Monday, 31 March 2014
Ovenbird,Stripe-headed Tanager,Yellow-headed Warbler,Northern Parula,Lar Sargras`s Flycatcher,Cuban
Peewe,Cuban Verio,Whiskered Verio,Cuban Tody,Red-legged Honeycreeper.
Saturday, 29 March 2014
Jeanette and I spent two weeks at the Hotel Breezes,Jibacoa,which is halfway between the Capital Havana and Varandero on the north coast of the Island.The hotel is sheltered by high green mountains and the long sandy beach is protected by coral reefs teeming with marine life and most importantly it is safe to walk outside the hotel into the countryside,all the people we came across were very friendly..
We found the food and drinks good (its a fully inclusive hotel) and the weather,although their winter was very hot out in the full sun most days by 10:30,we had one day of rain.We bird-watched between 7:30 and 10:00 and again from 16:00 -18:00.As is usual bird activity was at its peak during the mornings.
A Web page can be found on the birding sites around the hotel at Playa Jibacoa,cuba Birding Sites,
Cuba,Caribean,Trip index=Birding the Americas.
The only downside was the fact that a bird I was expecting to see the Cuban Trogon,is not found in the area.
Bird List
Least Grebe 1( water Treatment pond).Magnificent Frigatebird 6,Brown Pelican 8,Cormorant 2,Yellow-crownd Night Heron 5,Snowy Egret 1,Green Heron 4,Cattle Egret 6,Little Blue Heron 1,Turkey Vulture,numerous,Red-tailed Hawk 1,American Kestral 3,Osprey 1 (high over),Royal Tern (singles out at sea),White-crowned Pigeon,Mourning Dove,White-winged Dove,Zenaida Dove,Common ground Dove,Smooth-billed Ani,Great-lizard Cuckoo 15+,Antillean Palm Swift 1,Tree Swallow 5 (high over),Barn Swall (8 high over),Cuban Emerald 6,Belted Kingfisher 1,Hotel stream),Cuban Tody (common,just outside hotel grounds)West Indian Woodpecker (common),Cuban Green Woodpecker 2,Lar sagra`s Flycatcher (more common just outside hotel grounds),Cuban Pewee,Gray Kingbird,Loggerhead Kingbird,Red-eyed Vireo 1,Cuban Vireo (common just outside of hotel grounds), Black Whiskered Vireo (common,when singing sounds like a House Sparrow),Ceda Waxwing 10 (just outside of hotel grounds)Red-legged Thrush (common),Northern Mockingbird (common),Yellow Warbler 1,Black and white Warbler 2,Prothonotary Warbler 3,Prairie Warbler 2,Palm Warbler (common),Black-throated Blue Warbler 2,Yellow-throated Warbler 4,Northern Parula 1,Yellow-headed Warbler (common just outside hotel grounds),Common Yellowthroat 2,(water treatment Plant),American Redstart 3,Stripe Headed Tanager 4 (just outside of hotel grounds),Yellow-faced grassquit,House Sparrow,Tawny-shouldered Blackbird 6,Great Antillean Grackle (common) Cuban Blackbird (common),Black-cowled Oriole 2,Ovenbird 1,(outside of hotel grounds),Red-legged Honeycreeper 4,Gray Catbird 1 (water treatment works).
Birds seen well away from hotel
Collared Dove,Least Sandpiper 10,Blue-winged Teal 2,Roseate Spoonbill 1,Great Blue Heron 1,Greater Yellowlegs 4.
We found the food and drinks good (its a fully inclusive hotel) and the weather,although their winter was very hot out in the full sun most days by 10:30,we had one day of rain.We bird-watched between 7:30 and 10:00 and again from 16:00 -18:00.As is usual bird activity was at its peak during the mornings.
A Web page can be found on the birding sites around the hotel at Playa Jibacoa,cuba Birding Sites,
Cuba,Caribean,Trip index=Birding the Americas.
The only downside was the fact that a bird I was expecting to see the Cuban Trogon,is not found in the area.
Bird List
Least Grebe 1( water Treatment pond).Magnificent Frigatebird 6,Brown Pelican 8,Cormorant 2,Yellow-crownd Night Heron 5,Snowy Egret 1,Green Heron 4,Cattle Egret 6,Little Blue Heron 1,Turkey Vulture,numerous,Red-tailed Hawk 1,American Kestral 3,Osprey 1 (high over),Royal Tern (singles out at sea),White-crowned Pigeon,Mourning Dove,White-winged Dove,Zenaida Dove,Common ground Dove,Smooth-billed Ani,Great-lizard Cuckoo 15+,Antillean Palm Swift 1,Tree Swallow 5 (high over),Barn Swall (8 high over),Cuban Emerald 6,Belted Kingfisher 1,Hotel stream),Cuban Tody (common,just outside hotel grounds)West Indian Woodpecker (common),Cuban Green Woodpecker 2,Lar sagra`s Flycatcher (more common just outside hotel grounds),Cuban Pewee,Gray Kingbird,Loggerhead Kingbird,Red-eyed Vireo 1,Cuban Vireo (common just outside of hotel grounds), Black Whiskered Vireo (common,when singing sounds like a House Sparrow),Ceda Waxwing 10 (just outside of hotel grounds)Red-legged Thrush (common),Northern Mockingbird (common),Yellow Warbler 1,Black and white Warbler 2,Prothonotary Warbler 3,Prairie Warbler 2,Palm Warbler (common),Black-throated Blue Warbler 2,Yellow-throated Warbler 4,Northern Parula 1,Yellow-headed Warbler (common just outside hotel grounds),Common Yellowthroat 2,(water treatment Plant),American Redstart 3,Stripe Headed Tanager 4 (just outside of hotel grounds),Yellow-faced grassquit,House Sparrow,Tawny-shouldered Blackbird 6,Great Antillean Grackle (common) Cuban Blackbird (common),Black-cowled Oriole 2,Ovenbird 1,(outside of hotel grounds),Red-legged Honeycreeper 4,Gray Catbird 1 (water treatment works).
Birds seen well away from hotel
Collared Dove,Least Sandpiper 10,Blue-winged Teal 2,Roseate Spoonbill 1,Great Blue Heron 1,Greater Yellowlegs 4.
Monday, 10 March 2014
March 10th (Snodland)
This morning at 1130,I saw the HOOPOE again in the Sandy Lane area.It flew off west towards the horse paddocks,over towards Birling.
Although I went to look for it later,there was no sign of it.
Although I went to look for it later,there was no sign of it.
Wednesday, 5 March 2014
Another bright and calm morning.(0800-0900)
I added three more species this morning - Green Sandpiper 1 (river,from the Bucket Wood),Little Egret 1 and Lesser Redpoll 2 (Mill Stream).(57) species.
In the garden this afternoon I had 2 Small Tortoiseshell and 1 Brimstone.
This winter Reed Buntings in the garden have been in low numbers,mainly just 2-4.None have been seen for at least two weeks now.
I added three more species this morning - Green Sandpiper 1 (river,from the Bucket Wood),Little Egret 1 and Lesser Redpoll 2 (Mill Stream).(57) species.
In the garden this afternoon I had 2 Small Tortoiseshell and 1 Brimstone.
This winter Reed Buntings in the garden have been in low numbers,mainly just 2-4.None have been seen for at least two weeks now.
Tuesday, 4 March 2014
Nice bright morning,although cloudy by mid afternoon.
Birds of note - Black-throated Diver 2 ( New Diggings),Black-necked Grebe 1 (Burrowes Pit),Slav Grebe 1 ( Lade Pit,north end),Black Redstart 1 (Power Station wall),Bearded Tits 2 (Dengemarsh),G W Egrets at least 3 and Glossy Ibis 1 (Horse Paddocks,before reserve entrance).
The big numbers of wildfowl have now departed,but Smew and Goldeneye remain.
Birds of note - Black-throated Diver 2 ( New Diggings),Black-necked Grebe 1 (Burrowes Pit),Slav Grebe 1 ( Lade Pit,north end),Black Redstart 1 (Power Station wall),Bearded Tits 2 (Dengemarsh),G W Egrets at least 3 and Glossy Ibis 1 (Horse Paddocks,before reserve entrance).
The big numbers of wildfowl have now departed,but Smew and Goldeneye remain.
Monday, 3 March 2014
March 3rd (New Hythe)
0830-0930.
Seeing as up to 2 Bitterns have been reported recently in the Brookland/Abbey Mead lake area.I popped down there this morning to try my luck.I made straight for Abbey Mead and the NE corner.Where in previous years I have been successful in locating Bitterns.Almost immediately after I had arrived,I heard a Black-headed Gull making one hell of a racket.On me peering through the hawthorns which overlook the area to see what all the noise was about,a Bittern flew in and dropped down,but unfortunately out of sight.
This now makes my New Hythe total for the year to just (54).1,m still missing,Redpoll,Siskin,Stock Dove,Oystercatcher,Common Sandpiper,Green Sandpiper,Goldeneye,Goldcrest and Treecreeper,all of which I should have seen by now.
Seeing as up to 2 Bitterns have been reported recently in the Brookland/Abbey Mead lake area.I popped down there this morning to try my luck.I made straight for Abbey Mead and the NE corner.Where in previous years I have been successful in locating Bitterns.Almost immediately after I had arrived,I heard a Black-headed Gull making one hell of a racket.On me peering through the hawthorns which overlook the area to see what all the noise was about,a Bittern flew in and dropped down,but unfortunately out of sight.
This now makes my New Hythe total for the year to just (54).1,m still missing,Redpoll,Siskin,Stock Dove,Oystercatcher,Common Sandpiper,Green Sandpiper,Goldeneye,Goldcrest and Treecreeper,all of which I should have seen by now.
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