We were ready to conquer the heart of the Amazon today!
We had an early breakfast and set off on skiffs towards the deepest and remotest part of the Pacaya Samiria Reserve. Our morning was very special due to a diversity of sightings as we explored the Pacaya River. This region is usually flooded due to the rains up in the Andes, which increase the volume of the major rivers of this system. At this time of the year, there are almost no rains in the high Andes Mountains, so the local rivers are low. Therefore, this season is called the low water season, and most of the waterbirds gather in large numbers at the riverbank.
As we made progress exploring the reserve, we encountered the most fascinating creatures. The trees were full of large flocks of cormorants and egrets. The sky was dotted with wood storks and jabiru storks. These birds come to the reserve to forage on the enormous quantities of fish available due to the low levels of the rivers. There are not only birds here but also a variety of monkeys, including the red howlers that are quite noisy and elegant with their shining orange fur.
As we reached the limits of our journey, we entered caiman territory! It was amazing to see these creatures basking in the sun as others floated in the shallow tropical waters. The trees were also full of surprises, including large flocks of blue-and-yellow macaws! This was the best of the sightings, as we were looking for the macaws since the beginning of the expedition. Finally, in the deepest part of the reserve, we got our reward: dozens of macaws!
It was an amazing outing!
