The drive to the foot of the
MAZARONI PLATEAU is straight forward enough, but once there things
change dramatically. What may be described as a 'road' up the 500 meter
incline (treacherously steep in parts) is nothing more than a 'mud
chute' only advisable in a 4 x 4. In our case, we were lucky to have one
of the elevated wheel type but what was going through my mind was not
so much reaching the top, but having to face the return journey. Half a
dozen days or so to worry about that, so let's get on with the
'birding'.
FULVOUS SHRIKE TANAGER,
but unfortunately only a female. The far more 'showy' male was in there
but simply wouldn't come out.
is something of a 'star' around here, and while by no means tame
do appear in camp from time to time.
these 2 scrurrying back into the depths of the forest the moment the shutter started clicking.
We
have encountered 2 species of SQUIRREL since arrival, this tiny, white
eared effort and a Red akin to our own in GB. There is a perfectly good
Mammal Field Guide to the country here but all in Latin and I ain't
going there!
was photographed deep in the jungle, as were
and we've already been through the bad light scenario, so we'll leave it at that.
in fact so high above them we could hardly see it.
and quickly on to
which I am told is not usually so showy.
Some of the 'goodies' collected this morning
from around the porch light.
ATELOPES Sp FROG
an ANT'S GARDEN
Susspended
from that single, thin strand at the top, the Ants carry soil to form a
'plot' before gathering seeds to sow. As the plants mature, the Insects
use the root-stock to nurture their offspring.
This
is GAVIN our dedicated driver, who is a 'dab-hand' behind the wheel
despite his youth. It is he who will be taking us down the hill at the
end of our stay, I told you not to mention 'going down the hill'!
We have a spectacular view from our verandah, and in the vegitation some 30 feet below are plenty of these large LIZARDS.
Just a scene from the Rain Forest to finish off today, along with the List Update.
BLACK CURASSOW, SPOTTED ANTPITTA, LINED FOREST
FALCON, BLACK-HEADED PARROT, PLUMBEOUS PIGEON, BLACK-EARED FAIRY, CHESTNUT-RUMPED WOODCREEPER,
FLAME-CRESTED TANAGER, FULVOUS-CRESTED TANAGER, DUSKY-THROATED ANTSHRIKE,
CINEREOUS ANTSHRIKE, TAWNY-CROWNED GREENLET, GREYISH MOURNER, WING-BARRED
PIPRITES, WHITE HAWK, PLAIN XENOPS, WEDGE-BILLED WOODCREEPER, BROWN-BELLIED
ANTWREN, RUFOUS-RUMPED FOLIAGE-GLEANER, SLENDER-FOOTED TYRANNULET, FULVOUS
SHRIKE-TANAGER, RED-and-BLACK GROSBEAK, LONG-BILLED ANTWREN, GREY ANTWREN.
