Cuba tres – Jardín Botánico Quinta de los Molinos, Havana, February 13, 2018

Eerie Havana gloaming

Quinto de los Molinos

Don't mess with jacked Cuban Zeus

Loading up for the 2.5 hour drive to Viñales...

Red-legged Thrush Turdus plumbeus (rubripes)

Red-legged Thrush Turdus plumbeus (rubripes)

Crescent-eyed (Cuban) Pewee Contopus caribaeus

Cuban Emerald Chlorostilbon ricordii

Northern Mockingbird Mimus polyglottos

Cape May Warbler Setophaga tigrina

Yellow-rumped Warbler Setophaga coronata

Common Ground Dove Columbina passerina

Common Ground Dove Columbina passerina

Eurasian Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto

Greater Antillean Grackle Quiscalus niger

Cuban Blackbird Dives atroviolaceus

  Managed as botanical gardens since 1839, the grounds at Quinta de los Molinos come off as a bit scruffy and forgotten. Neglected buildings and bizarre statues aside, it’s still a solid spot to pick up some typical Cuban species in an oasis of shady tranquility, amidst a Havana that flows a tad hot and intense at times.

  It was nice to see some of the regular suspects on the warbler front, with Palm Warblers predominating in the park, as elsewhere in Cuba.
  The Red-legged Thrush was one of my favourite species of the trip, because I’m an oddball that gets a kick out of Turdus thrushes. Sue me.

  Greater Antillean Grackles and Cuban Blackbirds were fairly widespread on the island, and I figured I didn’t have to worry about getting great images of the ones in this park because I’d get loads of pictures later – I guess I forgot to do that.

Turkey Vulture–4

Rock Dove–15+
Eurasian Collared Dove–10+
Mourning Dove–6
Common Ground Dove–12+
Cuban Emerald–1
Crescent-eyed (Cuban) Pewee–2
Red-legged Thrush–9+

Gray Catbird–2

Northern Mockingbird–5

Cape May Warbler–2
Yellow-rumped Warbler–2

Black-throated Blue Warbler–1

Palm Warbler–8

American Redstart–4+

House Sparrow–12+

Cuban Blackbird–8+
Greater Antillean Grackle–45+