Supay and Dorado River
Today was a day all about exploration by skiff. Our fleet of small boats is excellent for wildlife viewing and they allow us to spend hours each day observing wildlife in comfort. Long and skinny with a shallow draft, they can penetrate into narrow openings and push through floating vegetation. They allow us to get an incredible experience here in the Amazon.
This morning we all set off early to explore the area known as Supay. Sunny, cool, and calm, it was a perfect start. We slowly made our way through a gorgeous forest with many birds. Trogons and motmots were new for many of us, while old standards of parrots, cotingas, and kingfishers were enjoyed. A few monkeys were spotted and some great flowers as well.
Instead of returning for breakfast, our crew took breakfast with us. We reached a small lake, and in the middle of the lake tied the boats together. The best restaurant around, for sure! We enjoyed a delicious meal, served by our white gloved “waiters,” all the while with parakeets and hawks flying around.
Later in the morning we returned to the Delfin II and continued heading farther up the Ucayali River. We had a long way to go today, and it was wonderful to watch the forest go by. In the afternoon we again went out, this time heading into the Pacaya-Samiria Reserve on the Dorado River. At the mouth, hundreds of fish were jumping, a sign of more to come. As we made our way upriver, more birds and monkeys were enjoyed. Egrets and cormorants were seen flying in huge flocks, and the farther upriver we got, the more and more we saw. Soon, egrets, wood storks, and even Jabiru storks were standing nearly shoulder-to-shoulder to eat the abundant fish. The surface of the water was filled with fish gulping air, including many piranhas and catfish. An incredible sight!
As the sun set, we slowly made our way back, enjoying the nocturnal creatures. Bats, night herons, a Common Potoo, and a few frogs were seen. But a highlight for most were the many caimans. They must have been concentrated eating the masses of fish as well, because we spotted their eyes one after another. A few allowed for a close approach and great photo opportunities.
We returned in the pitch black in our skiffs with the Southern Cross guiding us back to the Delfin II.
