Cuba Trip May 2004
Pictures from the trip (3 per page)
Cuba bird/site update May 2004
General comments:
I'm not intending this as a full trip report-there's more than enough details on the Internet of the usual sites. However this was a May visit, when most visit Nov-Mar. For me, based in the US, the lack of neotropical migrants was a plus-though not for other visitors, surely. Also many birds were well advanced in their breeding cycle. For example, Zapata Rail calls Dec-Feb according to Chino, and thus not a possibility at this time of year. But some sightings (e.g. the terns in the Bay of Pigs) have not been noted previously; and some birds are easier this time of year (according to locals). The weather was hot, but not excessively so, and the breeze from the Caribbean at Fidel's casa particular right on the beach made this definitely "highly recommended" accommodation.
Fidel Silvestre Fuentes
Barrio Caleton, Playa Larga
Cienaga de Zapata
Matanzas, Cuba
Cod. Postal 43 000
Tel: 01459-7359
yosvanyps@correodecuba.com
Other addresses:
Orestes Martinez Garcia (el Chino)
CITMA
Carretera a Playa Larga, km 26,
Cienaga de Zapata, Matanzas,
Cuba. CP 43000
01459 97355
chino@zapata.atenas.iaf.cu
Pedro Regalado Ruiz
CITMA
Apartado postal No. 161
Camaguey 1,
Cuba. CP 70100
Jcnajasa1@cmg.jovenclub.cu
West Indian Whistling Duck. Two seen by the channels near the Croc farm
at La Boca.
Gundlach's Hawk. 3 individuals, including a close (10m!) flyover on the
Soplillar rd.
Spotted Rail. Total of three seen-in the channel W of the path at van
der Woude's "Broad Channel" Z. Sparrow site.
Sooty Tern, Bridled Tern, Brown Noddy. Seen (flocks totalling 270+) in
the Bay of Pigs, off Playa Larga.
Plain Pigeon. 3 at La Belem with Pedro Regalado.
Grey-headed Quail-Dove. 1 crossing the path at Bermejas, another watched
near Soplillar. More heard.
Key West Quail-Dove. 2 seen, more heard. Same locations.
Ruddy Quail-Dove. La Guira etc.
Blue-headed Quail-Dove. 1 calling and seen briefly in flight Soroa; 2
(one photographed) tracks S and E of Soplillar with Chino.
Cuban Parakeet. Consistently small flock at Croc farm, la Boca, also
la Belem.
Cuban Parrot. Ditto; also Playa Larga and elsewhere.
Cuban Screetch [Bare-legged] Owl. 1 day roost Bermejas.
Cuban Pygmy Owl. 1 tracks N Soplillar (with Chino).
Stygian Owl. 1 spotlighted at CITMA compound 2km N Playa Larga; 1 calling
Playa Larga.
Greater Antillean [Cuban] Nightjar. 1 with chick by track N of Playa
Larga/Playa Giron rd.
Antillean Nighthawk. Playa Larga (even in rain!), La Belem.
Bee Hummingbird. Male 200meters E of Zapata Swamp NP headquarters in
Playa Larga, 2 males tracks W and S of Palpite.
Fernandina's Flicker. Total of 14 birds seen at Bermejas, singles elsewhere.
Giant Kingbird. 1 female with Pedro at La Belem. Hard to find in the
evening…
Zapata Wren. 4 seen close at site to N of Zapata Swamp with Chino.
Bahama Mockingbird. 5 at usual site on Cayo Guillermo.
Cuban Solitaire. 1 heard La Guira; 6 singing (1 seen) at top of mirador
at Soroa in evening.
Cuban Gnatcatcher. 8+ usual site on Cayo Paredon Grande (near lighthouse).
Cuban Palm Crow. 4 at La Belem with Pedro.
Cuban Crow. Singles throughout Zapata area, also la Belem.
Cuban Vireo. La Guira, Zapata, Cayo Coco.
Thick-billed Vireo. 3+ usual site on Cayo Paredon Grande (near lighthouse).
Olive-capped Warbler. 1 singing in small stand of pines 100meters in
from entrance La Guira NP; many others in pine habitat by road and cabin site.
Zapata [Cuban] Sparrow. 1 at Z. Wren site in Zapata; 2 Cayo Coco.
Cuban Grassquit. 1 La Guira, 1 near Moron, 1 at km 85 on N-1 autopista
back to Habana. Not easy to find; cemetery at Najasa has been treated with herbicide…
Red-shouldered Blackbird. Max 3 at Croc farm blackbird roost.
Jon Gallagher, June 2004