Wordless Wednesday
Birds
Partytime – At the Fishmarket!
Before sailing with our ship, Cachalote, we went to the fishmarket in Puerto Ayora. On our way, we were constantly reminded of Darwin and his famous finches, and how repulsed he was by the marine iguanas, famously referring to them in his journal as “imps of darkness.” Personally I must say I love them both! I also love their surroundings and the way they exquisitely blend in…More than once I almost trod on them. Juan, our naturalist guide, was constantly warning us not to touch any animals here.
Marine iguana
Darwin recognized that the differrences in their beaks depends on their different food sources
When we finally reached the fishmarket, we got a full blown show the next half hour!
The fish (and bird…)market in Puerto Ayora
On the roof, waiting for the right moment…
Something fell under that box…let me…
The left brown pelican has lost his upper beak – I wonder how he managed…
The Great Frigate birds are tough guys who always steal their dinners…
If or When you finally get your hands on a piece of fish – run!
Always aware of the importance of their precious islands – do not catch the wrong fish!
Keep the Galápagos Islands the way they are – serene and unpolluted. 200 000 tourists a year visit them. Maybe Ecuador has to slow down a bit to save this treasure for the future?
Amazonas – Almost Airborne!
The last days at Sacha Lodge, we spent most of the time 40 metres up – above the canopy of the rainforest. In fact, ”Sacha” means ”forest” in Quichua, the local language here.
The biodiversity is extremely rich in the Amazon, and the list of birds sighted at Sacha, for example, is at 605 species – in an area of 5000 acres. 12 species of monkeys and plants somewhere in the thousands. Trees are about 100 species per acre – no wonder my treeloving spirit soared in the canopy!
This walk offered splendid views of the canopy and of the birds living here
Luis and Pablo spotted everything of interest
most of the birds seen had to be through the tube, but some came really close. Blue Dacnis, female.
Paradise Tanager – maybe 15 fluttering neonlights all over this tree!
Climbing down again and walking back to the lodge – Luis Andi shared some of his extensive knowledge of the medicinal plants in the rainforest. We had noticed him being an excellent scout, moving soundlessly on the narrow paths, but also an excellent birdman – he knew about 400 birds (and could sound like most of them!) I do not have to say he was born and bred in the Amazon. 90% of Sacha’s staff is made up of locals from Ecuador’s Amazon region.
Pablo listening to Luis’ stories
This butterfly would not leave my arm…finally I had another guest to handle him. But some ten minutes later, he found me again!
Iron palm or walking palm
The mushrooms were lovely, these looked like flowers…
Indeed they were all heavenly small and exquisite!
We were all very impressed – to say the least – of our guides’ knowledge. There was not one single question about birds or animals that Pablo could not answer, and Luis and him were the perfect couple to guide us through the secrets of the tropical rainforest.
But, now we were extremely hungry…knowing that a delicious lunch was waiting back at our lodge. We would need it before the afternoon and night adventures.
Thursday Thoughts – To Paradise and Back Again
So, I have been to Paradise – and back again. From Sweden to Amsterdam and then to Quito. After a couple of interesting days in beautiful world heritage, Quito Old Town, we flew down to the Amazon basin, Coca.
From Coca 1 1/2hour by motorized canoe on the Napo River …
Then 30 minutes hiking on jungle boardwalk before the last bit in a paddle canoe.
There was a slight drizzle, but we saw an abundance of flowers and birds already on this short way before reaching the lodge.
At Sacha Lodge we were welcomed by our hosts. The Lodge had rooms for 65 guests, but at the moment we were only 13-14. Lots of space and attention from our excellent guides.
Our own lodge was incredibly fresh and simple, just as in my dreams – but even better!
Spacey and open – in fact no walls on one side, so both shower and bedroom were open to the jungle. The only thing to separate us from the real world was a net, with all the sounds of the rainforest and its inhabitants just two steps away…I tell you, I have never slept better in my entire life. Birds, insects and howler monkeys feasting!
I remember staying in a clay and straw hut in the Nepalese jungle of Chitwan, in 1986, with giant spiders covering the ceiling and lizards and rats owning the mud floor. I did not sleep anything at all…even if I was young and brave.
A short canoe ride on the little lake Pilchicocha – Stinky Turkey, the most typical of the Amazon birds
Getting dark…but oh, the sounds of thousands and the beauty of the water
Back at the lodge for some food
We saw flycatchers and kingfishers among other birds, and in the waters below our breakfast house dwells….a cajman called Lucy!
Tarantula – less adorable
On the night walk we met many animals…many crawlers (millipeeds too), possums and some spiders of gigantic size. One of the The tarantulas was a pink toed giant sitting high up under the roof of the butterfly house. We also saw a wolf spider about the same size…Crickets, grasshoppers and the world’s biggest ant – a bullet ant – who has got the worst bite in the world with terrible pain for 24 hours. ”Watch out where you put your hands” was the advice. They might walk on the same rails or twigs you happen to use…
My favourite was the charming tree frog of course…!
This was our first day at Sacha Lodge – and I just Loved every minute of it. For the next day we were promised parrots, weavers, a women’s collective, curare, arrows and local cooking, canoe through narrow rainforest waterways and maybe…anaconda.
Good night to our extremely initiated and knowledgeable guides, Pablo and Luis.
Thursday Thoughts – Ama la Vida!
Ecuador Ama la Vida – and they do. And they make us, all visitors, do. And we love them, the Ecuadorians and their astonishing country and nature.
I came back a couple of days ago, but in my heart I am still there – and I will never leave. On my first day in Sweden I immediately caught a severe cold, but still had to go to work. Yesterday was my last working day before Christmas.
So, where to begin, trying to explain that my childhood dream has come true? That this journey was the greatest adventure of my life? But we all have different dreams…
As a 7-year-old girl I first borrowed a book about the remote Galapagos Islands, and learned there was a place on earth where animals and humans lived in peace with each other. The animals were not afraid of humans, and you could sit right next to them and we could talk to each other as true friends. The little girl marvelled and nourrished a dream in her heart, that someday and somehow she would travel to these enchanted islands…
After this day she devoured everything about the Galapagos Islands…and later, on TV, she listened to David Attenborough and …her heart and mind was set. About then, she also decided to one day walk in the jungle, listening to all the sounds in the dark night, in the REAL jungle, the Amazonas. I do not think she realized the possibility of these two dreams once coming true within the same country, within the same year and the same month.
To a little girl who loved animals more than people, and who, in fact, in many ways still prefers animals to people – such a journey was the ultimate dream.
On this fantastic journey, I met some astonishing people as well…people I never will forget. They enriched my life and will hopefully continue to do so. The artist Jane Tomlinson and her photographing husband Moth Clark are two extraordinary gifted people. Their deep feelings for, and knowledge of, the natural world are genuine and vibrant. Moth’s photos are outstanding and Jane’s paintings as vibrant as life itself.
I received the permission from Jane herself to use one of her paintings in this post. I love starlings, so this was a natural choice. Now I am looking forward to seeing more of Moth’s photos from the Galapagos Islands and some lovely paintings by Jane. Ama la Vida – easily done when you see Jane’s artwork! The art of Jane Tomlinson.
Thank you so much for visiting, and waiting – I will be posting more when I am recovered!
I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Ann-Christine
Cee’s B&W Photo Challenge: Liquid
Thursday Thoughts
Finally the colours are coming…but I guess they will not stay for long. Too much wind and rain – even hail. And two days ago I saw the lapwings like pearls thrown over the water, preparing to return south.
In the early morning light the heron was almost one with the sun.
And towards noon, the horses grazing in a complete painting.
A glorious day!
Ansó and the Vultures of Foz de Arbaiun
A gallery of pictures from the little village Ansó – isolated for many years, but rather recently opened up to the world.
After a couple of hours on a narrow, winding road, we finally reached
…Ansó
A charming little mountain village
…with narrow, cobbled streets
We found a great bar with absolutely fresh appetizers and tasty beer
And everyday life went on
…just like the water running through the narrow gorges
On our way back to our hotel, we passed Foz de Arbaiun, a narrow gorge made by the river Salazar, 400 m down. As usual, click to enlarge. (Sometimes needed twice)
On the cliff sides, many vultures have found their homes. We saw at least a dozen coming in. Here they are free to live – nobody can touch them.
Unfortunately we had not brought any pair of binoculars – but the flight of the majestic vultures was still great to watch. We did not see any of the other species.
WPC: Rare
The Kea, a smart and rare bird from New Zealand, known among other things for its demolishing of cars…
CFFC: Hands
For Cee this week – hands. Very useful tools. Not only for showing love or affection.
They might pinch things from you when you least expect it…
And they can hold the most delicate things and creatures without hurting them…
And, they can also work fast and swiftly make the tastiest edible things…
Hands are needed.
They work well in many sayings and expressions as well: ”Give me a hand”, ”All hands on deck” etc. I believe ”hands” are useful in most languages. A Swedish example is ” Ge mig ett handtag” ( Give me some help here). How is it used in your language?
Leya 
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