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Birds of the Cayman Islands and Pantanal, Brazil

Posted: February 1st, 2015, 2:56 pm
by Steve Barten
In February I went to Georgetown, Grand Cayman, to teach a week-long course at St. Matthews University. Every night we ate dinner at a different restaurant on the water watching the sunset over the ocean.
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Here are some of the birds we saw. Look for my EOY post in the main forum for my photos of the herps of the Caymans, including Blue Iguanas.

Frigate Bird
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Cayman Parrot
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White-crowned Pigeon
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We flew to Cayman Brac for one night.

Brown Booby
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On The Brac there are limestone bluffs that contain shallow caves.
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Native Barn Owls live in some of the caves but they are very shy and difficult to approach.
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In September I visited the Pantanal of Brazil. Look for my EOY post in the main forum for the herps (frogs, red-footed tortoise, a few snakes), and in the mammals forum for the mammals we saw (jaguars, giant river otters, giant anteaters, tapirs, capybaras, howler monkeys).

We saw far more birds in Brazil than herps or mammals, over 150 species without trying very hard.

Most magnificent were the Hyacinth Macaws.
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Red and Green Macaws, rarely seen.
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Yellow collared Macaws
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White-eyed Parakeet
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Nanday Parakeet
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Black Skimmers
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Rhea
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Toco Toucans
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Lineated Woodpecker
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Cocoi Heron
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Ferruginous Pygmy Owl
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Jabiru Stork nest with Monk Parakeet colony in the basement
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Jabiru Storks
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Monk Parakeets
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White Woodpecker
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Chicken-sized Chaco Chachalaca, with cleavage.
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A Collared Forest Falcon nailed a Chaco Chachalaca in midair right next to our truck.
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Great Potoo, a nightjar camouflaged to look like a tree branch during the day.
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Chestnut-eared Aracari
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Rufous-tailed Jacamar
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Black-capped Donocobius
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Jabiru Stork
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Amazon Kingfisher
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Blue-crowned Trogon
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Black-collared hawk
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Chestnut-bellied Guan
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Large-billed Terns
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Southern Lapwing. Note the carpal spurs, used in combat and defense.
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Yellow-rumped Caciques
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Southern Screamers
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Neotropic Cormorant and armored catfish
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Campo Flicker
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Wild Muscovy Duck
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Red-legged Seriema, convergent evolution with Africa’s Secretary Bird.
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White-faced Whistling Ducks
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We also visited Iguazu Falls.
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Scaly-headed Parrot
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Red-breasted Toucan
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Green-headed Tanager
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Swallow Tanager
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Thanks for looking.

Re: Birds of the Cayman Islands and Pantanal, Brazil

Posted: February 2nd, 2015, 8:26 pm
by PrimitiveTim
I'm not a bird person but this is insane! I didn't realize barn owls lived in the islands.

Re: Birds of the Cayman Islands and Pantanal, Brazil

Posted: February 4th, 2015, 8:42 am
by Roki
Again, great post. Your photography in incredible with the birds.

Re: Birds of the Cayman Islands and Pantanal, Brazil

Posted: February 5th, 2015, 7:05 pm
by Crimson King
Fantastic! Thanks for posting this.

:Mark

Re: Birds of the Cayman Islands and Pantanal, Brazil

Posted: February 6th, 2015, 9:47 am
by monklet
Truly SPECTACULAR birds and bird photography!!! :crazyeyes: :shock: :thumb:

Re: Birds of the Cayman Islands and Pantanal, Brazil

Posted: March 10th, 2015, 2:38 pm
by Noah M
Such bright and beautiful colors! I love it.

Re: Birds of the Cayman Islands and Pantanal, Brazil

Posted: June 24th, 2015, 12:51 pm
by mothman
Steve,

Your avian photography is amazing. Were you on a guided trip to the Pantanal?