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Though we had observed most of Paradise Island’s avifauna the previous day, we got great follow-up views as our trip progressed. The predominant gull we saw was Laughing, mixed in with a handful of Herring and Ring-billed. The prevalent raptor was American Kestrel, the Bahamian race possessed of a pure white belly. Collared doves and, [...]

Our first full day in the Bahamas was slated to be our big birding day. Having done a fair bit of research before setting out, I realized that we couldn’t possibly experience the best of New Providence birding on our own. We sought too many rarities with too small a window for success. So, I [...]

The first bird Sara and I spotted in the Bahamas was the same species as our last in the United States, a House Sparrow as at home in the Nassau International Airport as its cousin was in JFK. The second bird we saw, a ubiquitous invasive that has overwhelmed this particular island, was a Eurasian [...]

Our window for birdwatching in Puerto Rico was heartbreakingly brief, but the true reason for our trip was the wedding of our dear friends, Tarra and Evan. Their ceremony was beautiful and the celebration lasted long into the night. The next day, we had time but for a brief visit to Old San Juan and [...]

The birding centerpiece of our brief Puerto Rican trip was a morning excursion to El Yunque Caribbean National Forest. For a country so blessed with avian diversity, Puerto Rico seems woefully light in the birding tour department. Castillo Tours, a local company, was willing and able to get us to the rainforest but could not [...]

Current U.S. Territory and potential 51st state, Puerto Rico boasts 349 bird species, including 12 endemics, as well as the second highest alcohol consumption per capita in the world, behind only Russia. The Core Team traveled there in for a weekend wedding, but also attempted a whirlwind tour of the northeastern end of the island. [...]