Jamaica: Nature, Birds & Beach December 5 – 16, 2016 with Mark Smith

Jamaica: Nature, Birds & Beach December 5 – 16, 2016 With Mark Smith

Discover a Jamaica that few are lucky to see, far from the hustle of resort culture, deep in the countryside where wildlife and true Caribbean culture abound. Search for Jamaica’s 25+ endemic birds, including the Jamaican Owl, Jamaican Mango, Jamaican Becard, and Jamaican Tody.

Jamaica is one of the most biologically-rich islands in all the Indies, and in recent years, with the aid of international conservation groups, has expanded its preserves, especially the Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park.

Spend time in the remote Cockpit country with two nights in a "Great House," one of the old plantation houses set in a nature preserve; seven nights at beach hotels, swimming, snorkeling, relaxing on the beach (this is the Caribbean, after all), and visiting nearby natural areas; and two nights in a chalet overlooking the coffee plantations and National Park of the Blue Mountains.

Join us as we explore Jamaica's finest natural areas, while learning about this island’s unique history and culture, and enjoying delicious local foods. Naturalist Journeys, LLC / Caligo Ventures PO Box 16545 Portal, AZ 85632 PH: 520.558.1146 / 800.426.7781 Fax 650.471.7667www.naturalistjourneys.com / www.caligo.com [email protected] / [email protected]

Tour Highlights

 Enjoy your first night in Jamaica at a beachside hotel, where you can unwind and enjoy fresh seafood  Search for rare West Indian Whistling Duck and even Masked Duck at a pond not far from the beach  Spot manatees and maybe even American crocodile at Alligator Hole  Be inspired by the vista at Lover’s Leap, a 1700-foot cliff overlooking the Caribbean  Watch for endemics like Jamaican Owl, Becard, and Woodpecker at Marshall’s Pen Private Reserve  Bird the rugged Cockpit Country for Yellow-billed and Black-billed Parrots, Jamaican Crow, and Jamaican Lizard Cuckoo  Explore Blue Mountain forests that are draped in ferns, orchids, and bromeliads, and home to cascading waterfalls  Enjoy the final three days near the beach, with time to swim, snorkel, and relax

Tour Summary

12-Day / 11-Night Jamaican Birding & Nature Tour with Mark Smith & Ann Sutton $2885 from Montego Bay Airport is Sangster International (MBJ)

Itinerary

Mon., Dec. 5 & Tues., Dec. 6 Montego Bay to Negril

We arrive at Montego Bay in northwestern Jamaica in the early afternoon and proceed by van half an hour to a lush estate where feeders host Red-billed Streamertail, Jamaican Mango, Jamaican Euphonia, Orangequit, Jamaican Oriole, and many others. Chestnut-bellied Cuckoo, Stripe-headed Tanager, and Jamaican Tody are often found on the grounds. We continue to the west coast and settle into our beach hotel at Negril, where we stay for two nights. Here we can unwind on the beach, snorkel, and enjoy some good seafood. Just inland is the Royal Palm Preserve in The Great Morass, with a network of boardwalks that access ponds and wetlands with West Indian Whistling Duck, Clapper Rail, Purple Gallinule, and Antillean Palm Swift. By the beach are pelicans, Magnificent Frigatebird, and several terns.

Naturalist Journeys, LLC / Caligo Ventures PO Box 16545 Portal, AZ 85632 PH: 520.558.1146 / 800.426.7781 Fax 650.471.7667www.naturalistjourneys.com / www.caligo.com [email protected] / [email protected]

Accommodations in Negril (D Day 1; B,L,D Day 2)

Wed., Dec. 7 Negril to Treasure Beach

We continue southwest to Treasure Beach where we stay two nights in two large beach houses. En route we visit Parottee Pond, Jamaica’s richest habitat for wintering shorebirds. Nearby, a small lake may reveal Least Bittern, Least Grebe, Northern Jacana, the rare West Indian Whistling Duck, and even Masked Duck.

Accommodations at Treasure Beach (B,L,D)

Thurs., Dec. 8 Alligator Hole & Pond

We depart early for Alligator Hole, where a stream springs from the limestone escarpment nurturing wetlands and mangroves hosting manatees, and perhaps American crocodiles (“alligators”). The surrounding forests are a good area to find endemic Chestnut-Bellied and Lizard Cuckoos, and migrant warblers. We return to Treasure Beach via the fishing village of Alligator Pond, where we have a seafood lunch on the beach and observe and photograph the colorful boats and fish sellers. Next we stop at Lover’s Leap, a grand vista over the Caribbean. In the evening we scan Great Pedro Pond, where northern shorebirds and waterfowl winter.

Accommodations at Treasure Beach (B,L,D)

Fri., Dec. 9 Black River Morass & Marshall’s Pen

We depart early for wetlands of the Black River Morass, where limpkins and other waterbirds may be found. We reach Marshall’s Pen, a private reserve, by lunch time and settle into rooms for two nights in the 200-year-old coffee plantation house (Great House). Meals are sumptuous and traditional, and the tropical gardens and native forest host many of Jamaica’s endemics, including Jamaican Owl, Becard, and Woodpecker, as well as North American wintering warblers. The owner of the house is our co-leader, naturalist Ann Sutton, who has conducted numerous studies on Jamaican biology, often for the government, and has consulted on films and books and written the definitive book on Jamaica’s birds.

Accommodations at Marshall’s Pen (B,L,D)

Sat., Dec. 10 The Cockpit Country

We rise early for a drive up to the wet limestone forest of the rugged Cockpit Country, where we hope to see the endemic Yellow-billed and Black-billed Parrots, Jamaican Crow, and Jamaican Lizard Cuckoo. The flora of palms, cacti, and orchids is largely endemic, as are many of the butterflies. Due to the extreme natural erosion and collapse of the limestone, the area appears as a mosaic of deep bowls like the cockfighting pits of old. We return to Marshall’s Pen.

Accommodations at Marshall’s Pen (B,L,D)

Sun., Dec. 11 Portland Ridge to the Blue Mountains

We have an early departure for the arid limestone scrub of Portland Ridge, the cactus-studded southernmost peninsula of Jamaica, where we hope to see the Bahama Mockingbird, Jamaican Vireo, and Stolid Flycatcher. Then we continue east through Kingston, viewing some historic neighborhoods, and up into the cool Blue Mountains for two nights in a quiet guest house. We’ll enjoy an evening walk with grand views over the coffee plantation of the rugged Blue Mountains.

Accommodations in the Blue Mountains (B,L,D)

Mon., Dec. 12 The Blue Mountains

Today we are up early to search out the difficult high- mountain specialties like Jamaican Blackbird, Blue Mountain Vireo, Crested Quail Dove, Arrow-headed Warbler, and Rufous-throated Solitaire. The weather is unpredictable, and clouds often cling to the 5000-foot slopes of montane forest. Ferns, orchids, and bromeliads festoon the branches, and there are many waterfalls. Northern Parula, Worm-eating and Swainson’s Warblers and Louisiana Waterthrush winter here.

Accommodations in the Blue Mountains (B,L,D)

Tues., Dec. 13 – Thurs., Dec. 15 The Blue Mountains to the Port of Antonio Area

We enjoy a final morning of cool walks before we descend an hour down to the rugged northeast coast and the Port Antonio area, where for three days we settle into beautiful villas overlooking the beach and Caribbean at Frenchman’s Cove. These are relaxed days with swimming and snorkeling, and options to explore the nearby Rio Grande Valley and the John Crow Mountains National Park in search of scenery and species we may have missed. One day we have the option to drive east to Hector’s River and scan for White-tailed Tropicbirds that nest on the headland.

Accommodations in Port of Antonio (B,L,D)

Fri., Dec. 16 Port of Antonio / Departures

We depart this morning and drive the south coast to Montego Bay, where we connect with mid-day flights to the U.S., arriving on the east and west coasts this same evening. (B)

PLAN AHEAD! Protect yourself with Allianz Travel Insurance – a link is available on the Naturalist Journeys (www.naturalistjourneys.com) website in the Registration Section. If you wish to compare to Travel Safe, that link is available on the Caligo Ventures website www.caligo.com

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COST OF THE JOURNEY Cost of the journey is $2885 DBL occupancy / $3460 SGL, from Montego Bay, Jamaica. This cost includes all accommodations, all meals as specified in the itinerary, professional guide services, other park and program

entrance fees and miscellaneous program expenses.

Tour cost does not include: round-trip transportation from your home city to Montego Bay, optional activities, or items of a personal nature such as laundry, telephone charges, maid gratuities, or beverages from the bar.

Group Size: Maximum of 8, but 3 – 6 is typical. Tour prices are based on 8 persons for the main tour.

TRAVEL INFORMATION Plan to arrive in Montego Bay (MBJ) on Dec. 5, by 3PM. We have about a two-hour drive to our destination. If you need to arrive later, special arrangements can be made We suggest you plan departures for after 2PM on Dec. 16, though earlier can be accommodated with special transfer arrangements.

Naturalist Journeys, LLC is an equal opportunity service provider and committed to the goal of ensuring equal opportunity for all in employment and program delivery.

Photo Credits: Antillean-crested Hummingbird, David Smith (DS); Beach Scenic, Peg Abbott (PA); Long Bay Street Life, PA; Kestrel, PA; Jamaican Woodpecker, PA; Palms in the Mountains, PA; Antillean Bullfinch, DS; Great Lizard Cuckoo, PA; Northern Parula, PA, Beach Lunch, PA; Zebra Longwing, PA.