While the diversity of birds we found today in the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve numbered nearly 50, they were not the only highlight. We covered the reptiles with our spotting of a rosy-tailed boa wrapped up high on a tree limb. Mammal sightings were incredibly diverse, from pink and gray river dolphins to squirrel and red-bellied titi monkeys, a couple of brown-throated three-toed sloths, and a line of seven long-nosed bats doing their best impression of tree bark. Whew! A lovely, exhausting day of sightings as we explore the Upper Peruvian Amazon.
5/29/2025
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Delfin II
Belluda Creek and Dorado River, Peru
Tamandua! The cry went out from our naturalist Jorge early this morning on our skiff ride on Belluda Creek. We craned our necks and adjusted our viewpoints to see this arboreal anteater as it quietly went about the business of gathering its breakfast. Finally, it stepped into a clearing on a branch right over our heads! He seemed to be posing for our cameras, so we quickly took many images for posterity. Tamandua paparazzi! After being delayed for a short time due to a torrential downpour, we set out in our skiffs once again to explore the Dorado River — this time into the darkness of night! Our intended quarries were the wily caimans on the river; their positions in the complete darkness were revealed by the shining of their eyes under our strong spotlights. These youngsters allowed us to get right next to them as they floated on vegetation, just waiting to strike at a fish or other prey!