He's number 4 for us, a great way to begin our last full day in the Pantanal!

 

A large handsome male....

 

I love the white spots behind his ears!

 

Soon after we arrived, he got up from his sandy bed and casually walked into the river...

 

...for a drink.

 

What a magnificent animal!!!

This is my last jaguar photograph of the trip...we did see another jaguar briefly that afternoon, but not well enough to get a decent shot.

Five jaguars in 2 days on the Cuiaba, we were very happy!

 

We may not have seen any more jaguars, but we still had a fabulous day looking for them and meanwhile seeing plenty of other wildlife.

For elegance and beauty, it's hard to beat the huge cocoi herons...

 

My what huge feet you have, Mr. Jacana!  

 

Great black hawk...

 

Pretty little cuckoo...

 

Marcelo stopped the boat so we could watch another playful group of giant river otters.

She's caught herself a nice catfish...

 

...and no, she's not going to share!

 

Praying for her meal?  Then crunch, crunch!

 

Wet capybaras...

 

We saw capybaras swimming several times, often a sign that a jaguar is near.  The capybaras try to find safety in the water....

 

...although its not very safe in the river either with these fellas cruising around.

 

We saw lots of these gorgeous flycatchers...plenty of bugs for them to eat!

 

This bird is a donacobius, from the mockingbird family.  Check out that eye!

Yes, we do love birds!  And this is a birdwatcher's paradise!

 

We were in the Pantanal at the end of the dry season.  You can see how much the water level changes...

 

Poor Marcelo was chilly...it was only 90 degrees that afternoon.

(What a creepy bandanna...)

 

This riverbank is an anaconda condo...those holes are homes for the largest snakes in the world.  Several times we cruised close to check them out, but the only anaconda we saw was the one being eaten by that caiman the day before.  Oh, I would have LOVED to see a real live anaconda...perhaps I will have to go back for that very reason!

 

The best traveling partner...Kim loves our adventures!

 

Yet another family group of giant river otters.  I never get tired of watching them!  What an unusual fish he has in his mouth!

 

An otter wrestling match...

 

You can see how big these animals are, growing up to 6 feet long!

 

A pair of black skimmers...

 

Another photo of my favorite heron, the capped heron with his wild hairs and blue beak...

 

Jabiru stork scratching his knee...huge strange-looking birds...

 

A lovely plover....

 

...and two sunbitterns that don't even look real. 

So MANY fantastic birds!  God's creativity never ceases to amaze me!

 

Several times I had to pinch myself to be sure I was really here, an Indiana girl in the wild wetlands of Brazil's Pantanal, savoring yet...

...another day on the Cuiaba River.