Trip
Information
Date: TBA
Duration: 13
days
Leaders: Paul
Prior and local guide
Limit: 12
people
Cost: TBA
From: Havana,
Cuba
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
Trip Summary:
• Moderate walking and hiking
• Group size 6 - 12 participants
• Two leaders
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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 and Zapata Wren, Zapata Rail and Gundlach’s
Hawk. 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.
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
The tour begins in the evening, after dinner, in Havana. Night in Havana.
Day 2 - La Guira National Park
This full day is spent in the cool mountains west of Havana in Pinar
del Rio province at La Guira National Park. The mountains are not high,
only 800 metres at the highest point, but the forest changes from semi-evergreen
to pines at the peaks. The endemic Olive-capped Warbler occurs in these
pine woodlands, Stripe-headed Tanagers are common, and Red-legged Honeycreepers
feed at flowering trees. We find several other species not encountered
so far, including the Cuban Trogon, Cuban Tody, Yellow-headed Warbler
and possibly the Cuban Grassquit, 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. Five or
more endemic species are possible here. Night in Havana.
Days 3 & 4 - Najasa Valley
After a long 10-hour drive (broken up by frequent stops) we reach the
east central part of the country. Basing ourselves at the old city of
Camaguay, we shall look for birds such as the Cuban Palm Crow (possibly
to be recognized as a distinct species), Plain Pigeon, Cuban Pygmy Owl
and Giant Kingbird in the Najasa valley. The eastern half of the country
is quite different from the western half in its bird life and our time
here should be very rewarding. Nights in Camaquay.
Days 5 & 6 - Sierra de Cubitas and Cayo Coco
After breakfast we head north to Cayo Coco where we hope to see Oriente
Warbler, Cuban Gnatcatcher, Thick-billed Vireo, Bahama Mockingbird, a
different subspecies of the Zapata Sparrow, and Piping Plover on the
beach. Greater Flamingo, Roseate Spoonbill, the white morph of the Great
Blue Heron, Snail Kite, and the Cuban subspecies of the Common Blackhawk
(another possible split and likely to be known as the Cuban Crab Hawk)
will be other targets. We will stop for a sit-down lunch at a restaurant
along our route to Cayo Coco. Nights in Cayo Coco.
Day 7 – Drive to Trinidad
This morning we may search for one or two missed species among the picturesque
keys, and then leave the marvelous surroundings of Cayo Coco and head
to the Trinidad area via the old towns of Ciego de Avila and Sancti Spiritus,
and Trinidad where there will be lots to see at this World Heritage Site.
Night in Trinidad.
Day 8 - Drive to Zapata
Today we drive southwest to the vast Zapata region and the Bay of Pigs.
We will be watching for Cuban Crow, Cuban Emerald and Cuban Blackbird,
as well as Yellow-throated Warbler, Black-cowled Oriole (another split?),
Gray Kingbird and West Indian Woodpecker. A prime target along this route
will be the White-collared Swift. After checking in at our waterfront
accommodations, we will choose from a number of excellent birding sites
in the western part of the Zapata region. Quail-doves, the tiny Bee Hummingbird,
the Cuban Parakeet or the Rose-throated Parrot may attract us. Night
at Playa Giron.
Days 9 - 12 - Zapata and the Bay of Pigs
Four full days of birding will be devoted the famed Zapata Peninsula
and swamp region, a large lowland of mixed forests, flooded woods and
wet prairies dominated by sawgrass. Our guides will know the trails and
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 will also be listening for Spotted Rail, Yellow-breasted
Crake and King Rail, and are likely to find several new species such
as Cuban and Black-whiskered vireos and Cuban Bullfinch. Known habitats
will be visited and with luck, Gray-headed, Blue-headed and Key West
quail-doves may be spotted moving silently in the dense undergrowth.
In the afternoons, after a well-earned siesta, we may visit Los Chuzos,
a seasonally-flooded savanna near Playa Larga, for water and shorebirds,
including Northern Jacana and Purple Gallinule. We will 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.
One day we may devoted to the tidal flats and mangrove shorelines at
La Salina along the south shore of the Zapata Peninsula. More Common
(Cuban) Black-hawks occurs here, and the endemic Cuban Martin nests in
dead snags sticking out from the salt flats, so we could see several
breeding pairs. Waterbirds will be very well represented, including several
heron and egret species and the white morph of the Reddish Egret. Clapper
Rail, Black Skimmer and numerous shorebirds could be added. In the afternoon,
we may 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 good chance
of seeing the endemic Gundlach’s Hawk, a very scarce bird. An hour
or two could be spent at the local museum, which commemorates the Bay
of Pigs War.
Another 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 should be 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, as
is the Great Lizard-cuckoo. We should have plenty of opportunities to
observe these marvelous birds at leisure. These woodlands also support
the endangered Fernandina’s Flicker, a truly exquisite bird that
is becoming increasingly more difficult to locate. The incredibly beautiful
Blue-headed Quail-dove may also be here, so we will make a special effort
to locate these species. In the afternoon, 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 will look for Stygian Owls near our lodges
Los Sabalos is another area of deciduous woodland. It is here that we
have a good chance of finding the Bee Hummingbird, the world’s
smallest bird. We will search the most promising spots. These woodlands
also support the endemic Bare-legged Owl, so we will inspect every
tree cavity and search likely spots. We should see more Cuban Emeralds
here,
and before dusk we will walk into the Canal de Soplillar to watch the
evening flight of Neotropic Cormorants and egrets as they head to roost,
and admire the planets and 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 the pastures.
On Day 12, after an early morning outing, we head back to Havana, arriving
in time to take in some of the fascinating history and culture of Old
Havana, a remarkable city. Nights 9 - 11 in Playa Giron. Night 12 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 destination.
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