Thursday, 16 February 2012

Jamaican bird list> Pre-trip


I am going to Jamaica (for a week)  in two days and went looking for this so I thought I'd share it.  This is a list of birds found in Jamaica and the status of the species. I am hoping to see as many of these as I can, however this trip is pretty last minute and I am not sure what to expect in terms of wild areas in the region I am going.  I am staying with a friend in Redground, Negril on the West end of Jamaica. It appears to have a fair amount of green space but I can't tell on Google what the habitat is. A search describes the region as being quite good for birding. Weather is  29 degrees C with sun and clouds all week.
  • (A) Accidental A species that rarely or accidentally occurs in Jamaica.
  • (E) Endemic A species endemic to Jamaica.
  • (I) Introduced A species introduced to Jamaica as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions.
  • (Ex) Extirpated A species that no longer occurs in Jamaica although populations exist elsewhere.
  • (N) Near-threatened
  • (V) Vulnerable
  • (En) Endangered
  • (CE) Critically endangered
 Grebes
Shearwaters and petrels
Storm-Petrels
Tropicbirds
Pelicans
Boobies and gannets
Cormorants
Darters
Frigatebirds
Bitterns, herons and egrets
Storks
Ibises and spoonbills
Flamingos
Ducks, geese and swans
New World vultures
Osprey
Hawks, kites and eagles
Caracaras and falcons
New World quails
Guineafowl
Limpkins
Rails, crakes, gallinules, and coots
Jacanas
Oystercatchers
Avocets and stilts
Plovers and lapwings
Sandpipers and allies
Skuas and jaegers
Gulls
Terns
Skimmers
Pigeons and doves
Parrots, macaws and allies
Cuckoos and anis
Barn owls
Typical owls
Potoos
Nightjars
Swifts
Hummingbirds
Kingfishers
Todies
Woodpeckers and allies
Tyrant flycatchers
Larks
Swallows and martins
Wagtails and pipits
Kinglets
Waxwings
Mockingbirds and Thrashers
Thrushes and allies
Crows, jays, ravens and magpies
Starlings
Weavers and allies
Waxbills and allies
Vireos
New World warblers
Bananaquit
Tanagers
Buntings, sparrows, seedeaters and allies
Saltators, Cardinals and allies
Troupials and allies
Siskins, crossbills and allies
Sparrows
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Saturday, 28 January 2012

Algonquin Park, Ontario

Despite being called crazy by many people I know I went with the University of Guelph Wildlife Club and stayed at the Wildlife Research Station in Algonquin Park for a weekend of somewhat camping.

On the way to the WRS on Friday Jan 27th, we saw many Red-tailed hawks and some snow buntings near Fergus. I very much regret not getting pictures of them now but we were just too excited to get to Algonquin.

In Algonquin the first wildlife we encountered were a Red fox that I almost hit on the road and wolves calling back to our howls from the WRS near Lake Saskegewan. Two packs were calling back and forth with us and between themselves. I don't mind losing face as a writer here because >it sounded so incredibly cool< and I can't find any good words to describe it right now.

Day 1
The next morning a group of us get up with the sun and drive west of the Hwy 60 corridor to find: Goldfinches, Red Crossbill, White-winged Crossbill, Black-Capped Chickadees, a Raven, Pine Siskins, Red-breasted Nuthatches and Repolls.
Pine siskins
Bad angle of a red breasted nuthatch

Between Mew Lake Campground and the airfield we saw Bluejays and Evening Grosbeaks.

I realize there are very few not great  pictures of this morning... I forgot to change my camera. I am kicking myself.
 

On Opeongo Road we saw Grey Jays and a Leucistic Black-Capped Chickadee.

Leucistic chickadee
Grey jay
After going to Opeongo we went to the visitor centre where I changed my camera. We added hairy woodpecker to our count and saw many more evening grosbeaks. During our stay at the visitor centre I actually saw a group of what I think were scouts throwing snowballs at birds in the feeders. I think everyone with me was a little bit enraged by this and I actually went out and told the kids off. Immediately the birds came back and I was able to snag a picture of a few birds with my partially charged camera.


Male and female evening grosbeaks

Our group went to Whitney in search for Bohemian Waxwings. They were unfortunately not around probably due to the fact it had started snowing and even the mouring doves were hiding.

We met up with other wildlife club members and hiked the Spruce Bog Trail. On this trail we didn't see many birds but did find a pine marten in a tree. 
Pine Marten
 And then cars got stuck in the parking lot... and there was some snowball fights etc. 

 
 
After warming up and goofing around for a while back in the cabins and around a fire we tried another wolf howl. This time with more people and no success.
Watching Attenborough in the cabin
Cards
Fire that took a while to start but kept going for a long time once it did.

Day 2
We woke up early but there wasn't anything new to see this morning. We hiked from the WRS around Bat Lake trail. Natasha did find a brown creeper nest near the lookout. A group saw a Boreal chickadee but I unfortunately missed it. We got a good look are red crossbills again. I was hoping to see a black-backed woodpecker but no such luck.
The girls in my car

 Breaking in the trail....

Taking a break
Group photo!

We made it to the top
Bat Lake
WRS and my little car :)
 We tried to get into Mizzy Lake for a second walk but the road was too bad and we couldn't get it. I have to say I am proud of my little car for being able to turn around and get out of there without getting stuck.  On our way out of the park we stopped at Whiskey Rapids trail for another short hike. We saw a group of chickadees but no Boreals showed up. This was a gorgeous walk despite no success with birds.
Whiskey rapids trail

Leaving late and the spastic storms on the way back to Guelph meant no wildlife was seen on the ride home.
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Location: Ontario 60, Algonquin Provincial Park, Nipissing, Unorganized, South Part, ON P0A, Canada

Tuesday, 17 January 2012

Huatuclo, Mexico

Some people have a 'big year' as trying to see as many birds as they can in their area or trying to get as many new species as they can. For me, my big year is trying to see as many new places as I can and to finally live outside of the country. I am on the verge of graduating University and want to get out and see the world. I also am a amateur photographer so hopefully I will have enough to entertain at least someone on the internet. This blog however is mostly for myself so I can keep track of lists and pictures from my travels.

Most recently, I went to Huatuclo, Mexico for a week. I stayed at Las Brisas and did a few day trips to Copalita and into the mountains.

I went birding often but regrettably didn't have much chance to find any reptiles and amphibians.


Birds I saw:
White-throated magpie jay


Orange-breasted bunting
Magnificent frigatebird
Black vulture
Turkey vulture
Plain chachalaca
White-winged dove
Russet crowned mot mot
Greater kiskadee
Rufous naped wren
Hooded oriole ? (above)
Grey cheeked robin

Ash-throated flycatcher (and a few other species too)
Golden cheeked woodpecker

Yellow-winged caique
Orange fronted parakeet
White fronted parrot

 Scissor tailed flycatcher
Green kingfisher
Ringed kingfisher
Citreoline trogon
Streak backed oriole
White-lored gnatcatcher



Pale billed woodpecker
Spotted sandpiper (Thank you Josh for telling me they have no spots in the Winter)
Unknown hummingbird
Scrub euphonia?
Summer tanager


Other wildlife:
Many many bats of unknown species
One pretty cool spider
Hawksbill sea turtle
Many tropical fish that I haven't identified yet

Many lizards


** This list will get added onto when I finally ID a few more things. But for now, Enjoy!
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Location: Paseo Punta Santa Cruz, P Chahue, Crucecita, Oaxaca, Mexico
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