We visited Brazil’s Pantanal region in 2013, as the country was in a social and construction boom preparing for the World Cup. Fiona Reid guided us to an incredible array of wildlife sightings.
Titi Monkeys
Apparently these are tough to spot.
Luckiest Man and Greatest Human.
Toco Toucan, Ramphastos toco
The Transpantaheira
The main access road to the Pantanal region of Brazil.
Getting Around.
One of two main vehicles we used to travel in the Pantanal. The other was an open-top jeep particularly useful for night safaris.
Always watching...
Rose was always searching for the next wildlife encounter.
Great Potoo, Myctibius grandis
When you find a Potoo on your own, you are truly an accomplished birder. I still haven’t found mine. So I guess I have to keep going back!
The Pantanal
The Pantanal is a wetland wonderland.
Jaguar, Panthera onca
Got this shot digiscoping from a boat. I will never again be so lucky shooting photos.
Jaguar, Panthera onca
Red-breasted Toucan, Ramphastos dicolorus
Capybara, Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris
The largest rodent species in the world.
Ringed Kingfisher, Megaceryle torquata
This guy is one big kingfisher. Quite a sight!
Black and Gold Howler Monkey, Alouatta caraya
This is the female.
Black and Gold Howler Monkey, Alouatta caraya
This is the male.
Black-crowned Night Heron, Nycticorax nycticorax
The very same species we have around here.
Giant Otter, Ariranha pteronura brasiliensis
I bet his breath stinks.
Chestnut-earted Aracari, Pteroglossus castanotis
Brown Capuchin, Cebus apella
Jabiru, Jabiru mycteria
The Pantanal
The Pantanal.
Pale-Crested Woodpecker, Celeus lugubris
Maned Wolf, Chrysocyon brachyurus
After the Pantanal we visited Santuário do Caraça, an active monastery that has been feeding Maned Wolves right on a plaza for many years. Is it good conservation? I don't know for sure, but it certainly was a sight to behold.
Bare-faced Curassow, Crax fasciolata
Now that’s a lot of hair product.
A Marmoset!
Our first primate sighting, in the heart of Quiaba City Park.
Blue-winged Parrotlet, Forpus xanthopterygius
Bat Falcon, Falco rufigularis
Look at that Face!
We saw him crossing the road, and helped him to the other side. Good luck to you my man!
Black Skimmer, Rynchops niger
Blackish Rail, Pardirallus nigricans
Blue Dacnis, Dacnis cayana
Campo Flicker, Colaptes campestris
Capped Heron, Pilherodius pileatus
Hyacinth Macaw, Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus
Monk Parakeet, Myiopsitta monachus
Nacunda Nighthawk, Podager nacunda
Rose's Favorite Phone
Strategic Bird Watching
Rose knows to look the other way, just in case.
Maguari Stork, Ciconia maguari
Rookery
Large-billed Tern, Phaetusa simplex
Orange-backed Troupial, Icterus croconotus
Looked a bit more yellow than orange to me.
Rufescent Tiger Heron, Tigrisoma lineatum
Scarlet-headed Blackbird, Amblyramphus holosericeus
I think this guy one-ups our Yellow-headed Blackbirds.
Sharp-tailed Streamcreeper, Lochmias nematura
Southern Crested Caracara, Caracara plancus
Wood Stork, Myceteria americana
What a smile!
Vermilion Flycatcher, Pyrocephalus rubinus
Violaceous Trogon, Trogon violaceus
If you find this hat call Rose.
Jaguar Tracks
I guess this was a great lunch spot for more species than ours!
There he is!
Where's he going?
What??
OMG!!!
OMG OMG OMG!!!!
Sunbittern, Eurypyga helias
Sunbitterns at sunset.