Day 13 Monday, January 21: Havana to Varadero

	Bird of the Day: Laughing Gull

casa particular in Varadero


El Chino picked us up right at 8am; we were soon on our way to the resort community of Varadero where we would spend one night before heading home. Colin had found us a casa in the village of Varadero.



It was a beautiful drive along the water. We were surprised to see some large oil tanks but, we learned, Cuba has oil reserves.



We checked in to Casa Betty Jorge - a very welcoming home for us to spend our last night in Cuba. We thanked El Chino for his professional tour and off he went to prepare for his next birders.



As we were very close to an amazing beach, we headed right over. Bill was busy identifying gulls. It was a quiet beach, very peaceful.



We had a little lunch (ham and cheese sandwiches) before we caught a hop on hop off bus which travelled past many resorts. Lots more under construction. We toured a five start resort at the end of the bus line - very impressive.



Of course, we were very interested in some shorebirds we had spotted so were soon hiking out to get closer to them. Black-bellied Plovers, Short-billed Dowitchers and Least Sandpipers. We also saw a Royal Tern sharing space with some Laughing Gulls, and saw a Snowy Egret come in.



Back at the casa Colin and Hilda relaxed on the patio and Barbara and Bill went for a swim - BIG waves! After our break, it was time for our final bird sightings confirmations.



Soon it was suppertime and we were fortunate that Betty and Jorge's nephew and his wife lived at the casa and were chefs... so, more mojitos and an amazing dinner. Tomorrow we would be in the Toronto airport for dinner :(




Birds seen January 21, 2013
*new birds bolded

Bird of the Day: Laughing Gull

1. Cattle Egret
2. Turkey Vulture
3. Northern Mockingbird
4. Mourning Dove
5. House Sparrow
6. Neotropic Cormorant
7. Killdeer
8. Laughing Gull
9. Ring-billed Gull
10. Royal Tern
11. Short-billed Dowitcher
12. Wilson's Phalarope
13. Least Sandpiper
14. Black-bellied Plover
15. Cuban Emerald
16. Great Egret
17. Muscovy Duck
18. American Coot
19. Palm Warbler

Trip Total: 128