Aug 11-Aug 12-- Pousada Rio Claro to Cuiabá Airport and flights home

Tuesday, August 11, 2015

Pousada Rio Claro to Cuiabá Airport and flights home

Yesterday may have been our last day on the Rio Claro, but it wasn’t our last day of birding. This morning after breakfast we bused and birded the exit road on our way back to the Transpantaneira. This is where we got our best looks at Purplish Jays, a Red-crested Finch, the Red-billed Scythebill, as well as my favorites the Guira Cuckoos with their cuckoo hairdoos.
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While we were standing on a shaded side road, two Collared Peccaries crossed the end of the road. Danilee wondered why they didn’t have little saddles on them re the one at the pousada. Ha. 

Last night when we traveled back and forth on this road looking for eyeshine, there was a Cebu cow lying in the ditch with one back leg deep in the mud. We were all glad to see that the cow wasn’t there this morning. It looked pretty weak and resigned last night. I hope it was rescued and did not die.

On the way up the last 25 miles or so of the Transpantaneira we were stopped at a pousada when we were alerted that there was a Giant Anteater up the road. You have never seen 9 people board a bus so fast. Below is Pierre Henkart’s photo of the animal. Marcelo told us that when a Giant Anteater sleeps it rests its head back along its side and covers itself with its thick blanket-like tail, creating a neat shaggy package. Photo below was taken by Pierre Henkart.

Below is Marcelo’s report to ebird of the birds we sighted this morning. You can see that it is much more extensive than mine and does not include the Red-crested Finch or the Guira Cuckoo, which I’m pretty sure we did see this morning. But, Marcelo is the expert and I am the greyhair trying to reconstruct the events and sightings based on scribbles in a small journal. Suffice it to say that we saw all of the birds and animals I have mentioned . . . but many may not be on the day or at the time I ascribe to them.

When we passed under the Transpantaneira sign, we got off the bus for a photo session. One of Marcelo's  friends volunteered to take our cameras and take a group photo.

L to R: Dan Watkins, Binghamton, NY; Danalee and Pierre Henkart, Anapolis, MD; Kathy Burkhart, Miami FL; Susan Walker (moi, daahlinks), Stillwater, OK; Jan Huebner (in pink), Orlando, FL; Marcelo Padua (kneeling); Luis our super bus driver; Erkki before Heini Holopeinen, Finland--Those are Hornero nests atop the sign.

When we got to Cuiabá, we ate lunch for the third time at the great weigh-your-plate buffet across from the airport. Then Marcelo saw to it that we were all checked in for our flights and we said our fond goodbyes to this excellent birder and guide. I tipped Marcelo; had tipped Luis this morning after breakfast. Tips are included in the tour fare but if one feels the guide or staff member is exceptional, which both of these men were, participants may also tip at their discretion. I always tip because I remember how welcome such tips were when I was staffing for America by Bicycle.

Jan and I were on the same 3:40 pm GOL flight to Sao Paulo. We thought we’d stick together in the Sao Paulo airport and have dinner together as Jan’s flight did not leave until midnight and mine not until 9 pm, but I had not taken into account the one-hour jump to EST time, so we parted company after an hour or so, and I hoofed it to my flight . . . which was just boarding when I got to the gate. I arrived at the Tulsa Airport at 9:16 am the next day, and so ended one of the most exciting experiences I’ve had. Thank you Field Guides and Marcelo!

Click on this link to view Marcelo's complete triplist with some photos: http://fieldguides.com/triplists/jag15.html