Zwartkeelspecht (Campehilus melanoleucos) Crimson-crested Woodpecker Bigi Pan dodebomen. Bigi Pan dead trees Waterbird paradise Mangroveslang (Erythrolampris cobella) Mangrove Snake T Amerikaanse Oehoe (Bubo virginianus) Great Horned Owl o the west, Suriname is bordered by the Corantijn River, which separates Suriname from neighbouring Guyana. Just east of the river mouth is the vast expanse of water Bigi Pan, meaning ‘big lake’. With a total area of over 135,000 ha, it is one of Suriname’s most important waterbird areas. We stayed overnight at Mantje’s Bigi Pan Lodge, one of the arti昀椀cial wooden lodges in the lagoon. The double rooms are simple but clean. A cook, guide and boatman are included in the trip. You get there by boat via the feeder canal from New Nickerie. The nearly two-hour boat trip starts with a challenge at the start as the boat has to be lifted over the embankment into the canal. The banks of the canal are richly vegetated so with a bit of luck you can already observe the necessary special bird species. We stayed two nights at the lodge from where we took several boat trips through the swamp forests. Bigi Pan is home to both resident and migratory birds, depending on the season and tides. One of the highlights was the American eagle owl that lives there throughout the year in the dense swamp forests. Ospreys and the snail kite show up with regularity. Flamingos, red ibis and red spoonbills 昀氀y by in groups between roosting and foraging areas. After sunset, on a boat trip through the canal, you can spot snakes hiding among the dense riparian vegetation. Bigi Pan is one of Suriname’s natural gems and de昀椀nitely worth a visit. Zwartkopsoldatenspreeuw (Leistes militaris), Red-breasted Blackbird I su magazine su magazine 31 31 Wi l d l i f e of Sur i name Foto: Jap Smits
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