Thursday, July 19, 2012

Peru Featured Photo: Neotropic Cormorant
























Subject: neotropic cormorant
Date taken: May 14, 2012
Location: Cocha Salvador, Manu National Park, Peru
Camera: Canon 20D with 100-400mm telephoto zoom

Thursday, July 12, 2012

Peru Featured Photo: Wire-crested Thorntail
























Subject: wire-crested thorntail (hummingbird)
Date taken: May 12, 2012
Location: San Pedro Lodge, Peru
Camera: Canon 20D with 100-400mm telephoto zoom

Thursday, July 5, 2012

Otterly Amazing

Date of events depicted: 14-15 May 2012

Two Crazy Chicks Productions, in association with WorldWild PhotoGraphics and What Am I Going to Tell Your Mother? Productions, is proud to present episode 5 of The Adventures of Yumiko and Eden in Peru

Eden is doing a happy dance on the deck of the catamaran.  After one last spin and a celebratory fist pump, she high-fives a grinning Yumiko.

Though not quite sure why seeing a pair of scarlet macaws flying overhead generates this reaction, Miko and Eden’s traveling companions – with the exception of the guide, non-birders all – are clearly amused by her antics.

Having no desire to fall into the caiman-infested waters, Eden sits down carefully before explaining that scarlet macaw had been a “target bird,” one that our intrepid heroines had tried – unsuccessfully – to get last year in Costa Rica.

The last of the sun’s rays fall on a small troop of spider monkeys high in the trees as the boat heads to the dock, ending the adventurers’ third and final excursion on Cocha Salvador. And though the sandflies are once again out in force, Miko and Eden are sorry to be leaving this remarkable lake where, just this morning at dawn, they had watched the resident family of endangered giant river otters frolic, fish, and feed and saddleback and emperor tamarins leap through the branches.

Move on they must, however, and so the next morning the hardy travelers vacate their little palm-thatched huts, board the boat, and once again take to the Manu River. On a stop to hike to Cocha Otorongo, they spot dusky titi monkeys, disturb hundreds of bats roosting under an observation deck, and climb the stairs to a platform 20 meters high from which they take in the view of the pristine rainforest.

Once back on the river, all eyes avidly scan the banks in hopes of seeing a jaguar. This is the last real chance of seeing the elusive cat.  But as the hours wear on and the temperature rises, their hopes wane.

By the time they reach Boca Manu, everyone is hot and tired. The gluten-tolerant among them take enormous pleasure in sipping ice-cold beer purchased from the tiny village’s store – until the sky darkens ominously and the humid air becomes heavier and cooler.

What ensues is a torrential downpour unlike anything our fearless females have ever experienced.  The adventurers huddle under tarps in a futile attempt to stay somewhat dry as the wind-driven rain comes down so hard that the Madre de Dios River looks like it is being pushed back.

It’s rather exciting – for the first 15 minutes or so.

The deluge lasts for more than an hour, easing up briefly when the boat disgorges its damp, cold, bedraggled passengers at Tambo Blanquillo.

José eyes the sky doubtfully. “Let’s hope it doesn’t rain tomorrow morning. Otherwise the macaws will not come to the clay lick.”

It’s too depressing a possibility to contemplate.

© Eden Feuer