Brazil: A Tale of Two Trips, 2016 and 2018

[Zim Girl]

Marvellous pictures of the mother and baby anteater - lovely to see.

[Alexander33]

Wildlife aside, what I loved about Barranco Alto was its pristine character.  There literally is no one else around except lodge guests and ranch staff.  You’ve got the place to yourself, and, in addition to river and land drives, you can hike, canoe, and ride horses if you wish.

 

In 2016, unusually long and late rains throughout May led to a profusion of blooms on the pink ipe trees.  Whereas, typically there are only a few in bloom at a time, this particular year there was a profusion of them.  Lucas said it was the first time he had ever seen such an abundance of pink blooms since the lodge opened for business.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Alexander33]

One afternoon in 2016, we happened upon a red-footed tortoise that was pausing for a rest in the tall grasses by a freshwater lake.  I had really wanted to see one of these.  They are actually a lot larger than you might expect, growing carapaces to about 18 inches (about 45 centimeters) long.

 

So often, when you see a photo of a turtle or tortoise, it’s taken from above, looking down at it.  I wanted an opportunity for a different perspective, so I grabbed our extra camera body with a wide-angle lens on it and, to the amusement of our vehicle mates, laid down on the ground.  I wanted to make sure that I didn’t get so close as to make the tortoise feel threatened; the last thing I wanted was for it to retreat into its carapace.  But this wizened old tortoise didn’t flinch, and so I slowly crawled a little closer for this shot.

 

 

 

Stefan mentioned that red-footed tortoises tend to be found in the late afternoons by the lakes, where they quench their thirsts at the end of hot days.  We came across another one on this last trip, but it was not nearly as accommodating, taking no time at all to pause before returning to the forest.

 

 

 

By the way, one thing I will always remember about that first 2016 photo is that as soon as I had finished making a spectacle of myself, we found a spot by a lake for sundowners.  As we were milling about, one of our vehicle mates took her flashlight and began inspecting every hole and burrow around us.  In one, she found this.

 

Bothrops sp. (Fer de Lance) 

 

 

 

Remember what your mother told you about sticking your hand in dark holes?  She was right…..

 

 

[Alexander33]

Late one afternoon in 2016, we noticed this bat falcon perched in a tree by a lake, busy eyeing potential prey.

 

 

 

They are fond of insects and smaller birds.  This scene was interesting because thousands (millions?) of flying insects were hovering over the lake.  Soon the sun would set, and the bats would be out to feed on the bounty, perhaps little realizing that they were targets themselves.

 

 

 

[Alexander33]

And now that I think of it, that’s really what Barranco Alto is all about: a series of small moments in the midst of the Pantanal wilderness.

 

It’s a very different experience from what we had in the North, much more quiet and intimate.  Whereas the jaguars at Porto Jofre – and their crowds of admirers – steal the show, there are multitudes of smaller dramas always unfolding at Barranco Alto.  They might not get as much attention, but if you take the time to notice them, they can be just as rewarding in their own way.

 

With @Atdahl's and @kittykat23uk's excellent trip reports already covering Barranco Alto around the same time we were there, coupled with a number of other reports posted in previous years, I have to think that Safaritalk provides insight into the experience at Fazenda Barranco Alto that is as comprehensive as you’ll find anywhere.  Accordingly, I don’t have much more to add, so I will end this report with just a few random photos that didn’t fit into the narrative anywhere else (most from 2016, as I confess I’m still processing many of our photographs from 2018).

 

Six-banded (Yellow) Armadillo (2016)

 

 

 

Bare-faced Currasow (Female) Portrait (2016)

 

 

 

Bare-faced Currasow (Male) Portrait (2016)

 

 

 

Golden Sapphire Hummingbird (2016)

 

 

 

Great Horned Owl (2018)

 

 

 

 

 

Great Potoo (2016)

 

 

 

Maguari Stork (2016)

 

 

 

Spider Web with Dew at Dawn (2016)

 

 

 

Walking Stick (2016) -- Can you see it?

 

 

 

Sunset by the Lake (2016)

 

 

 

Pantanal Sunset (2016)

 

 

 

 

 

Sunset on the River (2016)

 

 

 

Although the time came on this last trip to leave Brazil once more, I’m not convinced that Brazil necessarily left me.  There’s still so much in this fascinating country that we haven’t seen. 

 

Thanks for taking the time to follow along.  In the meantime, a new year, and new adventures, lie ahead.    Best wishes to you all.

 

(2016)

 

 

 

[Botswanadreams]

Thanks very much for this trip report @Alexander33 and your beautiful pics. It was very interesting for me to compare the same places with our own experience. Nature has always special gifts for everyone.  

[xelas]

The pleasure of reading your trip report, the magnificient photography, the vibe you have shared, it feels almost being there in person! Thank you, Peter.

[Atdahl]

Wonderful dual report Peter!  Your photos and narrative are both fantastic.  I look forward to reading about your next adventure...wherever that might be .

[Alexander33]

Thanks again, all. 

 

@Botswanadreams

 

In my last post, I neglected to mention your trip report and website link. Yet another valuable resource for those interested in visiting Brazil.  Sorry for that omisssion. 

[xyz99]

I can't tell you how much I enjoyed your trip report and beautiful photos. Brazil is #1 on my wish list, and if all stars align, we might be able to go there in 2020. Until then, I'll come here over and over again, there is so much to enjoy just reading the few Brazil trip reports posted here. Thank you!

 

 

[Alexander33]

@xyz99

 

Thanks so much for your kind comments. I hope you are able to manage a trip to Brazil. It has a lot to offer, and even after two trips, I still feel there’s so much that we haven’t yet seen. 

[Tom Kellie]

 

 

~ @Alexander33

 

When I showed this image to two students, they asked “How did he do that?”

 

Terrific “up close and personal” photography! A tiny wildflower is visible — nice!

 

Seeing such a masterful tortoise photograph reaffirms the value of Safaritalk trip reports.

 

Many thanks for this fine report and especially for the image above.

 

Tom K.

[Alexander33]

@Tom Kellie

 

Thank you kindly, Tom. That actually was one of my favorite shots from our first trip, but a lot of people don’t get excited about tortoises the way I do. 

 

In truth, however, while I was able to get closer than I expected, I wasn’t that close. Credit a wide-angle zoom lens for exaggerating the perspective while allowing me to maintain some distance, plus some creative framing, all of which make it seem like I was closer than I really was. My primary concern was to avoid causing any stress for this old fellow. 

 

Fortunately, he was at rest when we came upon him and didn’t seem bothered by our brief intrusion. Or, for the benefit of your students who want to learn some American slang and give their English teacher a heart attack, he was “totally chillaxed!”

[Tom Kellie]

28 minutes ago, Alexander33 said:

Thank you kindly, Tom. That actually was one of my favorite shots from our first trip, but a lot of people don’t get excited about tortoises the way I do. 

 

In truth, however, while I was able to get closer than I expected, I wasn’t that close. Credit a wide-angle zoom lens for exaggerating the perspective while allowing me to maintain some distance, plus some creative framing, all of which make it seem like I was closer than I really was. My primary concern was to avoid causing any stress for this old fellow. 

 

Fortunately, he was at rest when we came upon him and didn’t seem bothered by our brief intrusion. Or, for the benefit of your students who want to learn some American slang and give their English teacher a heart attack, he was “totally chillaxed!”

 

~ @Alexander33

 

Very funny! Their English instructors will ask me: “Where are they picking that up?”, as I look as innocent as possible.

 

Thank you for the explanation of how the shot was made.

 

The only comparable tortoise image I ever made was beside the Mara River in Kenya, but without such an effective, low to the ground perspective.

 

I'm especially glad to know that you share my enthusiasm for tortoises.

 

Tom K.