Expedition: Pantanal - In memory of my Grandfather (SERIES)

**Otavio** · 28th September 2013, 11:16 AM

Originally Posted by Stinky

Great set. Wonderful tribute to your Grandfather. Keep the shots coming!

Thanks, Steve. I will post more images soon. Cheers!

**Otavio** · 28th September 2013, 12:23 PM

Hi. Today, I am adding some images of a Capybara. This is the largest rodent in the world, weighing over 65 Kg (150 pounds). They are calm and nice animals (maybe that's why the jaguar likes them so much!

). This one allowed us to get pretty close to it:

12 - Close up

Expedition: Pantanal - In memory of my Grandfather (SERIES)

13 - A lovely animal...

14 - ... and an excellent swimmer!

**Brownbear** · 28th September 2013, 02:24 PM

He's gorgeous, as are your photos of him... Wonderful detail.

**Otavio** · 28th September 2013, 05:36 PM

Originally Posted by Christina S

He's gorgeous, as are your photos of him... Wonderful detail.

Thanks, Christina! I appreciate your feedback.

**jprzybyla** · 28th September 2013, 09:50 PM

Otavio, my sympathies on the death of your grandfather. Your wonderful images will be a remembrance and a tribute to him. Good work, nice images. Thank you for sharing.

**Otavio** · 29th September 2013, 02:06 AM

Originally Posted by jprzybyla

Otavio, my sympathies on the death of your grandfather. Your wonderful images will be a remembrance and a tribute to him. Good work, nice images. Thank you for sharing.

Hello, Joe. Glad to see you liked the images. There are some herons and many other stuff to come (yet to be processed!). Thanks for passing by. Cheers!

**Brownbear** · 29th September 2013, 02:13 AM

Hi Otavio,

I too am very sorry to hear that your Grandfather passed away, and wish you the fondest memories of him always... No doubt he was very proud of your work.

I'm looking forward to seeing your herons, and all of your images.

**Otavio** · 29th September 2013, 09:10 AM

Originally Posted by Christina S

Hi Otavio,

I too am very sorry to hear that your Grandfather passed away, and wish you the fondest memories of him always... No doubt he was very proud of your work.

I'm looking forward to seeing your herons, and all of your images.

Thanks for the kind words, Christina. And the herons are about to come! Cheers...

**Otavio** · 29th September 2013, 11:29 AM

Dear fellows, today I am adding some herons. Pantanal is a sanctuary of birds. As I mentioned in the first post, I was in a boat and a bit distant from most of the subjects. I shot some other heron species, but could not get good results on some of them. I wished I had a 600mm fast lens with me! Hope you like them, anyway! Cheers...

15 - Great Blue Heron

16 - Ritual!

17 - Touching the water...

18 - Great Blue Heron in flight

19 - The Rufescent Tiger Heron

20 - Another Great Blue Heron

21 - Getting ready!

22

23

24

25

**Brownbear** · 29th September 2013, 01:08 PM

Hi Otavio,

All are beautiful, #16, #17 and #18 are my favourites, and I think #17 is absolutely exquisite.

**Otavio** · 29th September 2013, 05:40 PM

Originally Posted by Christina S

Hi Otavio,

All are beautiful, #16, #17 and #18 are my favourites, and I think #17 is absolutely exquisite.

Hi, Christina! Thanks for viewing and commenting. Your feedback is always appreciated!

Kindest regards,

**Kaye Leggett** · 29th September 2013, 05:51 PM

Welcome back. It has been worth the wait for these photos - all lovely. I particularly like the Caracara and the dead tree....it has the welcoming look that t may be dead but its not useless.

**Otavio** · 29th September 2013, 08:47 PM

Originally Posted by kaye leggett

Welcome back. It has been worth the wait for these photos - all lovely. I particularly like the Caracara and the dead tree....it has the welcoming look that t may be dead but its not useless.

Hi Kaye. You´re right about the dead tree. It was difficult to find it empty to make that shot! Most of the time it was occupied by cormorants, parrots, hawks, doves, etc...

Thanks for commenting.

**Otavio** · 30th September 2013, 11:23 PM

Hi. During this trip, I had the chance to record this unique moment: an Ariranha (Pteronura Brasiliensis), or Giant Otter, grabbing and eating a Piranha! Unfortunately it was not right in front of me and we could not drive the boat close to them as fast as I would like to, so I had to crop heavily. Anyway, I think the images below are a reasonable record of this wonderful moment! The Ariranha (giant otter) is the world's biggest otter, reaching 100 pounds! They are pretty common in Pantanal, although the specie is considered EN (endangered). I saw many groups of them, eatings lots of fish or having sunbath at the river shore! The 3 in the first picture are a differente group from the other in the water.

My father told me one stole him a hooked peacock bass once in the past. He just cought the fish and, before he could reel the line, an ariranha grabbed the fish out of the hook and started eating it in front of my father!

. Looks like fisherman's story, but, coming from my dad, I know it's true!

Hope you like this wonderful animal!

26 - Sunbath!

27 - Terrific swimming predators!

28 - It WAS a piranha

29 - Predator's look

30 - The other two were looking at us (I wonder if they were asking us to give them a fish!)

**Brownbear** · 1st October 2013, 01:39 PM

Thanks for sharing these Otavio. It is truly a pleasure to experience your trip through your photos. These are indeed special. I adore #29....

**Otavio** · 1st October 2013, 09:58 PM

Originally Posted by Christina S

Thanks for sharing these Otavio. It is truly a pleasure to experience your trip through your photos. These are indeed special. I adore #29....

Christina, I am really glad that you are following the thread and that these images are conveying some sort of fun to you! This was a very special trip to me. There are still more pics to come (Cayman, Jabiru, landscapes, birds, etc).

**Brownbear** · 2nd October 2013, 03:23 PM

I dream of visiting Brazil, and now Pantanal, and I adore wildlife and your photos, so yes, I'm thoroughly enjoying your thread...

Originally Posted by Otavio

Christina, I am really glad that you are following the thread and that these images are conveying some sort of fun to you! This was a very special trip to me. There are still more pics to come (Cayman, Jabiru, landscapes, birds, etc).