Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic, half of the island of Hispaniola, offers an amazing variety of habitats and birds. February is an ideal time to visit, with local birds starting to breed and northern migrants still present. Endemics include the Palm-Chat (the only member of its family and the national bird), Hispaniolan Woodpecker, Broad-billed and Narrow-billed Todies, Hispaniolan Trogon (a superb bird!), Hispaniolan Parakeet and many more. Our tour focuses on the Southwestern part of the country where virtually all the endemic species can be found. On our last full day, we search for the critically endangered Ridgeway’s Hawk.

Highlights

• Great birding in a very interesting Caribbean Island
• Lots of endemics, including two species of the superb Todies
• Experienced and excellent guides

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Santo Domingo
We begin our tour with a meeting after dinner. Night in Santo Domingo.

Day 2: Santo Domingo to Barahona
Before breakfast we drive to the Villa Isabella Ponds in Santo Domingo to search for the endangered West Indian Whistling-Duck. After a picnic breakfast, we head to the Botanical Gardens. Here we look for some of the country’s more common lowland endemics such as Hispaniolan Woodpecker and Black-crowned Palm-Tanager, plus other species such as Greater Antillean Grackle and Antillean Palm Swift. We should also see the Palmchat with its large colonial nests; this curious bird is endemic to Hispaniola and the only member of its family. From the Botanical Gardens we begin a long drive to Barahona in the southwest corner of the country where we base ourselves for the next two nights at Casa Bonita, a charming little resort near the town of Barahona. In the evening, we head out to search for Ruddy Quail-Dove and Ashy-faced Owl. Night at Casa Bonita.

Day 3: Tarzan’s Road, Jimani and Lago Enriquillo
After a casual breakfast at Casa Bonita, in the morning we bird the areas nearby (e.g. “Tarzan’s Road). After lunch, we visit Jimani and Lago Enriquillo to target primarily Palm Crow, Greater Flamingo, Caribbean Coot, and White-cheeked Pintail. We then take a picnic dinner and drive to Puerto Escondido for evening/nightfall, where we look and listen for Least Poorwill and Greater Antillean Nightjar. Night at Casa Bonita.

Day 4: Puerto Escondido
After an early breakfast at Casa Bonita, we head back to Puerto Escondido, where we explore the arid deciduous forest and look for specialties such as Bay-breasted Cuckoo, Flat-billed Vireo, Vervain Hummingbird, Plain Pigeon, and Greater Antillean Oriole, among other, easier to get species. After a picnic lunch, we will explore the agricultural area around Puerto Escondido where we should see the threatened White-necked Crow, and then back for an early evening. Night in Pedernales.

Day 5: Exploring the Thorn Scrub and Pine Forests of the Sierra de Bahoruco
We have an early start and head to El Aceitillar Road. We visit a variety of habitats on the southern slope of the Sierra from arid scrub at sea level through thorn forest and eventually into pine forest. Many of the Hispaniolan endemic species as well as West Indian specialties occur in the area. The lower altitude thorn scrub will be searched for Stolid Flycatcher, Green-tailed Ground-Warbler and Broad-billed Tody. In the pine forests we search for Hispaniolan Emerald, Hispaniolan Crossbill, Antillean Siskin and Golden Swallow. We also visit the Visitor Centre that has recently been built within the Sierra de Bahoruco. The centre is situated overlooking a beautiful valley called Hoyo del Pelempito–the view is nothing short of breathtaking! In the afternoon, on our way back to Pedernales, we stop at a location near Laguna Oviedo for Antillean Piculet. Night in Pedernales.

Day 6: Exploring the Higher Altitudes of the Sierra de Bahoruco
This morning, we make an early start to reach the high altitude forest at Los Arroyos in time to search for the elusive La Selle Thrush, Western Chat-Tanager, White-winged Warbler, Narrow-billed Tody and the stunning Rufous-throated Solitaire. The roads are very rough here and travel will be slow going. The forest is cool and moist, often shrouded in cloud, and is characterized by large trees with a dense understorey of tree ferns and hanging moss. We then drive back to Casa Bonita for the night.

Day 7: Drive to Los Haitises National Park
Today, following a casual breakfast at Casa Bonita, we depart the southwestern part of the country and make the long drive back towards Santo Domingo and eastwards towards Los Haitises National Park. On route, we make several stops to stretch our legs and do some birding. Night in Sabana del Mar.

Day 8: Search for Ridgeway’s Hawk
Our schedule today depends upon the location of a nest site of the endangered Ridgeway’s Hawk. We plan our day in visiting a nest site or searching for the hawk if no site is accessible. We return to Santo Domingo in the afternoon. Night in Santo Domingo

Day 9: Departure
After breakfast, we then head to the airport in order to catch our flights home, or to catch a short flight to San Juan, Puerto Rico for our extension tour to Puerto Rico February 19– 23, 2011.
 

Featured Birds:

• Broad-billed Tody
• Hispaniolan Trogon
• Palm Chat
• Hispaniolan Crossbill
• Ashy-faced Owl
• Bay-breasted Cuckoo
• La Selle Thrush
• White-winged Warbler
• Rufous-throated Solitaire
• Possibly Ridgeway’s Hawk
 

Date: February 9 - 17, 2013

Duration: 9 days

Limit: 12 people

Price: TBD, 2011 price was $2,495 USD, $2,695 CAD; single supplement $225 USD, $245 CAD.

Tour Starts & Ends: Santo Domingo

*Combine with our Puerto Rico tour February 20-24, 2011
 

What to Expect

• Moderate walking and hiking; possible steep hike for Ridgeway’s Hawk
• Some long days
• Mostly hot in the day, cooler at high altitudes, rain is possible
• Good quality hotels throughout, except basic at Pedernales
• 6-12 participants with two leaders

The Dominican Republic provides some of the most exciting birding in the Caribbean, with many endemics (Hispaniola has the second highest number of any Caribbean Island). Most of the endemics are fairly easy to find, and for those that can prove elusive, such as La Selle Thrush, we make determined efforts to find. To maximize our time in the field, we have some early morning starts and pre-breakfast journeys. We will encounter some rough roads. On some days, we make evening excursions to search for nocturnal species. In the mountains, we reach a height of approximately 3000 meters on some days; hiking will be easy to moderate, with perhaps a steep climb involved in our search for the Ridgeway’s Hawk. On most days we have a picnic lunch at a site or call in at a local restaurant.
The weather should be warm and sunny but it can be cool, particularly at night in the mountains. Rain is possible but unlikely. Some warm clothing and a light, waterproof jacket are, therefore, advised, as are stout walking shoes or boots. Generally, we stay in good hotels, while in Pedernales the accommodation will be somewhat basic but clean. In the evenings, we eat at our hotel or a nearby restaurant, where we spend a relaxing evening to review the day’s bird list and discuss the itinerary for the next day.
 

Previous checklists from our Dominican Republic tours: 

2007 DR/PR species list (pdf)
2005 DR/PR species list (pdf)
2003 DR/PR species list (pdf)