We touched down, myself & Mrs PJ, late afternoon in Cuba having
survived the Friday the 13th flight and the first bird I saw was a
Cuban Blackbird flying around inside the terminal building !! Not sure
if this 'top trumped' a House Bunting at passport control in Marrakech
once or an Upland Sand while we were waiting for our bags at Scilly
airfield but it was a good start..
This
was my second trip to the Caribbean but Cuba has many endemic birds so
there was still going to be quite a few new birds to see especially with
a trip arranged to the Birding hot spot of Playa
Largo in the Bay of Pigs.
Cuban Blackbird
La Sagras
flycatcher, Smooth billed Ani, Great Antillian Grackle, Antillian Palm
Swift, Common Ground & Mourning doves,White eyed Vireo, Cuban Vireo
and many Mockingbirds.
Palm Warbler
La Sagras Fly
Smooth billed Ani
Greater Antillean Grackle
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| Northern Parula |
Cuban Emerald
Black & White Warbler
Prairie
Warbler
American Redstart
Ovenbird
Blue
Grey Gnatcatcher
Varahicacos Nature Reserve.
There
was very little information about this reserve on the Internet but it
looked good on the photos and it wasn't a disappoinment. Though the
birds were much the same as I had seen around the hotel which wasn't a
surprise they were in greater numbers with far more American Wood
Warblers. Double figures of B&W, Ovenbird and Prairie Warblers on
every visit, I even manged some decent pics.. There were new additions
however with Cape May warbler and Black throated blue warbler, both
being life ticks for me as was Great Lizard Cuckoo.
Cape May Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Great Lizard Cuckoo
On one morning there was a bit of Raptor migration going over with several Broad winged Hawks, Ospreys and a single Sharp shinned Hawk.
Beach & Marina
The
beach was a little disappointing 'birdwise' with Killdeer being the
only Wader seen but the Brown Pelicans and Royal Terns are always good value and I had
plenty of time to brush up on my 'birds in flight photography' with some
pretty good results I think, especially when you consider the camera
was free with Tesco points !!
Brown Pelican
Killdeer
Royal Tern
The
Marina was much more productive though it was quite a hike up the
beach, like Blakeney Point only on sand and in 34 degree heat !!
Once
we were there there was a very handy restaurant which had ice cold
Cuban Beer and good views of the roosting Gulls, Terns, Skimmers,
Cormorants & Waders.
Playa Largo, Bay of Pigs.
We
had booked the holiday at quite short notice, this coupled with me
being a dozy git meant that I subsequently struggled to find a guide for
my big days birding at the hots pot of Playa Largo so I am endebted to
Andy Mitchell who, at the last minute managed to secure the services of
Angel Martinez, only the best bloody guide on Cuba!!!
On the
big day I set off at 'daft o'clock' in a taxi to meet up with Angel in
the Playa Largo hotel, a 2 hour journey from our resort of Varadero.
When
we met I presented him with a list of my 'wants' just like a kid with
his Christmas list !!! Well all I can say is that I must of been a very
good boy all year because he delivered with interest.
First
off was Cuba's national bird the Cuban Trogan and the first to be ticked
off my target list, second Cuban Tody, cracking little birds who
weirdly have a 'fart' like call which incidently Angel could mimmick
very well, sometimes without moving his lips. Other gems included Cuban
Parrott, West Indian Woodpecker, Cuban Green Woodpecker, Yellow bellied
Sapsucker,Tawny shouldered Blackbird, Red legged Thrush (common), Yellow
headed warbler, Northern Waterthrush, Shiny Cowbird, Cuban Crow,
Zenaida Dove, Grey headed quail Dove and Black whiskered Vireo.
Cuban Trogan
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| Cuban Tody |
 |
| Cuban Parrotts |
Red legged Thrush
Now
I was already impressed with my guide but he took it to another level
when we started looking for Owls. Within minutes he had summoned up a
couple of Cuban Pygmy Owls, this was following by 2 Cuban Screech Owls (
at nest sites, so admittedly easy to locate) the hat-trick was
completed with Stygian Owl and the cherry on the cake an unexpected
Cuban Nightjar.
Angel later told me that he usually sets 2
days aside to locate these 4 species when he guides for Sunbird
holidays, today he found them all in 30 minutes !! a personal record, he
even did a little dance in the woods to celebrate, which was a bit
bizarre to say the least.
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| Cuban Pygmy Owl |
 |
| Cuban Screech Owl |
Cuban Nightjar
Stygian Owl
Best
bird of the day I've been saving till last. Bee Hummingbird. This bird
was on my 'bucket' list and was in bold letters on the list of wants.
Angel said it was a possibility but by no means guaranteed. Today
however was one of those days and I just couldn't fail. We arrived at
the site, he played the call, one flew in, landed on top of a shrub, I
took some photos, high fives all round. Job as they say, done.
Today
was up there with some of the best days birding I've ever had, and all
for the sum of £16.00 !!! + a generous tip of course.
 |
| Bee Hummingbird |
Away
from the birding we enjoyed a couple of days in Havana whilst we were
there, which is a must ( though I did see my first Cuban Martins in the
city) the people are friendly and the classic American 1950's cars have
to be seen to be believed, thoroughly recommended and I hope to go back
one day.
