Pixaim

In the past couple of days, along the bank of the Pixaim River, I...

1) Watched a mating pair of jaguars at the water's edge. Though the jaguars here are far less often seen than those at Porto Jofre, we know from photos that the female was Tereza, named after the Santa Tereza ranch where we are now staying. The male is unidentified. They were jaguars six and seven on my Big Cat Quest and caused the species to be renamed shaguar among the members of my group.

2) Was astounded by the sight of a habituated family of giant otters bringing their very young pup to meet us.

3) Wandered over the fallen blooms of a Tabebuia impetiginosa in the garden.

3) Saw an exquisite agami heron, a family of boat-billed herons, a singing sunbittern and a surfing sungrebe along the river.

4) Eyeballed a dozing (or feigning dozing) great potoo in a tree in the savannah.

5) Got thoroughly soaked in the rain while visiting a fledged great horned owl and its parent in a giant fig tree.

6) Still soaked, met Blue, a dippily friendly young hyacinth macaw which fell from its nest and was raised by the people of the ranch.

7)  Sat at the desk in my room, penning this blog post, listening to guira cuckoos outside, remembering them in our garden in Bolivia long ago.

Tabebuia impetiginosa blooms at Santa Tereza

Rain!

A marsh tit and a macaw

Cats seen in 2015
cheetah Acinonyx jubatus fearonii                3
serval Leptailurus serval serval                    3
leopard Panthera pardus suahelicus            2
lion Panthera leo nubica                              78

snow leopard Panthera uncia                       3
jungle cat Felis chaus                                   2
tiger Panthera tigris tigris                            13

leopard Panthera pardus fusca                    4
lion Panthera leo persica                              7
leopard cat Prionailurus bengalensis           15
flat-headed cat Prionailurus planiceps          1
wildcat hybrid Felis silvestris grampia/catus  1
jaguar Panthera onca                                    7