Trip
Information
Date: February
16 – 28, 2010
Duration: 13 days
Leaders: Paul Prior and local guide
Limit: 12 people
Cost: $3995 CDN; Single supplement $225 CDN
A portion of the
proceeds from this tour go to Bird Studies Canada and the local BirdLife
partner.
From: Havana, Cuba
Highlights:
• Wonderful and easy birding, with lots of endemics
• Superb wildlife refuges and parks, and fascinating Havana
• A thoroughly enjoyable Caribbean Birding adventure/holiday
Featured birds:
• Bee Hummingbird
• Cuban Tody
• Cuban Trogon
• Gundlach's Hawk
• Giant Kingbird
• Zapata Wren
• Fernandina's Flicker
• Bare-legged Owl
• Cuban Vireo
• Zapata Sparrow
• Cuban Solitaire
• Cuban Oriole
Trip Summary:
• Moderate walking and hiking
• Group size 4 - 12 participants
•
4 – 8 with one leader, 9 – 12 with two leaders
• One in-country flight
• Air-conditioned vehicle
• Good food and accommodation |
 Cuba
is a wonderful tropical island that boasts golden beaches, extensive
wetlands, subtropical rainforests, temperate mountains, and has 25
or more endemics. On our trip, we have the chance to see almost all
of the country’s endemics. We visit lowland forests, rice fields,
mangrove swamps, and the exciting Zapata swamp. We encounter trogons
and todies, lizard-cuckoos and parakeets, and the world’s smallest
bird, the Bee Hummingbird and we look for Zapata Sparrow, Zapata Wren,
Zapata Rail and Gundlach’s Hawk. The Vinales Valley holds several
endemics – Giant Kingbird, Cuban Gnatcatcher, and more, We also
visit the cool mountains of west Cuba, where we search for Olive-capped
Warblers, tanagers and honeycreepers while being serenaded by the beautiful
flute-like song of the Cuban Solitaire, and the delightful coastal
area around Cayo coco.
See below for a detailed
itinerary
Click
here to download a list of birds from our most recent Cuba tour
Click here to download
a registration form
Photos: Cuban
Tody by Arturo Kirkconnell, Cuban Trogon by Jim Bangma |
Itinerary
Day 1 - Arrival in Cuba
We arrive today at the José Martí International Airport,
where we are welcomed by a Cubatur agent fluent in English, and then
transferred to our hotel in Havana. Night in Havana.
Day 2 - Drive from La Habana to Viñales Valley
After breakfast, we drive to the Viñales Valley, stopping for
waterbirds and shorebirds along the way. We visit the Maravillas de Viñales,
a fine trail along which we look for the stunning Cuban Trogon, Cuba’s
national bird (so chosen because it has all the colours of the Cuban
flag in its plumage). Other goodies we could find here are the increasingly
scarce Cuban Grassquit, Cuban Pygmy Owl, Cuban Tody, Red-legged Honeycreeper,
the resident population of White-eyed Vireo, Stripe-headed Tanager, Zenaida
Dove and with luck Key West Quail-Dove. North American migrants could
include Black-throated Green Warbler and Indigo Bunting. The Cork Palm
(Microcycas calocoma) is here, a very ancient plant, considered a living
fossil. Overnight Viñales.
Day 3 - La Guira National Park
Today we head to the cool mountains west of Havana in Pinar del Rio province
at La Guira National Park. The mountains are not high, only 800 m at
the highest point, but the lush forest changes from semi-evergreen to
pines at the peaks, and provide an excellent introduction to Cuban birds.
The endemic Olive-capped Warbler occurs in these pine woodlands, Great
Lizard Cuckoos scuttle along branches, Stripe-headed Tanagers are common,
and Red-legged Honeycreepers feed at flowering trees. Several other species
occur here, including Yellow-headed Warbler, all the while being serenaded
by one of the world’s most beautiful singers, the Cuban Solitaire.
Variously described as flute-like or bell-like, the song of this thrush
has an ethereal quality, which matches its high pine woodland home. We
also visit Cueva de los Portales, a limestone cave that was the headquarters
of Che Guevara during the Cuban missile crisis of the early 1960s and
a national monument from both a geological and an historical point of
view. Night in Sierra del Rosario.
Day 4 - Drive
to Cienaga de Zapata
We spend the morning birding this area, focusing on species we may
have missed up to now. Then after lunch we take the highway from
San Diego
de los Baños to Playa Giron for a four-night stay. The trip takes
a few hours driving but we break up the journey with a number of stops.
Our destination is the fabled Zapata Swamp. This area was declared a
biosphere preserve in 2000 and Ramsar site in 2001. It covers an area
of 628,171 hectares and is the largest and best-conserved wetland in
Cuba and the Caribbean. Night at Playa Giron.
Days 5 to 7 - Zapata and the Bay of Pigs
Three full days of birding will be devoted to the famed Zapata Peninsula
and swamp region, a large lowland of mixed forests, flooded woods and
wet prairies dominated by sawgrass. Our guides know the trails, and
the bridges we have to cross, as we search for localized endemics such
as
Zapata Sparrow, and the very rare Zapata Wren and Zapata Rail. While
looking for these, we listen for Spotted Rail, Yellow-breasted Crake
and King Rail, and are likely to find several new species such as Cuban
and Black-whiskered vireos, Cuban Bullfinch, Cuban Parakeet and Rose-throated
Parrot. Known habitats for quail-doves will be visited and with luck,
Gray-headed, Blue-headed and Key West quail-doves will be spotted moving
silently in the dense undergrowth.
One afternoon, after a well-earned siesta, we visit Los Chuzos, a seasonally-flooded
savanna near Playa Larga, for waterbirds and shorebirds, including
Northern Jacana and Purple Gallinule. We place special emphasis on
locating the
West Indian Whistling Duck, which occurs regularly in these wetlands,
and the Red-shouldered Blackbird, which frequents the tall sawgrass.
We visit tidal flats and mangrove shorelines at La Salinas along the
south shore of the Zapata Peninsula. This 91,000-acre salt marsh is
one of the most important flyways for migratory birds in the northern
Caribbean.
The mudflats support large numbers of Greater Flamingos, shorebirds,
Cuban Black Hawk, Black Skimmer, Clapper Rail and Osprey. The endemic
Cuban Martin nests in dead snags sticking out from the salt flats.
Waterbirds are very well represented, including several heron and egret
species
including the white morph of the Reddish Egret. We also visit Los Canales,
an area of canals and rice fields that supports a large population
of Snail Kites. It is here that we have a chance of seeing the endemic
Gundlach’s
Hawk, a very scarce bird. Time could be spent at the local museum, which
commemorates the Bay of Pigs War.
One day we leave the coast and visit deciduous forests at La Ceiba,
near the village of Bermejas, in search of woodland species. Mixed
warbler
flocks are usually present and we have a chance of seeing a dozen or
more North American neotropical migrants, including Worm-eating Warbler.
The endemic Yellow-headed Warbler is quite common in these woodlands,
which also support the endangered Fernandina’s Flicker. We may
visit another woodland, El Cenote, so named because of the deep sinkhole
in the limestone that connects to the sea. A refreshing swim in the
clear water, among the colourful marine fish, is an option. In the
evening,
if we have not already located one during the day, we look for Stygian
Owls near our lodges.
Los Sabalos is an area of deciduous woodland where we have a good chance
of finding the Bee Hummingbird, the world’s smallest bird. These
woodlands also support the endemic Bare-legged Owl, so we inspect tree
cavities and search likely spots. We should see more Cuban Emeralds here,
and before dusk a walk into the Canal de Soplillar reveals the evening
flight of Neotropic Cormorants and egrets as they head to roost, and
perhaps admire planets and the moon in our scopes. As darkness falls,
we will be on site to look and listen for the Cuban subspecies of the
Greater Antillean Nightjar, another potential split, as it leaves its
forested day roost and flies low over pastures.
Day 8 - Drive from Playa Giron to Camaguey
After breakfast, we drive to Trinidad City, a World Heritage Site,
where we spend a little time admiring the city square, Museum of Romantic,
and perhaps La Canchanchara pub, for Cuban cocktails. En route, we
watch
for Cuban Crow and Cuban Blackbird, as well as Yellow-throated Warbler,
Cuban Oriole, Gray Kingbird
and West Indian Woodpecker. A prime target along this route will be
the White-collared
Swift. Night
at Camaguay.
Day 9 - La Belen Farm and the Najasa Valley
Today we visit La Belen Farm, famous for such very rare birds as Palm
Crow, Giant Kingbird, Plain Pigeon, Cuban Grassquit, Fernandina’s
Ficker and Gundlach’s Hawk. Night in Camaguay.
Days 10 & 11 - Drive from La Belen to Cayo Coco
After breakfast we head north to Cayo Coco for a two-night stay. There
is a lot to see at this charming location. We search for Oriente Warbler,
Cuban Gnatcatcher, Thick-billed Vireo, Bahama Mockingbird, and a different
subspecies of the Zapata Sparrow. Piping Plovers occur on the beach.
Greater Flamingo, Roseate Spoonbill and the white morph of the Great
Blue Heron will be other targets, and perhaps we spend some time enjoying
the beaches and local attractions. Nights in Cayo Coco.
Day 12 - Flight back to Havana
After a morning looking for species not yet located, we head to the
airport and fly to Havana.City arriving in time to take in some of
the fascinating
history and culture of Old Havana, a remarkable city. In the evening
we are scheduled to visit ‘El Morro Cabañas Park’ to
witness the authentic cannon shooting ceremony at the fort. Farewell
dinner overlooking Havana bay with Cuban Music group. Night in Havana.
Day 13 - Fly to Home Destination
We may have time to see more of Old Havana and to buy gifts at the
local crafts market before checking in for our flight to our home destinations.
What to Expect
Our daily
itinerary varies somewhat according to weather and habitat, but the
general pattern will be to go for a short walk before breakfast. Driving
will be limited to either small or moderate stretches, with a couple
of fairly long drives. At some lodges, we return for lunch, followed
by a siesta of an hour or so - time to go swimming and enjoy the beach
at some of our lodges. Then we go out for an afternoon visit to another
birding hot-spot, followed by supper and the evening review of birds
and other wildlife that we have seen and heard, and finally a look
forward to the next day of activity.
Walking conditions will be relatively easy, occasionally moderate, and
the hike into the Zapata Swamp may require some effort. Waterproof footwear
is advised. It may rain, so a light rain-jacket would come in useful.
It will be warm in the mornings and hot in mid-afternoon (siesta time),
sometimes humid, and pleasantly warm in the mountains in Pinar del Rio
province.
We are accompanied and guided by experienced and gifted local naturalists,
and we will certainly require their expertise in locating specialties.
Our accommodations are clean and comfortable, and our bus will be more
than adequate.
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