vultures. Behind us, a noisy exhalation signaled Pink River Dolphins. A group of five were busy feeding in the tea-stained waters. A tiny baby passed within ten yards of us. In the distant, loud squawking. A group of Chestnut-fronted Macaws fly in, landing in a large cannonball tree. And all of this, before breakfast!
I could continue to detail the other highlights, but I think I would run out of energy in my fingers and space on this page. Here are a few: breakfast with more dolphins around the skiffs, punk-rock Hoatzin birds, stunning purple Water Hyacinth flowers drifting by, and many a sloth. And oh yeah, the Red Howler Monkey, the bright yellow flowering vine, the Blue-and-Yellow Macaws, the egret parade, and the… Well, I guess we should save something for tomorrow.
