Puerto Rico Endemic Dash | January 2011 (Day 5-Final Day)
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Feb 11, 2011 | by Kevin Loughlin
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| Puerto Rican Spindalis |
Our final day of the Endemic Dash offered more wonderful birds to savor! We began the morning in the gardens of the Fajardo Inn, the best place to find the Green-throated Carib and Antillean Crested Hummingbird. As we waited for the hummers, a beautiful male Spindalis flew in for great views.
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| Antillean Crested Hummingbird |
After some patient waiting, a Crested Hummer came and perched. As we watched a Carib perched briefly before being chased off by the Crested Hummingbird! While we waited for the Carib to return we also found a Merlin and nesting Puerto Rican Orioles (formerly Greater Antillean).
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| Orange-cheeked Waxbill |
On to our final stop before the airport. The Botanical Gardens at the University in San Juan offer many Caribbean specialties and quite a few introduced species to see. Orange-cheeked Waxbills, a popular cage bird, were introduced many years ago and have become quite common here.
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| Pearly-eyed Thrasher |
Pearly-eyed Thrashers and Red-legged Thrushes are native to Puerto Rico and common in certain regions… especially here at the gardens.
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| White-winged Parakeet |
This pair of White-winged Parakeets built their nest in a termite mound, not unusual for this genus.
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| Zenaida Dove |
Zenaida doves are common throughout Puerto Rico and are especially tame here ion the gardens, offering good photo opportunities.
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| Great Egret |
This Great Egret was incredible habituated to people allowing me to stand less than 10 feet away, while still on the trail, as he hunted along a pond’s edge! A fun way to end a great trip!