Our first full day in the Amazon basin started in a great way. Shortly after sunrise we boarded our comfortable skiffs and headed towards the Pavachira Caño. Caño is the local word for a small, narrow branch of the main river, in this case of the large Marañon River. We explored Pavachira and looked for the abundant birdlife, which is particularly active during the early morning; the old saying that the early bird gets the worm applies very well to bird watching, and this morning was no exception! We enjoyed all kinds of birds, aquatic and terrestrial, solitary or gregarious, silent or noisy. Herons were abundant, including one gorgeous capped heron, a South American specialty, and kingfishers like the ringed and Amazon ones. Raptors included the black-collared, great black, and crane hawks, but the chestnut-eared aracaris and white-throated toucans were everyone’s favorites, with their oversize bills and brilliant colors. We admired the ability and dexterity of the yellow-rumped caciques and the oropendolas to build their long, pendant nests, which form busy colonies on large trees.
After a hearty breakfast back on board we got out again, this time to hike in the forest, in an area that never gets flooded called tierra firme. We learned about some of the myriad plant species and got the chance to observe some very interesting creatures, including several frog, insect, and snake species. A wonderful tree frog, with orange under parts and black tiger-like stripes, as well as a great boa constrictor posed for the photographers, whereas a huge mata-palo tree provided an amazing background for jungle portraits.
Conversations at lunch were frequently interrupted by the exclamations made after someone spotted one of the several pink river dolphins swimming around the ship, just outside the dinning room. Not a bad way to enjoy your meal! Later in the evening we boarded our skiffs again and headed towards the Yanayacu-Pucate, a region named after a couple of tributaries of the Marañon River. There we watched lots of birds again, but also had the chance to see some mammals including several three-toed sloths and some small monkeys called saddleback tamarins. Sloths are the slowest mammals on earth and whatever speed they lack, they compensate with a very interesting life style and a charming face with small, sleepy eyes. And after an exciting day of exploration and discovery, the sun quickly came down, as it does in the tropics, and we ended our first day here in the same way it started—great!
