Unfortunately, at this moment Venezuela is still suffering a serious economic crisis which makes it dangerous to travel around. The official travel advice is negative. I was travelling there in 2015 and although we noticed some tension it was still possible. It is a shame because for nature lovers this is a place to have high on the list.
Los Llanos the hidden Gem of South America is a large flat region which becomes shallowly flooded during the wet season and then progressively drain and dry out during the dry season. There are a great number of different (water) birds present at Los Llanos, but undoubtedly the signature bird of Los Llanos is the Scarlet Ibis. The Scarlet Ibis inhabit the Orinoco River Delta for part of the year but migrate to Los Llanos as the dry season progresses. Although the birds of Los Llanos are a major attraction the animals provide a real additional interest and should not be overlooked. The bizarre Giant Anteater with its huge brush-like tail, the many Spectacled Caiman and the Green Anaconda, a truly massive snake growing to more than 8.8 m in length and 227 kg of weight, are all worthy of attention and interest. In the rivers, it is also possible to see the Pink River Dolphins, although they barely break the surface of the water to breathe which makes photography nearly impossible and the handsome Giant River Otter with its inquisitive nature.
A visit to Los Llanos should be combined with trips to other parts of the beautiful country of Venezuela. The cloud forests on the slopes of the Andes contain myriad Hummingbirds, Quetzals and Trogons, while the Paramo, above 4000 m altitude, is a fantastic landscape, which, at the right season, is covered with flowers. The mountain rivers flowing down from the high Andes provide the ideal habitat for the elusive Torrent Duck with its unbelievable ability to navigate the turbulent waters. Venezuela also has a lek for the strange Cock-of-the-Rock where twice a day without fail 15-20 male birds display in an amazing and noisy performance. The arduous trek to the lek is well worth the effort. As a high point to any trip a visit to see the Harpy Eagle at a nest site is a must. Venezuela is probably the most dependable location in South America to see this massive raptor which feeds on monkeys, sloths and armadillos.
To complete the spectrum of habitats a stay in the Orinoco River Delta provides an opportunity to see true rainforest viewed with ease from a boat on the main rivers or tributaries.
Below a selection of photographs taken during this trip. Hovering over the image you will see a toolbar at the bottom where you can start a slideshow if you wish to do so.
If you want to see more photographs have a look on the following pages
Venezuela 2015
Amazon-Tree-Boa.jpg
http://www.birdphotography.eu/images/Trips/Venezuela2015/Amazon-Tree-Boa.jpg
American-Kestrel.jpg
http://www.birdphotography.eu/images/Trips/Venezuela2015/American-Kestrel.jpg
Aplomado-Falcon.jpg
http://www.birdphotography.eu/images/Trips/Venezuela2015/Aplomado-Falcon.jpg
Barn-Owl.jpg
http://www.birdphotography.eu/images/Trips/Venezuela2015/Barn-Owl.jpg
Bi-coloured-Wren.jpg
http://www.birdphotography.eu/images/Trips/Venezuela2015/Bi-coloured-Wren.jpg
Black-and-White-Owl.jpg
http://www.birdphotography.eu/images/Trips/Venezuela2015/Black-and-White-Owl.jpg
Black-collared-Hawk.jpg
http://www.birdphotography.eu/images/Trips/Venezuela2015/Black-collared-Hawk.jpg
Black-necked-Stilt.jpg
http://www.birdphotography.eu/images/Trips/Venezuela2015/Black-necked-Stilt.jpg
Black-Skimmer.jpg
http://www.birdphotography.eu/images/Trips/Venezuela2015/Black-Skimmer.jpg
Buf-necked-Ibis.jpg
http://www.birdphotography.eu/images/Trips/Venezuela2015/Buf-necked-Ibis.jpg
Capybara.jpg
http://www.birdphotography.eu/images/Trips/Venezuela2015/Capybara.jpg
Chestnut-fronted-Parakeet.jpg
http://www.birdphotography.eu/images/Trips/Venezuela2015/Chestnut-fronted-Parakeet.jpg
Collared-Plover.jpg
http://www.birdphotography.eu/images/Trips/Venezuela2015/Collared-Plover.jpg
Crested-Caracara.jpg
http://www.birdphotography.eu/images/Trips/Venezuela2015/Crested-Caracara.jpg
Crimson-headed-Woodpecker.jpg
http://www.birdphotography.eu/images/Trips/Venezuela2015/Crimson-headed-Woodpecker.jpg
Crimson-hooded-Manakin.jpg
http://www.birdphotography.eu/images/Trips/Venezuela2015/Crimson-hooded-Manakin.jpg
Eastern-Meadowlark.jpg
http://www.birdphotography.eu/images/Trips/Venezuela2015/Eastern-Meadowlark.jpg
Giant-Anteater.jpg
http://www.birdphotography.eu/images/Trips/Venezuela2015/Giant-Anteater.jpg
Green-Iguana.jpg
http://www.birdphotography.eu/images/Trips/Venezuela2015/Green-Iguana.jpg
Green-Violetear.jpg
http://www.birdphotography.eu/images/Trips/Venezuela2015/Green-Violetear.jpg
Harpy-Eagle.jpg
http://www.birdphotography.eu/images/Trips/Venezuela2015/Harpy-Eagle.jpg
Hoatzin.jpg
http://www.birdphotography.eu/images/Trips/Venezuela2015/Hoatzin.jpg
Laughing-Falcon.jpg
http://www.birdphotography.eu/images/Trips/Venezuela2015/Laughing-Falcon.jpg
Lazuline-Sabrewing.jpg
http://www.birdphotography.eu/images/Trips/Venezuela2015/Lazuline-Sabrewing.jpg
Little-Cuckoo.jpg
http://www.birdphotography.eu/images/Trips/Venezuela2015/Little-Cuckoo.jpg
Maguarie-Stork.jpg
http://www.birdphotography.eu/images/Trips/Venezuela2015/Maguarie-Stork.jpg
Orange-throated-Sunangel.jpg
http://www.birdphotography.eu/images/Trips/Venezuela2015/Orange-throated-Sunangel.jpg
Orinoco-Goose.jpg
http://www.birdphotography.eu/images/Trips/Venezuela2015/Orinoco-Goose.jpg
Paramo.jpg
http://www.birdphotography.eu/images/Trips/Venezuela2015/Paramo.jpg
Pink-River-Dolphin.jpg
http://www.birdphotography.eu/images/Trips/Venezuela2015/Pink-River-Dolphin.jpg
Red-and-Green-Macaw.jpg
http://www.birdphotography.eu/images/Trips/Venezuela2015/Red-and-Green-Macaw.jpg
Red-capped-Cardinal.jpg
http://www.birdphotography.eu/images/Trips/Venezuela2015/Red-capped-Cardinal.jpg
Red-Howler-Monkey.jpg
http://www.birdphotography.eu/images/Trips/Venezuela2015/Red-Howler-Monkey.jpg
Ringed-Kingfisher.jpg
http://www.birdphotography.eu/images/Trips/Venezuela2015/Ringed-Kingfisher.jpg
Rufescent-Tiger-Heron.jpg
http://www.birdphotography.eu/images/Trips/Venezuela2015/Rufescent-Tiger-Heron.jpg
Rufous-collared-Sparrow.jpg
http://www.birdphotography.eu/images/Trips/Venezuela2015/Rufous-collared-Sparrow.jpg
Rufous-tailed-Jacamar.jpg
http://www.birdphotography.eu/images/Trips/Venezuela2015/Rufous-tailed-Jacamar.jpg
Savanna-Hawk.jpg
http://www.birdphotography.eu/images/Trips/Venezuela2015/Savanna-Hawk.jpg
Scaled-Dove.jpg
http://www.birdphotography.eu/images/Trips/Venezuela2015/Scaled-Dove.jpg
Scarlet-Ibis.jpg
http://www.birdphotography.eu/images/Trips/Venezuela2015/Scarlet-Ibis.jpg
Scenery-1.jpg
http://www.birdphotography.eu/images/Trips/Venezuela2015/Scenery-1.jpg
Slaty-fronted-Whitestar.jpg
http://www.birdphotography.eu/images/Trips/Venezuela2015/Slaty-fronted-Whitestar.jpg
Smooth-billed-Ani.jpg
http://www.birdphotography.eu/images/Trips/Venezuela2015/Smooth-billed-Ani.jpg
Sooty-capped-Hermit.jpg
http://www.birdphotography.eu/images/Trips/Venezuela2015/Sooty-capped-Hermit.jpg
Striped-Wren.jpg
http://www.birdphotography.eu/images/Trips/Venezuela2015/Striped-Wren.jpg
Sunbittern.jpg
http://www.birdphotography.eu/images/Trips/Venezuela2015/Sunbittern.jpg
Tegu-Lizzard.jpg
http://www.birdphotography.eu/images/Trips/Venezuela2015/Tegu-Lizzard.jpg
Torrent-Duck.jpg
http://www.birdphotography.eu/images/Trips/Venezuela2015/Torrent-Duck.jpg
Turkey-Vulture.jpg
http://www.birdphotography.eu/images/Trips/Venezuela2015/Turkey-Vulture.jpg
Vermillion-Flycatcher.jpg
http://www.birdphotography.eu/images/Trips/Venezuela2015/Vermillion-Flycatcher.jpg
Warao-Indians.jpg
http://www.birdphotography.eu/images/Trips/Venezuela2015/Warao-Indians.jpg
White-capped-Dipper.jpg
http://www.birdphotography.eu/images/Trips/Venezuela2015/White-capped-Dipper.jpg
Yellow-headed-Caracara.jpg
http://www.birdphotography.eu/images/Trips/Venezuela2015/Yellow-headed-Caracara.jpg
Yellow-Oriole.jpg
http://www.birdphotography.eu/images/Trips/Venezuela2015/Yellow-Oriole.jpg
Yellow-rumped-Cacique.jpg
http://www.birdphotography.eu/images/Trips/Venezuela2015/Yellow-rumped-Cacique.jpg
Yellow-tufted-Woodpecker.jpg
http://www.birdphotography.eu/images/Trips/Venezuela2015/Yellow-tufted-Woodpecker.jpg