Re: RFI: Jamaica
GAIL@UMDD.UMD.EDU
Sat, 24 Oct 98 12:11:25 EDT
If you only have one morning to go birding near Montego Bay, go to Rocklands
Feeding Station just outside of Mo Bay. Your hotel should be able to give you
directions. The last road in is quite rough (unpaved) and you may get a bit
discouraged as to whether this is the right way; about then you will see a
hand-lettered sign that says "birds" and an arrow. The station is an old
house/mansion where birds have been fed for decades. The grounds have many
excellent birds, including Caribbean Dove, Jamaican Tody, Oriole, Becard,
Potoo, Red-billed Streamertail, Jamaican Mango, Vireo, Orangequit etc.
Now, the hours for this attraction are a bit odd -- I seem to recall that
the station was open in the afternoon --you can feed the hummingbirds at
the hand -- and there is a small fee. We also took a birdwalk with Fritz,
one of the employees who has *wonderful* eyes -- ours was in the pm but I
think most are scheduled for the morning. This also costs money but well
worth it, adding Jamaican Lizard-cuckoo, Ruddy Quaildove, Jamaican POtoo
percehd, Sad Flycatcher, etc. Check with your hotel or the tourist office.
The house is surrounded by ruinate woodlands, excellent for native birds.
While in Mo Bay look for Antillean Palm Swift -- they seem to be more in
open areas around trees and buildings.
Have fun!
Gail Mackiernan
gail@umdd.umd.edu
Silver Spring, MD