INTRODUCTION
Cuba is the largest island in the Caribbean and has 24 endemic bird species (only Jamaica has more). The world's smallest bird, the Bee Hummingbird can be found there along with the beautiful Cuban Trogon (Cuba 's national bird), and numerous other ‘West Indian' specialities. Over 350 bird species have already been recorded on the island.
Although the major interest of birding trips to the West Indies in general lies with the endemic bird species, we will also study the important numbers of migrants passing through or wintering there.
Cuba is an elongated island. Its topography comprises three mountain chains – the Guaniguanico Cordillera to the west, the Sierra del Escambray in the centre and Sierra Maestra to the east. The remainder is mostly flat landscape and there is also a large swampy region (Cienaga de Zapata) located south-east of Havana , which supports 19 of the islands 24 endemics.
Most people identify Cuba with Fidel Castro, old American cars, rum or big cigars, but the most important identity of the island is music – the Cubans live for music. The first and last day of the tour are therefore designed to fulfil the Cuban music experience, visiting local Cuban music clubs for live concerts. This will enable you to embrace two aspects of Cuba ; the abundant bird life and its cultural musical heritage.
Itineray
Day 1 / Feb 2 : Fly from UK to Havana ( optionally via Madrid) – Meet the group at Havana airport and transfer in mini-bus to Hotel Tejadillo, old Havana , a charming colonial style small hotel in the heart of the old city. Live music is always at the bar. Overnight In La Havana
Day 2 / Feb 3 : – La Guira - After breakfast we will head to our birding destination not far from our hotel is the mountaineering forest of La Guira, once a refuge of Che Guevara , a legend in Cuba . In this beautiful area we will find some of the most interesting Cuban endemics such us the lovely singer Cuban Solitaire with its monotonic rich sweet song ,the very colourful Cuban Trogon , the Olive-capped Warbler which we may not see anywhere else and the endemic Yellow-headed Warbler among other birds could also enrich our bird list. Just before dinner walk in the surroundings looking for nocturnal birds like our endemics Cuban Screech-owl and Cuban Pygmy-owl .
Overnight in Viñales
Day 3 / Feb 4 : Soroa-Zapata Cienaga National Park . Birding walk in the area. Soroa is a privileged spot for bird-watching. This is natural habitat for forest birds, including both migratory and resident birds. Also we can see some of the most charismatic species, among them endemic birds such as the Gundlach Hawk, Cuban Tody , Cuban Green Woodpecker , Cuban Blackbird and several neotropical american warblers on migration such as
Magnolia Warbler, , Northern Parula and Black and White Warbler. Lunch in the area and departure heading to the famous Zapata Peninsula. Birding on route with chances for Snail Hawk , Osprey or Reddish Egret. Around our hotel we will look for Cuban Parrot , Yellow-crowned Heron and Stygian Owl. Overnight In Playa Larga
Day 4 / Feb 5 : Zapata Cienaga National Park. Early Morning starting looking for Antillean Nightjar and the difficult Zapata Wren. We still exploring the Zapata National Park searching for the endemic Zapata Rail , Zapata Sparrow and visit the 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. These woodlands also support the endangered Fernandina's Flicker, a truly exquisite bird that is becoming increasingly more difficult to locate, along with the incredibly beautiful Gray-fronted Quail Dove and Blue-headed Quail-dove both extremely elusive. Overnight In Playa Larga
Day 5 / Feb 6 : Zapata Cienaga National Park. Early morning start for a full day of Bird watching. We drive to the tidal flats and mangrove shorelines at La Salina along the south shore of the Zapata Peninsula. The now endimic Cuban Black-hawk is found here as well as the endemic Cuban Martin. La Salina is justly famous for its birdlife holding an incredible collection of birds, egrets, flamingos, ibis, shorebirds the always exciting
Black Skimmer or the rare Word Stork roosting on its unique breeding colony in the island. In the afternoon, we visit Los Canales, an area of canals and rice fields that supports a large population of Snail Kites. Also there is a good chance of seeing the endemic Gundlach's Hawk, a very scarce bird. Overnight in Playa Larga
Day 6 / Feb 7: Camaguey. After breakfast we will head to Camaguey in a long driving day with several stops for birding. First stop in the river Sasa where Limpkin is possible. Other stops include the Rio Azul and Santa Clara with Gundlach's Hawk, Cape May, Yellow-throated Warbler, Indigo Bunting, Ovenbird or Yellow-faced Grassquit. Overnight in Finca La Belen.
Day 7 / Feb 8 : Finca La Belen - Sierra de Najasa. All day birding in this famous area where the number of Cuban endemics is remarkable. We will visit our regular sites for the globally endangered Plain Pigeon; also here are both Cuban Crow and Cuban Palm Crow. At El Belen itself we will concentrate on another globally threatened bird, now endemic to Cuba : Giant Kingbird. Other species to be found in this area include Cuban Parakeet, Fernandina's Flicker, Cuban and Yellow-faced Grassquits, Gundlach's Hawk and yet more wintering North American warblers. We will also check a nearby lake for West Indian Whistling-duck. Overnight in Finca La Belen
Day 8 / Feb 9 : Cayo Coco. After breakfast we will be ready to head to Cayo Coco. On our driving through the deserted Cuban motorways , Turkey Vultures and Red-tailed Hawk fly over the fields of sugar cane and tobacco where wander little parties of Smooth-billed Anis , Eastern Meadowlarks , Red–shouldered Blackbirds. Although best birding is to be found in the gardens nearby plantations of shade trees surrounding roadside service stations or restaurants. Here Cuban Green Woodpecker, Red-legged Thrushes share the edge of the gardens and dead trees with northern migrants such as Black and White and Palm Warbler or the superb American Redstart. In the afternoon we will visit Cayo Paredon Grande where Cuban Gnatcatcher and Thick-billed Vireo are our main targets. Overnight in Cayo Coco
Day 9 / Feb 10 : Cayo Coco is situated on an island off the north coast of Cuba , we will spend the day exploring Cayo Guillermo, the different habitats in this area connected to the mainland by a causeway. The number of islands which form the archipelago is “infinite” completed with a mixture of different habitats ; from sandy beaches to coastal lagoons or different sizes of swamps. This interesting mosaic give excellent birding possibilities for birds such as Bahama Mockingbird, Zapata Sparrow, White-eyed Vireo perhaps the rare Gundlach's Hawk, and a good collection of herons, Brown Pelican , Roseate Spoonbill, Royal Tern , many waders frequent the tidal flats. Overnight in Cayo Coco
Day 10 / Feb 11 : Relaxed morning birding in the Cayo Coco area looking for wintering waders, egrets, ibis and other wildfowl. In the afternoon drive to Cayo Coco airport for our flight to Havana and check into our Hotel. In our last night in Havana we will have an special dinner in the heart the old town. After dinner optional visit the jazz club, El Zorro or El Cuervo with live Cuban jazz music.
Day 11 / Feb 12: In the morning we will do some birding visiting the extense Lenin Park, Great Egret,
Anhinga , Great Blue Heron or
Northern Jacana occur in the main lake. After lunch in our hotel free time to visit the Habana Old Town for last minute shopping. Transfer to airport for flight home. You will arrive on Feb 13th.
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