Birding West Jamaica Endemics

Saturday, February 2: Montego Bay

Travel from Ottawa to Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay then south to Bluefields
Hotel Luna Sea Inn

BIRD of the DAY: Red-billed Streamertail

Our February 1 flight to Montego Bay was cancelled By West Jet at the last minute, so we were rescheduled to arrive the next day at 11:15 am. The tour started at 9:00 am with a visit to the Bogue sewage lagoons, which we missed. Fortunately, our guides had 2 vans, so Veda and Dion were at the airport to greet us and drive us straight to a restaurant where the others joined us after a short wait.

After a fish lunch, we drove to Rocklands Hummingbird Sanctuary at Anchovy. This is an amazing place. It was busy at first, so we birded along the road getting our best trip views of Jamaican Spindalis, Greater Antillean Elaenia and Jamaica Euphonia.



When we entered the grounds we were astounded by the great birds at the feeders and nearby: Orangequits, Jamaican Orioles, Bananaquits, Grassquits, White-chinned Thrushes, Doves, Jamaican Woodpeckers, Black-throated Blue Warblers and especially hummingbirds. Red-billed Streamertails were everywhere and even came to hand-held feeders. We also had great views of Jamaican Mangos.



We finally tore ourselves away and drove towards Bluefields on the south coast. Unfortunately, there was road construction most of the way. We made one stop to view Jamaican Crows, then rolled onto the Luna Sea Inn just as the rain started.



There was some confusion, as the manager had just quit, but we finally got our rooms, right on the ocean. We ordered a Red Stripe beer and toasted a great start to our birding trip. After an amazing sunset, we settled at our table for dinner and the nightly ritual of the bird list.

Note that Dave Milsom provided eBird listings for each day

February 2 Birds
(18.425, -77.942), Saint James, JM
Feb 2, 2019 1:53 PM - 3:44 PM
Protocol: Traveling
1.384 kilometer(s)
Comments: Rock lands bird sanctuary
20 species

Common Ground-Dove 5
Caribbean Dove 2
Jamaican Mango 5
Streamertail (Red-billed) 14 At feeders, will perch on hands while feeding. Got video
Turkey Vulture 1
Jamaican Woodpecker 2
American Kestrel 1
Olive-throated Parakeet 4
Greater Antillean Elaenia 1 Photo
White-chinned Thrush 2
Jamaican Euphonia 2
Jamaican Spindalis 2
Jamaican Oriole 2
Worm-eating Warbler 1
American Redstart 3
Black-throated Blue Warbler 2
Bananaquit 7
Yellow-faced Grassquit 16
Black-faced Grassquit 14
Orangequit 6

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S52783753

B8, Hanover Parish, JM (18.329, -78.001), Hanover, JM
Feb 2, 2019 4:10 PM - 4:23 PM
Protocol: Stationary
3 species

White-crowned Pigeon  3
Jamaican Mango  1
Jamaican Crow  3

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S52783735