Peru 7 Tambopata River June 12, 2009

On June 12 we completed our stay at the Tambopata Research Center prepared to return back downriver to Refugio. I really liked being out on the river and seeing all the wildlife along it's banks. For most of the trip we were in an uninhabited area, but as we got closer to the lodge, we began to see some signs of habitation. Otherwise it was just the government checkpoints that broke up the 5 hour canoe trip.

As we assembled at the entry way and dropped our rubber boots for the last time, we talked among ourselves about how we felt that there was a great deal more to have explored at this very unique place, but that it was amazing how much we had seen and experienced.


At the boat landing (basically a beach to pull the canoe up on) Rudy lagged a bit and I could tell he really loves the diversity and birds of TRC.


A really fun sight is a group of Black Skimmers swooping and circling. Not long after we left, we got an air show that was just spectacular. Obviously pictures can't do it justice, but these birds are amazing.




These Tern like birds slice the water with their elongated bills to collect fish.




Even though they are only about 18 inches or so, with the long bill they really look stretched out.


Pretty agile too. I was sure that this guy was going to crash and burn but he recovered just fine!

The accommodations for the checkpoint guards are pretty primitive. We stopped at two on this trip, each time so the boat operator could check in and we could take a latrine break.



Uncommon but widespread in Amazonia is the Muscovy Duck. This is a bird that many North Americans have seen as it has been successfully domesticated in a number of places. Really a loner, these birds don't mingle with others like many species do, but are usually seen in solitary.


Note the crown extended, and the fleshy carnuncles at the base of the bill. This is clearly a male, and is larger than the female. This individual is about 30 inches which is large for a duck. In fact, it is larger than the next bird, the Orinco Goose.


This very striking two-toned goose is believed to have once been plentiful and widespread in Amazonia, but is now rare and limited to the more remote areas of the Madre de Dios drainage.



At about 2 feet. this small goose seems fairly tame and hardly ferocious. My guess is that it was hunted extensively and thus its current rarity.

More of the Shetland Pony sized rodent's called Capybara were also seen along the river.



Kinda like giant guinea pigs, they were always seen in family groups, and in spite of the fact that they must be food for something, there were lots of babies. Notice the interesting pig like hoof.


I am not sure why but I really love the swallows. At home the barn swallows nest under the eaves, and swoop over the pool "fishing" for insects. Here the White Winged Swallow (about 5 inches) made a huge impression.




Along the ride, Terry saw a black cat like animal that he thought was possibly a Jaguar, but alas no picture, but I did get the Brown Agouti, a small rabbit like creature!



Kinda out of place, as it it generally an Andes bird, is the Cinerous Harrier, an 18 inch raptor which kinda reminds me of an American Kestrel on steroids. Usually only seen in flight, I caught this one picking his nose. (By the way, Rudy has this one pegged as a Roadside Hawk, and Ned and I might just be wrong!)





The Horned Screamer is a large (3 foot) ungainly bird which although related to ducks and geese, remind me more of the turkey like Hoatzin, especially in the difficulty they have getting into flight.


Their call is also kinda weird, more like a monosyllabic honking, but it carries a long way, which is maybe why they are called screamers. Once they get going they can fly, but this guy actually crashed into the trees like a Piper Aztec with a tailwind!



I will look forward to the next time I get the chance to travel the rivers of Amazonia with these very intelligent and knowledgeable people.