Rainy Morning

Mealy parrots

It has rained all night, stopping shortly before 5:30 am. As a result, we have slept late. The birds will not come to the clay lick if it is raining. The dawn is rosy and shrouded in clouds. Activity at the clay lick is noticably slow to start. The Chestnut-fronted macaws (Ara severa), Blue-headed parrots (Pionus menstruus), and the Mealy parrots (Amazona farinosa) are the first descend, as usual. We spot several delightful Orange-cheeked parrots (Pionopsitta barrabandi) digging into a meal of clay.

Later on, the Scarlet macaws (Ara macao) and the Blue and Yellow macaws (Ara ararauna) descend for a short visit to the clay but they perch mostly in the tall trees to the west side of the clay lick. A White-bellied parrot (Pionites leucogaster) suns himself, exposing his wet and very dirty belly. He looks very pleased with himself as he dries.

The Creek

Once again, we find ourselves on the canoe headed upstream. We travel for about 15 minutes, finally pulling into the mouth of a small creek. Our boat driver spots Jaguar (Panthera onca) tracks in the mud at the mouth of the creek. Upstream, our guide sees Ocelet (Leopardus pardalis) tracks. These tracks were made this morning after the rain that fell during the night. We walk alongside the creek, stepping on the large stones and pebbles that line the banks. In shallow puddles in the mud along the creek we find tadpoles and toad eggs. The eggs form a delicate, lacy pattern of black dots superimposed on the brown of the water. The float on the surface of the water, gently swaying in the breeze.

Stunning yellow flowers

We cross the stream at a bend. The water is fast-flowing and crystal-clear. Beside the creek, a huge tree is laden with waxy yellow flowers. Leaf-cutter ants are carrying away bits of the flowers to feed the fungus that is their food supply.

Beauty abounds

On the way back to the canoe we pass through an overgrown bamboo patch, ducking our heads to avoid the bamboo canes that have fallen over the path.

Heather and Jo

Finally, Monkeys! 

Squirrel monkey

On our return to the lodge we spot Brown Capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella) and Common Squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus sciureus) playing the trees behind the kitchen. They delight the group with their antics, as some scamper over the branches while others eye us suspiciously.

Palm Swamp

Blue and Gold macaws in flight

For this hike, we don knee-high rubber boots. We will be traversing through lots of mud. We hike for 30 minutes through the forest to reach the tower in the palm swamp. Overhead we can hear the alarm cries of the Blue and Yellow macaws who make the swamp their home. Upon reaching the tower, we don a climbing harness and attach ourselves to a safety rope before climbing the tower.

Blue and Gold macaws

The climb is rewarded by the sight of eight Blue and Yellow macaws swooping around us. We are almost at eye level with them. Once we sit down and be still, the macaws perch in the higher branches of the palms and eye us suspiciously.

Watching us closely

Here we sit quietly for half an hour. Eventually, the macaws call to each other then take flight for a closer look at us. They land progressively closer, amazing us with their ability to land and perch on the smallest of perches. They have more trouble landing on the flimsy palm fronds, flipping upside-down much to our amusement.

Tarantula