Least Grebe (Tachybaptus dominicus)
Up to 4 recorded at the Zapata Swamp on 25 & 27/04.
Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps)
Up to 6 recorded at the Zapata Swamp on 25 & 27/04. 6 lagoon near Moron on 03/05 & 130 there on 05/05
Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus)
Recorded on several dates at the Zapata Swamp and the coast around Cayo Coco.
Anhinga (Anhinga anhinga)
Up to 7 recorded on two dates around the Zapata Swamp & Lagoon near Moron.
Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)
Occasional singles on the coast around Playa Larga, up to 10 Cayo Coco area 4/5.
Magnificent Frigatebird (Fregata magnificens)
Occasional singles on the coast around Playa Larga, up to 10 Cayo Coco area 4/5.
Reddish Egret (Egretta rufescens)
Up to 20 on the Salinas near Playa Larga & 11 from the causeway to Cayo Coco 4/5, white phase birds were the commonest.
Tricoloured Heron (Egretta tricolor)
10 Maspoton area 24/4, 12 Salinas near Playa Larga 30/4, 10 from the causeway to Cayo Coco 4/5 and occasional singles elsewhere.
Little Blue Heron (Egretta caerulea)
3 Maspoton area 24/4, 2 Salinas near Playa Larga 30/4 and occasional singles elsewhere.
Snowy Egret (Egretta thula)
6 Maspoton area 24/4, 2 Salinas near Playa Larga 30/4, 20 near Camguey 02/05, 12 from the causeway to Cayo Coco 4/5 and small numbers occasionally elsewhere.
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias herodias [cinerea])
Small numbers recorded at several sites. 1 Great White Heron & 1 Wurdemann
Great White Egret (Egretta alba)
15 Maspoton area 24/4, 2 Salinas near Playa Larga 30/4 and small numbers occasionally elsewhere.
Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis)
Common.
Green Heron (Butorides virescens)
Small numbers recorded in most area visited.
Yellow-crowned Night-heron (Nyctanassa violacea)
2 adults, La Belen N.P. nr Najasa 02/05.
Wood Stork (Mycteria americana)
In flight near Playa Larga: 1 26/4 & 5 28/4. At least 12 birds in a colony on the Salinas on 29 & 30/4 including several well grown young.
White Ibis (Eudocimus albus)
40, Salinas near Playa Larga on 29/4 & 20 there on 30/4. 5 Cayo Coco 04/05 & 3 over Playa Larga on 06/05.
Roseate Spoonbill (Ajaia ajaja)
Salinas: 10 on 29/4 & 40 on 30/4, 9 La Belen N.P. nr Najasa 02/05 & 1 from the causeway to Cayo Coco 4/5.
Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber)
Salinas: 10 on 29/4 & 19on 30/4. 1,000+ from the causeway to Cayo Coco 4/5.
West Indian Whistling-duck (Dendrocygna arborea)
35+ in a daytime roost tree at La Belen N.P. nr Najasa 02/05
Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis)
1 female near Los Palacios on 24/04.
Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)
30 on 25/4 & 20 on 27/4 Zapata Swamp. 8 on the lagoon near Moron 03/05.
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)
Very common
Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus)
1 female, of the Cuban race fringilloides, over the lagoon near Moron 03/05.
Gundlach's Hawk (Accipiter gundlachi)
1 ad over the Cabanas Los Pinos & 1 ad circling over the road near La Guira 24/4. 1 ad. watched for several minutes, chasing a Laughing Dove, from the hotel balcony at San Diego de Los Banos, whilst eating lunch on 25/4!
Common Black-hawk (Buteogallus anthracinus) - enndemic race gundlachii ( Cuban Crab Hawk)
1 Playa Larga 27/4, up to 8 Salinas near Playa Larga 29 & 30/4 . 5 Cayo Guillermo 4/5.
Broad-winged Hawk (Buteo platypterus)
2 La Guira 25/4, 2 near Playa Larga 27/4 & 1 near Moron 03/05.
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)
3 Soroa 23/4, 1 La Guira 24/4, 2 Sandiego de Los Banos 25/4 & 3 Sierra del Escombray 30/4.
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
Occasional singles around Playa Larga, lagoon near Moron & Cayo Coco. Several birds were of the pale headed, resident race ridgwayi
Crested Caracara (Polyborus plancus)
2 Cayo Paredon Grande & 2 Cayo Guillermo 04/05
American Kestrel (Falco sparverius)
Up to 18, of the Cuban race sparvoids, recorded most days, including several dark morph birds.
Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)
1 Las Salina 29/4
Merlin (Falco columbarius)
1 near Playa Larga 26/5.
Helmeted Guineafowl (Numida meleagris)
5 La Belen N.P. nr Najasa 02/05. (Long established feral population)
Northern Bobwhite (Colinus virginianus)
8 of the endemic Cuban race near Moron 03/05.
King Rail (Rallus elegans)
1, flushed at the Zapata Wren site 27/4.
American Purple Gallinule (Porphyrio martinicus)
Up to 4 recorded on several dates around the Zapata Swamp.
Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus)
Regularly recorded in suitable habitat.
American Coot (Fulica americana)
20 on roadside reservoir on 25/4, 10 Zapata Swamp 27/4 & 10 Lagoon near Moron 03/05.
Limpkin (Aramus guarauna)
Singles recorded at: Zapata Swamp 24 & 25/4, near Sancti Spiritus 01/05 & near Camaguey Najasa 02/05..
Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis)
3, of the Cuban race nesiotes in marsh to the East of moron 03/05. We were taken to the site by local Cuban birder Odey Martinez.. We obtained directions to his house, in Moron, from Pedro Regalado (Giant Kingbird)
Northern Jacana (Jacana spinosa)
Regularly recorded in suitable habitat. Max 20 in the Maspoton area.
Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus [himantopus])
Up to 10 recorded around Maspoton area 24/4, Zapata Swamp & Cayo Coco.
American Golden Plover (Pluvialis donear minica)
2 Salinas near Playa Larga 30/4.
Grey Plover (Pluvialis squatarola)
12 Salinas near Playa Larga 29/4, 4 there on 30/4 & 1 Cayo Coco 04/5.
Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus [hiaticula])
Up to 9, Salinas near Playa Larga 29 & 30/4
Wilson's Plover (Charadrius wilsonia)
Up to 2, Salinas near Playa Larga 29 & 30/4
Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)
Fairly common
Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca)
1 Salinas near Playa Larga 29 & 30/4.
Solitary Sandpiper (Tringa solitaria)
1 near Los Palacios 24/5 & 1 near Camaguey 02/05
Spotted Sandpiper (Tringa macularia [hypoleucos])
1 Hotel Playa Larga 28/04 & 2 Salinas near Playa Larga 30/4.
Willet (Catoptrophorus semipalmatus)
Up to 8 Salinas near Playa Larga 29 & 30/4. 2 Cayo Coco 04/05
Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres)
3 Hotel Playa Larga 28/04, 1 Salinas near Playa Larga 29/04 & 2 from the causeway to Cayo Coco 04/5.
Semipalmated Sandpiper (Calidris pusilla)
Up to 12 Salinas near Playa Larga 29 &30/4.
Western Sandpiper (Calidris mauri)
Up to 25 Salinas near Playa Larga 29 & 30/4.
Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla)
1 near Camaguey 02/05 & 1 Cayo Coco 04/5. (Many distant peeps on the Playa Larga salinas were believed to be this species)
Laughing Gull (Larus atricilla)
Small numbers around Playa Larga & c75 Cayo Coco 04/05.
Caspian Tern (Sterna caspia)
1 Camaguey 03/05
Royal Tern (Sterna maxima)
Up to 4 Salinas near Playa Larga on 29 & 30/4 & 40 around Cayo Coco 04/05.
Sandwich Tern (Sterna sandvicensis)
10 from the causeway to Cayo Coco 04/5.
Least Tern (Sterna antillarum [albifrons])
Up to 12, Salinas near Playa Larga 29 30/4 & 12 Cayo Coco 04/05.
[Sooty / Bridled Tern]
4 distant terns off Cayo Paredon Grande on 04/05 were either Bridled or Sooty Terns.
White-crowned Pigeon (Columba leucocephala)
Common around Soroa, La Guira & Playa Larga areas. A total of 340 counted flying to goost over the boat retauarant on 05/05.
Scaly-naped Pigeon (Columba squamosa)
1 from the Hotel Villa Soroa 23/4, 2 La Guira 24 & 25/4. 5 Sierra del Escambray 30/4
Plain Pigeon (Columba inornata)
4 at the Giant Kingbird site just outside the La Belen N.P. 01/05 & 2 inside the park the following day.
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)
Common, with up to 35 on most days.
Zenaida Dove (Zenaida aurita)
Common, although less so than above. Up to 10 noted most days.
White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica)
Small numbers recorded in most areas visited e.g Soroa, La Guira & Playa Larga area.
Common Ground-dove (Columbina passerina)
Common, up to 30 recorded most days.
Grey-headed Quail-dove (Geotrygon caniceps)
1 Palpite 26/4 & 5 there the following day.
Key West Quail-dove (Geotrygon chrysia)
1 La Cueva De Los Peces & 2 Palpite 26/4. 3 Palpite on the 27 & 28/04.
Blue-headed Quail-dove (Starnoenas cyanocephala)
1 Mirador track, Soroa 23/4.
Cuban Parakeet (Aratinga euops)
3 La Bocca 26/4 (JPM). After MDS had spent 3 days specifically searching for this species around the Zapata area but and failing to see any, 5 pairs were seen were seen around La Belen N.P. on 02/05. 2 Sierra del Escambray 30/4 (JPM)
Cuban Parrot (Amazona leucocephala)
Fairly common around the Zapata area (Playa Larga., Palpite etc) with up to 25 recorded in a day (recorded in parties of 2 to 14). Smaller numbers also recorded around La Belen N.P. on 01 & 02/05.
Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus)
4 Bermejas 28/4.
Mangrove Cuckoo (Coccyzus minor)
3 Cayo Coco 04/05.
Great Lizard-cuckoo (Saurothera merlini)
2 Mirador track, Soroa on 23/4 with small numbers recorded on four dates in the Zapata area. 4 near La Belen N.P. on 01/05 & 1 on 02/05.
Smooth-billed Ani (Crotophaga ani)
Common.
Bare-legged Owl (Otus lawrencii [nudipes])
1 at nest hole Bermejas 27/4 & 05/5. At nest hole La Belen N.P. on 02/5.
Cuban Pygmy-owl (Glaucidium siju)
1 calling bird at Soroa, spotlighted at 1 am on 24/4. 3 daytime sightings around Bermejas including 1 at nest hole. 1 by track leading to the Salinas on 29& 30/4 and 1 at nest hole La Belen N.P. on 02/5.
Stygian Owl (Asio stygius)
2 displaying birds, wing clapping, over the hotel Villa Soroa on the evening of 23/04. 2 in the hotel grounds at San Diago de Los Banos 24/4.
Antillean Nighthawk (Chordeiles gundlachii)
Commonly recorded in the evenings and early mornings in the Zapata area e.g. Playa Larga & Palpite. Most birds were quite vocal but 2 Nighthawk sp over the hotel at Camaguey were silent and may have been migrant Common Nighthawks. NB this is a summer visitor
Cuban / Greater Antillean Nightjar (Caprimulgus cubanensis)
1 bird, which responded to tape, was spotlighted and watched down to 6 feet, just West of Soplillar on 27/4 with 3 calling males there on 05/05.
White-collared Swift (Streptoprocne zonaris)
16 Sierra del Escambray 30/4 (JPM)
Antillean Palm-swift (Tachornis phoenicobia)
Small numbers recorded around Soroa, La Guira & the Zapata area. 1 near La Belen N.P. on 02/5, where apparently scarce..
Cuban Emerald (Chlorostilbon ricordii [mellisugus])
Up to 10 recorded daily Soroa, La Guira & the Zapata area. Not recorded around Cayo Coco & La Belen N.P.
Bee Hummingbird (Mellisuga helenae)
1 male along a small track opposite cafe, 5Km east of the Hotel Playa Larga & 1 female Bermejas on 27/4 . 1 female at nest Plapite on 28, 29 & 30/4 witha male also there on 28/4
Cuban Trogon (Priotelus temnurus)
Commonly recorded around Soroa, La Guira, Sierra del Escambray & Zapata area. Up to 8 seen in a day but many more heard.
Belted Kingfisher (Ceryle alcyon)
2 en route to Havana 25/4, 3 Zapata Swamp 27/4 & 1 at the lagoon near Moron on 03/05.
Cuban Tody (Todus multicolor)
2 Soroa on 23/05, up to 3 daily around the Zapata area, 2 Sierra del Escambray 30/4, 1 Trinidad 01/05 & 3 La Belen N.P. on 02/5.
West Indian Woodpecker (Melanerpes superciliaris)
Common - up to 10 daily
Cuban Woodpecker (Xiphidiopicus percussus)
Singles at Soroa 23 & 24/4, up to 2 on four dates around the Zapata area, 2 Sierra del Escambray 30/4 & 2 La Belen N.P. on 02/5.
Fernandina's Flicker (Colaptes fernandinae)
Only seen around Bermejas, where up to 4 birds seen on each visit including three occupied nesting holes. 1 heard at La Belen N.P. on 02/5.
Crescent -eyed [Greater Antillean] Pewee (Contopus caribaeus)
2 Soroa 23/4, small numbers recorded daily around the Zapata area. La Sagra -2 Soroa 23/4, small numbers recorded daily around the Zapata area, Sierra del Escambray and La Belen N.P.
Gray Kingbird (Tyrannus dominicensis)
Common - NB This is a summer visitor.
Loggerhead Kingbird (Tyrannus caudifasciatus)
Fairly common.
Giant Kingbird (Tyrannus cubensis)
2 (a pair) near La Belen N.P. on the 01 & 02/05, with a 3rd bird nearby on the 02/05
Cuban Martin (Progne cryptoleuca [subis])
Up to 20 recorded most days e.g around the cliffs near the disused chalets at La Guira N.P, Sierra del Escambray and regularly over the hotel at Playa Larga. Also noted nesting under bridges etc.
Northern Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis)
1 over the hotel at Playa Larga on 01/05.
Sand Martin (Riparia riparia)
1 at Zapata Swamp on27/4 & 1 near Moron on 03/05..
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)
Flocks of up to 50 recorded on several dates.
Cliff Swallow (Hirundo pyrrhonota)
1 Maspoton on 24/04.
Cave Swallow [sp] (Hirundo fulva)
This was the commenest hirundine, with up to 40 recorded on several dates e.g around the Hotel at Playa Larga & Cayo Coco.
Zapata Wren (Ferminia cerverai)
1 singing male at Zapata Swamp on 27/04, responded well to a tape.
Grey Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)
2 at La Bocca on 26/04 & Palpite30/4.
Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)
Common.
Bahama Mockingbird (Mimus gundlachii)
1 seen and 2+ others heard at Cayo Guillermo on 04/05.
Cuban Solitaire (Myadestes elisabeth)
1 at Soroa on 23/04 and heard at La Guira.
Grey-cheeked Thrush (Catharus minimus)
1 at Soplillar on 01/05.
Red-legged Thrush (Turdus plumbeus)
Common in wooded areas and gardens. Not recorded in the Camaguey area.
Cuban Gnatcatcher (Polioptila lembeyei)
5 at Cayo Paredon Grande on 04/05.
Cuban Palm Crow (Corvus palmarum)
2 between Camaguey and Najasa on 01/05, with 2 around La Belen N.P. on 01 & 02/ 05.
Cuban Crow (Corvus nasicus)
Up to 8 recorded on 5 dates around Playa Larga, Palpite & Soplillar. Fairly common around La Belen N.P.
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
Common around towns.
Black-headed Munia (Lonchura malacca)
A flock of approx 20 birds near Los Palacios 25/04.
Cuban Vireo (Vireo gundlachii [pallens])
4 at Palpite on 27 & 30/04. 4 Cayo Coco 04/05.
Thick-billed Vireo (Vireo crassirostris [pallens])
A pair, with the male in song, in xerophytic scrub at Cayo Paredon Grande on 04/05. Supposedly a winter visitor / passage migrant? The birds were videoed.
Black-whiskered Vireo (Vireo altiloquus)
Common - Summer visitor.
Yellow Warbler [sp] (Dendroica petechia)
4 at Playa Larga on 30/04 & 2 Cayo Paredon Grande on 04/05. Found in coastal scrub & mangroves.
Magnolia Warbler (Dendroica magnolia)
1 male Palpite27/4.
Black-throated Blue Warbler (Dendroica caerulescens)
1 at Palpite on 27/04, 1 near La Belen N.P. 02/05 & 4 Cayo Coco 04/05.
Blackburnian Warbler (Dendroica fusca)
1 Bermejas 26/04.
Olive-capped Warbler (Dendroica pityophila)
Only recorded at at La Guira with 8 on 24/04 & 12 on 25/04.
Prairie Warbler (Dendroica discolor)
1 at Cayo Paredon Grande on 04/05.
Palm Warbler (Dendroica palmarum)
1 at Cayo Guillermo on 04/04.
Blackpoll Warbler (Dendroica striata)
4 at Cayo Coco on 04/05.
American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla)
The commonest
Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapillus)
1 at Palpite on 27/04.
Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas)
1 at Palpite on 30/04, 1 Soplillar 01/05, 2 Palpite 02/05 & 1 near La Belen N.P. 02/05 .
Yellow-headed Warbler (Teretistris fernandinae)
6 at Soroa on 23/04, 6 La Guira 25/4, 1 Palpite 26/04 with 4 there on 27 & 30/4..
Oriente Warbler (Teretistris fornsi)
2 at Cayo Coco on 04/05.
Stripe-headed Tanager (Spindalis zena)
4 at Soroa on 23/04, at La Guira 6 on 24 & 8 on 25/4, Zapata Swamp area singles on 27 & 28/4 & 2 Cayo Coco 04/05.
Red-legged Honeycreeper (Cyanerpes cyaneus)
Up to 4 recorded daily around Soroa & La Guira, & 2 La Boca 26/4.
Zapata Sparrow (Torreornis inexpectata)
2 at Zapata Swamp on 25/04.
Cuban Bullfinch (Melopyrrha nigra)
6 at La Guira on 24/04 & 10 there the next day. 2 Palpite & 2 Bermejas 27/4, 3 in the Zapata swamp area 28/4 & 3 Cayo Coco 04/05,
Cuban Grassquit (Tiaris canora)
1 at La Boca on 26/04 & 2 at the Giant Kingbird site 02/05.
Yellow-faced Grassquit (Tiaris olivacea)
Common
Black-cowled Oriole [sp] (Icterus dominicensis)
The endemic race & a potential split was fairly common, with up to 4 recorded most days.
Red-winged(shouldered) Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)
Rare - 1 at Zapata Swamp on 25/04 & 1 heard at the Wren site on 27/4. A recent AOU split?
Tawny-shouldered Blackbird (Agelaius humeralis)
Fairly common, recorded daily around Soroa., La Guira & the Zapata area. The imms, which can superficially resemble Cuban Blackbird, often show very little trace of the median covert bar, which can often be hidden by the scapulars. The adults can often be show a very bright median covert bar and could be mistaken for Red-shouldered Blackbird.
Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna)
3 Maspoton on 24/04, 1 near Los Placios 25/4, 1 near Camaguey 01/05 & up to 5 La Belen 02/05..
Cuban Blackbird (Dives atroviolacea)
Small numbers recorded most days around Soroa, La Guira, Zapata area & La Belen N.P.
Greater Antillean Grackle (Quiscalus niger)
Very common
Shiny Cowbird (Molothrus bonariensis)
Fairly common. Max on 50 at Beemejas on the evening of 29/4.
end of report