Photo Gallery
Photos by David Fisher
Our week in the Amazon of Venezuela is based at Junglaven, a remote camp that we have to reach by private charter plane, landing on the airstrip adjacent to the camp.
Upon arrival we are welcomed by our host and camp builder, Captain Lorenzo Rodriguez.
The central building at the camp is the dining room which contains the kitchen and lounge downstairs and two rooms upstairs.
Most rooms are basic; private rondavels with cool water showers (refreshing in this climate) and a flush toilet.
Having settled in we quickly make the acquaintance of the local birds around the camp such as this Green-tailed Jacamar…
…and this Amazonian Umbrellabird.
Most of our time at the camp is spent walking a jeep track through the forest near the camp in search of such Amazonian birds as this Plain-brown Woodcreeper which associates with ant swarms…
…this Great Jacamar, whose loud mournful whistle carries far through the forest…
…this Rusty-breasted Nunlet, that sits quiet and motionless beside the track avoiding easy detection…
…and such local specialities as this Yellow-crested Manakin.
The birds of the camp are still only poorly known and during our 2004 tour we added three new species of raptor to the camp list including this Black-faced Hawk…
…and this Tiny Hawk.
Primates are also present in the forest, the most audible being the Red Howler Monkey which also puts in an appearance from time to time.
On one day we take a boat up the Ventuari River in search of species that don’t occur around the camp itself…
…such as this Pied Plover.
Every day we take a break after lunch during the hottest part of the day, which is a good opportunity to rest, or to study the abundant wildlife around the camp…
…such as the butterflies that gather to take in salts from the adjacent river bank.
And after five nights at the camp, the charter planes return for us and we fly back to ‘civilization’ suitably invigorated by our time in the ‘jungle’.