We start today exploring by skiff on the Río Marañon, we are on the edge of the Reserva Nacional Pacaya-Samiria, as we will be all week, with daily excursions into the Reserva. Sloths were perched everywhere, at least that was the impression on our early morning ride. The rains of the night and the small bit of moisture that fell this morning kept the sloths rolled into tight sloth-balls and they were still nestled in the crooks of the trees. The sun had yet to come out and get the sloths warm enough to move about and start their slow motion morning munching.
Black-collared hawks were perched prominently about, like the sloths, seeming a bit damp this morning. Amongst the river grasses yellow-hooded blackbirds were brilliant splashes of gold while up high in the trees a pair of Plum-throated Cotingas dazzled us with their azure brilliance. The boisterous call of the Thrush-like Wren was an audio oxymoron to it diminutive physical stature. Other birds included the Red-and-white Spinetail, both the Amazon and Ringed Kingfisher and wonderful views of the White-throated Toucan.
We walked on terra firma after breakfast and turned up a plethora of jungle creatures to compliment our earlier discoveries. Included were a long-nosed bat, poison dart frogs, a pink-toed tarantula, a red-tailed boa constrictor, and a wiggly legged armored millipede.
We navigated to the Río Yanayacu for our afternoon. Our anchorage, in truth we tie up to a tree, was where the milk chocolate “white water” swirled and mixed with the “black water” produced by the steeped leaves and detritus of the flooded forest. Confluences such as these are favorite spots for the gray as well as the pink river dolphins. We were visually delighted and photographically teased as both of these marine mammal species were sighted.
We closed our day with one more skiff ride. Red-capped cardinals were found in the more shrubby riverside vegetation, along with the Oriole Blackbirds, while the elegantly plumed Capped Heron stood in places where their seemed to be less brush and undergrowth, perfect for admiring its reflection in the black water.
With a rosy sunset glowing on the horizon and clearing skies we returned to the Delfin ll. The stars came out and the Southern Cross hung low in the sparkling heavens, perhaps tomorrow will bring sunshine and warmth to the sloths and other inhabitants of the rain forest.
