Ludwigia bonariensis
A common species in the Pantanal, and this I found right outside the buildings of SouthWild Pantanal. Native range is southern USA to Argentina.
Tag Archives: Porto Jofre
Scarlet-headed Blackbird (Amblyramphus holosericeus)
On the way from Porto Jofre, on the Transpantaneira, to SouthWild Pantanal I stopped several times to take a closer look at the flora and fauna. This is the first time I have seen this species, and I was in luck as the seemingly lone male that caught my attention was in fact a family. […]
Jaguar (Panthera onca)
After my encounter with George just a few minutes ago, that came to an abrupt halt due to a thunderbolt that scared him off, I headed downstream and back to Porto Jofre. Just around a bend in the river I got a glimpse of yet another Jaguar! How interesting! 4 days with just a 3 […]
Jaguar (Panthera onca)
After 4 days here in Jaguarland I’ve seen a jaguar for a merely 3 seconds – not enough to even get a shot! This being my last day I was hoping for a longer encounter, but as the day progressed it did not look very promising. We took some new routes, but not a single […]
Jaguar (Panthera onca)
After waiting a long while for George, the name assigned him from those protecting and keeping score of the population here, to move out of the thickets, the weather changed. One thunderstorm that seemed far away, was quickly joined by several others, that soon joined and became one major storm. This was the cue for […]
Jaguar (Panthera onca)
After many days in the north of Pantanal I had just seen a jaguar for 3 seconds – too brief to even photograph it. Finally seeing this one I was determined to get a shot no matter what, at least as proof. I was in a boat and the location was very unstable. The only […]
Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes)
Beautiful flowers on a plant species that in some instances can block all human activities. There are many rivers that have been totally blocked for years on end, only unplugged by an abnormal flood. Native range is tropical South America
Eurema agave
Sitting on an inflorescense on a sandbank of the river Cuiaba upriver from Porto Jofre.
Red Buffalo-Bur (Solanum sisymbriifolium)
This plant was growing on the side of Cuiaba river – very close to the water, and will likely be submerge in the coming weeks. Also called Fire-and-Ice plant, Litchi Tomato, or Morelle de Balbis. Native range is tropical South America.
Red Buffalo-Bur (Solanum sisymbriifolium)
This plant was growing on the side of Cuiaba river – very close to the water, and will likely be submerge in the coming weeks. Also called Fire-and-Ice plant, Litchi Tomato, or Morelle de Balbis. Native range is tropical South America.
Red Buffalo-Bur (Solanum sisymbriifolium)
Looks edible and tempting – supposedly tasting like cherry. This plant was growing on the side of Cuiaba river – very close to the water, and will likely be submerge in the coming weeks. Also called Fire-and-Ice plant, Litchi Tomato, or Morelle de Balbis. Native range is tropical South America.
Urolepis hecatantha
This plant was growing on the side of Cuiaba river – very close to the water, and will likely be submerge in the coming weeks. Native range is Bolivia, Brazil to Argentina.
Urolepis hecatantha
This plant was growing on the side of Cuiaba river – very close to the water, and will likely be submerge in the coming weeks. Native range is Bolivia, Brazil to Argentina.
Wattled Jacana (Jacana jacana)
This one I encountered as it was preening the feathers, and my entrance did not disturb this behavior, so I could watch as it was doing its business in the light rain. This was on a very small river, almost clogged with water hyacinths. a Perfect place for the jacana to hunt, as it can […]
Striated Heron (Butorides striata)
This is a very skittish species, perhaps one of the most nervous of all. When I drive up any river these are the birds that first take to the wings to escape. This juvenile was a rare exception, as it was simply sitting there as I passed slowly. This is an adult which also is […]
Mendoncia puberula
This is a vine growing very close to the river and I noticed it as it was hanging down toward the water. Native range is tropical South America.
Jabiru Stork (Jabiru mycteria)
The huge jabiru stork is a Pantanal icon, and I was in luck to encounter a few nests with chicks during my trips up and down the many rivers in Jaguarland. They always nest high up in the canopy and are hard to reach with lens or in person. When their nest is located on […]
Scaled Dove (Columbina squammata)
As I was waiting for the toucan parents to return with food to a nest I could also observe all the other species moving in and out of my area, and this one was part of a group of three ignoring my slow mowing presence. A good opportunity for me to photograph a species I’ve […]
Toco Toucan (Ramphastos toco)
It’s a rare opportunity when you find toucan’s nest, and even more so when you can follow their food delivery to the chicks. Here it’s coming with a large cicada in the beak. Sometimes the cicadas are not dead when they are handed over to the chicks and are able to escape, and one is […]
Veined treefrog (Trachycephalus venulosus)
This is one of a few frogs species I found when I stayed in Porto Jofre. When agitated the frog releases a milky substance from the skin which is very irritating to humans – handle with care! Also called Milky treefrog and pepper treefrog.
Bolivian Salmon Pink Tarantula (Acanthoscurria chacoana)
A large tree Just a few metres from the Cuiaba river in Porto Jofre housed an extended family of this species. They ranged from adults like this one, to very small juvies. Some were just sitting inside their preferred crack and others were out in the open hunting. This was the bravest of them all, […]
Ringed Kingfisher (Megaceryle torquata)
As I was enjoying my lunch in the shade of some large trees by the river this kingfisher swooped in and sat down on this branch right above me. Normally they would flee when humans approach, but because I was already there I guess it regarded me as part of the landscape. It sounds like […]
Green Kingfisher (Chloroceryle americana)
A common species in Pantanal, but not so often confident enough around humans that you get a nice shot like this. I was eating lunch in the shade of some large trees alongside one of the many rivers upstream from Porto Jofre, and suddenly this female sat right in front of me. I assume this […]
Common Spurwing (Antigonus erosus)
In some areas by the rivers and under fruiting trees I found plenty of individuals from this species, and when they are still they can be hard to see. This one is from under a fruiting tree in a farm (fazenda) far upstream from Porto Jofre.
White-eyed Parakeet (Psittacara leucophthalmus)
A common species in the Pantanal and in general in South America, and this one I encountered during one of several landings far upstream from Porto Jofre. It sounds like this:
Guira Cuckoo (Guira guira)
A very common bird in Pantanal, but I think they are worth a photo nonetheless, especially when a group of fledgelings sit in a close group like this – enjoying the sun after a rain shower, as well as the sense of security in numbers. It sounds like this:
Black Skimmer (Rynchops niger)
The breeding season is over, and only a few of the species remain. This couple had two juveniles practicing fishing and will likely leave this sandbank in the next few days. In a couple of weeks this sandbank will be submerged, and fish dispersed as the river will become a huge wetland and make fishing […]
Lysippus Metalmark (Riodina lysippus)
I visited Pantanal just as the rainy season was beginning, and the rivers still not covering the sandbanks. Thus I could enjoy all the different kinds of insect and butterflies. This was one of many, many species I encountered.
Gray Cracker (Hamadryas februa)
On a tree not far from the Cuiaba river in Porto Jofre I saw several species of crackers in the typical upside down posture. You rarely see them up close or on the ground, so sometimes a long lens is the only way to get a decent shot. The name cracker is based on the […]
Variable Cracker (Hamadryas feronia)
On a tree not far from the Cuiaba river in Porto Jofre I saw several species of crackers in the typical upside down posture. You rarely see them up close or on the ground, so sometimes a long lens is the only way to get a decent shot. The name cracker is based on the […]
Starry Night Cracker (Hamadryas laodamia)
On a tree not far from the Cuiaba river in Porto Jofre I saw several species of crackers in the typical upside down posture. This however is my first of this particular species, and is a real beauty. You rarely see them up close or on the ground, so sometimes a long lens is the […]
Yacare caiman (Caiman yacare) eggs
With so many caimans I should have found many nests, but only found this one, so they hide their eggs very well – at leas for a human. It appeared it was opened by a monitor lizard, but it did not finish the job, so the damaged nest was susceptible to the rising water and […]
Gray ministreak (Ministrymon azia)
Yet another interesting species I found on the many sandbanks – some locations I found them in groups like here. It’s very small but beautiful genus in the Lycaenidae family, and should perhaps be easy to identify, but these patterns are so minutely different in each species, that it’s like reading barcode. What’s interesting about […]
Flamingo Leafwing (Fountainea ryphea phidile)
On the many sandbanks I encountered lots of butterflies. Some not so easy to see when sitting on the ground like this. Here it’s sucking up minerals from capybara dung. Only when this species is flying you’ll see the beautiful colors on the upper side. Several species of butterflies simply refuse to open wings when […]
Pied Plover (Vanellus cayanus)
On some of the sandbanks I saw chicks, like this one. At first I only noticed the adults, but As I noticed they were not fleeing, but preferred to walk away from my prescence I figured there must be young ones nearby. This one looks so small and frail, but is perfectly capable of finding […]
Giant Otter (Pteronura brasiliensis)
For a long time I’ve wanted to see these giants up close, and Pantanal is perhaps the best place to see them. This is the first group I encountered, as they were hunting. This river is wide and powerful, with lots of dense vegetation along the banks, so seeing them was not easy. Photographing them […]
Pantanal Cicada 01
To my ears there was only one species of Cicada playing – this one. I found them everywhere – high and low like here on the trunk of a tree just a couple of metres above ground. Please help me identify it – leave a comment 🙂
Pied Plover (Vanellus cayanus)
Many of the larger sand banks were housing one or more families rearing their chicks. The chicks need to be able to fly soon, as even the highest sand banks could be submerged in the near future, as this is the beginning of the wet season. Heavy local rain storms, and most importantly in the […]
Capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris)
These giant rodents are perhaps the most photographed of all animals of the Pantanal, but most are from afar and generic. I find these animals truly amazing and gentle, and hope these close-ups can convey some of their energy and uniqueness. This is a mature male – identified by the gland on the snout which […]
Giant Cowbird (Molothrus oryzivorus)
There are many species of bird harvesting pests like ticks, horseflies and other bloodsuckers from the capybaras, and they love it! This bird spent a long time picking insects, and the capybara knew exactly when to lie down on its back. The total sum of insects draw a considerable amount of blood, not to mention […]
American Snout (Libytheana carinenta)
On the many sandbanks I encountered lots of butterflies. Some not so easy to see when sitting on the ground like this. Here it’s sucking up minerals from capybara dung. Only when this species is flying you’ll see the beautiful colors on the upper side. Several species of butterflies simply refuse to open wings when […]
Gulf fritillary (Dione vanillae)
During my visit I saw many species of butterflies on the many sandbanks. Capybaras and other mammals leave behind body fluids, feces and urine that attract butterflies and many other insects seeking salts and minerals. When the sandbanks become submerged this is no longer so easily accessible.
Juno Longwing (Dione juno)
During my journeys on the rivers I saw many species of butterflies on the sandbanks. Capybaras and other mammals leave behind body fluids, feces and urine that attract butterflies and many other insects seeking salts and minerals. When the sandbanks become submerged this is no longer so easily accessible.
Monk Parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus)
For some reason this species has evolved very different nesting habits compared to the other parrot species. It’s hard work making and maintaining these structures, so many use the underside of jabiru stork nests. You can find trees with many of these nests along the rivers in Pantanal – some are quite large and noisy […]
Pale-crested Woodpecker (Celeus lugubris)
This was the only encounter of the species during my stay in Pantanal, and is a female seen a few hours upstrem from Porto Jofre. It sounds like this:
Rufescent Tiger Heron (Tigrisoma lineatum)
This immature rufescent tiger heron is quite hard to see when it’s standing still among the branches seen here. As with the adults they first freeze into a stretched posture when they feel disturbed, and takes to the wings if the disturbance increases. This one first stretched really high and made a nice and slim […]
Proboscis Bat (Rhynchonycteris naso)
If you’re in a boat up a river or a lake in Pantanal or other places in South America, you’ve definitely seen these bats! If you come too close they quickly disperse from the roost low above the water and close to the thickets on the edge of the water. Sometimes they roost under bridges, […]
Yacare caiman (Caiman yacare)
This was one of many caimans resting on a sandbank island that is slowly disappearing in the rising waters. I was here for five days, and this was the only time I saw them like this. Notice the butterfly sucking salts from the mouth – a precarious place – usually they sit around the eyes, […]
Large-billed Tern (Phaetusa simplex)
Juveniles waiting for more free food, but are likely not getting much as they are old and strong enough to fly and get their own food. Soon the land they stand on will be submerged anyway and they will have to move on.
Black Skimmer (Rynchops niger)
The dry season is overtaken by the water, and the rivers are swelling day by day. Slowly the many sandbanks will be submerged and with them many birds relying on them will have a different landscape and a food supply that is harder to come by. In the dry season these sandbanks are full of […]
Bare-faced Curassow (Crax fasciolata)
After being hunted countless years by humans, the curassow is still nervous in the presence of humans even in protected areas. This one exhibited somewhat normal behavior despite my presence, but I was on a boat on the river and very far away so I was perhaps only closing in on the comfort zone. It […]
Hyacinth Macaw (Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus)
This magnificent macaw species is recovering well, and some places in Pantanal you can see many of them. This is one very special couple though, as they have gradually become so accustomed to humans that they will come close as well as talk back when you call them. They were exceedingly talkative and babbled constantly […]