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A perfect get-a-way

6 Days of Birding in

PUERTO RICO

March 30 - April 4, 2009

(tour: FON/WI-3)

 

We've been doing birding tours in Puerto Rico for nearly 20 years. 
This will be our 28th birding tour on the island.

During this tour, our objective is to see as many as we can of the 
species of endemic birds and other bird specialties, 
as we enjoy the beautiful Puerto Rican countryside.

Good Birds & a Good Time!

The "endemic birds" to Puerto Rico include a few that occur (or formerly occurred) in the nearby Virgin Islands.    

Links:

Birds during previous FONT tours in Puerto Rico

Birds during previous FONT Caribbean Tours (with photos)

Caribbean Rare Birds

Caribbean Butterflies

Previous Puerto Rico Tour Highlights

Itinerary & price follows.

During our Puerto Rican tours we've seen all of the birds endemic to the island.  
Now, the rarest and most difficult of them to find (in the wild) is the 
Puerto Rico Parrot. It's very rare and only in a restricted area. 
Formerly, we've seen (during a tour in March of 2000), as many as a dozen. 
During all of our recent Puerto Rico tours, we've had excellent looks at the rather elusive Elfin Woods Warbler, a species discovered as recently as 1971.
 And we've heard or seen another rarity, the localized Puerto Rican Nightjar (that species was re-discovered in 1961).   
At dusk, or after dark, we always hear the assortment of sounds made by the  Puerto Rican Screech-Owl, that we often see. 
(The Puerto Rican Screech Owl is in photo at right.) 
Other notable endemics that we see during our Puerto Rico tours include the very rare Yellow-shouldered Blackbird, the Puerto Rican Tanager, and the Puerto Rican Lizard-Cuckoo. To date, a cumulative 186 species of birds have been seen during our Puerto Rican tours.

Mon: Mar 30  Mid-day arrival in Puerto Rico. Travel from the San Juan area to the southwestern corner of the island, an area rich with good birds, including a number of the endemics. West of Ponce, before dinner, we'll have some nice birding in the dry Guanica Forest by the coast. Adelaide's Warbler, Mangrove Cuckoo, Puerto Rican Tody and Puerto Rican Bullfinch occur. Also the Puerto Rican Flycatcher and Caribbean Elaenia. It should be a nice start to our birding tour.
After dinner, we'll try (hopefully with the same success we've had on previous tours) to he and see the rare Puerto Rican Nightjar. (This species was thought to be extinct until 1961).
Overnight in the attractive coastal town of La Parguera.

Puerto Rican Tody

Tue: Mar 31  Morning birding in the area of La Parguera. Our prime target will be the very rare Yellow-shouldered Blackbird (which we've had extremely good luck finding, often with ease, over the years). There will also be a visit to a place nearby that's been good for shorebirds including Wilson's Plover, the Antillean race of the Clapper Rail, and the colorful Troupial During the afternoon, we'll begin our birding in a region of wooded hills and coffee plantations near the town of Maricao. Our overnight, in that nice area, will be at a parador (or "country inn", this one very much "in the country" and quite attractive). And it's located in a particularly good area for Puerto Rican Screech-Owls.

Wed: Apr 1 Birding in the morning in the Maricao Forest, an area of wooded hills. Our most pertinent quest will be the Elfin Woods Warbler, a species not known before 1971. We'll go early to a place where we've had fine looks at the warbler during previous tours. With good fortune, we may see Bridled Quail-Dove and Antillean Euphonia. Endemics in the region include Green Mango and Puerto Rican Vireo. The mango, a hummingbird, is all-green. Vireo, of course, means "I am green". With a lot more than just green coloration, the Puerto Rican Spindalis (a "split" from what was the Stripe-headed Tanager). Also in the area is the dapper Puerto Rican Pewee (another recent split). Not just breakfast at the parador, but some nice birds there also, including the Loggerhead Kingbird and endemic Puerto Rican Lizard-Cuckoo.
In the afternoon, we'll head toward the northwestern Puerto Rican coast, where we'll overnight, by the sea, in Rincon.

Thu: Apr 2  This morning we'll take a boat-trip offshore to observe seabirds and other marine life. Among seabirds that we've seen during this trip in the past, have been as many as 6 species of Terns (including Bridled, Sooty, Roseate, Common, Royal, & the Brown Noddy), as many as 3 species of Boobies (Brown, Red-footed, & Masked), as well as White-tailed Tropicbird and Black-capped Petrel. Among other marine life during our previous trips we've seen various species of dolphins and the Whale Shark. 
In the afternoon, we'll travel east, across the island, to the area of Fajardo, where we'll overnight.

Fri: Apr 3  A full-day of birding in northeastern Puerto Rico, including a visit to a wildlife refuge near Humacao that's good for waterbirds. The rarest of them is the West Indian Whistling-Duck (which we've seen during many of our visits). Also occurring there are the White-cheeked Pintail and Caribbean Coot. We'll also visit the Luquillo National Forest, particularly the area of El Yunque, the rainforest, and the last haunt of the gravely endangered Puerto Rican Parrot. This bird, though now hard to find because of its low population, has been seen during a number of our previous tours.
Another endemic that's present in this area is the Puerto Rican Tanager.
Overnight, again, in northeastern Puerto Rico (or not far from the airport near San Juan).

Sat: Apr 4  Some final early morning birding in the San Juan area (as time permits for those without early morning flights). Flights home from Puerto Rico.  

Tour to be led by Armas Hill, or another experienced FONT leader.