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A Report from birdtours.co.uk

Cuba, June 2006,

Author

Eduard Sangster esangster@zonnet.nl

Cuba holds 27+ endemics as well as 27+ Caribbean (near-)endemics. In 10 days of independent birding in March it is possible to see 25 of the Cuban endemics and at least 23 Caribbean (near-)endemics. This report aims at helping you planning your trip. I birded Cuba in June 2006 and visited all birding sites except Najasa. I saw 19 and 23 endemics respectively. Cuba is an easy and very safe destination and is excellent combined with a non-birding partner. Cuba also offers excellent photographic opportunities.

Itinerary

The best itinerary includes the 5 well-known bird sites. Visiting all the sites is necessary to see all the endemics although you can skip Soroa if you have seen the dove already at Zapata.

  1. Soroa: 1 early morning. Blue-headed Quail-dove is the only target species here. 
  2. La Guira NP (San Diego de los Banos): 1 (early) morning. Olive-capped Warbler and Cuban Solitaire are the target species here.
  3. Zapata peninsula: 2-4 early mornings and 2 evenings. The best birding site of Cuba. A birdguide during at least 2 mornings and an evening is recommended to see the many target species.
  4. Najasa: 1-2 evenings and 1-2 morning. A birdguide is probably needed for the Giant Kingbird as the old spot near the cemetery is not producing anymore? The birdguide is also the one who can let you stay overnight at the NP. Target species are Giant Kingbird, Cuban Palm Crow, Cuban Parakeet, Cuban Grassquit, Plain Pigeon. Also West-Indian Whistling-Duck.
  5. Cayo Coco: 1-2 mornings and 1 evening. This offshore island and neighbouring islands (reached by car) holds several endemics. Target species are Zapata Sparrow, Cuban Gnatcatcher, Oriente Warbler, Cuban Crab Hawk, Thick-billed Vireo, Bahama Mockingbird. Also West-Indian Whistling-Duck.

In total 10 days of birding in March, with the help of guides and with a little bit of luck, will be enough to see all Cuban endemics birds, with the exception of 2: the far east hopefully still hold Cuban Kite although there are no records since 1992 according to Garrido & Kirkconnel (2000). The Zapata Rail is calling in December and January if you want to hear this species. The species is extremely difficult to see, even with tape, guide, etc. In March the rail isn’t calling and is not to be located.

The Ivory-billed Woodpecker (no records since 1987 according to the website of BirdLife) is of course also a ‘mission impossible’.

Other sites are also very productive but probably not necessary if you went to the 5 sites above. Peninsula de Guanahacabibes in the extreme west of Cuba supports excellent birding and is also an excellent  beach/dive destination (Playa Maria de la Gorda). The road to La Bajada is good for Plain Pigeon, Cuban Crow, Cuban Parrot, Yellow-headed Warbler and several migratory warblers. The trail Cueva las Parlas from the Estacion Ecologica at La Bajada is good for Bee Hummingbird, Cuban Grassquit and possibly Blue-headed Quail-dove and other quail-doves. The road from here to the hotel at Playa Maria de la Gorda is good for Cuban Grassquit and Giant Kingbird has also been recorded here.

When to go

Go in March (or April), this is the single best time! You will see migrating American warblers, have a better chance at Gundlach’s Hawk (nesting at this time, without a nest found by the local Zapata birdguides you will have a slimmer chance) and the quail-doves. Also in this time of year the climate is better (less humid and hot) and, not unimportant, there a far less mosquito’s. A real bugger at other times (e.g. when I went in June 2006). In November the migrating warblers are present also but the Cuban endemics are more difficult to find in this period. If your target species is the Zapata Rail you will have a very small chance to see it during December and January (or February). There is discussion whether the calls heard are from Zapata Rail or another rail. In March the Antillean Nighthawk is probably not yet present.

Non-birding partner

It is nice to include 1-2 days of Havana in your itinerary (even if you’re a birder). The old town and the museum of the revolution are recommended. The 5 birding sites are all nice for non-birding partners. The scenic west of Cuba is best visited with Soroa and/or San Diego de los Banos as base although Vinales is also nice. Zapata peninsula (stay at Playa Larga) and Cayo Coco (stay at nice small town of Moron) are nice beach/nature destinations. Staying at the NP at Najasa is nice but also the nearby town of Camaguay can be used as base and is a very nice colonial town and recommended by the Lonely Planet. Playa Maria de la Gorda in the far west is an excellent beach/dive site with also excellent birding. The nice colonial town of Trinidad is a good stopover between Zapata and Camaguay/Najasa. I went to Cuba in June 2006 with my non-birding girlfriend.

Preparation

It is wise (especially if you go in birding-busy March or April) to book a birdguide ahead for Zapata and Camaquay. See other reports for details. General information Cuba: see reports of Wim Heylen (April 2006) and Tomas Carlberg (Jan 2006). Site information and maps of the sites: see reports of John vd Woude (March 2001) and Mark Sutton (May 2000). 

Endemics

 

Cuban Endemics

Status

Site information

1

Cuban Kite

Critical. No records since 1992

Split form Hook-billed Kite. Far east of Cuba

2

Gundlach`s Hawk

Endangered

Best at March-May at Zapata where locals probably have a nest to show.

3

Cuban Crab/Black Hawk

Split from Common Black-Hawk

Best at Cayo Coco (roads to Cayo Paraendon Grande or at Cayo Guillermo).

4

Zapata Rail

Endangered

Only at Zapata during December-February (when calling). Rarely seen. Assistance of a birdguide is recommended.

5

Blue-headed Quail-Dove

Endangered

Best at Soroa at the El Mirador track. Be there very early, walk the path very slowly and be very quiet. Secon best site is  Zapata where the best spot is probably at the small forest reserve near Bermejas.

6

Grey-headed Quail-Dove

Vulnerable. Split from the Hispanolian form.

Best at Zapata (in spring more chance).

7

Cuban Parakeet

Vulnerable

Best at Najasa.

8

Cuban Screech (Bare-legged) Owl

 

Best at Zapata with assistance of a birdguide: knocking on dead palm trees and with luck the head of a screech owl pops out of the tree.

9

Cuban Pygmy-Owl

 

Best at Zapata. Birdguide can show you. Common at other sites (La Guira, Soroa, etc) and is frequently seen in spring.

10

Bee Hummingbird

Near-threatened

Best at Zapata. Second best site is probably the trail at La Bajada.

11

Cuban Trogon

 

Common.

12

Cuban Tody

 

Common.

13

Cuban Green Woodpecker

 

Common.

14

Fernandina`s Flicker

Vulnerable

Best at Zapata (near Bermejas). In March more difficult than in June.

15

Giant Kingbird

Endangered

Only (only) at Najasa, probably the assistance of a birdguide is needed as the cemetery site is not producing anymore? Only other site known to me is in the far west near La Bajada.

16

Cuban Vireo

 

Common.

17

Cuban Palm Crow

Endangered. Split from the Hispanolian form.

Best (only) at Najasa.

18

Cuban Martin (breeding endemic)

 

Common.

19

Zapata Wren

Endangered

Only at Zapata with assistance of a birdguide.

20

Cuban Solitaire

Near-threatened

Only at La Guira NP and Soroa.

21

Cuban Gnatcatcher

 

Common at Cayo Paraendon Grande (near Cayo Coco).

22

Yellow-headed Warbler

 

Common at La Guira, Soroa and Zapata.

23

Oriente Warbler

 

Common at Cayo Coco.

24

Cuban Grassquit

 

Best at Najasa. A better site is probably La Bajada but this site is not included in the 'standard itinerary'.

25

Zapata (Cuban) Sparrow

Endangered

Best at the classic site at Cayo Coco.

26

Red-shouldered Blackbird

 

Best at Zapata, at the marches just south of the crocodile farm.

27

Cuban Blackbird

 

Fairly common.

 

Caribbean (near)-endemics

   

1

West-Indian Whistling-Duck

 

Best at the classic site on Cayo Coco or at the small lake near Najasa.

2

Plain Pigeon

Near-threatened

Best at Najasa. Second best site is probably La Bajada.

3

White-crowned Pigeon

 

Best at Cayo Guillermo, Zapata, etc.

4

Zenaida Dove

 

Fairly common.

5

Scaly-naped Pigeon

 

Best at Soroa, where it is easy to see at El Mirador (end of Blue-headed Quail-dove track). Also easy in the Trinidad mountains.

6

Key West Quail-Dove

 

Best at Zapata.

7

Cuban Parrot

Near-threatened; also Bahamas & Caymans

Fairly common, best at Zapata.

8

Great Lizard-Cuckoo

also Bahamas

Fairly common.

9

Antillean Nighthawk

mainly May-Aug

Common at Cayo Coco and also Zapata

10

Antillean Palm-Swift

 

Fairly common although most people see it only in Havana city.

11

Cuban Emerald

also Bahamas

Common.

12

West Indian Woodpecker

also Bahamas & Caymans

Common.

13

Cuban Pewee

also Bahamas

Common.

14

La Sagra’s Flycatcher

also Bahamas & Caymans

Common.

15

Loggerhead Kingbird

 

Common.

16

Thick-billed Vireo

 

Common at Cayo Paraendon Grande (near Cayo Coco).

17

Black-whiskered Vireo

Feb-aug

Common.

18

Cuban Crow

also Turks & Caicos Islands

Fairly common.

19

Bahama Swallow

Vulnerable

Rare winter visitor.

20

Bahama Mockingbird

 

Common at Cayo Guillermo (near Cayo Coco).

21

Red-legged Thrush

 

Very common.

22

Olive-capped Warbler

also Bahamas

Only at La Guira NP where it is common.

23

Western Stripe-headed Tanager

 

Common.

24

Cuban Bullfinch

also Caymans

Common.

25

Black-faced Grassquit

 

Very rare at Cayo Guillermo and other keys. Other Caribbean islands are better for this species.

26

Tawny-shouldered Blackbird

also Haiti

Fairly common.

27

Great Antillean Grackle

 

Very common.

 

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