DOMINICAN REPUBLIC – Cabo Rojo; Sierra de Bahoruco NP, Aceitillar

Day 5 / Feb 9 – Today we continued our avian exploration of the southwestern side of Sierra de Bahoruco National Park, and the Barahona peninsula. We began after breakfast with a visit to the lagoons and wetlands of Cabo Rojo, situated adjacent to a cement factory, between the Sierra de Bahoruco and Jaragua National Parks on the peninsula.  Framed by coastal cliffs, the marshy area hosted Black-necked Stilt, White Ibis, Snowy and Great Egrets, Blue-winged Teal, Caribbean Coot, Lesser and Greater Yellowlegs and Clapper Rail.  In roadside vegetation, pairs of Yellow Warblers, the endemic subspecies, flitted about chasing each other.

Cabo Rojo

Along the cliffs, Caribbean Martins and Cave Swallows swooped overhead while distant Brown Boobies and White-tailed Tropicbirds circled over the sparkling sea waves. In the coming months these seabirds will nest in the cliffs.  From a stretch of sand beach near the factory, we saw a lone Black-bellied Plover at the water’s edge, and watched Brown Pelicans and Royal Terns patrolling the waters.

We returned to the Alcoa Road in the Sierra de Bahoruco National Park, ascending into pine forest to look for Antillean Palm Crows in the highlands.  We dipped on the crows, but enjoyed a mixed flock of Common Yellowthroat, Yellow-rumped and Palm Warblers, along with the endemic subspecies of Pine Warblers.  Golden Swallows hawked insects over the pines, flashing in the sun.

A lower elevation stop in the broadleaf forest produced our best view yet of stunning Hispaniolan Spindalis, along with Ruddy Quail-Dove, Greater Antillean Eleania, Narrow-billed and Broad-billed Todies, and an assortment of butterflies. We encountered an amorous pair of Rhinoceros Iguanas on the road as we departed.

Nearing midday, we stopped at Fondo Paradi on the Baharona peninsula to look unsuccessfully for Key West Quail-Dove, but we enjoyed seeing a confiding Broad-billed Tody and several cooperative Green-tailed Ground-Tanagers.  Following lunch at “Garcia Fernandez” we continued on to our lodge, the Casa Bonita, and checked in for a few hours rest before heading back out for some night birding.

That evening, just a short drive away from our lodging, we followed a rough track ascending into broadleaf forest on the eastern slope of the Bahoruco mountain range. At a staging area, we parked and walked a few hundred meters up hill.  The timing was perfect, as a Chuck-will’s-widow immediately flew past us, perched on a bare branch, then soared off into the night.  We waited for a little more darkness, before Least Pauraques began calling.  Our local guide, Miguel, had positioned us in hopes one would land nearby.  Sure enough, one flew in close fluttering long enough to see it’s diminutive size, but it didn’t perch.  The Least Pauraque was a new endemic for our list, bringing the total number to 29.

As we listened to the nightjars, we heard an Ashy-faced Owl calling quite close, and were able to track it down sitting beside the trail.  Closer to the main track, we heard a Northern Potoo calling in the distance. This proved tougher to find, as it was perched on a snag high up in the canopy. Our last nocturnal bird was one that Miguel had seen before, and was convinced it was something unusual.  When orange-red eyeshine revealed its location in our flashlights, we approached very quietly for better looks.  We were able to get close enough and long enough views to determine that it was likely a Whip-poor-will, which would not only be a first record for the Dominican Republic and Hispaniola but is a very uncommon bird anywhere within the Caribbean islands.  What an exciting way to end the day!

all photos © adrian binns