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Jamaica
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© Mike Read  Jamaican Woodpecker |
Join us on a Caribbean island rich in birds, with some fine hotels, and excellent food (try the coconut and garlic soup!) and of course that lovely sunshine, for a trip that is just the perfect getaway from a grey British winter. Jamaica is an island particularly rich in endemic species, several of which are really beautiful birds, and our tour is designed to see most of these.We start near Negril, where a superb wetland reserve should give us our first Limpkins and a wonderful variety of herons. A river boat trip should also show us raptors, Belted Kingfishers and our first American Crocodiles. Next is another wonderful wetland, the Black River Morass, home to the scarce West Indian Whistling-Duck and other Caribbean specialities. Then we head for the beautiful Blue Mountains, renowned for its coffee, and with its lush forested hillsides a haven for several of Jamaica's endemic birds. Finally we stay at the excellent Mockingbird Hill Hotel on the north coast. Here we are in an excellent situation for reaching some great coastal habitats, the John Crow Mountains with new endemics, and to relax and birdwatch in the hotel grounds. Here the food is superb, and the swimming pool pretty tempting!We're joined once again on the trip by John Fletcher, a British naturalist and birdwatching guide who has lived in Jamaica for over 50 years! He has a relaxed yet professional style of leadership and knows the island's birds extremely well. If anyone can find us the endemics, John can! Itinerary Day 1 We take a direct afternoon flight from London to Montego Bay, arriving in the evening, and travel straight to our country hotel near Negril. Overnight Negril Days 2 - 3 The following morning we start to see some of the endemic birds such as the National Bird, the Red-billed Streamertail, a brilliant hummingbird, whose local name is Doctorbird - and seeing one of these would certainly cure those winter blues! After breakfast we set off for the Royal Palm Reserve, a superb wetland area with Limpkins and a good variety of herons, and a chance of the endangered West Indian Whistling-Duck. Then we head for a boat trip on the Black River where there will be plenty of birds, especially egrets and herons, as well as American Crocodiles to be seen. An excellent variety of raptors may include Osprey, Red-tailed Hawk and American Kestrel, impressive Belted Kingfishers perch on the riverside vegetation, and there is the possibility of seeing another endemic, the delightful Jamaican Tody. We then travel down to Treasure Beach on the south coast for a two-night stay. We spend the next morning on the coast, with a visit to several coastal lagoons. Here we may see Royal and Sandwich Terns, a host of waders, Laughing Gulls, Blue-winged Teal and Magnificent Frigatebirds, with Tree Swallows and Turkey Vultures overhead as the morning warms up. One of these pools, Parottee Beach Pond, is shallow with islands for roosting terns and gulls and muddy margins for waders. The freshwater Great Pedro Pond will have Pied-billed Grebes, and we may see our first Caribbean Coots here In the afternoon we travel to the splendidly-named Black River Upper Morass. Here we drive along a gravel track on a raised bank, stopping at a fish farm where we'll see masses of Turkey Vultures, herons and egrets hoping for a free lunch. These can include Little Blue, Tricoloured, Great Blue and Green Herons. Smooth-billed Anis abound around the cattle, while the trees along each side of the raised track hold many wintering North American warblers. Shallow ponds can hold scarce West Indian Whistling Ducks together with Glossy Ibis, American Purple Gallinule, and also Northern Jacanas with their startlingly yellow wings. With luck, we may also see the rare and elusive Masked Duck here. Two nights Treasure Beach Days 4 - 5 The hotel area is good for both North American migrants and endemic species such as Jamaican Mango and Red-billed Streamertail, both of which we hope to see before breakfast. |
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© Mike Read  Forres Park, with the Blue Mountains beyond |
After breakfast we drive to Forres Park where we will get our first taste of birding in the Blue Mountains. We will walk some of the trails adjacent to the hotel and hope to see Vervain Hummingbirds, Jamaican Orioles and Orangequits, Stripe-headed Tanagers and White-chinned Thrushes, and there is the possibility of Jamaican Euphonia and Jamaican Tody. Overhead, Turkey Vultures and White-collared Swifts sweep broad arcs across the deep blue sky. |
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This is probably the best area for Jamaica's endemic birds. In the morning we'll visit Orchard and search for Loggerhead Kingbird and Louisiana Waterthrush. The locals will no doubt enjoy pointing out the 'Tourist Tree' - a birch with red peeling bark.
After lunch we drive up into the Blue Mountains towards Abbey Green. Here we should encounter Jamaican Woodpecker, Yellow-shouldered Grassquit, Rufous-tailed Flycatcher and Ring-tailed Pigeon - all endemic species - and we'll keep a look out for the spectacular Crested Quail-Dove, though it needs a bit of luck to see one! Two nights Forres Park | © Mike Read  Jamaican Tody |
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Days 6 - 9 We must make an early start to be in the forest for sunrise this morning, keeping an eye open for Jamaican Owl on roadside walls and trees as we go. We reach the Hardwar Gap ridge around sunrise when the high forest comes to life. Among the stately tree ferns, Black & White Warblers cause confusion as we search for Arrow-headed Warblers. Other possible warblers wintering here from North America include Black-throated Green, Black-throated Blue and Prairie Warblers, with American Redstart. Each White-chinned Thrush will be checked in the hope of finding White-eyed Thrush. Blue-Mountain Vireo and Sad Flycatcher are also possible along the roadsides, as are Jamaican Becard and Jamaican Blackbird. The latter is known locally as the 'Wild Pine Sergeant', and is the sole member of its genus, as well as being one of Jamaica's most threatened endemics. Here we overlook some of the plantations where the famous Blue Mountain Coffee is grown. After a feast of forest birdwatching we take a much more leisurely drive on towards Mockingbird Hill Hotel with stops in the forest for Jamaican Pewee and Orangequit. Along the north coast, river crossings will give the opportunity to search for herons, egrets and waders, including Spotted Sandpiper, Willet, and Wilson's Plover along the waterways and Green-rumped Parrotlet in the forests. We arrive at Mockingbird Hill Hotel for a four-night stay, and, if time permits, add Black-billed Streamertail and possibly several other hummingbirds to our list - though this can be done from the bar as the sun sets over the Blue Mountains and the tree frogs begin to call. The hotel is in a superb setting overlooking the coast, and is equipped with a fine swimming pool where you can float and watch hummingbirds in the trees above - we'll return early on at least a couple of afternoons to give us time to enjoy it. Next day we drive along the north coast with sandy beaches lapped by the deep blue Caribbean Sea, to Ecclesdown on the eastern side of the John Crow Mountains. Here we search for the endemic Black-billed and Yellow-billed Parrots as well as Jamaican Elaenia and Jamaican Vireo. The loud calls of the Jamaican Crow should reveal another endemic. There is some lush forest here, and by a lovely waterfall we look for Jamaican Becard and Zenaida Dove. After lunch, we head along the coast searching for sea birds and possible waders on estuaries before returning to the hotel. |
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© Mike Read  Jamaican Oriole |
The hotel grounds and surroundings are excellent for birds. In the past we have seen three species of cuckoo here in ten minutes: Mangrove Cuckoo, and the endemic Chestnut-bellied and Jamaican Lizard Cuckoos. We also hope for Caribbean Dove and Jamaican Oriole in the area. |
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On one day we'll head for a fabulous rafting trip on the Rio Grande. No, this is definitely NOT white-water rafting, but a gentle float down the river on bamboo rafts at a rate that enables a very close approach to some of the numerous herons, egrets and kingfishers, and several species of wader including Killdeer. Waterbirds on the trip can include Yellow-crowned Night-heron and White Ibis. You also get the opportunity to buy cold beers or cokes as other rafts appear with cool boxes as you drift past!
Four nights Mockingbird Hill Day 10 We head for Kingston, with another stop at Hardwar Gap or around the east coast route for our final forest birdwatching, before catching an evening flight home, arriving on Day 11. Accommodation and food is good to excellent throughout, in twin-bedded and single rooms which are all either en suite or have exclusive use of bathroom. Be prepared for some early starts. |
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Transport is by minicoach with local driver.
Walks are not strenuous and proceed at a leisurely pace. |
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Leaders: Neil Arnold and John Fletcher
Numbers : Max. 14 clients |
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Price:
Single supp.: Deposit: |
£ £ £ |
2,495 425 300 |
per person |
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The price is per person and includes scheduled return flights London/Jamaica, airport taxes, ground and boat transportation as outlined above, accommodation on a full-board basis, admissions, local taxes, incidental tips, and the services of the leaders.
The price excludes holiday insurance, optional tips to the driver and local guide, drinks, and other personal expenses. This trip will be operated in conjunction with Limosa Holidays. |
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