One of the gateways to the Pantanal: Piuval, a ~40 sq. mi working cattle ranch that doubles as a wildlife corridor.  Much of the land submerges in water for part of the year, but during the dry season, the water supply shrinks to a smaller wetland called Baia Piuval. Along the bumpy ride there, our driver spotted a camouflaged great potoo roosting in a distant tree.

 

We reached the wetland just after the sun set, masked by haze from the devastating wildfires raging across the Pantanal and surrounding regions of the Amazon.  Wading birds like the jabiru stork, cocoi heron, and roseate spoonbill flock here to feed on aquatic life.  Even a black skimmer flew by, its specialized beak skimming the water’s surface, feeling for dinner.  As the sky darkened, low-flying band-tailed nighthawks came out of hiding, fluttering their wings and turning on a dime to catch tiny insects by the water.