We both got up ahead of the 0600 wake-up knock for the pre-breakfast skiff excursion. We headed across the river and upstream looking for macaws – we saw the red-bellied variety in the distance, but not close enough for any decent photography. We did get close enough to the blue-and-yellow variety to get some shots. We saw other birds – hawk/caracara and yet another “little yellow bird”.
We returned to the Delfin for breakfast before heading out again, this time up Belluda Caño, a creek flowing into Rio Ucayali. This time we saw more than birds. First sighting a three-toed sloth whose mottled coloring made it hard to see against the tree trunk. I spotted a second one a bit further up the creek only because it moved while I was looking directly at it.
Chino and his fellow naturalists know of a roost where owl (or night) monkeys hung out, and sure enough there were four to them home when the skiff glided to a stop at the bottom of the tree. Further upstream we spotted a pair of monk saki monkeys – they looked and moved like a black Persian cat as they navigated through the treetops.
We also came upon more blue-and-yellow macaws, plus a pair (separately) of cayman lizards and Amazonian lilies.
Upon returning to the boat I took a quick shower and started cataloging all the bird/animal shots for later identification.
A juvenile great black hawk (Buteogallus urubitinga).
Morning glories.
Yellow-hooded blackbird (Chrysomus icterocephalus) - uh-oh, another 'little yellow bird'!
An adult great black hawk.
The breakfast spread - pretty much the same every morning.
The selection of tropical fruit juices - I found mixing camucamu with papaya made a nice combination.
Remnants of the Amazon on my glasses.
Looks like a Heliconia variety to me.
Heading up the creek to look for more critters.
A family of night monkeys (Aotus vociferans).
Cecropia - unlike in Costa Rica, the monkeys don't eat it here.
Monk saki monkey.
Blue-and-yellow macaws.
Yellow-rumped cacique (Cacicus cela). another 'little yellow bird'.
Amazonian waterlily flower bud - about the size of a softball.
The edge of the lily pads were spiky to fend off predators.
Amazonian waterlily bloom.
Amazonian waterlily.
A turtle in towel origami.
