Day 12 Sunday, January 20: Havana

	Bird of the Day: Red-legged Thrush

casa particular in Havana


Lively Havana Vieja was rocking until 3am. Saturday night in Havana. Loud music. Happy times. For us, not much sleep.



We hiked around and found a beautiful old church where a service had just ended.



Colin suggested a city tour on the hop on hop off bus. This was fun. We saw a lot of the city, and stopped for a bird search on a stony beach. Once again we saw a Red-legged Thrush, in a nearby tree, a Magnificent Frigatebird overhead and a Cattle Egret close by. Bill spotted some sea turtles at the Aquarium. Birders Hilda and Bill identified a Ring-billed Gull, very numerous at home, but the first one we had seen here.



We also hopped off at a special historic cemetery Colin remembered from a long ago visit. We had lunch across the street (Colin and Barbara shared their pizza with a poor hungry woman) before hopping back on the tour bus to return to Havana Vieja.



Hilda, Barbara and Bill decided to take a self-guided walking tour. The highlight was a visit to the hotel where Ernest Hemingway did much of his early writing, always staying in the same room - now a museum. From his window we spotted a huge cruise ship entering the harbour (we later learned it came from Southampton and was on the first part of a round the world tour).



We wended our way back to our casa. The city was showing its lively side again.



Barbara was interested in all the external pipes and wires evident in these very old buildings.



On our way out to dinner, we passed the cruise ship, lighting up its part of the harbour. Colin happily chatted with some English passengers (he has an English accent and an English sense of humour) but we were soon told by the policia to move along.



We enjoyed a casual dinner with a fine serenade.




Birds seen January 20, 2013
*new birds bolded

Bird of the Day: Red-legged Thrush
1. Feral Pigeon
2. House Sparrow
3. Cattle Egret
4. Cuban Blackbird
5. American Kestrel
6. Northern Mockingbird
7. Antillean-Palm Swift
8. Turkey Vulture
9. Palm Warbler
10. Mourning Dove
11. Red-legged Thrush
12. Smooth-billed Ani
13. Magnificent Frigatebird
14. Ring-billed Gull


Trip Total: 126