Rockjumper Birding Tours’ · waterbirds: American White and Brown Pelicans, Reddish Egrets, 300...

Cuba

Caribbean Endemic Birding I 26

th January to 4

th February 2017 (10 days)

Trip Report

Cuban Amazon by Miles Orchinik

Trip report by tour leader, Chris Sharpe

Trip Report – RBL Cuba - Caribbean Endemic Birding I 2017 2

___________________________________________________________________________________

Tour Summary

Thursday, 26 January: After a welcome dinner and orientation, most of us were glad to get to bed in

preparation for our trip.

Friday, 27 January: It was a misty morning in

Havana. After breakfast, we boarded our very

comfortable and spacious bus for the trip westwards

to Las Terrazas in the Sierra del Rosario Biosphere

Reserve. Entirely logged and cleared, it was only 45

years ago that the eroded landscape was terraced

and reforested with more than eight million trees,

grown and planted tree by tree. We met with our

guide, Otis, for morning refreshments at a lakeside

bar, after which we went straight to a spot to look

for Cuban Grassquit. In the event, it was much

easier than we had anticipated, and we had close

views of at least 30 feeding on grain, together with

Yellow-faced Grassquits. We had super looks at

several other Cuban specialities, like Cuban Trogon (Cuba's national bird), Cuban Pewee, Cuban Green

Woodpecker, Cuban Bullfinch and a distant Cuban Pygmy Owl. After a delicious lunch and being

serenaded by local folk singers, we drove on westwards, stopping to watch some Snail Kites, Caspian

Terns and Northern Jacanas before meeting our guide, César, in his hometown of San Diego. We spent

the last two hours of light at Hacienda Cortina, part of Parque La Güira. We were greeted by a couple

of Olive-capped Warblers, offering good looks in a stand of pines, and some assorted migrants,

including Tennessee Warbler, Summer Tanager and Louisiana Waterthrush. Numerous White-crowned

Pigeons were the first time many of the group had seen this species away from its more typical

mangrove habitat. The boating lake held several Purple Gallinules and a Least Grebe. In the last of the

light, we had a close encounter with a pair of Cuban Todies.

Saturday, 28 January: A dawn start had us at Cueva de los Portales at the ideal time to hear Cuban

Solitaire. As we listened to their ethereal song, we enjoyed wonderful views of Scaly-naped Pigeon,

and we soon located a male solitaire that gave us exceptionally good views as it sang unconcernedly.

Cave Swallows wheeled above the hillside,

making periodic visits to their nests in the cave

itself. The eroded limestone chambers were used

as a base by a certain Comandante Ernesto “Che”

Guevara and his Western Army during the 1962

Cuban Missile Crisis, but now they are home to

these swallows and Jamaican Fruit-eating Bats.

As we left the cave, to our surprise, a female

Gundlach’s Hawk circled just over the forest

canopy, giving us nice looks before it glided

away. On our way back to the hotel for lunch, we

made a brief stop at El Abra to admire the work

of a local painter and take a closer look at

Cuban & Yellow-faced Grassquits by Miles

Orchinik

Cuban Pygmy Owl by Miles Orchinik


___________________________________________________________________________________

tobacco cultivation. After lunch, on our drive eastwards, on the way to Zapata Swamp, we made the

obligatory rest stop at Niña Bonita Reservoir, which held respectable numbers of wildfowl: some 560

Lesser Scaup, 200 Ring-necked Duck, and over 110 Ruddy Duck in breeding plumage, amongst other

waterbirds. Dave’s distant Least Bittern was a first for Rockjumper in Cuba. We arrived at the hotel in

Playa Larga just in time to check in and have dinner. A post-prandial Stygian Owl rounded off an

excellent day.

Sunday, 29 January: With a box breakfast, we set off

in the dark along the narrow road to the village of

Santo Tomás, about an hour and a half from our hotel.

A stop along the track that cuts through the dry forest

gave us spotlit views of Cuban Nightjar. The village of

Santo Tomás gave us our first Cape May Warbler and

good views of Great Lizard Cuckoo. The boat trip

itself was short and sweet, as we quickly picked up

Zapata Sparrow and had excellent looks at a singing

Zapata Wren just 5m (15ft) away. On our way back,

we picked up satisfying looks at Yellow-headed

Warbler and Cuban Vireo. Wandering around the

woodland at Santo Tomás, we saw a large number of

warblers, including Worm-eating and then Swainson’s, neither easily seen in Cuba. After lunch, Cueva

de los Peces provided excellent looks at no fewer than ten Blue-headed Quail-Doves just three feet

away, while the aptly-named Cuban Brown Curly-tailed Lizard tried to compete for attention. Our

afternoon visit to Soplillar coincided with a prolonged rain shower, but nevertheless, we managed to

get very good looks at our target birds – Fernandina's Flicker and Bare-legged Owl – before the rain set

in.

Monday, 30 January: First on the morning’s itinerary was a visit

to a blind in Bermejas Wildlife Refuge, where we had very close

looks at Zenaida Dove, together with three species of quail-doves:

Key West, Grey-fronted and Ruddy. Our next stop was to find

Red-shouldered Blackbird at a roadside marsh, where we had

bonus views of Spotted Rails and Sora. After that, we returned to

Bermejas to watch and photograph male and female Bee

Hummingbirds, renowned as the smallest warm-blooded animal in

the world. Cuban Parakeets were socialising in a bush right next to

the road. Just before lunch, a stop in a patch of mangroves gave us

Cuban Black Hawk. In the afternoon, we treated ourselves to some

easy birding on our drive out to the Salinas de Brito. Here we had

unobstructed views of impressive numbers of large, showy

waterbirds: American White and Brown Pelicans, Reddish Egrets,

300 American Flamingos, Roseate Spoonbills, Black Skimmers

and 15 Gull-billed and 8 Forster’s Terns. The mangroves

harboured three Cuban Black Hawks, dapper “Golden” Mangrove

Warblers and finally, a Clapper Rail. An exhilarating celebration

of coastal bird life!

Blue-headed Quail-Dove by Miles Orchinik

Bee Hummingbird by Miles

Orchinik


___________________________________________________________________________________

Tuesday, 31 January: In preparation for a travel day, with an eight-hour drive to the colonial town of

Camagüey, we stretched our legs with a little pre-breakfast birding, watching Cuban Parrots, Cuban

Crows and Cape May Warblers. Our journey eastwards was uneventful and we arrived with just

enough time for an informative guided walk around the historic plazas in the old town centre, courtesy

of our guide, Alejandro. Of ornithological interest was the flock of hirundines cruising above the

traditional red-tiled roofs, comprising about 60 Cave Swallows and half a dozen Cuban Martins.

Wednesday, 1 February: After coffee and an early breakfast, we

checked out of our hotel and drove eastwards to the Najasa Range.

In the darkness, we had to make two passes before we identified

the cyclist as our local guide, Camilo, with whom we entered the

Sierra del Chorrillo Managed Resources Protected Area to begin

the day’s birding. There were plenty of Cuban Crows about as we

strolled along the “Sendero de las Aves”, and we quickly found

Giant Kingbirds. Cuban Palm Crows were next, and we were able

to compare them with nearby Cuban Crows. We had nice looks at

Cuban Parrots, Cuban Pygmy Owls, Cuban Trogons and a couple

of Cuban Parakeets, too. After a few false starts with Scaly-naped

Pigeons, we found our final target birds – Plain Pigeons – at which

point we turned around. It was just 08h30 when we bade farewell

to Camilo and headed back to Camagüey. Even with a pleasantly

birdy comfort break atop the Sierra Cubitas, we made good

progress from Camagüey to the north coast and by early afternoon,

we were cruising along the causeway to Cayo Coco. American

Herring Gulls were new for us. After checking in and having a

second lunch, we headed out for some late afternoon birding. In

addition to seven Key West Quail-Doves, the Cueva del Jabalí

water features attracted a good selection of wintering warblers and other small passerines, of which the

undoubted star was a male Painted Bunting in full breeding plumage. A half-hour stop at the Hotel

Meliá lagoon gave us 49 West Indian Whistling Duck and a Cuban Gnatcatcher.

Thursday, 2 February: Our full day exploring the cays. After coffee and pre-breakfast snacks, we

were soon heading eastwards towards the sunrise, en route to the Cayo Paredón Grande lighthouse. Our

first bird was another Cuban Gnatcatcher and then we found a pair of lovely Oriente Warblers. Bahama

Mockingbird played hard-to-get, as usual, but

after a little effort, we obtained excellent views.

Thick-billed Vireos – our last of the suite of 40

Cuban endemics and range-restricted species

possible on this tour – succumbed too, with half a

dozen birds all told. With our target birds

achieved, we worked our way back westwards. An

area between Cayo Paredón Grande and Cayo

Romano gave us a flavour of coastal mudflat-

mangrove ecosystems, harbouring a variety of

herons and shorebirds together with Cuban Black

Hawks and “Golden” Mangrove Warblers. Our

next stop on Cayo Romano was unscheduled, but

Displaying Giant Kingbird by

Miles Orchinik

Painted Bunting by Miles Orchinik


___________________________________________________________________________________

a full adult Lesser Black-backed Gull just 100 metres (yards) away was too good to pass up. With no

need to go searching further afield for speciality birds, we could simply enjoy the afternoon’s birding.

A second visit to the Cueva del Jabalí water drips gave us more looks at Key West Quail-Doves,

Oriente Warblers, a young female Hooded Warbler and three species of Vireo – Yellow-throated,

White-eyed and Cuban – as well as the cays subspecies (varonai) of Zapata Sparrow. A quick stop at

sewage settling pools added a few duck, and we ended the day in style: watching shorebirds at Las

Coloradas beach, where a lone Piping Plover foraged amongst Semipalmated Plovers in the washed up

weed. It was a wonderful end to an excellent day’s birding.

Friday, 3 February: On our last morning on the

cays, we had a leisurely breakfast before

departure. Our final day of the trip comprised a

nine-hour drive back to Havana, followed by a

walking tour of the colonial heart of the old city,

so we were not expecting any new birds.

Nevertheless, a stop at Cayo Coco gas station

gave us the chance to add Baltimore Oriole to

our tally while we enjoyed a selection of typical

migrants as well as a farewell Cuban Pewee. On

arrival at Old Havana, we were greeted by

another new bird – a pair of Peregrine Falcons,

mobbed by a Merlin – taking our trip total to 175

species, a record for Rockjumper! Our stroll

around the historic Cultural World Heritage Site was illuminating, not just for the history and the

architecture, but for the curvaceous vintage cars, the associations with Ernest Hemingway and much

besides. After dinner at a rather good restaurant, we said our goodbyes and went to bed well contented.

Saturday, 4 February: Early morning departures went smoothly. Some opted for some brief pre-

breakfast birding one last time, before our bus arrived to take the remaining group members to the

airport.

___________________________________________________________________________________

Annotated List of species recorded

Note: Number in brackets ( ) indicate number of days on the tour the species was recorded.

List powered through the report generator of our partner iGoTerra.

Birds (175 in total: 173 seen, 2 heard)

Nomenclature and taxonomy follows Gill, F and D Donsker (Eds). 2016. IOC World Bird List (v

6.2).

Status codes: E = Endemic, NE = Near-endemic, I = Introduced

IUCN codes: CR = Critically endangered, EN = Endangered, VU = Vulnerable, EW = Extinct in the

Wild, NT = Near Threatened, DD = Data Deficient

Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl Anatidae

West Indian Whistling Duck (VU) Dendrocygna arborea

Bahama Mockingbird by Miles Orchinik


___________________________________________________________________________________

(1) 49 Cayo Coco 1.2.

American Wigeon Anas americana

(1) 20 Cayo Coco 2.2.

Blue-winged Teal Anas discors

(3) 15 Niña Bonita Lake 28.1, 1 ⚤ Salinas de Brito 30.1 and 20 Cayo Coco 2.2.

Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata

(3) 1 ♀ Niña Bonita Lake 28.1, 1 Salinas de Brito 30.1 and 15 Cayo Coco 2.2.

Ring-necked Duck Aythya collaris

(1) 200 Niña Bonita Lake 28.1.

Lesser Scaup Aythya affinis

(2) 1 ♂ Los Palacios fish ponds, Pinar del Río 27.1 and 560 Niña Bonita Lake 28.1.

Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator

(3) 5 Salinas de Brito 30.1, 20 Cayo Coco Causeway 1.2 and 30 Cayo Coco Causeway 3.2.

Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis jamaicensis

(1) 110 Niña Bonita Lake 28.1.

Guineafowl Numididae

Helmeted Guineafowl (I) Numida meleagris galeatus

(4) 15 Las Terrazas 27.1, 10 Soplillar 29.1, 4 en route 31.1 and 4 heard Sierra del Chorrillo 1.2.

Introduced in the 16th

century.

Grebes Podicipedidae

Least Grebe Tachybaptus dominicus dominicus

(2) 1 Hacienda Cortina 27.1 and 1 Niña Bonita Lake 28.1.

Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps

(3) 1 en route 27.1, 50 Niña Bonita Lake 28.1 and 3 Salinas de Brito 30.1.

Flamingos Phoenicopteridae

American Flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber

(4) 300 Salinas de Brito 30.1, 500 Cayo Coco Causeway 1.2, 100 Cayo Paredón Grande 2.2 and 500

Cayo Coco Causeway 3.2.

Storks Ciconiidae

Wood Stork Mycteria americana

(3) 2 Soplillar 29.1, 1 Playa Larga 29.1, 6 Salinas de Brito 30.1 and 1 Playa Larga 31.1.

Ibises and Spoonbills Threskiornithidae

American White Ibis Eudocimus albus albus

(4) 8 Playa Larga 29.1, 30 Salinas de Brito 30.1, 4 Playa Larga 31.1 and 10 Cayo Coco 2.2.

Roseate Spoonbill Platalea ajaja

(4) 1 Playa Larga 29.1, 10 Salinas de Brito 30.1, 1 en route 31.1 and 3 Cayo Paredón Grande 2.2.

Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns Ardeidae

Least Bittern Ixobrychus exilis

(1) Dave had a view of a bird flying along the edge of the fringing reeds at the far side of Niña Bonita

Lake 28.1.

Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax hoactli


___________________________________________________________________________________

(3) 1 Playa Larga 28.1, 1 Santo Tomás 29.1 and 1 La Cuchilla 30.1.

Yellow-crowned Night Heron Nyctanassa violacea bancrofti

(3) 2 Playa Larga 28.1, 2 Salinas de Brito 30.1, 1 Cayo Paredón Grande 2.2 and 1 Cayo Coco 2.2.

Green Heron Butorides virescens virescens

(6) 2 Hacienda Cortina 27.1, 4 en route 27.1, 5 Niña Bonita Lake 28.1 and 1 Cayo Coco 1.2.

Western Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis

(8) Throughout.

Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias occidentalis

(7) Throughout, and up to 5 (including at least 3 white phase) Cayo Coco 1-2.2.

Great Egret Ardea alba egretta

(8) Throughout.

Reddish Egret (NT) Egretta rufescens rufescens

(4) 6 Salinas de Brito 30.1, 1 Cayo Coco Causeway 1.2, 1 Cayo Coco 2.2 and 1 Cayo Coco Causeway

3.2.

Tricolored Heron Egretta tricolor ruficollis

(4) 20 Salinas de Brito 30.1, 1 Cayo Coco 1.2, Cayo Coco 2.2, Cayo Paredón Grande 2.2 and Cayo

Romano 2.2.

Little Blue Heron Egretta caerulea

(7) Throughout.

Snowy Egret Egretta thula thula

(8) Throughout.

Pelicans Pelecanidae

American White Pelican Pelecanus erythrorhynchos

(1) 20 Salinas de Brito 30.1.

Brown Pelican Pelecanus occidentalis occidentalis

(8) 10 en route 27.1, 20 Niña Bonita Lake 28.1, 1 Playa Larga 29.1, 5 Salinas de Brito 30.1, 1 Playa

Larga 31.1, 1 Cayo Coco Causeway 1.2, Cayo Paredón Grande 2.2, Cayo Romano 2.2, Cayo Coco

2.2 and 5 Cayo Coco Causeway 3.2.

Frigatebirds Fregatidae

Magnificent Frigatebird Fregata magnificens

(4) 2 Salinas de Brito 30.1, 3 Cayo Coco Causeway 1.2, Cayo Paredón Grande 2.2, Cayo Romano

2.2, Cayo Coco 2.2 and 5 Cayo Coco Causeway 3.2.

Cormorants and Shags Phalacrocoracidae

Neotropic Cormorant Phalacrocorax brasilianus mexicanus

(5) 8 Niña Bonita Lake 28.1, 150 Salinas de Brito 30.1, 10 Cayo Coco Causeway 1.2 and 20 Cayo

Coco Causeway 3.2.

Double-crested Cormorant Phalacrocorax auritus

(4) 10 Niña Bonita Lake 28.1, 15 Salinas de Brito 30.1, 1 Cayo Coco 2.2 and 15 Cayo Coco

Causeway 3.2.

Anhingas Anhingidae

Anhinga Anhinga anhinga leucogaster

(3) 1 Cienaga de Zapata 28.1, 1 en route 29.1 and 1 Salinas de Brito 30.1.


___________________________________________________________________________________

New World Vultures Cathartidae

Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura aura

Ubiquitous. Observed every day.

Osprey Pandionidae

Western Osprey Pandion haliaetus

(3) 1 en route 27.1, 2 Salinas de Brito 30.1 and 1 Cayo Coco 2.2.

Hawks, Eagles, and Kites Accipitridae

Gundlach's Hawk (E, EN) Accipiter gundlachi

(1) 1 ♀ Cueva de los Portales 28.1. Very nice view of a female circling above the canopy not far from

the entrance to the cave. What a relief to have excellent serendipitous views of this species, the least

dependable of the Cuban specialities, so early in the trip! Cuban Gundlach’s Hawk may yet turn out

to be merely a subspecies of the North American Cooper’s Hawk A. cooperi.

Northern Harrier Circus hudsonius

(1) 1 ringtail Salinas de Brito 30.1. Until recently, North American hudsonius was considered

conspecific with Eurasian C. cyaneus.

Snail Kite Rostrhamus sociabilis

(2) 10 at fish-ponds en route 27.1 and at fish-ponds en route 28.1.

Cuban Black Hawk (E, NT) Buteogallus gundlachii

(4) 1 Caleta Buena 30.1, 3 Salinas de Brito 30.1, 1 Cayo Coco 1.2, 5 Cayo Coco 2.2, 3 Cayo Paredón

Grande 2.2, 2 Cayo Romano 2.2 and 1 Cayo Coco Causeway 3.2. Some very nice studies. Long

considered a subspecies of Common Black Hawk B. anthracinus, but may be more closely related to

South American mangrove-inhabiting Rufous Crab Hawk B. aequinoctialis.

Broad-winged Hawk Buteo platypterus cubanensis

(3) 1 Hacienda Cortina 27.1, 2 Santo Tomás 29.1 and 1 La Cuchilla 30.1. These are the resident

Cuban endemic subspecies cubanensis.

Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis solitudinis

(5) 2 Hacienda Cortina 27.1, 3 Las Terrazas 27.1, 2 La Cuchilla 30.1, 1 en route 31.1, 1 en route 1.2

and 3 en route 3.2. These are the resident subspecies solitudinis.

Rails, Gallinules, and Coots Rallidae

Clapper Rail Rallus crepitans caribaeus

(2) 1 Salinas de Brito 30.1 (one of our last birds) and 3 heard Cayo Coco 2.2.

Sora Porzana carolina

(1) 1+3 heard La Cuchilla 30.1.

Spotted Rail Pardirallus maculatus maculatus

(1) 3 birds flying up from the sedge and then immediately back down +3 heard La Cuchilla 30.1.

Purple Gallinule Porphyrio martinicus

(2) 4 Hacienda Cortina 27.1 and 4 en route 1.2.

Common Gallinule Gallinula galeata cerceris

(4) 2 Hacienda Cortina 27.1, 2 Las Terrazas 27.1, 5 Niña Bonita Lake 28.1, 4 en route 1.2 and en

route 3.2.

American Coot Fulica americana americana

(4) 150 Niña Bonita Lake 28.1, 2 en route 31.1, 5 Cayo Coco 2.2 and 20 Cayo Coco Causeway 3.2.

Cranes Gruidae


___________________________________________________________________________________

Sandhill Crane Grus canadensis nesiotes

(1) 2 heard La Cuchilla 30.1. Local Cuban resident subspecies nesiotes is much smaller than the

North American nominate.

Limpkin Aramidae

Limpkin Aramus guarauna pictus

(1) 1 Cienaga de Zapata 28.1.

Stilts and Avocets Recurvirostridae

Black-necked Stilt Himantopus mexicanus mexicanus

(3) 150 Salinas de Brito 30.1, 2 Cayo Coco 1.2 and 70 Cayo Romano 2.2.

Plovers and Lapwings Charadriidae

Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola cynosurae

(2) 30 Salinas de Brito 30.1, Fairly Common Cayo Paredón Grande 2.2, Cayo Romano 2.2 and Cayo

Coco 2.2. Known as Black-bellied Plover in America.

Semipalmated Plover Charadrius semipalmatus

(1) Fairly Common Cayo Paredón Grande 2.2, Cayo Romano 2.2 and Cayo Coco 2.2.

Killdeer Charadrius vociferus ternominatus

(8) Recorded every day. 5 heard Havana: Miramar 26.1, 5 heard Havana: Miramar 27.1, 12 El Abra

28.1, 10 Playa Larga 28.1, 2 Santo Tomás 29.1, 1 Playa Larga 30.1, 1 Playa Larga 31.1, 2 heard Cayo

Coco 1.2 and 10 Cayo Coco 2.2.

Piping Plover (NT) Charadrius melodus melodus

(1) 1 Cayo Coco 2.2.

Jacanas Jacanidae

Northern Jacana Jacana spinosa

(2) 4 en route 27.1 and 2 en route 1.2.

Sandpipers and Allies Scolopacidae

Short-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus griseus

(2) 100 Salinas de Brito 30.1, 40 Cayo Romano 2.2 and 160 Cayo Coco 2.2.

Greater Yellowlegs Tringa melanoleuca


Coco 2.2.

Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes


Coco 2.2.

Solitary Sandpiper Tringa solitaria solitaria


Willet Tringa semipalmata


Coco 2.2.

Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularius

(2) 1 en route 27.1 and 5 Cayo Coco 2.2.

Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres morinella

(2) 75 Cayo Coco 2.2 and 5 Cayo Coco Causeway 3.2.


___________________________________________________________________________________

Red Knot (NT) Calidris canutus rufa


Sanderling Calidris alba rubida

(1) 41 Cayo Coco 2.2.

Semipalmated Sandpiper (NT) Calidris pusilla

(1) 30 Cayo Romano 2.2.

Western Sandpiper Calidris mauri


Least Sandpiper Calidris minutilla


Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers Laridae

Black Skimmer Rynchops niger niger


Laughing Gull Leucophaeus atricilla atricilla

(4) 8 Salinas de Brito 30.1, 10 Cayo Coco Causeway 1.2, 26 Cayo Coco 2.2, 20 Cayo Coco

Causeway 3.2 and 20 Havana: La Habana Vieja 3.2.

American Herring Gull Larus smithsonianus

(2) 2 (1 adult + 1 1st cycle) Cayo Coco Causeway 1.2 and 1 immature (1

st cycle) Cayo Coco

Causeway 3.2.

Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus graellsii

(1) 1 adult Cayo Coco 2.2. Scarce and local winter visitor to Cuba, although seen with some

regularity here.

Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica aranea


Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia

(4) 12 at fish-ponds en route 27.1, 2 Niña Bonita Lake 28.1, 30 Salinas de Brito 30.1 and 2 Cayo

Paredón Grande 2.2.

Royal Tern Thalasseus maximus maximus

(4) 20 Salinas de Brito 30.1, 10 Cayo Coco Causeway 1.2, 2 Cayo Coco 1.2, Cayo Coco 2.2, Cayo

Paredón Grande 2.2, Cayo Romano 2.2, 10 Cayo Coco Causeway 3.2 and 10 Havana: La Habana

Vieja 3.2.

Forster's Tern Sterna forsteri


Pigeons and Doves Columbidae

Rock Dove (Feral Pigeon) Columba livia

(7) Virtually throughout.

White-crowned Pigeon (NT) Patagioenas leucocephala

(5) 10 Hacienda Cortina 27.1, 1 Cueva de los Portales 28.1, 10 Santo Tomás 29.1, 1 Soplillar 29.1, 1

Bermejas 30.1 and 2 Cayo Coco 1.2.

Scaly-naped Pigeon (NE) Patagioenas squamosa

(3) 1 Hacienda Cortina 27.1, 8 Cueva de los Portales 28.1 and 5 Sierra del Chorrillo 1.2.

Plain Pigeon (NE, NT) Patagioenas inornata

(1) 6 Sierra del Chorrillo 1.2, observed alongside the previous species.

Eurasian Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto decaocto

(6) Widespread near human habitation from Havana onwards. First found in Cuba in 1989 and now


___________________________________________________________________________________

well established.

Common Ground Dove Columbina passerina insularis

(8) Throughout.

Blue-headed Quail-Dove (E, EN) Starnoenas cyanocephala

(1) Minimum-focus views of 10 Cueva de los Peces 29.1. Recently postulated, on the basis of

morphology and behaviour (and awaiting molecular confirmation), to be of Australasian origin!

Ruddy Quail-Dove Geotrygon montana montana

(1) 2 Bermejas 30.1. This widespread quail-dove is the hardest to see in Cuba.

Grey-fronted Quail-Dove (E, VU) Geotrygon caniceps

(2) 3 Santo Tomás 29.1 and 2 Bermejas 30.1. Formerly widespread throughout the island, but now

much reduced in range. Until recently White-fronted Quail-Dove G. leucometopia of Hispaniola

considered a subspecies of G. caniceps, the combined species being known as Grey-headed Quail-

Dove.

Key West Quail-Dove (NE) Geotrygon chrysia

(3) 1 Bermejas 30.1, 7 at the Cueva del Jabalí water drips Cayo Coco 1.2 and 6 at the Cueva del

Jabalí water drips Cayo Coco 2.2.

Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura macroura

(8) Throughout.

Zenaida Dove Zenaida aurita zenaida

(8) Seen every day, with 30 Bermejas 30.1 (some really good studies here).

White-winged Dove Zenaida asiatica asiatica

(2) 5 Las Terrazas 27.1 and 1 Cayo Coco 3.2.

Cuckoos Cuculidae

Smooth-billed Ani Crotophaga ani

(6) 5 Santo Tomás 29.1, en route 31.1, 5 Sierra del Chorrillo 1.2 and en route 3.2.

Great Lizard Cuckoo Coccyzus merlini santamariae


merlini:

(5) 1 Santo Tomás 29.1, 1 Soplillar 29.1, 1 Playa Larga 29.1, 1 La Cuchilla 30.1, 1 Playa Larga 31.1,

1 Sierra del Chorrillo 1.2 and 1 en route 3.2.

Barn-Owls Tytonidae

Western Barn Owl Tyto alba furcata

(2) 1 Santo Tomás 29.1 and 1 Playa Larga 30.1.

Owls Strigidae

Bare-legged Owl (E) Margarobyas lawrencii

(1) 1 in a hole in a dead palm trunk Soplillar 29.1. Formerly known as Cuban Screech Owl Otus

lawrencii.

Cuban Pygmy Owl (E) Glaucidium siju siju

(5) 1 Las Terrazas 27.1, 1 heard San Diego de los Banos 28.1, 1 Santo Tomás 29.1, 1 Punta Perdiz

29.1, 1 Caleta Buena 30.1 and 1 Sierra del Chorrillo 1.2.

Stygian Owl Asio stygius siguapa

(2) 1+1 heard Playa Larga 28.1 (one initially seen walking on the road at our hotel in the evening,

then relocated in a tree where we obtained really good views as another sang from nearby woodland)

and 1 heard Playa Larga 30.1.


___________________________________________________________________________________

Nightjars and Allies Caprimulgidae

Cuban Nightjar (E) Antrostomus cubanensis cubanensis

(1) 1 in the pre-dawn Santo Tomás 29.1. Traditionally Hispaniolan Nightjar A. ekmani has been

lumped with cubanensis, the combined species taking the name Great Antillean Nightjar.

Swifts Apodidae

Antillean Palm Swift Tachornis phoenicobia iradii

(3) 10 Havana: Miramar 27.1, 20 Las Terrazas 27.1, 15 San Diego de los Banos 27.1, 8 San Diego de

los Banos 28.1 and en route 3.2.

Hummingbirds Trochilidae

Cuban Emerald (NE) Chlorostilbon ricordii

(8) Throughout.

Bee Hummingbird (E, NT) Mellisuga helenae

(1) 1 ⚤ Bermejas 30.1 (very good looks at a pair). The world’s smallest bird and, indeed, warm-

blooded vertebrate!

Trogons Trogonidae

Cuban Trogon (E) Priotelus temnurus temnurus

(4) 2 Las Terrazas 27.1, 5 heard Cueva de los Portales 28.1, 1+5 heard Santo Tomás 29.1, 2 heard

Sierra del Chorrillo 1.2 and 1 en route 1.2. Cuba's national bird.

Kingfishers Alcedinidae

Belted Kingfisher Megaceryle alcyon

(6) 4 en route 27.1, 1 Niña Bonita Lake 28.1, 1 Santo Tomás 29.1, 6 Salinas de Brito 30.1, Cayo

Romano 2.2, Cayo Coco 2.2 and 1 Cayo Coco Causeway 3.2.

Todies Todidae

Cuban Tody (E) Todus multicolor

(4) 2 Hacienda Cortina 27.1, 1 Cueva de los Portales 28.1, 2 Santo Tomás 29.1 and 1 Cayo Coco 1.2.

Some very good looks at this colourful, diminutive Cuban endemic.

Woodpeckers Picidae

West Indian Woodpecker Melanerpes superciliaris superciliaris

(6) 5 Hacienda Cortina 27.1, 3 Las Terrazas 27.1, 2 Santo Tomás 29.1, 1 Caleta Buena 30.1, 2

Bermejas 30.1, 4 Sierra del Chorrillo 1.2 and en route 3.2.

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Sphyrapicus varius

(4) Hacienda Cortina 27.1, 1 Las Terrazas 27.1, 1 Santo Tomás 29.1, 1 en route 31.1 and 1 en route

1.2.

Cuban Green Woodpecker (E) Xiphidiopicus percussus percussus

(4) 3 Las Terrazas 27.1 (nesting), 1 Cueva de los Portales 28.1, 1 Santo Tomás 29.1 and 1 Sierra del

Chorrillo 1.2. An attractive and obliging endemic that allowed us some great looks. Six subspecies

have been described, but there is much variation and only two of these appear to be valid.

Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus chrysocaulosus

(3) 1 heard Las Terrazas 27.1, 1 Santo Tomás 29.1 and 1 Cayo Coco 2.2. Resident endemic

subspecies chrysocaulosus sometimes accorded species status as Cuban Flicker, but more often

considered a subspecies of Yellow-shafted Flicker C. auratus.


___________________________________________________________________________________

Fernandina's Flicker (E, VU) Colaptes fernandinae

(1) 1 Soplillar 29.1. This Cuban endemic formerly much more widespread, but now local and scarce

with a global population of 600–800 birds.

Falcons and Caracaras Falconidae

Northern Crested Caracara Caracara cheriway

(5) 1 San Diego de los Banos 28.1, 2 Soplillar 29.1, 2 La Cuchilla 30.1, Cayo Romano 2.2, Cayo

Coco 2.2 and 2 en route 3.2.

American Kestrel Falco sparverius sparverioides

(8) Virtually throughout, including 5 Hacienda Cortina 27.1 and 6 Sierra del Chorrillo 1.2. All the

birds we saw were resident subspecies sparverioides, with great looks at both white and reddish

morphs.

Merlin Falco columbarius columbarius

(2) 1 Salinas de Brito 30.1 and 1 mobbing Peregrines Havana: La Habana Vieja 3.2.

Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus

(1) 2 Havana: La Habana Vieja 3.2.

African & New World Parrots Psittacidae

Cuban Amazon (NE, NT) Amazona leucocephala leucocephala

(3) 1 Soplillar 29.1, 5 Playa Larga 29.1, 20 Playa Larga 31.1 and 10 Sierra del Chorrillo 1.2. A

beautiful psittacid, also known, more appropriately, as Rose-throated Parrot.

Cuban Parakeet (E, VU) Psittacara euops

(2) 12 inside a roadside bush Bermejas 30.1 and 2 Sierra del Chorrillo 1.2.

Tyrant Flycatchers Tyrannidae

Cuban Pewee (NE) Contopus caribaeus caribaeus

(4) 3 Las Terrazas 27.1, 1 Cueva de los Portales 28.1, 2 Sierra del Chorrillo 1.2 and 1 Cayo Coco 2.2.

morenoi:

(3) 2 Bermejas 30.1 and 1 Playa Larga 31.1.

Giant Kingbird (E, EN) Tyrannus cubensis

(1) 4 with Loggerheads for comparison Sierra del Chorrillo 1.2. Formerly widespread, but

increasingly local and rare: fewer than a thousand adult birds are thought to remain.

Loggerhead Kingbird Tyrannus caudifasciatus caudifasciatus

(8) 3 Hacienda Cortina 27.1, 5 Las Terrazas 27.1, 1 Cueva de los Portales 28.1, 1 Santo Tomás 29.1,

1 Salinas de Brito 30.1, 1 heard Playa Larga 31.1, 4 Sierra del Chorrillo 1.2, 2 Cayo Coco 1.2, 2 en

route 1.2, 2 Cayo Paredón Grande 2.2 and en route 3.2.

La Sagra's Flycatcher (NE) Myiarchus sagrae sagrae

(5) 3 Las Terrazas 27.1, 4 Cueva de los Portales 28.1, 1 Santo Tomás 29.1, 2 en route 1.2 and 1 Cayo

Paredón Grande 2.2.

Vireos Vireonidae

White-eyed Vireo Vireo griseus griseus

(2) 1 Santo Tomás 29.1 and 1 Cayo Coco 2.2.

Thick-billed Vireo (NE) Vireo crassirostris cubensis

(1) 5 Cayo Paredón Grande 2.2. In Cuba, more or less restricted to Cayo Paredón Grande.

Cuban Vireo (E) Vireo gundlachii gundlachii

(6) 1 heard Cueva de los Portales 28.1, 1 Santo Tomás 29.1, 1 Bermejas 30.1, 1 heard Playa Larga


___________________________________________________________________________________

31.1, 2 heard Sierra del Chorrillo 1.2, 2 Cayo Coco 1.2, 1 Cayo Coco 2.2 and 2 en route 1.2. A neat

looking vireo with an Empidonax-style eye-ring.

Yellow-throated Vireo Vireo flavifrons

(5) 2 Las Terrazas 27.1, 1 Santo Tomás 29.1, 1 Bermejas 30.1, 1 en route 1.2 and 1 Cayo Coco 2.2.

Crows, Jays, and Magpies Corvidae

Cuban Palm Crow (E, NT [Palm Crow Corvus

palmarum])

Corvus minutus

(1) 20 Sierra del Chorrillo 1.2. Known in Cuba as the “cau ronco” (“hoarse crow”). Formerly much

more widespread; now scarce, local and nationally Endangered. Usually lumped with its Hispaniolan

relative as Palm Crow Corvus palmarum.

Cuban Crow (NE) Corvus nasicus

(4) 1 Santo Tomás 29.1, up to 5 Playa Larga 29-31.1 and 15 Sierra del Chorrillo 1.2. A highly vocal

crow, best distinguished from the preceding species by voice.

Swallows Hirundinidae

Tree Swallow Tachycineta bicolor

(1) 50 Playa Larga 29.1.

Cuban Martin (E) Progne cryptoleuca

(1) 6 Camagüey 31.1. A summer visitor that breeds throughout Cuba, its winter quarters are still

unknown, presumed to be in South America. Our birds were quite early arrivals: most birds arrive

after mid-February.

Northern Rough-winged Swallow Stelgidopteryx serripennis

(1) 30 La Cuchilla 30.1.

Cave Swallow Petrochelidon fulva cavicola

(2) 23 Cueva de los Portales 28.1 and 60 Camagüey 31.1.

Wrens Troglodytidae

Zapata Wren (E, EN) Ferminia cerverai

(1) Super views of a very close singing male at Santo Tomás 29.1. Restricted to Zapata Swamp, with

a population of fewer than 2500 birds.

Gnatcatchers Polioptilidae

Blue-grey Gnatcatcher Polioptila caerulea caerulea

(6) 1 Las Terrazas 27.1, 1 Cueva de los Portales 28.1, 1 Santo Tomás 29.1, 1 Soplillar 29.1, 2 Caleta

Buena 30.1, 1 Playa Larga 31.1 and 1 Sierra del Chorrillo 1.2.

Cuban Gnatcatcher (E) Polioptila lembeyei

(2) 1 Cayo Coco 1.2 and 1 Cayo Paredón Grande 2.2.

Mockingbirds and Thrashers Mimidae

Grey Catbird Dumetella carolinensis

(8) Throughout.

Northern Mockingbird Mimus polyglottos orpheus

(8) Throughout.

Bahama Mockingbird (NE) Mimus gundlachii gundlachii

(1) 1 at the side of the road at the Cayo Paredón Grande lighthouse 2.2. In Cuba restricted to the cays

and apparently losing habitat to hotel construction.


___________________________________________________________________________________

Thrushes and Allies Turdidae

Cuban Solitaire (E, NT) Myadestes elisabeth elisabeth

(1) 2+5 heard Cueva de los Portales 28.1. Very good looks at this consummate songster.

Red-legged Thrush Turdus plumbeus rubripes

(8) Throughout.

Old World Sparrows Passeridae

House Sparrow (I) Passer domesticus

(7) Virtually throughout. Introduced during the 19th

century.

Waxbills and Allies Estrildidae

Scaly-breasted Munia (I) Lonchura punctulata

(1) 6 Niña Bonita Lake 28.1. Native to Asia, with the first Cuban records in the late 20th

century. Also

known as Nutmeg Mannikin.

New World Warblers Parulidae

Ovenbird Seiurus aurocapilla furvior

(4) 1 Santo Tomás 29.1, 1 Soplillar 29.1, 2 Bermejas 30.1, 4 Cayo Coco 1.2 and 3 Cayo Coco 2.2.

Worm-eating Warbler Helmitheros vermivorum

(1) 1 Santo Tomás 29.1.

Louisiana Waterthrush Parkesia motacilla

(2) 2 Hacienda Cortina 27.1 and 2 Santo Tomás 29.1.

Northern Waterthrush Parkesia noveboracensis

(4) 6 Santo Tomás 29.1, 1 Soplillar 29.1, 6 Salinas de Brito 30.1, Cayo Romano 2.2, Cayo Coco 2.2

and en route 3.2.

Black-and-white Warbler Mniotilta varia


1 Soplillar 29.1 and 1 Bermejas 30.1.

Swainson's Warbler Limnothlypis swainsonii

(1) 1 Santo Tomás 29.1.

Tennessee Warbler Leiothlypis peregrina

(2) 2 Hacienda Cortina 27.1 and 1 Punta Perdiz 29.1.

Common Yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas trichas

(8) 5 Hacienda Cortina 27.1, 2 El Abra 28.1, 1 Niña Bonita Lake 28.1, 5 Santo Tomás 29.1, 1

Soplillar 29.1, Cayo Paredón Grande 2.2, Cayo Romano 2.2, Cayo Coco 2.2 and en route 3.2.

Hooded Warbler Setophaga citrina

(1) 1 1st year ♀ Cayo Coco 2.2.

American Redstart Setophaga ruticilla

(8) Throughout.

Cape May Warbler Setophaga tigrina

(4) 1 Santo Tomás 29.1, 2 Playa Larga 31.1, 1 en route 31.1, 2 en route 1.2, 2 Sierra del Chorrillo 1.2,

2 Cayo Coco 1.2 and 2 Cayo Coco 2.2.

Northern Parula Setophaga americana

(6) Almost throughout.

Magnolia Warbler Setophaga magnolia

(1) 1 Cueva de los Portales 28.1.

Mangrove Warbler Setophaga petechia gundlachi


___________________________________________________________________________________

(2) 5 Salinas de Brito 30.1 and 5 Cayo Paredón Grande 2.2. Under the taxonomy used here (IOC)

Mangrove Warbler S. petechia, comprising Golden Warbler S. petechia and Mangrove Warbler S.

erythachorides groups, is treated as a separate species from North American migrant Yellow Warbler

D. aestiva. Although the entire complex undoubtedly consists of more than one species, the situation

is complicated and species limits are far from clear.

Black-throated Blue Warbler Setophaga caerulescens

(6) 1 Hacienda Cortina 27.1, 2 Las Terrazas 27.1, 1 Santo Tomás 29.1, 1 Bermejas 30.1, 1 Playa

Larga 31.1, 3 Sierra del Chorrillo 1.2, 3 Cayo Coco 1.2, 4 Cayo Coco 2.2 and 1 en route 1.2.

Palm Warbler Setophaga palmarum palmarum

(8) Throughout.

Olive-capped Warbler (NE) Setophaga pityophila

(1) 2 Hacienda Cortina 27.1.

Myrtle Warbler Setophaga coronata

(2) 1 ♀ Cayo Coco 1.2 and 1 ♀ Cayo Paredón Grande 2.2. Traditionally lumped with other taxa,

notably Audubon's Warbler S. (c.) auduboni as Yellow-rumped Warbler Setophaga coronata.

Yellow-throated Warbler Setophaga dominica

(7) 1 Hacienda Cortina 27.1, 1 Las Terrazas 27.1, 1 Niña Bonita Lake 28.1, 1 Cueva de los Portales

28.1, 2 Santo Tomás 29.1, 1 Soplillar 29.1, 3 Playa Larga 31.1, 3 Sierra del Chorrillo 1.2, 1 Cayo

Coco 2.2 and en route 3.2. We saw both yellow-lored dominica and white-lored albilora subspecies.

Prairie Warbler Setophaga discolor

(3) 1 Las Terrazas 27.1, 1 Bermejas 30.1 and 1 Cayo Coco 1.2.

Black-throated Green Warbler Setophaga virens

(1) 1 Hacienda Cortina 27.1 and 1 Las Terrazas 27.1.

Family uncertain Incertae Sedis 2

Yellow-headed Warbler (E) Teretistris fernandinae

(3) 2 Cueva de los Portales 28.1, 6 Santo Tomás 29.1 and 2 Caleta Buena 30.1.

Oriente Warbler (E) Teretistris fornsi fornsi

(2) 3 Cayo Coco 1.2 and 2 Cayo Coco 2.2. The E counterpart of the previous species, Yellow-headed

Warbler.

Troupials and Allies Icteridae

Eastern Meadowlark Sturnella magna hippocrepis

(4) 1 El Abra 28.1, 1 en route 31.1, 5 en route 1.2 and 3 en route 3.2. Cuban endemic subspecies

hippocrepis may be sufficiently distinctive to deserve species status.

Baltimore Oriole Icterus galbula


Cuban Oriole (E) Icterus melanopsis

(6) 2 Las Terrazas 27.1, 2 Cueva de los Portales 28.1, 2 Santo Tomás 29.1, 4 Bermejas 30.1, 2 en

route 1.2 and 1 Cayo Paredón Grande 2.2. Previously lumped with three other N Caribbean taxa as

Greater Antillean Oriole I. dominicensis.

Tawny-shouldered Blackbird (NE) Agelaius humeralis humeralis

(5) 2 El Abra 28.1, 2 Cueva de los Peces, Pinar del Rio 29.1, 4 La Cuchilla 30.1, en route 31.1 and 15

Sierra del Chorrillo 1.2.

Red-shouldered Blackbird (E) Agelaius assimilis assimilis

(1) 5 La Cuchilla 30.1. Male very similar to Red-winged Blackbird A. phoeniceus, but female entirely

black, as we were able to confirm.


___________________________________________________________________________________

Shiny Cowbird Molothrus bonariensis minimus

(2) 2 Las Terrazas 27.1 and 12 Sierra del Chorrillo 1.2.

Cuban Blackbird (E) Ptiloxena atroviolacea

(7) Almost throughout.

Greater Antillean Grackle Quiscalus niger

(8) 20 Cayo Paredón Grande 2.2 and en route 3.2.

Buntings, Sparrows and Allies Emberizidae

Zapata Sparrow (E, EN) Torreornis inexpectata inexpectata

(1) 4 Santo Tomás 29.1. Nice views along the cut.

varonai:

(1) 1 Cayo Coco 2.2. The cays subspecies only discovered in the 1970s.

Tanagers and Allies Thraupidae Red-legged Honeycreeper (I?) Cyanerpes cyaneus

(1) 12 Las Terrazas 27.1. Possibly introduced.

Cuban Bullfinch (NE) Melopyrrha nigra nigra

(5) 3 Las Terrazas 27.1, 4 Cueva de los Portales 28.1, 8 Santo Tomás 29.1, 1 Cayo Coco 1.2 and 5

Cayo Paredón Grande 2.2. Endemic subspecies nigra is fairly common in Cuba.

Cuban Grassquit (E) Tiaris canorus

(1) At least 30, half of which were males, Las Terrazas 27.1. A strikingly-plumaged endemic, the

males of which outshone the Yellow-faced Grassquits with which they were feeding.

Yellow-faced Grassquit Tiaris olivaceus olivaceus

(6) 30 Las Terrazas 27.1, 1 ♂ Bermejas 30.1, Playa Larga 30.1, 1 Playa Larga 31.1, 4 Cayo Coco 1.2,

20 Cayo Coco 2.2 and en route 3.2.

Western Spindalis (NE) Spindalis zena pretrei


up to 5 Cayo Coco 1-3.2, 1 en route 1.2 and 3 Cayo Paredón Grande 2.2.

Cardinals and Allies Cardinalidae

Summer Tanager Piranga rubra rubra

(2) 1 Hacienda Cortina 27.1, 1 heard Las Terrazas 27.1 and 1 heard Sierra del Chorrillo 1.2.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak Pheucticus ludovicianus

(1) 1 heard Hacienda Cortina 27.1.

Painted Bunting (NT) Passerina ciris ciris

(1) 1 ♂ in full summer plumage Cayo Coco 1.2.

Mammals (2 in total: 2 seen)




Mongooses Herpestidae

Small Asian Mongoose Herpestes javanicus

(2) 1 Niña Bonita Lake 28.1 and 1 Salinas de Brito 30.1.


___________________________________________________________________________________

Reptiles (1 in total: 1 seen)




Iguanas Iguanidae

Cuban Brown Curly-tailed Lizard Leiocephalus cubensis

(1) 1 Punta Perdiz 29.1 and 1 Cueva de los Peces, Pinar del Rio 29.1.

___________________________________________________________________________________

Rockjumper Birding Ltd

Labourdonnais Village

Mapou

Mauritius

Tel (USA & Canada) toll free: 1-888-990-5552

Email: [email protected]

Alternative email: [email protected]

Website: www.rockjumperbirding.com

New World Leaf-nosed Bats Phyllostomidae

Jamaican Fruit-eating Bat Artibeus jamaicensis

(1) 40 Cueva de los Portales 28.1.

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.rockjumperbirding.com/

Rockjumper Birding Tours’ · waterbirds: American White and Brown Pelicans, Reddish Egrets, 300...

Documents

Transcript of Rockjumper Birding Tours’ · waterbirds: American White and Brown Pelicans, Reddish Egrets, 300...