Originating from the phrase “Rapon” which interprets to Black-bellied Whistling Duck within the Makushi language, the Rupununi River flows north after which east, the place it then joins the mighty Essequibo River that flows northward by the remainder of Guyana, finally assembly its finish on the nation’s (solely) Atlantic coast. Throughout the wet season the Rupununi River shares a watershed with the Amazon and is linked to a number of different water programs by way of flooded plains. Thus, the Rupununi River boasts astounding biodiversity and experiencing this ecosystem was a form of grand finale for our time in Guyana.
After a well-deserved relaxation following a really worthwhile morning’s birding within the close by Moco-moco village, we took the quick stroll from our lodge all the way down to the dock. We had solely simply emerged from the duvet of the path when motion within the sky made everybody instinctively lookup. A pair of Jabiru have been locked in a chase, one tucked in its eight foot wingspan and made a dive not too dissimilar from that of a falcon. The second fowl adopted go well with, physics itself noisily straining to maintain the fowl airborne because it wheeled overhead. Cameras have been nonetheless tucked away, however the expertise left us all with out phrases. It unfolded so rapidly, it might have been utterly irritating to aim to trace the gargantuan storks as they raced throughout our area of view.
Evidently we have been enthusiastic about this mission. Pumped, because the individuals say. We set off in our boat downriver, calmly drifting amid sightings of Cocoi Heron, Black Skimmer, and Pied Plover.
Cocoi Heron
Pied Plover
Black Skimmer
Coming throughout a pair of Crimson-capped Cardinals was thrilling – resembling the Masked Cardinal that we have been accustomed to in Trinidad however a little bit stretched out, as if pulled gently by the tail and invoice concurrently. We noticed the grownup fowl drink hesitantly from the river, and I puzzled why it didn’t go for a safer, extra secluded choice. Absolutely there will need to have been copious carnivores lurking within the murky water who wouldn’t thoughts a feathery snack. Alas, there will need to have been some lesson going down that was past my understanding.
Crimson-capped Cardinal juvenile (above) and grownup (under)
The Rupununi River is a magical and serene expertise, inducing a deep sense of calm as if changing into as unhurried because the river itself, winding its approach by the luxurious jungle. A few of the birds we noticed have been acquainted, others manifesting like goals being pieced collectively.
Striated Heron, a routine sighting in lots of locations I’ve been.
Being on the evaluate committee for T&T, I needed to consider a latest sighting of a Capped Heron on Trinidad some months prior and I had marvelled at its stately look within the {photograph} offered. Lastly, I used to be capable of lay my very own eyes on one.
Capped Heron
Meandering alongside the river, I observed that the corners and bends appeared to at all times entice some form of exercise. A Jabiru disappeared up a small stream round one nook, one other nook was attended to by a small household of Amazon Kingfishers. A few of the banks seemed as in the event that they wanted a lounging jaguar to attain the last word stage of completeness. Round one other bend, we came across a small group of Pale-vented Pigeons on the sand, standing suspiciously near the water’s edge. Slowing down, we drifted previous and noticed them. As soon as they grew to become comfy with our presence, they walked into the shallowest bits and commenced ingesting.
Amazon Kingfisher
Pale-vented Pigeon
Despite the fact that we had encountered many Swallow-winged Puffbirds on the journey up to now, I couldn’t move up a chance to {photograph} one other.
Now a number of kilometres from the place we started, we got here to a quiet financial institution close to to the union of the principle river with a tributary. Right here, we have been handled to the sight of a household of Big River Otters that have been stationed on the alternative financial institution.
Chilly, recent fruit juices have been handed round and we loved the otter household till the solar effectively and actually disappeared. After a momentary stillness day grew to become evening, and life erupted once more. The sounds of the evening intensified, and we have been fortunate to catch a Band-tailed Nighthawk looking overhead as we have been unmooring ourselves.
Band-tailed Nighthawk
On the way in which again to our lodge, we loved views of each Higher and Lesser Bulldog Bats as they darted over the water seeking indicators of fish. Sure, these bats use echolocation to detect the ripples made by fish which might be both on or simply under the floor of the water. I can’t even comprehend the decision mandatory for a sonic picture to be that correct.