12-01-21 – Dorado River Exploration

Today we are exploring the Dorado River.  This entire section of the Amazon River Basin is a maze of rivers that ultimately feed into the Amazon.  

Near the entrance to the river we passed a small settlement.  There were quite a few children along the river.  The buildings were all built on stilts as the rivers rise quite high during the wet season. 

We saw a number of fishermen out along the river.  And also gill nets.  The nets are strung all the way across the river and are held up by recycled water bottles.  Upon approaching each net the pilot stopped the engine and raised it so we wouldn't ruin the nets. 

Gill nets held up with recycled plastic liter bottles

There were two options for the excursions...one with guides or kayaking on your own.  We did the one with a guide but the kayakers looked like they were having a good time.

Highlights today were three-toed sloths,

and a fishing excursion (mostly catfish and piranhas). 

Mary caught the first piranha in her boat.  Those teeth look very sharp.

A horsefly settled on Paul while we were fishing.  It was massive. 

We also saw an Amazon Rat (sort of cute for a rat) in a tree,

some little Proboscis Bats on a tree just above the waterline,

and lots and lots of birds.  These photos are of:

a large black hawk,

a Wood Creeper,

a Yellow-Throated Flycatcher

a number of Great White Herons,

and this unknown orange bird.

 

We also had a very good look at a very large Blue Morphos butterfly.

This little orange butterfly took a long ride with us.

At one point on the cruise of the river we had a stretch where the reflections of clouds on the waters were pretty spectacular.  

We even had a modest sunset over the river.

After the sun set we went out looking for cayman.  They can be spotted by shining lights along the riverbanks.  Their eyes glow when hit by light.  We saw one pretty small one.