Jamaica 31/7-13/8/2007

• This is a brief report of a 2 week holiday I had in Jamaica. I was able to see all the Jamaican endemics and most of the near endemics and hopefully the report will be of use to people doing a similar holiday to mine...Paul Noakes reports.

A Photographic Guide to the Birds of Jamaica (Paperback)
Audrey Downer et al: Buy from Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk

• Containing hundreds of stunning photographs, Birds of Jamaica, provides full photographic coverage of every species on the Jamaican list (including vagrants). With a rich avifauna of more than 300 species that includes some 25 endemics, the island of Jamaica is an increasingly popular birding destination. Concise text for each species covers identification, voice, habitats, confusion species, status and distribution, with a map for resident and migrant birds. This guide is an essential companion for anyone visiting this amazing island.

Helm Identification Guides: Birds of the West Indies
Herbert Raffaele: Buy from Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk

This identification guide covers all the birds known to occur in the West Indies, a total of 563 species. Species texts cover all aspects of identification and include the full range of local names for the bird. Accompanying each speices text is a distribution map showing the bird's range within the West Indies. Every species is illustrated in the 86 colour plates, and many island "forms" (where relevant) are also depicted. The "locality checklist" included provides an at-a-glance, island-by-island guide to the distribution and status of all species. This is the BEST book available for the West Indies

Where to Watch Birds in Central America & the Caribbean
Nigel Wheatley, David Brewer: Buy from Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk

This guide covers the best birding sites in Central America and the Caribbean. In a format familiar to readers of this very popular series, each site is considered in terms of 'Habitat', 'Timing', 'Access' and 'Calendar', allowing birders to plan excursions to maximise the chances of getting the best out of each site and each region. The book includes detailed maps of the larger sites, plus general maps of the regions covered, and it is illustrated with line drawings.

Lonely Planet: Jamaica
Christopher P Baker: Buy from Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk

• This travel guide to Jamaica contains: cultural and historical information; health and safety advice; information on local cuisine; advice on customs and etiquette; and key words, phrases and basic grammar of local languages.