Jamaican birds: Jamaican Tody

The tiny, cute, exquisite endemic Jamaican Tody, the type species of tody, is perhaps rather similar to its cogeners from elsewhere in the Caribbean, but none the less handsome for it. This teeny (only the same length as a Goldcrest, but with a long bill and tail!) coraciiform is probably my favourite Jamaican bird.

Jamaica birds: Thrushes

White-chinned Thrush

White-eyed Thrush
These are two Jamaican endemic Turdus thrushes. The White-chinned is more obvious and a bit bolder (though both are rather shy) and the lawn photos were on the grass in the garden of Mocking Bird Hill Hotel, Port Antonio, a birders' favourite. White-eyed is a more elusive bird, I found and I only really got to see the white eye properly on a handful of birds. The rather dodgy pic was the only one I got and in very low light, so please forgive me...

Jamaica birds: Hummingbirds

Red-billed Streamertail males

Red-billed Streamertail female




Black-billed Streamertail

Vervain Hummingbird
The two endemic streamertail hummingbirds are common and widespread within their ranges – Black-billed replaces Red-billed in the east of Jamaica. We also saw plenty of the tiny Vervain Hummingbird, which apparently makes the second smallest nest of any hummer...

Jamaican birds: Cuckoos

Chestnut-bellied Cuckoo







Jamaican Lizard-cuckoo (in the second-last photo sunbathing)
These are both Jamaican endemics, both great-looking birds. We saw several Jamaican Lizard-cuckoos and a decent handful of the much larger Chestnut-bellied Cuckoos in our week in Jamaica.

Another Jamaican taster

Black-billed Streamertail, an endemic hummingbird

Jamaican sampler

I'm back and very weary (jet lag), so off to bed. Meantime to whet your appetite, here is a shot of probably my favourite Jamaican bird, the Jamaican Tody

Hi from Jamaica

I'm in Jamaica at the mo, working you understand. I arrived late on Monday and I think it is Friday today. Mainly, of course I've been slaving over a hot scope, trying to see endemic Jamaican birds. There are 28 to collect so they say. So far I have accumulated 24 (I needed a grassquit, owl, hummer and elaenia for the set).
Wish me luck. The trouble is, once the sun goes down I am going to be tempted by the firefly-lit pool instead of looking for the owl unless I show real resolve. Ah, the choices!

Beans and friends

Pink-footed Geese, Bean Geese, and single European White-fronted Goose

Bean Goose facing right and Pinkfoot looking left, for comparison

Two Bean Geese among the Pinkfeet

Yesterday Jonathan Taylor found a couple of Tundra Bean Geese on the Nene Washes at Eldernell. Today (23.1.10), I refound them in the company of five Pink-footed Geese and two European White-fronted Geese.
It was only the second time I have seen Beans in the PBC area and it was good to see them side by side with Pinkfeet for comparison. The overall size is slightly bigger and bulkier; the bill distinctly longer; with an orange, not pink band; the overall plumage colour is darker especially the back and wings (paler and grey on PFs); the tailer is daker with a thin white terminal band; and the legs are orange (not pink).

In our garden

Grey Squirrel

Dunnock

Wren

Grey Squirrel

Bullfinch

Grey Squirrel

Blue Tit

Blackbird

Greenfinch

Grey Squirrel

Greenfinch