Cuba, Day 1, 4 March 2017 - Quinta de los Molinos Botanical Gardens, Havana

This was actually day 2 of the holiday but the previous day was spent in the centre of Havana and consequently very few birds were seen. Just the unbiquitous Turkey Vultures, Northern Rough-winged Swallows, a Martin sp, House Sparrows, Collared Doves, Mourning Doves, Northern Mockingbird and Greater Antillean Grackles. None of which I'll probably mention again!

So, this morning we decided to take a short taxi ride to the Quinta de los Molinos Botanical Gardens. It was a nice gentle introduction to Cuban birding in a relaxed traffic free green space in the urban sprawl. The endemics Red-legged Thrush and Cuban Blackbird were easily found as were the first of what was the most common wintering warbler - Palm Warbler. A female Black-throated Blue Warbler and an Ovenbird were slightly less expected and Common Ground Doves were common. Other endemics were 3 Cuban Emeralds and a showy Cuban Pewee with a gorgeous Black-and-white Warbler, Tennessee Warbler and American Redstart being the best of the rest. On the walk back my first Antillean Palm Swift hawked over the road.

Red-legged Thrush

Cuban Blackbird

Black-and-white Warbler

Cuban Pewee

Common Ground Dove

 Ovenbird