Photographing Penguins in Antarctica

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Tuesday, 20 January 2026 - A full day on the Brazilian side of Iguazú Falls included pre-dawn access for sunrise views, extensive walks along overlooks facing the Argentine side, wildlife sightings, and detailed views of major waterfalls including Bossetti, Floriano, and the Devils Throat. The day concluded with a river-level boat excursion, sunset photography at Floriano Falls, and a late return after an extended day in the park.

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Today would be spent on the Brazilian side of Iguazú Falls. I now had a guide, and because we had all day he recommended we do sunrise and sunset on the Brazilian side. The Argentines do not allow anyone in the park before 0700 or after 1700. Up at 0330 to drive to Brazil.

Sunrise looking at Iguazú Falls from the Brazilian side into Argentina.

The staircase character of the falls consists of a two-step waterfall formed by three layers of basalt. The steps are 115 and 131 feet in height. The columnar basalt rock sequences are part of the 3,300-foot Serra Geral formation within the Paleozoic-Mesozoic Paraná Basin. The tops of these sequences are characterized by 26-33 feet of highly resistant volcanic basalt, and the contact between these layers controls the shape of the falls.
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While we were waiting for sunrise a Toco Toucan flew into a nearby tree.
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The clouds conspired to ruin sunrise, but it was still a pretty view.
A beautiful morning. You can hear the waterfalls.
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Another bird stopped by, a Plush-crested Jay. They belong to the Corvidae family, which also includes crows, ravens, and magpies.
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The view from the base of Floriano Falls looking into Argentina. The maps of the falls are terrible, many contradict each other, and no printed map was available. So, it is challenging to name even the major falls. My best guess is that this is Belgrano Falls.
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This is Floriano Falls.
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Unnamed falls on the Argentine side. The ever present rainbow from the mist created by the violent falls.
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I think these may be the Two Musketeers or the Three Musketeers on the Argentine side.
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The two falls were pretty - they might be the Two Musketeers.
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The White-eyed Parakeet is found in every mainland South American country except Chile.
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The White-eyed Parakeet congregates in flocks that may number several hundred birds. We were watching one such flock in a brushy area near the base of the Floriano Falls.
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The waterfalls on the Argentine side of the river.
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Cal relaxing at Floriano Falls overlook. There are extensive walkways at Floriano Falls allowing you to walk out between the two levels of the falls.
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Two young coatis play on a hill near the pathway on the Brazillian side of the falls. They are also known as coatimundis, which are members of the raccoon family. Coatis are omnivores, with a diet that includes fruits, insects, small animals, and eggs. They have long, flexible snouts, which they use to forage under rocks and in crevices.
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On the far right is Bossetti Falls, then Adam and Eve Falls partially concealed by vegetation, in the middle is Mendez Falls.
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Bossetti Falls - very pretty and a lot of water. This waterfall will often be photographed from different vantage.
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Bossetti Falls and Adam and Eve Falls.
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Not sure on the falls - it might be San Martín. It is pretty. Here you can see most of the falls on both sides have a two-level fall the second or lower level not always aligned with the first tier falls.
The waterfalls in Argentina.
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Two pretty falls on the second level.
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This falls is interesting, a cascade into a pool and then a waterfall.
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A group of Black Vultures are widely distributed across the Americas, ranging from the southeastern United States to central Chile. Unlike Turkey Vultures, Black Vultures have a poor sense of smell and rely on sight to find food, often following other vultures to a food source.
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Water rushing over the falls.
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The falls on the Argentine side of the Iguazú river.
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Water splashing over a rock. With all the power it is challenging to comprehend annual erosion of only a half-inch to three quarters of an inch a year.
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Beautiful slender (in comparison) falls.
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This is a view to the Devils Throat Falls in the mist over half the water goes over the Devils Throat Falls.
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Not sure if this one has a name - pretty.
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A long shot of the Devils Throat Falls massive amounts of water going over the edge.
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An unusual spider web caught my attention. A Golden Orb-weaver spider web. The web strands appear golden due to the lighting and the natural color of the silk produced by the spider.
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I then went on a river boat trip on the Iguazú River to photograph the falls at water level. I had to wait a little longer than the other tourist crowd as I wanted a "dry" ride. The typical boat ride guaranteed a drenching and many showed up in bathing suits.

Bossetti Falls is beautiful.
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I think this is the lower falls from Adam and Eve Falls on the first tier.
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A panoramic view of the falls on the Argentine side of the river.
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We moved closer to Bossetti Falls, the powerful water pounding the second tier.
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Two of the Three Musketeers - the river was very swift and full of rapids.
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It is into the Three Musketeers that the boat rides drench everyone on a typical ride. And people paid for this and seemed eager to get wet.
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Backlit falls which could be San Martín Falls.
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With all the big water falls this one stood out as it was so delicate.
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Another Argentine Black and White tegu this time eating a grasshopper. Here they are natural but in the US they are popping up as an invasive species.
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Floriano Falls is a very powerful waterfall and the one I see from my hotel on the Argentine side of the river.
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A Great Egret caught a fish while I was taking its picture. Fish are their primary diet, though they also eat frogs, snakes, and insects.
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Powerful water cascade at Floriano Falls.
The beautiful arc from the waterfall through the mist.
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I stayed at Floriano Falls through sunset. The golden light makes the water gold. The ever present mist is feathery.
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The falling water. I was trying to catch the birds flying into the falls (little black dots). I only captured one good series but should have used video.
A video showing the birds fly into the waterfall. Not very professional video.
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As we were headed back to Argentina the guide spotted a large rodent called an Azara's agouti. They can weigh up to 13 pounds and measure up to 2.5 feet long. Their diet mainly consists of nuts, seeds, and fruit, and they are one of the few animals capable of opening Brazil nuts.

We did not get back to the hotel until 2130 so an 18-hour day - I was so tired I skipped dinner and went to bed.
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