Eagle-Eye Tours conducts birding tours throughout the Americas including
trips to Cuba. We thought that you might be interested in this year's Cuba
Trip Report, which we have included below.
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EAGLE-EYE TOURS
CUBA BIRDING TOUR TRIP REPORT
April 10-18, 1998 by Richard Knapton
"Isn't that an owl sitting up there, at the top of that tree?" We were
birding in the cool mountain country of western Cuba, in pine forest in La
Guira National Park. We had just searched successfully for Cuban Solitaire
and were turning our attention to Olive-capped Warblers flitting high in the
canopy, when Jack called out to us about an owl he'd spotted. Yes, it
certainly was - it was a Stygian Owl! We gathered beneath the tree watching
the bird as it nonchalantly preened itself, when Linda spotted another one
close by which was watching us warily. We soon had full-scope views of this
impressive bird - but the fact is that these two were number 2 and 3 Stygian
Owls - we had already had exceptional views of one a few days previously at
Santa Tomas in the Zapata Region, located by a local guide, Orestes Martinez
(El Chino), one of several excellent and highly skilled
naturalists/biologists with whom we interacted during our week in Cuba.
We had a very fine time in Cuba. Birding was for the most part splendid,
occasionally exasperating as we all experienced close calls with
quail-doves, and Gundlach's Hawk eluded all but a lucky few. Sometimes
things did not go as smoothly as we would have liked - a delay here, lack of
resources there, and so on - but in total we did well and our Cuban hosts
did their best.
We arrived at Varadero Airport at mid-morning and met our guides, Eduardo
our in-country guide, Vladimiro our bus driver and especially Arturo, among
the most eminent ornithologists and field biologists in the country. We
drove south away from the north coast across the island (passing through
Cardenas which has a monument to a bicycle) to our destination for the first
part of our trip, the Zapata peninsula region, and our lodge at Playa Larga.
After settling in, we went to a location of secondary woodlands and
overgrown trails for our first exposure to Cuban birds - the amazing Cuban
Trogon, which proved to be surprisingly common, the Cuban Tody, surely one
of the most endearing of birds, Great Lizard Cuckoos, Black-whiskered Vireos
seemingly everywhere, good views of Cuban Parrot, a species we were to see
encouragingly often during our stay, lots of Cuban Emeralds, and a
sprinkling of neotropical warblers - Prairie, Palm, Black-and-white,
American Redstart, Ovenbird. Pretty good start to the trip!
The next day we set off for the small community of Bermaja, about 30 km
away, and hiked into a wonderful area of Sabal Palms. We had barely got off
the bus when a flock of Cuban Parakeets swept in and perched conspicuously
for all to see. Our target bird was Fernandina's Flicker, an increasingly
uncommon species - and with Arturo's skill and knowledge, we located a
nesting pair of these woodpeckers. West Indian Woodpeckers were here as
well, along with more Cuban Parrots and Cuban Trogons, and the Cuban race of
the Northern Flicker. Yellow-headed Warblers, endemic to western Cuba, were
everywhere, it seemed. Scratching on a palm with a woodpecker hole produced
a Bare-legged Owl, which sat at the entrance to its nest-hole for everyone
to see at leisure. After a siesta at a beach resort close by, we went to a
trail which we were to hike a few times on the trip - partly overgrown,
leading through secondary forest with patches of mature trees still present.
Arturo knew of a Gundlach's Hawk nest along the trail - as we walked along
the trail, we disturbed a Gundlach's Hawk as it perched close by, and it
flew away with only a few lucky birders at the front glimpsing it. We were
not to encounter this species again, and Arturo felt that the nest had been
abandoned. Our return hike however turned up one of the highlights of the
entire trip; we found a Cuban Pygmy Owl sitting out in the open, being
mobbed by Cuban Vireos and Cuban Emeralds, when what should suddenly appear
but a Bee Hummingbird which proceeded to mob the owl and then perch on an
exposed branch right in front of us!
We revisited the trail the next morning, with no luck at seeing Gundlach's
Hawk, so we had to be content with excellent views of Cuban Green
Woodpecker, La Sagra's Flycatcher, Cuban Bullfinch, Cuban Lizard-Cuckoo, and
other widespread species. In the afternoon, for a change of pace, we visited
Los Canalles, an area of canals, mud flats and rice fields, where egrets,
herons, Glossy Ibis and Fulvous Whistling-ducks were common, and there were
local concentrations of shorebirds - Least Sandpipers, Long-billed
Dowitchers, Black-bellied Plovers, both yellowlegs, Black-necked Stilts, and
a handful of Stilt Sandpipers, Northern Jacanas and Solitary Sandpipers.
Notable by its absence was Snail Kite - we were not to find this species,
and it evidently has not recovered from hurricanes in the mid-1990s. Another
of our target species was Red-shouldered Blackbird, formerly a subspecies of
Red-winged Blackbird but now a distinct species and thought to be more
closely related to Tawny-shouldered Blackbird. It was Arturo's work on
populations of Red-shouldered Blackbird which showed its true taxonomic
status. We went to a spot where Arturo had seen the bird previously, and
after searching through dozens of Shiny Cowbirds we finally located a male
which put on a fine show for us.
The next day was the fabled trek into the Zapata Swamp itself. Up early, we
set off for Santo Tomas and met El Chino who was our guide for the morning.
A bit of tramping through ankle-high water (sometimes thigh-high for some!)
brought us out into a saw-grass marsh, and after a little searching (and
tape-playing) we had excellent views of Zapata Wren, well worth the slog
through the marsh, and this was followed shortly thereafter by even better
views of Zapata Sparrow, a truly handsome bird! The only rails we heard were
Sora and King Rail - no Zapata Rail today! After leaving the swamp, El Chino
took us to where a Greater Antillean Nightjar was nesting, for spectacular
views of this elusive nocturnal species, and then to where a Stygian Owl was
roosting, for more spectacular views! A search through the dry forest beside
the swamp was somewhat frustrating as Gray-headed Quail-doves remained
furtive and difficult to see, but the morning was an unqualified success! In
the afternoon, for another change of pace, we headed for the south shore of
the Zapata Peninsula to bird the mangrove shorelines and tidal flats.
Birding was quite slow, but we encountered over 100 Greater Flamingos, as
well as White Ibis, Roseate Spoonbill, herons and egrets including Reddish,
and several Common Black Hawks of the distinctive Cuban race. However, as we
were traveling back, Sylvia, who'd not been feeling very well, spotted four
waterfowl in a pond beside the road - we stopped, backed up, and - yes -
four West Indian Whistling-Ducks! Splendid views, and special thanks to
Sylvia!
The next day we targeted quail-doves, with varying success. A fortunate few
had good luck with Gray-headed Quail-Dove, another group had excellent looks
at Key West Quail-Doves, but the birds remained furtive and elusive. The
morning was rescued by Arturo, who found a pair of Cuban Grassquits after
much searching, and we all enjoyed leisurely looks at this quite spectacular
species, and one becoming increasingly uncommon at least in western Cuba.
Off to Havana on the next day, stopping at a Crocodile Farm en route, where
the endemic and endangered Cuban Crocodile was being raised. We took a boat
ride along a canal to Laguna de Tesoro and then to a Taino Indian Village on
an island in the lake; usually Snail Kites abound in the area, but - none
today - the effects of the hurricanes have long-lasting effects!
Our last full day was spent in the cool mountains west of Havana in Pinar
del Rio province at La Guira National Park. On the way there we stopped to
watch "Eastern" Meadowlarks - the song of these meadowlarks sounds rich and
fluty, much more reminiscent of Western Meadowlark, and the young also have
a different plumage than mainland populations. The taxonomy of Cuban birds
is still in a state of flux! We drove into the park and went up into the
pine forests on top of the "mountains" (actually only 800 metres high). The
notes of Cuban Solitaires drifted in from surrounding woodlands, and after a
short hike we found one, singing its remarkable song from an exposed perch,
and we all managed pretty decent views. Hiking back to where the bus was
parked, we found several Olive-capped Warblers, and Jack found the Stygian
Owl. Stripe-headed Tanagers foraged in the tops of the pines, and a
Red-legged Honeycreeper added a splash of colour. Arturo tracked down a
Ruddy Quail-Dove as it sang from a branch, and several of us had excellent
views of this sometimes difficult-to-see species. However, despite
everyone's best efforts, the enigmatic Blue-headed Quail-Dove eluded
everyone but Arturo. Such is birding!
We arrived back in Havana with some time to spare for looking around the
city - and John got a new bird right in the old town - Antillean Palm Swift!
And so our tour ended - excellent views of almost all possible endemics and
near-endemics, and some quite difficult-to-find species; after all, three
owl species in broad daylight is darned good!
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