White-banded Swallow (Atticora fasciata)

White-banded Swallow (Atticora fasciata)

If you're on or by a river in the Amazon rain forest you will see the white-banded swallow (Atticora fasciata), sometimes a single one like here, or if you're…


Brown-Chested Martin (Progne tapera)

Brown-Chested Martin (Progne tapera)

Brown-Chested martin (Progne tapera) is a common swallow in Pantanal, and around Pousada Xaraés it has excellent nesting sites as the closest river has high…


Cleistocactus samaipatanus

Cleistocactus samaipatanus

Finding cacti on the sheer cliffs of Refugio Los Volcanes was a surprise to me! I saw their red flowers  from afar, but assumed totally different species.…


Cardon cactus (Echinopsis tarijensis)

Cardon cactus (Echinopsis tarijensis)

When not in bloom the cardon cactus (Echinopsis tarijensis) looks just like the white-flowering Echinopsis atacamensis, but this one is much rarer, and I found…


Cardon cactus (Echinopsis tarijensis)

Cardon cactus (Echinopsis tarijensis)

When not in bloom the cardon cactus (Echinopsis tarijensis) looks like the white-flowering Echinopsis atacamensis, but this one is much rarer, and I found only…


Cactus nest on Isla del Pescado (Fish Island)

Cactus nest on Isla del Pescado (Fish Island)

For birds that have a need to build nests above ground, a desert has few options, so they learn to deal with the spines and use them to their advantage. It…


Cardon cactus (Trichocereus atacamensis ssp. pasacana)

Cardon cactus (Trichocereus atacamensis ssp. pasacana)

Cardon cactus (Trichocereus atacamensis ssp. pasacana) - the white-spined variety is my favourite of the cacti here, and with the backdrop of the white salt…


Cardon cactus (Trichocereus atacamensis ssp. pasacana)

Cardon cactus (Trichocereus atacamensis ssp. pasacana)

The flowers of this cardon cactus (Trichocereus atacamensis ssp. pasacana) are simply gorgeous! Huge, juicy and dripping with resin! Without these cacti, the…


Trichocereus atacamensis

Cardon cactus (Trichocereus atacamensis ssp. pasacana)

Many of the local guides regard the white-spined cardon cactus (Trichocereus atacamensis ssp. pasacana) as a separate species from the brown-spined, but…


Cardon cactus (Trichocereus atacamensis ssp. pasacana)

Cardon cactus (Trichocereus atacamensis ssp. pasacana)

Many of the local guides regard the white-spined cardon cactus (Trichocereus atacamensis ssp. pasacana) as a separate species from the brown-spined, but…