As a closer for the Caribbean blogs I thought it would be fitting to feature our observation of a Bushmaster pit viper.
At the time we visited Trinidad, cruisers were advised not to go ashore and if you did, not to leave the touristy compound. However, we had previously arranged for a guide to take us up into the mountains to the ASA Wright Nature Center, one of the premiere birding sights in the Caribbean.
The highlight of that trip, besides all the hummingbirds, was a Bushmaster pit viper curled up trailside.
Bushmasters hunt at night and have heat-sensing pits on each side of their head midway between the nostril and eye, which helps them to locate warm-blooded prey.
National Geographic says the bushmaster has a bite so venomous that humans only have a 25% chance of surviving one.
Snakes will pop up on future blogs, especially in our Florida travels, however our most impressive snake was our encounter with a 25’ Anaconda in the Amazon. Definitely a future blog.
The Green Iguana is found all over the Caribbean and I must admit on my first trip to the Caribbean I was totally enthralled watching these prehistoric looking creatures.
Of course, it’s hard to go to the Caribbean and not see Whiptail Blue Lizards.
The females are a dull brownish colour. However, the males have bright blue tails.
The Mona Monkey is an Old World monkey that lives in western Africa between Ghana and Cameroon. The Mona Monkey can also be found on the island of Grenada, which is where we observed it, as it was transported to the island aboard slave ships headed to the New World during the 18th century.
This monkey lives in groups of up to thirty-five in forests. It mainly feeds on fruit, but sometimes eats insects and leaves.
Our guide in Grenada took us up into the mountainous region where upon locating the monkeys handed Marilyn a banana. It was pretty obvious that this was a regular occurrence. However, as the monkeys approached, Marilyn raised the banana up over her head and much to her dismay, ended up nose to nose with a Mona Monkey on her chest.
We’ve been lucky to observe several species of monkeys in our travels, especially Costa Rica, and they will be subjects of future blogs.
Most Scarlet Ibis we have observed are from a great distance. However, this one was near roadside along where there looked like there was construction for a new drainage ditch.
Another bird from the tropics is the beautiful Tropical Kingbird. Found around most resorts, it hunts like other flycatchers from a dead snag or branch, fluttering out to catch passing prey, then returning to it's perch.
The flamingo filter-feeds on brine shrimp and blue-green algae. Their bills are specially adapted to separate mud and silt from the food they eat.
They use their bills upside down.
The pink or reddish colour of flamingos comes from carotenoids in their diet of animal and plant plankton.
Another bird that has occurrences in Ontario but is quite common elsewhere is the Cattle Egret. We have observed Cattle Egrets all over the tropics and riding on elephant backs while in Africa.
The short, thick-necked Cattle Egret spends most of its time in fields rather than streams. It forages at the feet of grazing cattle, head bobbing with each step, or rides on their backs to pick at ticks. This stocky white heron has yellow plumes on its head and neck during breeding season. Originally from Africa, it found its way to North America in 1953 and quickly spread across the continent. Elsewhere in the world, it forages alongside camels, ostriches, rhinos, and tortoises—as well as farmers’ tractors. Cornell All About Birds
Although lately there seems to be regular sightings in Ontario of White-winged Doves they are certainly common in the Caribbean.
While not as slender as a typical heron, the Yellow-crowned Night-Heron’s smooth purple-gray colors, sharp black-and-white face, and long yellow plumes lend it a touch of elegance. They forage at all hours of the day and night, stalking crustaceans in shallow wetlands and wet fields. Their diet leans heavily on crabs and crayfish, which they catch with a lunge and shake apart, or swallow whole.
They’re most common in coastal marshes, barrier islands, and mangroves, but their range extends inland as far as the Midwest. Cornell All About Birds
An immature Yellow-crowned Night-heron we observed in Panama.
The Plain Chachalaca is sort of a long-tailed, tropical chicken that lives in the treetops. These sandy brown and gray birds walk along tree branches to eat flowers, buds, fruits, and insects.
Though their plumage is subtle, their raucous, rhythmic morning chorus is anything but—a classic sound of the Tamaulipan brushlands that livens up any outing. We heard these raucous calls every morning while birding on the Yucatan Peninnsula.
The Brown-throated Parakeet is green above with paler yellowish belly and long, pointed tail.
Distinctive brown cheek and upper breast usually quite obvious. Almost always in small flocks.
The Green Honeycreeper is an attractive small tanager of humid tropical lowlands.
Found in humid evergreen forest edges, plantations and gardens. We observed this one while birding in Trinidad.
The Great Kiskadee (so named for its three-syllable call) is one of the largest and most boisterous members of the tyrant flycatcher family.
It has a big square head and stocky body like a kingfisher, and an omnivorous diet and bold behavior like a jay. They often eat small fish and snails.
The Southern Lapwing has a distinctive color pattern with black breast, white belly, gray head, and bronzy shoulder.
Their wings are boldly patterned in flight. Often in pairs or small flocks in open habitats, usually near water but also in dry pastures.
The Bare-throated Tiger-heron is a large but rather short-legged, primal-looking heron of mangroves and freshwater marshes in tropical lowlands.
The Red-billed Tropicbird is a spectacular seabird, very rarely seen from land but found locally around rocky islands near shore.
The Red-billed Tropicbird is a slender, white, gull-like seabird. It is the largest bird in the tropics. I just love the long white tail streamers.
Also on Hispaniola is the beautiful Broad-billed Tody.
Although not a Cuban bird, while birding in the Dominican we observed the absolutely gorgeous Hispaniola Woodpecker which is endemic to the island of Hispaniola.
The Common Black Hawk is also a, well, common sight in Cuba and can be found hanging around resorts.
Usually being pestered by other birds.
Our guide also found us the endemic Blue-headed Quail-Dove.
Another of the beautiful woodpeckers found in Cuba is the Fernandina's Flicker.
Another endemic is the Cuban Green Woodpecker.
Another of the beautiful endemic birds found in Cuba. The Cuban Emerald.
For sure one of the most beautiful birds we photographed in Cuba. Certainly one of my favourite cuckoos.
On our first morning in Cayo Coco I was awakened by this crazy whistling sound near our cabin. I had absolutely no idea what wildlife was producing this ultra cool sound, however, after immediately jumping up, I was pleasantly surprised to find West-Indian Whistling Ducks all around in the small lake by our cabin. My first time hearing whistling ducks vocalize. Very cool indeed.
The Bare-legged Owl observation was also very unique. While near Zapata Swamp our guide took us on some back roads. From there we went off road in a four by four, stopping in the bush,. From here we hiked maybe a km along a trail to a tree, whereby upon scratching the tree trunk, out popped a Bare-legged Owl.
Of course the real highlight for me was photographing the endemic Cuban Pygmy Owl. We actually had the opportunity to observe a couple of Cuban Pygmy Owls on our day trip to Zapata Swamp.
On our first trip to Cuba we were able to observe 60 species, 26 that were lifers for us, of which 17 that are endemic to Cuba. On our second trip to Cuba we observed 70 species featuring 14 new lifers, including 7 new endemics. Besides the Bee Hummingbird, The Cuban Trogon, the National Bird of Cuba, is a must see.
The next couple of blogs will feature birds we observed on our trips to Cuba. Each time we have gone to Cuba we have birded locally and also hired a guide for a day trip of birding. On a previous blog on the Bee Hummingbird you will find information on our trip to Zapata Swamp, a well known Cuban birding area, while we stayed at Varedero.
Our guide was Ernesto Reyes Mourino and I can highly recommend him. His email is here: ernesto2.reyes@nauta.cu
While staying in Cayo Coco our guide was Paulino Lopez Delgado and I can also highly recommend him. His email is here paulino.nature@nauta.cu
The Cuban Tody is an incredibly beautiful bird.
Our guide Paulino and his wheels for birding.
Our wheels for our day trip to Havana.
We have encountered many moose in our travels all over North America. It was not uncommon while on canoe trips with the kids when they were young to encounter around twenty moose every trip. We've also had some close encounters with moose, whether almost running into them while paddling down small streams in Algonquin, or actually being charged by a female protecting her newborn during a totally surprise encounter on a trail in Alaska. Not to mention having moose grazing all over the road in the early morning fog in Newfoundland on our way to see ice bergs at Goose Cove.
These are a couple of the cooler more recent images I have of moose. All taken in Algonquin Provincial Park.
Moose are the largest members of the deer family, standing six feet tall from hoof to shoulder, and weighing in at more than 1,000 pounds. Each of their light to dark brown hairs is hollow, and the air trapped inside provides insulation. A flap of skin called a dewlap hangs from the throat. Males are distinguished from females by their antlers, which grow up to six feet across.
Moose suffer from a predator of another sort, parasitic brain worms. White-tailed deer are carriers of the parasite, but it has no effect on them. When deer defecate, the brain worms are transferred from their waste to land snails. When moose unknowingly eat the snails while foraging for food, they ingest the parasite.
Male moose, called bulls, begin to grow antlers in springtime to prepare for the autumn mating season. Large, mature bulls with well-developed antlers usually get to mate with the female moose, called cows.
When bulls are competing for the same cow, they may use their antlers to fight off their opponents. After the mating season, bulls drop their antlers. They regrow them again in the spring.
