Pantanal, Part One

I am soooo glad that I changed my plans to include the Pantanal. I loved it!  Ok, so it was hot, hot, hot, but totally worth the hikes.  I actually hiked several times in 46C heat.  And it wasn't a dry heat, although by my last full day there, it did start to have a dry breeze - right before the awesome thunderstorms kicked in that night.  And boy did the land (and animals) need some H20.

I absolutely must return in the future - but in April when the land is flooded (only to 1 meter max) and you can cruise around in a boat to see the wildlife (or on horseback if you aren't allergic like me).

My only regret?  I didn't get my camera out fast enough for the best picture ever of a woodpecker.  It was so beautiful!

Mated pair of hyacinth macaws:

Can you spot the bird?

Toucan.  Looking for his fruit loops?

The famous bird of the Pantanal - the Jabiru Stork.  These two don't look like they like each other, but really they are mated for life!  Maybe they just had a disagreement.

The Greater Rhea, aka Ema, and as you probably guessed, a family member of the Ostrich and Emu.  Interestingly, the moms abandon their eggs and daddy there becomes a single dad!

Capybara with some Caiman crocs around it.

Caiman:

Single dad again: