Big Bend - May 1-8, 2006
Bird/Species Trip List

Bold and italics indicates a JAMAICAN endemic bird (29 endemics seen, following taxonomy of Raffaele et al. Birds of the West Indies, 2003)

Bold without italics indicates a West Indies regional endemic or specialty (14 additional Caribbean specialties seen, as per Wauer, 1996)

For a first year trip, with varied activities in addition to birding, and some fine r and r time at Mockingbird Hill, we did quite well!

Species List:
Least Grebe – one individual seen in small pond by Castle Green

White-tailed Tropicbird – seen near sea cliffs on east side Jamaica en route back to airport – elegant flyers!

Brown Pelican – seen in Kingston Harbor, and on our drive back to the airport on the east and southern coasts

Magnificent Frigatebird – seen in Kingston Harbor, and the sight of over 100 perched on a phone wire over the bay at Port Antonio was most impressive!

Laughing Gull – Yallis Pond en route back to airport, now in breeding plumage

Royal Tern – Kingston Harbor, San Antonio Harbor (1) and Yallis Pond

Green Heron – seen at several locations, with over 20 seen on our raft trip on the Rio Grande

Snowy Egret – many seen on our Rio Grande raft trip, also in Yallis Pond area and a few scattered coastal locations

Little Blue Heron – see on several days, usually single birds

Great Blue Heron – while not common, seen on several occasions, including great looks at a very pale juvenile on our Rio Grande Raft trip

Cattle Egret – daily, very common, some showing breeding plumage

Great Egret – one individual seen on the north coast near Port Antonio

Reddish Egret – a white phased individual seen in San Antonio harbor while on our boat ride

Spotted Sandpiper – Rio Grande River and beach of Navy Island

Killdeer – one individual at Green Castle ponds

Common Gallinule – Hope Gardens pond

Masked Duck – new for several on our trip, seen well in small pond near Green Castle

Turkey Vulture – seen daily, one albino individual seen from Ecclesdown Rd.

Red-tailed Hawk – seen very well, on several days. Lovely to see this hawk in its namesake location (species = jamaicensis….)

Peregrine – seen on two days of our trip, the first in Hope Gardens with John Fletcher, the second by Ginny from the veranda at Tamarind Hill

American Kestrel – seen nearly daily, one bird with red breast characteristic of ____ race

White – crowned Pigeon – great views on day one at Liguanea Gardens, posing for photos, then seen on nearly each day, often in flight. This widespread Caribbean endemic is a species of concern with declining populations, though we saw it in very good numbers.

Rock Pigeon – urban areas

*Ring-tailed Pigeon – one perched and two flying birds seen during our walk on Ecclesdown Rd.

Mourning Dove – two seen near ponds at Castle Green

Zenaida Dove – seen nearly daily, very common. Widespread Caribbean endemic.

White-winged Dove – walking about the gardens at Liguanea and Hope; also at plantations

Common Ground Dove – seen daily in a variety of habitats

Caribbean Dove – first picked up at Castle Green, then at all locations visited on northern coast.

*Crested Quail Dove – seen by Ernie at Hardwar Gap, then by several of us along Ecclesdown Rd. Most looks were quick as they’d jump off the road margin, but Ryan found us one perched for best looks

Ruddy Quail Dove – Hardwar Gap, the road up to Mockingbird Hill and Ecclesdown Rd.

*Yellow-billed Parrot – seen very well in scope at Hope Gardens, fly by’s at Tamarind

*Black-billed Parrot – surprisingly scarce – seen by Ryan at Ecclesdown while we were busy with the Jamaican Blackbird; no further viewing this day, or others.

Olive-throated Parakeet – seen on most days, often perched out in the open, or seen feeding on fruiting trees.

Green-rumped Parrotlet – introduced but now fairly common, heard on walk near Tamarind Guest House, seen on Ecclesdown Rd.

*Chestnut-bellied Cuckoo – two seen on Ecclesdown (Ecc.) Rd., both located by hearing vocalizations

*Jamaican Lizard Cuckoo – seen in same vicinity of Chestnut-bellied Cuckoo, and one came to our breakfast spot on Ecc. Rd.

Smooth-billed Ani – seen well on both our plantation tours

*Jamaican Owl – seeing two adults and a large fuzzy young bird was a real treat – in the breadfruit tree above our outside dining area at Forres Park Lodge.

Black Swift – several above the veranda of Mockingbird Hill, others seen with larger

Antillean Palm Swift – Liguanea Gardens and Hope Gardens. This bird is found only on Jamaica, Cuba and Hispanola.

Collared Swift – Tamarind Hotel, Hardwar Gap and Ecc. Rd – always at a good distance, until one buzzed us quite close in the mist walking up Hardwar Gap Rd.

*Jamaican Mango – seen well off veranda at Tamarind Hotel

*Red-billed Streamertail – almost the first bird seen at Liguanea Garden, and then very common, must a beautiful bird! At Forres Park they’d land on flowering coffee shrubs a foot away – quite an experience! We did see one at Mockingbird Hill feeding – this is an overlap zone and both species are possible here.

*Black-billed Streamertail – seen very well at Hotel Mockingbird Hill and Ecc. Rd. – eastern Jamaican specialty. Different vocalizations were obvious as well as bill color.

Vervain Hummingbird – a real favorite – repeatedly seeing the world’s second smallest hummingbird at close range is pretty neat! Found only on Jamaica and Hispanola.

Belted Kingfisher – Ernie spotted two of these dandies on a phone line as we turned into Sun Valley Plantation for our tour. Four were seen on our raft trip down the Rio Grande.

*Jamaican Tody – easily a group favorite. This bold and colorful little bird would identify itself by call, then perch for us, often at eye – level. Emerald green with a magenta throat – plump and jaunty – can’t be beat! In addition to being an island endemic, the tody is Jamaica’s member of one of two Caribbean endemic FAMILIES.

*Jamaican Woodpecker – seen daily – lovely coloration and marvelous vocal repertoire.

*Jamaican Becard – several pair off Ecc. Rd, including an active nest with adults coming and going

Gray Kingbird – very common, seen daily, memorable trill

Loggerhead Kingbird – one of the most common birds of our trip – wins the prize for best bill…

*Sad Flycatcher – seen really well on our high elevation walk at Hardwar Gap – once considered Dusky-capped, its vocalizations were of real interest.

*Rufous-tailed Flycatcher – only one bird - seen at a distance, but well off Hardwar Gap
This bird is normally more common off Ecc. Rd – may be starting its nesting cycle??

Stolid Flycatcher – a nice surprise for us to see on our last full day, in the arid scrub vegetation of Navy Island. It was feeding on palm berries and seen very well, with its stout beak.

*Jamaican Pewee – we had a great study of this little bird, fairly furtive, from our breakfast spot off Hardwar Gap

Greater Antillean Elaenia – Peg and Polly observed this dainty small flycatcher in the garden of guide Jill Bylas near Forres Park. Known only from Jamaica and Hispanola.

*Jamaica Elaenia – one individual and one pair seen off Ecc. Rd, both times feeding in clusters of dead leaves.

Barn Swallow – seen at Castle Green, and along Caribbean en route to Ecc. Rd – open areas

Cave Swallow – Four were seen near the bridge at our take out point on the raft trip, and again at the river where we had our field breakfast our last morning, en route to the airport.

*Jamaican Crow – Castleton Gardens and several on Ecc. Rd. Wild vocalizations – a mix between Fish Crow and Wild Turkey!!

Northern Mockingbird – very common, seen on all days and in a number of habitats

*White-eyed Thrush – much less common of the two species and quite furtive. We had our first glimpses at Hardwar Gap road, but found them more prevalent off of Ecc. Rd. It’s musical call was most pleasing.

*White-chinned Thrush (Hopping Dick) – while common in gardens and agricultural settings, this bird was a favorite for its jaunting hopping mode of travel – we soon gave up using anything but its Jamaican name!

Rufous-throated Solitaire – we first heard this bird on our hike to the Cinchona Gardens, but got our first looks while walking near Hardwar Gap. Beautiful songster of the higher, denser forest realm.

*Jamaican Vireo – seen on many days, bold enough to get photographs; most often in pairs

*Blue-Mountain Vireo – great views of a pair from Hardwar Gap road.

Black-whiskered Vireo – seen nearly each day, very vocal

Black-and-White Warbler – one seen in high elevation forests near Hardwar Gap

Worm-eating Warbler – spotted by Peg in mixed flock on road near Hope Gardens with John Fletcher – quick looks!

Northern Parula Warbler – seen on two of our days

Yellow Warbler – seen near Tamarind Guest House on morning walk

Black-throated Blue Warbler – our most common warbler, the males now in breeding attire – we never tired of looking at them.

Chestnut-sided Warbler – considered a rare transient, we had two males turning plumage, spotted by Ryan on Ecc. Rd in a mixed flock

*Arrow-headed Warbler – Hardwar Gap and Ecc. Rd – Ryan tells us they often feed on ants taken off the bark of trees, and we observed this. Also seen well at Mockingbird Hill.

Ovenbird – great views on the road at Ecc. Rd

Common Yellowthroat – seen on several days, both males and females

American Redstart – likely the most common of our North American migrants, seen daily. A jaunty one came to lunch with us at Miss Betty’s…

Bananaquit – seen daily, displays a very different vocalization from Central American birds. Very common and tame.

*Orangequit – seen nearly each day, active feeders, always busy

*Jamaican Euphonia – our first was a pair building a nest near the entry to Hope Gardens, seen on most days

*Jamaican Stripe-headed Tanager – a beautiful, striking bird – seen first at Jill Bylas’ garden near Forres Park, then seen daily, in pairs or small groups

*Jamaican Oriole – heard in all of our locations and seen on most days – beautiful song and bird!

Greater Antillean Grackle, daily and very common

*Jamaican Blackbird – first heard, we watched this rare bird approach a bromeliad, then hop in to bathe and preen – a real thrill. Grating vocalizations…

Saffron Finch – seen in the parking lot trees at Liguanee Garden, an introduced species in Jamaica

Greater Antillean Bullfinch – male seen well at Hardwar Gap, and one off the veranda at Forres Park

Yellow-faced Grassquit – very common, our largest flocks near the orchid houses at Green Castle

Black-faced Grassquit – seen well in the gardens and at our lodges

*Yellow-shouldered Grassquit – what a beauty! Best seen in the early mornings. Seen well at Hotel Mockingbird Hill and on the Ecc. Rd.

Nutmeg Manakin – Ryan spotted one of these introduced but lovely birds in with a flock of Yellow-faced Grassquits near the orchid houses at Green Castle.

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