Birding trip Cuba 4-17 March 2001
Part of report at www.jvanderw.nl 

Photos of birding sites and other sites
part 1: La Guïra, Zapata, Najasa

Hotel Mirador in San Diego de los Baños near La Guïra park in the hill range West of Havana. This region is a must for just two endemic bird species, the Cuban Solitaire and the Olive-capped Warbler.

At the end of the road up to La Guïra park. Below the small limestone cliff were two Cuban Solitaires singing, along the trail that goes up from behind the small, deserted building. A bit back between the pines was the other endemic, the Olive-capped Warbler.

Osnedy's casa particular at Playa Larga, Zapata peninsula, is right at the water front. The Cristal beer is good and the more so after a long search in the woods for a rare gound-dove.

The woods near the hamlet of Soplillar on the Zapata peninsula are good for many of the Cuban endemic bird species.

The eastern tip of the huge Zapata marsh. This is near Bermejos, a good and easy spot for birdwatching from the quiet road crossing the marsh.

A totally different marsh area and much further East. This is in the Najasa area South of Camaguey.

One of the big trees in La Belen nature park; the one where the rare Giant Kingbird often resides (and now too).

In La Belen these tall palms are an important nesting site for many bird species, like Cuban Parakeet. Most species nest in holes that have been dug out by the West Indian Woodpecker.

The West Indian Woodpecker is a very active nestbuilder indeed, even in this pole at the farm near the headquarters of La Belen nature park. A dozen bird species are dependent on the holes made by this woodpecker.

An easy walk from La Belen HQ through open woods produced several new warbler species for the trip.