Dominican Republic Endemics of Hispaniola IV 4th to 11th December 2018 (8 days) Trip Report

Broad-billed Tody by Rob Williams

Trip Report compiled by tour leader, Rob Williams

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Tour Summary

The Dominican Republic comprises the eastern portion of the island of Hispaniola, and offers the chance for all but one of the island’s 33 endemic . This tour targets those 32 , most of which can be found in the south-west of the country in and around the Sierra de Bahoruco mountains, where one needs to different elevations, habitats and both sides of the ridge as the mountains have a rain-shadow effect. ______Top 10 Birds (as voted by participants)

1. Ashy-faced Owl 6. Antillean Euphonia 2. Golden Swallow 7. Hispaniolan Crossbill 3. Bay-breasted Cuckoo 8. Ridgway’s Hawk 4. Broad-billed Tody 9. La Selle Thrush 5. Eastern Chat- 10. Hispaniolan ______The Tour in Detail

We started birding at the botanical gardens in Santo Domingo. Dozens of the near-endemic Antillean Palm Swifts flew overhead as we arrived. Palmchats, the official national bird of Dominican Republic and the only member of its family Dulidae, were abundant, and we saw a few of their impressive communal nests. Flowering shrubs held both Antillean Mangos and Vervain Hummingbird, the latter being the second smallest hummingbird in the world. Our main target here was the threatened West Indian Whistling Duck, and we enjoyed good views of a group of 7 resting on an island in a small lagoon. A coupe of confiding Greater Antillean Grackles were seen, and our first Hispaniolan Lizard Cuckoos came in well to playback. A good variety of wintering warblers here included Black-and- white Warbler, American Redstart and some nice plumaged Prairie Warblers.

We then drove west to Puerto Escondido, stopping en route for lunch. A few birds en route included White-winged Doves and the local dominicensis race of American Kestrel. After checking in, we explored the Rabo de Gato trail, prioritising the quail-doves: we were extremely successful, finding all 3 species and having particularly good looks at the endemic White-fronted (formerly Grey- Vervain Hummingbird by Rob Williams headed) and a pair of Key West Quail-Doves. We also found several White-necked Crows which were heard only for a while as we could not see to the trees from where their pleasingly musical calls emanated, but with patience we found a place we could view them from and enjoyed scope and flight looks. The creek held a couple of Louisiana Waterthrushes and an Ovenbird strolled the forest floor. A couple of Broad-billed Todies were seen well and a Narrow-billed Tody was seen briefly.

The next day we left early, driving up to Zapotén before dawn. As dawn went, we listened to Rufous- throated Solitaires, La Selle Thrushes and Bicknell’s Thrushes. We saw a few La Selle Thrushes along

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the track and in nearby trees, gradually getting better views of this shy endemic as the light improved, until we all had good looks at one on the vehicle track ahead of us. A wintering Bicknell’s showed briefly. Continuing up the road, we sought out a series of endemics. We had good looks at several each of Green- tailed Warbler and Western Chat-Tanager. A pair of Hispaniolan Trogons showed, and others were heard. A flock of was the first of several we found of this recently split endemic. A couple of Hispaniolan Siskins, a singing male and then a confiding female, were seen. Several pairs or small groups of the delightful White-winged Warbler were found along the roadside. Reaching an area of Pines, we found the endemic chrysoleuca race of Pine Warbler, with several seen and heard singing. Here we heard and finally located an adult male of the endemic Hispaniolan Crossbill, which showed well in the scope. Walking back down, we found a pair of the threatened Golden Swallow of the subspecies sclateri; the nominate has not been seen on since the early 1980s, and it seems that it is extinct there and is now effectively a Hispaniola endemic. White-winged Warbler by Rob Williams

We lunched at the Zapotén guard post and then headed down to El Aguacate, where we could look across into the denuded hills of . Here, we had our first views of Stolid Flycatcher, and scanning into Haiti produced distant views of Merlin and Black Swift and several American Kestrels. Further down, we stopped to view a roosting Northern Potoo beside the road and enjoyed great eye-level views of this fabulous nightbird. We then birded along the road, searching for the scarce and tricky Bay-breasted Cuckoo. It took a while and we heard one call a couple of times but could not lure it in. However, we persisted and it paid off, and we had reasonable views of one that was foraging in some tall trees back from the road. It never really responded to our attempts to lure it closer but, eventually, most people got good views of this spectacular endemic.

We returned to the lodge for a bit of a rest before we headed out in the late afternoon. Our first stop gave us good looks at the endemic Hispaniolan Oriole, as well as several more White-necked Crows and Plain Pigeons. We then visited an area of forest limestone cliffs to search for the endemic Hispaniolan Nightjar. As we waited for dusk, we heard an Ashy-faced Owl call and then it flew over us. It responded well to playback and we all enjoyed great looks at this scarce endemic perched in a tree staring right at us. Despite a good search, the only evidence of the nightjar was a couple of very distant calls heard by Rob. We searched for Least Poorwill but could not find one; compensation for our efforts came in the form of a hunting Barn Owl and a Chuck- Golden Swallow by Rob Williams Wills-Widow that was seen well.

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Pre-dawn, we tried again for Least Poorwill and succeeded in hearing a calling bird in thorn scrub, but try as we might we could not get it to come in, and the impenetrable habitat ruled out us going to it. We spent the early morning birding the area known as La Placa (the sign) and quickly found our three target birds. We had great looks at a Flat-billed Vireo which came in silently to playback and then hung around foraging for a while. A couple of the impressive Antillean Piculets were seen well, the second calmer and more collaborative than the first. We heard several Antillean Euphonias and eventually got great looks at a pair foraging in a Spanish-moss covered tree. Returning to the vehicles, we found that we 2 had punctures and spent some time in the middle of the day hanging around as the drivers resolved this. After an early lunch, we headed back north, to go east, to go south, to go west – we drove right around the Sierra de Bahoruco to reach the coastal town of Pedernales. En route we had a mechanical problem with one vehicle (the mountain roads really take their toll), but we squeezed into two for a few kilometres until we met our bus at Barahona.

In the late afternoon, we arrived at Cabo Rojo, stopping at a saline lagoon where we found a good variety of waterbirds and shorebirds, including Reddish Egret, Tricolored Heron, White Ibis, Short-billed Dowitchers and a single Long-billed Dowitcher with them. The mangroves held good numbers of warblers, including the resident albicollis subspecies of Yellow Northern Potoo by Rob Williams Warbler which forms part of the “Golden Warbler” complex, Northern Waterthrush, Northern Parula, Magnolia Warbler, and Cape May Warbler. Moving on to the coast, we picked up some seabirds. The highlight was several distant but readily identifiable Black- capped Petrels – we all took turns with the scope and all had reasonable looks at this Critically Endangered seabird. A stop by the cliffs gave us a first- year female Peregrine with a very full crop and a group of 4 Cave Swallows of the nominate subspecies which forms part of the Caribbean Cave Swallow grouping.

The following morning, we headed up the wide asphalt road left by the bauxite mines that had finally closed the year before. This allowed us to quickly access pine forest. Pre-dawn, we managed to hear a calling but unresponsive Hispaniolan Nightjar. As day broke and we ate a field breakfast, we enjoyed an impressive warbler flock which was mostly comprised of Myrtle and Palm Warblers, but also held Magnolia and Yellow-throated Warblers. Hispaniolan Palm Crows were heard calling and glimpsed flying down into an area of regenerating pine scrub in an old mine working. Fortunately, they responded well to playback and 19 came right past us, with some perching up for good looks. Apart from odd warblers, including some singing Pine Warblers, a few siskins flying past, Ashy-faced Owl by Bill Schweber some sizeable but slightly distant flocks of Hispaniolan

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Parakeets, and the odd Hispaniolan Woodpecker, it was very quiet, and we had to work hard for our final target here. The Hispaniolan Amazon was heard a few times but never came into view. Eventually, Rob glimpsed a distant pair that appeared to settle in a distant band of pines. Some full volume playback got a response and the pair flew right at and then over us, giving good looks for all. On the way back down the road, we stopped at a small pool and had a Sharp-shinned Hawk flash past.

Back at Cabo Rojo, we birded the lagoon again and had more views of many of the birds from the day before, plus a Lesser Scaup and fly-over Roseate Spoonbill. Off- shore, the Brown Boobies were closer and we enjoyed better light on some Black- capped Petrels. A single Audubon’s Shearwater also flew past a couple of hundred metres off-shore.

An impressive endemic Rhinoceros Iguana was seen behind the restaurant. A quick afternoon stop at Laguna de Oviedo gave us nice scope looks at about 25 American Hispaniolan Parakeets by Bill Schweber Flamingoes. There were also decent numbers of herons and egrets, and some 250 American Wigeon. Late afternoon birding in the hotel grounds gave us our only Zenaida Dove of the trip and 3 adult Yellow-crowned Night Herons were along the shore below the hotel.

It was raining hard as we drove up to Cachote on the eastern end of the Sierra de Bahoruco. Arriving predawn, we waited for light and the rain to ease and then, taking advantage of a precipitative lull, we quickly found our main target bird of Eastern Chat-Tanager and all got good looks at this local and shy bird. It started to rain again, and we walked for a bit looking for a Rufous-throated Solitaire but only heard a couple in brief pauses in the downpour.

The long drive across the island was broken by lunch and a bit of birding along the Santo Domingo coast. Arriving at Sabana del Mar, we stopped at some recently readied rice fields and added Killdeer to the trip list.

We started the day looking for the endangered Ridgway’s Hawk and were rewarded with several extended scope views of a pair, as well as flight views. This was considered one of the most threatened birds in the Caribbean; but is fortunately now increasing in numbers with some 200 pairs in the Los Haisites National Park area. We also found several Yellow-faced Grassquits and enjoyed scope views of a Ridgway’s Hawk by Bill Schweber feeding White-necked Crow while we waited.

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Checking out some wetland areas near the hotel, we saw a Limpkin, flushed a Wilson’s Snipe twice and found a small colony of the introduced Village Weaver. A quick visit to the coast at Sabana del Mar gave us Cabot’s Tern and a first-winter Herring Gull. We arrived back in Santo Domingo in time for a nice farewell meal at a traditional local restaurant.

It had been a great visit to the Dominican Republic. We had encountered all the Hispaniolan endemics that occur there (32 of the 33), and seen all but 2 of those (both the nightjars had been very quiet and unresponsive during the cold weather of our visit). We had had great views of many of the birds and had also found some slightly unexpected species, such as the endangered Black-capped Petrel, which although it breeds in the Sierra de Bahoruco is very seldom seen on tours and was indeed a lifer for our local guide, César. We had also seen some nice anole lizards, enjoyed interesting habitats and some impressive scenery. ______Annotated List of Species Recorded Birds (Total: 139 species - 134 seen and 5 heard only).

DUCKS, GEESE & SWANS - Anatidae West Indian Whistling Duck - VU Dendrocygna arborea Great views of a flock of 7 in the Santo Domingo Botanical Gardens. Blue-winged Teal Spatula discors Fairly common on the small lagoons at Cabo Rojo. Northern Shoveler Spatula clypeata A few on the lagoons at Cabo Rojo. American Wigeon Mareca americana A few at Cabo Rojo and about 250 on Laguna de Oviedo. Lesser Scaup Aythya affinis 1 female at Cabo Rojo.

GUINEAFOWL - Numididae Helmeted Guineafowl - I Numida meleagris Heard on Rabo de Gato trail.

PETRELS AND SHEARWATERS - Procellariidae Black-capped Petrel Pterodroma hasiata Distant but reasonable scope views for all the group from Cabo Rojo. Total numbers hard to estimate but at least 5+ on each day and probably a lot more, with up to 3 being seen in the scope at one time. Considered globally endangered. The local breeding colony at Loma del Toro is estimated to have 20- 40 pairs and is the only known active colony in the country. Audubon’s Shearwater Puffinus lherminieri One flew past Cabo Rojo a couple of hundred metres off-shore.

GREBES - Podicipedidae Least Grebe Tachybaptus dominicus 1 at the small lagoon at Sabana del Mar.

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Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps 1 at the small lagoon at Sabana del Mar.

FLAMINGOS - Phoenicopteridae American Flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber About 25 at Laguna de Oviedo.

IBISES, SPOONBILLS - Threskiornithidae American White Ibis Eudocimus albus 1 on 7/12 and about 30 on 8/12 at Cabo Rojo. Roseate Spoonbill Platalea ajaja One adult flew over us at Cabo Rojo wetlands.

HERONS, EGRETS, AND BITTERNS - Ardeidae Yellow-crowned Night Heron Nyctanassa violacea 3 at Quemaito Hotel south of Barahona. Green Heron Butorides virescens Fairly common, seen at several sites. Western Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis Common. Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias 1 seen by Carolyn at Cabo Rojo. Great Egret Ardea alba Common. Reddish Egret - NT Egretta rufescens 2 at Cabo Rojo and 2 at Laguna Oviedo. Tricolored Heron Egretta tricolor Fairly common at Cabo Rojo and Laguna de Oviedo, a single near Sabana del Mar. Little Blue Heron Egretta caerulea Fairly common. Snowy Egret Egretta thula Fairly common.

PELICANS - Pelecanidae Brown Pelican Pelecanus occidentalis Common at coastal localities.

FRIGATEBIRDS - Fregatidae Magnificent Frigatebird Fregata magnificens Several at coastal localities.

GANNETS AND BOOBIES - Sulidae Brown Booby Sula leucogaster Up to 9 daily off-shore from Cabo Rojo.

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NEW WORLD VULTURES - Cathartidae Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura Common in NE, a couple seen in the south.

OSPREY - Pandionidae Western Osprey Pandion haliaetus 1 at Barahona and 1 in Santo Domingo.

KITES, HAWKS & EAGLES - Accipitridae Sharp-shinned Hawk Accipiter striatus 1 male flashed past at the small pool on the upper Alacoa road, apparently checking out the playback of other birds. Ridgway's Hawk - NE - CR Buteo ridgwayi A pair seen very well near Paraiso de Cano Hondo. Distantly at first then well in flight and scope- filling views perched in good light. Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis Several seen in Sierra de Bahoruco and at Sabana del Mar.

RAILS, CRAKES & COOTS - Rallidae Clapper Rail Rallus crepitans Heard at Cabo Rojo. Common Gallinule Gallinula galeata Fairly common. Purple Gallinule Porphyrio martinicus 4 seen at a small lagoon near Sabana del Mar. American Coot Fulica americana 1 seen at Cabo Rojo.

LIMPKIN - Aramidae Limpkin Aramus guarauna Several heard and 1 seen near Cano Hondo.

STILTS AND AVOCETS - Recurvirostridae Black-necked Stilt Himantopus mexicanus Common at Cabo Rojo and Laguna Oviedo.

PLOVERS AND LAPWINGS - Charadriidae Killdeer Charadrius vociferus 7 seen near Cano Hondo on a recently tilled rice field.

SANDPIPERS AND ALLIES - Scolopacidae Short-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus griseus 27 at Cabo Rojo. Long-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus scolopaceus 2 birds at Cabo Rojo with the previous species.

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Wilson’s Snipe Gallinago delicata 1 seen near Cano Hondo, flushed twice from a wet field. Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularius 4 seen. Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes Fairly common at Cabo Rojo. Greater Yellowlegs Tringa melanoleuca 3 at Cabo Rojo and 1 near Cano Hondo.

GULLS, TERNS & SKIMMERS - Laridae Herring Gull Larus smithsonianus A 1st winter bird at Sabana del Mar quay. Laughing Gull Leucophaeus atricilla 2 far off-shore from Cabo Rojo. Royal Tern Thalasseus maximus Common at all coastal sites. Cabot's Tern Thalasseus acuflavidus 5 seen off Sabana del Mar quay.

PIGEONS AND DOVES - Columbidae Rock Dove - I Columba livia Common in all towns and most villages. White-crowned Pigeon - NT Patagioenas leucocephala Dave saw 1 at Paraiso Cano Hondo. Scaly-naped Pigeon Patagioenas squamosa 4 birds total. 2 on upper Alacoa road and 2 at Cano Hondo. Plain Pigeon - NT Patagioenas inornata Fairly common. Common Ground Dove Columbina passerina Common in lowlands. Ruddy Quail-Dove Geotrygon montana 1 seen on the Rabo del Gato trail. White-fronted Quail-Dove - E - EN Geotrygon leucometopia 3 seen on the Rabo del Gato trail. Key West Quail-Dove Geotrygon chrysia 4 seen well on Rabo del Gato trail. Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura Fairly common in lowlands. Zenaida Dove Zenaida aurita 1 seen fly past at Quemaito. White-winged Dove Zenaida asiatica 2 seen at Santo Domingo botanical gardens. Eurasian Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto 2 seen in Santo Domingo. Introduced species that is just colonising.

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CUCKOOS - Cuculidae Smooth-billed Ani Crotophaga ani Common. Mangrove Cuckoo Coccyzus minor Heard at Santo Domingo botanical gardens. Bay-breasted Cuckoo - NE - EN Coccyzus rufigularis 1 seen and another heard on the road beyond La Placa. Hispaniolan Lizard Cuckoo - NE Coccyzus longirostris Fairly common by voice in lowlands and good looks at several.

BARN-OWLS - Tytonidae American Barn Owl Tyto furcata One seen over fields near Puerto Escondido. Ashy-faced Owl - NE Tyto glaucops Great looks at a bird at dusk near Puerto Escondido.

OWLS - Strigidae Burrowing Owl Athene cunicularia Several seen near El Aguacate.

POTOOS - Nyctibiidae Northern Potoo Nyctibius jamaicensis Great looks at a roosting bird below El Aguacate.

NIGHTJARS AND ALLIES - Caprimulgidae Least Poorwill - NE - NT Siphonorhis brewsteri One heard distantly in thick thorn scum near Puerto Escondido. Chuck-will's-widow Antrostomus carolinensis 1 seen well in farmland with scrub near Puerto Escondido. Hispaniolan Nightjar - NE Antrostomus ekmani Heard only on the Alacoa road and at La Mina. The cold weather or seasonal moult may have reduced activity.

SWIFTS - Apodidae Black Swift Cypseloides niger About 4 birds seen distantly over Haiti from El Aguacate control post. Antillean Palm Swift Tachornis phoenicobia Common.

HUMMINGBIRDS - Trochilidae Antillean Mango Anthracothorax dominicus Fairly common and widespread. Hispaniolan Emerald - NE Chlorostilbon swainsonii Fairly common at higher elevations.

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Vervain Hummingbird Mellisuga minima Fairly common at Santo Domingo botanical gardens and more seen at lower elevations on the north slope of Sierra de Bahoruco.

TROGONS - Trogonidae Hispaniolan Trogon - NE - NT Priotelus roseigaster 3 seen and several more heard.

KINGFISHERS - Alcedinidae Belted Kingfisher Megaceryle alcyon 2 seen along the east coast south of Barahona.

TODIES - Todidae Broad-billed Tody - NE Todus subulatus Fairly common at lower elevations. Narrow-billed Tody - NE Todus angustirostris Fairly common in highlands.

WOODPECKERS - Picidae Antillean Piculet - NE Nesoctites micromegas Several heard and good looks at 2 different birds at La Placa. Hispaniolan Woodpecker - NE Melanerpes striatus Very common in most areas.

FALCONS AND CARACARAS - Falconidae American Kestrel Falco sparverius Fairly common. The endemic subspecies dominicensis. Merlin Falco columbarius 1 distantly hunting an unidentified in Haiti from the El Aguacate control post. Paul saw another briefly at Cabo Rojo. Peregrine Falco peregrinus A first-year female with a full crop was seen on the headlands at Cabo Rojo.

AFRICAN & NEW WORLD PARROTS - Psittacidae Hispaniolan Amazon - NE - VU Amazona ventralis Heard and glimpsed several times, but it took a while to get decent views - finally good flight views of a pair on the Alacoa road that flew right at us and then over us. Olive-throated Parakeet - I - NT Eupsittula nana Heard and glimpsed at the Santo Domingo botanical garden. Hispaniolan Parakeet - NE - VU Psittacara chloropterus Several good-sized flocks on the upper Alacoa road, fairly common in Santo Domingo and a pair seen well at La Placa.

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TYRANT FLYCATCHERS - Tyrannidae Greater Antillean Elaenia Elaenia fallax Fairly common above Zapotén. Hispaniolan Pewee - NE Contopus hispaniolensis Fairly common in the Sierra de Bahoruco. Grey Kingbird Tyrannus dominicensis Common. Stolid Flycatcher Myiarchus stolidus Fairly common by voice and several seen well.

VIREOS, GREENLETS - Vireonidae Flat-billed Vireo - NE Vireo nanus 1 bird seen well in response to playback and then feeding quietly near La Placa. Black-whiskered Vireo Vireo altiloquus A few seen in the Santo Domingo botanical garden.

CROWS, JAYS, AND MAGPIES - Corvidae Hispaniolan Palm Crow - NE - NT Corvus palmarum One flock of 19 birds seen well at the top of the Alacoa road. White-necked Crow - VU Corvus leucognaphalus Fairly common in forested lowlands and foothills.

PALMCHAT - Dulidae Palmchat - NE Dulus dominicus Common. The national bird. Seen well at many localities.

SWALLOWS - Hirundinidae Golden Swallow - VU Tachycineta euchrysea 4 seen above Zapotén, including very good looks at a perched bird. Now effectively a Hispaniolan endemic. Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica Several at Cabo Rojo. Sand Martin Riparia riparia 3 with Barn Swallows at Cabo Rojo. Cave Swallow Petrochelidon fulva 4 of the nominate race, which is endemic to Hispaniola, and with races on other islands of the and SE Florida form the Caribbean Cave Swallow complex.

MOCKINGBIRDS, THRASHERS - Mimidae Northern Mockingbird Mimus polyglottos Common in lowlands.

THRUSHES AND ALLIES - Turdidae Rufous-throated Solitaire Myadestes genibarbis Fairly common by voice but not seen.

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Bicknell's Thrush - VU Catharus bicknelli Heard and 1 seen briefly above Zapotén. One flyby at Cachote. La Selle Thrush - NE - EN Turdus swalesi About 5 seen and more heard above Zapotén, including good prolonged views of one sitting in the track. Red-legged Thrush Turdus plumbeus Fairly common, mostly heard but several good views of this attractive thrush.

OLD WORLD SPARROWS - Passeridae House Sparrow - I Passer domesticus Fairly common around towns and villages in the south-west and Santo Domingo.

WEAVERS, WIDOWBIRDS - Ploceidae Village Weaver - I Ploceus cucullatus Common near Cano Hondo.

FINCHES - Fringillidae Hispaniolan Crossbill - NE - EN Loxia megaplaga One male seen very well above Zapotén and several more heard and glimpsed. Antillean Siskin - NE Spinus dominicensis A male and female seen very well at Zapotén and then several flying over on the Alacoa road. Antillean Euphonia Euphonia musica Fairly common by voice on the north slope of the Sierra de Bahoruco and eventually a couple seen well at La Placa.

CHAT- - Calyptophilidae Western Chat-Tanager - NE Calyptophilus tertius Fairly common by voice and several seen well at Zapotén. Eastern Chat-Tanager - NE - VU Calyptophilus frugivorus 1 seen well and a couple more heard at Cachote.

HISPANIOLAN TANAGERS - Phaenicophilidae Black-crowned Tanager - NE Phaenicophilus palmarum Common, seen at most sites in a wide range of habitats. Green-tailed Warbler - NE Microligea palustris Common in Sierra de Bahoruco, more common at higher elevations. White-winged Warbler - NE - VU Xenoligea montana At least 6 seen well at Zapotén.

SPINDALISES - Spindalidae Hispaniolan Spindalis - NE Spindalis dominicensis Common at Zapotén.

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OROPENDOLAS, ORIOLES & BLACKBIRDS - Icteridae Hispaniolan Oriole - NE Icterus dominicensis 4 seen well in tall palms near Puerto Escondido and 2 seen fly across a road nearby. Orchard Oriole Icterus spurious 2 near Puerto Escondido and Rob saw 1 at Cabral. Greater Antillean Grackle Quiscalus niger

NEW WORLD WARBLERS - Parulidae Ovenbird Seiurus aurocapilla Fairly common in drier forest. Louisiana Waterthrush Parkesia motacilla 2 seen well in pools along the stream at Rabo de Gato. Northern Waterthrush Parkesia noveboracensis Several seen, mostly in lowlands. Black-and-white Warbler Mniotilta varia Fairly common. Common Yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas 2 seen at Cabo Rojo. American Redstart Setophaga ruticilla Fairly common. Cape May Warbler Setophaga tigrina Common. Northern Parula Setophaga americana Common. Magnolia Warbler Setophaga magnolia 2 seen. Mangrove Warbler Setophaga petechia Many at Cabo Rojo. Black-throated Blue Warbler Setophaga caerulescens Common. Palm Warbler Setophaga palmarum Fairly common. Pine Warbler Setophaga pinus Several of the endemic subspecies seen above Zapoteen and on the upper Alacoa road. Myrtle Warbler Setophaga coronata Good numbers seen on the upper Alacoa road. Yellow-throated Warbler Setophaga dominica One adult seen well on the upper Alacoa road. Prairie Warbler Setophaga discolor Several seen.

TANAGERS AND ALLIES - Thraupidae Bananaquit Coereba flaveola Common in lowlands.

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Yellow-faced Grassquit Tiaris olivaceus Fairly common near Sabana del Mar. Black-faced Grassquit Tiaris bicolor 2 seen by some people en route to Sabana del Mar. Greater Antillean Bullfinch - NE Loxigilla violacea 4 seen at Zapotén.

Mammals Brown Rat - I Rattus norvegicus 1 seen by Dave, Rob and César. Greater Bulldog Bat Noctillio leporinus Several seen fishing in an artificial pool near Puerto Escondido.

Reptiles Hispaniolan Gracile Anole - NE Anolis distichus A couple seen at Sabana del Mar. Rhinoceros Iguana Cyclura cornuta Great looks at a male behind the restaurant south of Cabo Rojo. Orange-bellied Curly-tailed Lizard - NE Leiocephalus barahonensis One at the restaurant south of Cabo Rojo. House Gecko - I Hemidactylus sp. Several seen and heard.

Amphibians Cane Toad - I Rhinella marina Several seen.

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