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Red-billed Streamertail. JAMAICA!
THE BEST BIRDING IN THE CARIBBEAN!

December 1 - 7, 2012    

28 endemics possible in one week!
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Jamaica's avian treasures are little known to most of its beach going tourists. This beautiful, warm, friendly island, known for rum and reggae has a rugged interior covered with lush forests that harbor no less than 28 endemic bird species.  These unique species are found nowhere else in the world and Jamaica is home to more endemics than any other Caribbean island making it the best kept birding secret in the tropics! Add to that at least 17 Jamaican subspecies and a host of other Caribbean endemics and you have a fabulous winter birding getaway!

 

Jamaican Tody.Our itinerary includes visits the less traveled interior of the island from rolling hills to the cool, lush rainforests of the Blue and John Crow Mountains in eastern Jamaica. Here we'll look for Blue Mountain Vireo, Crested Quail-Dove, Jamaican Blackbird, and the lovely Black-billed Streamertail hummingbird against the back drop of gorgeous scenery. We’ll explore the tropical environs of the famous Ecclesdown Road home to Black-billed and Yellow-billed Parrots, Jamaican Becard, Jamaican Oriole, and Jamaican Crow. And we’ll enjoy a three night stay at the wonderful Hotel Mocking Bird Hill where the hotel gardens and surrounding area provide the chance to see two-thirds of the island’s endemics including Jamaican Tody and Jamaican Owl. This tour offers the chance to see all of Jamaica’s endemic birds.

Join us for a fantastic winter getaway and the absolute best in Caribbean birding!

 

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ITINERARY
 Day 1: Arrival in Kingston, Jamaica
Plan to arrive in the afternoon in Kingston, Jamaica (Airport code KIN) on the southeastern coast of the island. You will be transferred to our lodge situated on the University of the West Indies. The Lodge is a jewel among the historic ruins of the university campus and provides the perfect setting to begin our tour.

 


Days 2 & 3: Blue Mountains
Yellow-billed ParrotThe lush forests of the Blue Mountains cover the eastern part of Jamaica and today we bird our way to the cool forest. But before we get there, we will bird the Royal (Hope) Botanical Gardens adjacent to the campus of the University of the West Indies. This 200 acre gardens is the largest public green space in the Kingston metropolitan region. Located next to the noise sensitive campus, the gardens offer quiet respite and excellent birding. Several of Jamaica’s endemic birds are to be found here, such as Jamaican Tody, Yellow-billed and Olive-throated Parakeets, the tiny Vervain Hummingbird and White-chinned Thrush, locally known as ‘Hopping Dick’. A small lake may hold a Least Grebe among the Moorhens and Green Herons. We may also find lingering North American warblers such as Northern Parula, American Redstart, Cape May and Black-and-White also escaping the wrath of winter further north.

Jamaican Endemics:
  • Crested Quail-Dove
  • Ring-Tailed Pigeon
  • Black-Billed Parrot
  • Yellow-Billed Parrot
  • Chestnut-Bellied Cuckoo
  • Jamaican Lizard Cuckoo
  • Jamaican Owl
  • Black-Billed Streamertail
  • Jamaican Mango
  • Red-Billed Streamertail
  • Jamaican Tody
  • Jamaican Woodpecker
  • Jamaican Becard
  • Jamaican Elaenia
  • Jamaican Pewee
  • Rufous-Tailed Flycatcher
  • Sad Flycatcher
  • White-Chinned Thrush
  • White-Eyed Thrush
  • Jamaican Crow
  • Blue Mountain Vireo
  • Jamaican Vireo
  • Jamaican Euphonia
  • Arrow-Headed Warbler
  • Jamaican Spindalis
  • Orangequit
  • Yellow-Shouldered Grassquit
  • Jamaican Blackbird
From here we drive up the Widcombe Road where we hope to see the endemic Orangequit and there were sure be a few Smooth-billed Anis. Later in the day, We continue up into the Blue Mountains towards Abbey Green, where we could encounter Jamaican Woodpecker, Yellow-shouldered Grassquit, Rufous-tailed Flycatcher and Ring-tailed Pigeon - all endemic species. Our destination is Forres Park, a coffee plantation situated on the slopes of Jamaica’s picturesque Blue Mountains. Forres Park is the home of the dazzling endemic Red-billed Streamertail, Jamaica’s national bird which forages in the gardens bursting with flowers. Here Vervain Hummingbirds and Bananaquits should entertain us with their antics and we have more chances to see the elusive and endemic Orangequit here. Jamaican Owl nests here and we have the rest of today and all day tomorrow to find and marvel at the colorful avian delights in the area including the remarkably beautiful Jamaican Spindalis (Stripe-headed Tanager), Jamaican Oriole and more. Two nights Forres Park, Blue Mountains.

Days 4, 5 & 6: Blue Mountains / Hardwar Gap / John Crow Mountains
Chestnut-bellied Cuckoo. Today we spend the day at Hardwar Gap looking for high-elevation bird species such as Jamaican Woodpecker, Rufous-tailed Flycatcher, the endangered Ring-tailed Pigeon, Chestnut-bellied Cuckoo, Rufous-throated Solitaire, and the beautiful Crested Quail-Dove. More endemic birds are possible here including Jamaican Spindalis (Stripe-headed Tanager), Arrow-headed Warbler, Jamaican Euphonia, White-eyed Thrush, Jamaican Becard, Jamaican Blackbird, and Blue Mountain Vireo. Red-billed Streamertails are possible here (always a treat!) and mixed flocks of warblers and tanagers could hold Cape May, Black-and-white and Prairie Warblers. Overhead, we’ll watch for White-collared and Black Swift.

Later on we make our way to our base for the next three nights. An exceptional birding destination in itself, the upscale , eco-friendly, internationally renowned Hotel Mockingbird Hill, in Port Antonio sits perched on the northeast coast of Jamaica. Twenty-two of the 28 Jamaican endemics plus 6 Caribbean endemics can be found on the 6.5 acre property and it is particularly known as one of the better places to see Black-billed Streamertail. The lush gardens, flowering shrubs, and mature trees provide rich habitat for many species, including many neotropical migrants and at least 17 species of North American warblers!

Jamaican Oriole.We have two full days to explore the area which gives us access to the John Crow Mountains. One morning we will drive into the mountains along the forested, famous Ecclesdown Road, another endemic hotspot offering more chances to see Black-billed Streamertail, Jamaican Blackbird, Crested Quail-dove, Black- and Yellow-billed Parrots, Jamaican Lizard Cuckoo, Jamaican Crow, Jamaican Euphonia, Jamaican Becard, Jamaican Elaenia, Jamaican Oriole, Yellow-shouldered Grassquit and Ring-tailed Pigeon. Some of these birds are difficult to see and we’ll work to get the best possible views of all of the species. Another day we will explore Sherwood Forest and enjoy a boat ride around Port Antonio harbor.

With accommodations at the lovely Hotel Mocking Bird Hill, birds will surround us and can be watched from guest room balconies, along the quiet private road, or while dining on the terrace. The escapades of endemic Orangequits and Jamaican Mangos in the gardens should keep us entertained and the rooftop platform is a great place to get eye-level views of species such as the lively Sad Flycatcher and Jamaican Woodpecker feeding in the Cecropias. The Jamaican Owl lives in the large fig trees on the grounds and we hope to see Chestnut-bellied Cuckoo, Jamaican Oriole, Jamaican Tody and many other colorful birds in the gardens. Three nights Hotel Mocking Bird Hill.


Day 7: Breakfast / Depart to airport
While the inclination of most of us will be to want to stay, sadly today we must say good bye to Hotel Mocking Bird Hill. After breakfast, we will depart for Kingston and the airport warmed with the memories of the great hospitality and wonderful birds of Jamaica. Extra nights here can be arranged. Please inquire.

LEADERS:  Gina Nichol, Steve Bird and local guides

Orangequit. JAMAICA!
ENDEMICS GALORE!          Registration Form>
December 1-7, 2012    

TOUR PRICE:   $2395.00 per person from Kingston, Jamaica.  Tour price is based on double occupancy and a minimum of 10 clients. 

Single supplement: $595.00 per person.
Subject to availability.

Deposit: $500.00 per person

Included in cost: Accommodation in twin rooms, all meals including continental breakfast, group airport transfers, ground transport throughout, park entrance fees, water and snacks and services of leaders.

Not included: International flight, insurance, drinks, laundry, tips, and items of a personal nature.  Note: The tour price is based on a minimum of 6 passengers.  If there are less than 6, a small group supplement may be charged.

 

RESERVATIONS: To reserve your place on this tour, complete the Registration & Release Form and mail it with your deposit of $500.00 per person to Sunrise Birding, LLC.  Instructions are on the form. Reservations are held with a deposit on a first-come, first-served basis.   >Download & print the Registration Form. 

Final payment is due by August 1, 2012 and must be paid by check. 


Cancellations and Refunds:  All cancellations must be made in writing.  In the event that you must cancel your booking at any stage, all payments you have made to Sunrise Birding, LLC will be retained by us, except at our discretion. Please ensure that you take out adequate insurance to cover this and any other eventuality as early as possible. You may have the opportunity to transfer your booking to another tour or another person, provided you are unavoidably prevented from coming on the tour. In this case, you will bear any extra costs that such changes may incur.

There are no refunds once the trip is confirmed to go ahead and no refunds will be made for unused meals, accommodations, or other trip features. 

Insurance:  The purchase of trip cancellation insurance to cover any eventuality is strongly recommended.  Sunrise Birding, LLC can not accept liability for airline cancellations or delays or penalties incurred by the purchase of non-refundable airline tickets or other expenses incurred by tour participants in preparing for this tour. 

 

Travelex

 
Questions? Contact Gina Nichol at gina@sunrisebirding.com 
Phone: 203.453.6724

Photos courtesy of Hotel Mocking Bird Hill:
(top to bottom): Red-billed Streamertail, Jamaican Tody, Yellow-billed Parrot,
Chestnut-bellied Cuckoo, Jamaican Oriole, Orangequit.