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Birding in the Caribbean 

on the island of  

HISPANIOLA 

in the DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 


 February 12-19, 2011

(tour: FON/WI-3 '11)

For Endemic & Specialty Birds

including the Antillean Siskin & Hispaniolan Crossbill

This tour precedes:

our Birding & Nature Tour in 
the Northern Lesser Antilles

on the islands of 
Antigua, Barbuda, Montserrat, 
Dominica, and Guadeloupe

February 12-20, 2011

(tour FON/WI-4)  

Links:

Itinerary for Feb 2011 Lesser Antilles Tour, FON/ WI-4

Birds during previous FONT Tours in the Dominican Republic

A Bird-List & Photo Gallery of Caribbean Birds, Part #1: Guineafowl to Hummingbirds 

A Bird-List & Photo Gallery of Caribbean Birds, Part #2: Trogons to Buntings

Rare Birds of the Caribbean, Past & Present

Sat: Feb 12:  Arrival in the Dominican Republic. Our birding begins in Santo Domingo, where we'll see the interesting and unique bird, the Palmchat. And some other endemics and specialties as well, such as the Hispaniolan Parakeet and Hispaniolan Woodpecker. Overnight in Santo Domingo.

   

The Palmchat, the single species in a unique family, 
occurs no where else in the world other than on the Caribbean island of Hispaniola.
It lives communally in large nests, as in the photo at right.  

Sun: Feb 13:  Travel westward, from Santo Domingo, along the southern coast of the Dominican Republic, to the particularly fascinating and enjoyable area that will be the locale for most of our birding. An area with seacoast, desert, scrub, and forests of various sorts. With a lake, lower than the sea, and mountains with pine forests at their tops. From the lake to the pines, one particular road that passes through one habitat after another, along which many of our sought-after birds will be found, as they have been during our tours in the past. Overnight, this night, and through Mar 17 at Barahona, by the sea.

Mon: Feb 14 thru Thu: Feb 17:  Birding from Barahona, particularly in the Sierra de Bahoruco (or the Bahoruco Mountains), where at higher elevations, Black-capped Petrels nest. 
Late in the day, in the rocky, forested hillsides, flocks of Hispaniolan Parrots can be seen, as they have been during our previous tours. Also, the beautiful Hispaniolan Trogon. 

Hispaniolan Trogon

The rare La Selle Thrush, White-winged Warbler, and Chat-Tanager will be sought. Golden Swallows in the sky overhead. At dusk, the Least Poorwill and Hispaniolan Nightjar. The crossbill in the pines, with white on its wings, now considered endemic. Two species of todies: at higher elevations, the Narrow-billed; at lower elevations, the Broad-billed. Also at lower elevations: Key West Quail-Dove, Black-crowned Palm-Tanager, the Antillean or Hispaniolan Piculet, and the Flat-billed Vireo, the latter thought at one time to be a flycatcher. Flycatchers, themselves, include an elaenia and a pewee.
 
At our lowest elevation, by Lago Enriquillo, a large lake below sea-level, both of the species of crows on the island are possible: the Hispaniolan Palm Crow and the White-necked Crow. The largest concentration of flamingos in the Caribbean occurs, on occasion, at Lago Enriquillo, a saline lake about 200 feet below sea-level. Nearby, there should be Snowy and Wilson's Plovers. 
At a fresh-water lake, not far away we'll try for the West Indian Whistling-Duck and a rail or crake.  At another lake, near the ocean, numerous birds should include: White-cheeked Pintail and various waders including the Reddish Egret. 

After dark at least one night, we'll aim for Jamaican Potoo and Ashy-faced Barn-Owl. Also during this tour, another night we'll make an effort for the Caribbean form of the Stygian Owl. 

Early the following morning, we'll position ourselves for the recently-split White-fronted Quail-Dove (which has been conspecific with the Gray-fronted Quail-Dove of Cuba). 

We'll also visit the area in the hills, where during one of our previous tours, we were fortunate to see soaring together 3 very rare Ridgway's Hawks. In all, lots of good birding, and an enjoyable time, in an area surprisingly wild and remote.

Snowy Plover

Fri: Feb 18: After final morning birding in the area of Barahona, travel back to Santo Domingo. Our last overnight there.

Sat, Feb 19: Flights, either  home from the Dominican Republic, or continuing on the next tour (FON/WI-2) in the northern Lesser Antilles.