Venezuela - Part 3 The Llanos (Raptors and Mammals)

My last post was getting too big so I saved the raptors and Mammals of the Llanos (Hato Pinero) for this post. I may as well get this boring bit out of the way so you can watch the raptor fest unfold...lol

"Jaguar".

We left the lodge early to catch a boat for a planned river trip. We had  stopped at a couple of lagoons along the way, and just as the light picked up our Guide and driver shouted "Jaguar", a large cat quickly crossed the track into the trees. I got out of the car and quickly managed to get the bins on it as it strolled out of sight into the dense vegetation.... Very happy! ....... not a chance, because we turned around to get back into the car when we were confronted with this.....

Please click on the Jaguar - she really is beautiful

Stuff of dreams.....

Daylight and a 100ft away stands before us this magnificant Jaguar, excitement, deep breath hold the camera steady...bingo

One good shot was all I needed, it turned away and trotted back up the track that we had just come down, a few more shots for the memory , and a 2 or 3 minute chance in a lifetime encounter.

Bring on the birds

The Llanos turned out to be a raptor fest, large magestic birds of prey often showing very well and often being more than obliging for photo opportunities.

Savanah Hawk

No need to perch in a tree when it can sit comfortably along the trackside, even allowing me the chance to wind down the window for this shot

Crane Hawk

Common around the lagoons, often walking along the pool edges, however on this occassion a pair visited our ranch building and gave me a very intimate encounter.

The male looking very menacing

female

a real head turner

As vultures go the Black Vulture is quite a pretty species, we encountered them in most locations but on the Llanos they were very co-operative and often perched on fence post close by to a lagoon

Black-Colored Hawk

Oi dont shout -Not sure if he was actually shouting at us, makes for a great shot though

Great Black-Hawk

A simply magnificant bird.

We had a couple of Owl sightings while on the Llanos however after an evening on the tracks doing some spotlighting we arrived back at the ranch to find this Great Horned Owl sat on our roof, unfortunatly my camera work really doesnt do this bird the justice it deserves

Suprisingly the Crested Caracaras didnt give me many photo opportunites as they were often flying at great speed

Roadside Hawk

Not always on the Roadside

Juv Great Black Hawk

Laughing Falcon
This was probably the only species that we needed a scope for and my only sighting of the trip

Yellow Headed Caracara

Overall as majestic, proud and spectacular the other raptors are I think this species became my fav. The Yellow Headed Caracara were in large numbers in and around the ranch building. They were almost friendly .... very charasmatic and certainly fun to watch as they fed on the floor and preened on walls, roofs, posts.... everywhere really.

it wasnt just about Jaguars and birds of prey

Spectacled Cayman

it has a cunning look of

"Lets Dance" or "Dont mess with me"

peek a boo

Green Iguana

if I had known how quick these things move rest assured I would not have been on my stomach taking this image!

Weeping Capuchin

Red Howler Monkey

Crab-eating Fox

we were lucky enough to see a large family together

Capybara

and a funny looking tree....

Great Potoo

This was certainly one of my target birds for the trip and I never imagined we would find one 10ft away while sat ontop of a truck ... no scope or even binoculars needed for this one. I did laugh to my self once we left when I figured that I took 30 shots of a bird that was never going to move and while the truck was staitionary I was not going to move.... 30 images all the same..... but give me that opportunity again anytime!

of course it was a real shame we ever had to leave

If your ever stuck for a place to visit and really cant decide where think about the Llanos in Venezuela