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This years trip was to Jamaica to see as many of the 28 endemic birds as possible (or 29 if you include Olive-throated Parakeet). We stayed to Goblin Hill Villas (expensive even without the hidden extras), San San, Port Antonio which gave us a 30-40 minute drive to Ecclesdown Road. Next stop was Lime Tree Farm, Mavis Bank in the Blue Mountains which is equidistant to Hardwar Gap (pronounced Hardware Gap), Cinchona (pronounced sin co na) and Portland Gap, all approx 1.5 to 2 hours drive. Our final stop was with family at Mandeville which was just 10 minutes drive from Marshall's Pen.
Currency used was a mixture of Jamaican and US dollars and either were accepted. If visiting again my preference would be to take Jamaican Dollars.
The roads can be a bit rough in the mountains so if visiting in this area I would recommend a four wheel drive. Otherwise, some roads suffered from many pot holes but were fine for non four wheel drive vehicles.
Here are some of the birds encountered on our trip:
Black-billed Streamertail - Seen well at Goblin Hill Villas
Jamaican Blackbird - Widespread but uncommon at Ecclesdown Road, Hardwar Gap.
Jamaican Tody - Fairly common at Goblin Hill, Ecclesdown Road, Hardwar Gap
Jamaican Becard - Small no's at Ecclesdown Road, Marshall's Pen, Woodside Plantation (1.5km past Military Training Wing)
Jamaican Oriole - In small numbers at all sites.
Prairie Warbler - At most sites
Rufous-tailed Flycatcher - Several seen
Jamaican Crow - Ecclesdown Road and Marshall's Pen
Black-billed Parrot - Several seen at Ecclesdown Road
Black-throated Blue Warbler - Common
Jamaican Lizard-cuckoo - One's and two's at most sites
Jamaican Vireo - Once the call was learnt we picked it up at most sites
Blue Mountain Vireo - Most seen at Harwar Gap
Jamaican Pewee - Seen at most sites
Jamaican Woodpecker - Widespread in small numbers
Jamaican Euphonia - Quite common at most sites
Western Spindalis - Reasonably common at all sites
Jamaican Elaenia - Seen at Woodside Plantation (1.5km north of military training ground)
Orangequit - Common at all sites
Rufous-throated Solitaire - Woodside Plantation and Hardwar Gap
Red-billed Streamertail - Common in its range
Vervain Hummingbird - Lime Tree Farm, Port Antonio Marina
Solitary Sandpiper - Marshall's Pen
White-eyed Thrush - Marshall's Pen, Hardwar Gap, Goblin Hill Villas
Bahama Mockingbird - Portland Ridge