JAMAICA? - No She Did It Of Her Own Free Will!

Total flying time from San Juan, Puerto Rico to Kingston, Jamaica was 3 hours 40 minutes with a 3 hours 'stop-over' in Miami, Florida, USA on the way. If there is one single boon in aviation history loved above all other, it has to be ability to 'check in' on-line and in so doing, continue never having to consign your luggage to the 'aircraft hold'. That lesson was learnt very early in my traveling life, in fact when the British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) were still flying Comets - bless em! The huge advertising hording in Central London showed the afore mentioned Comet cutting through a clear blue sky, above which were the words 'Fly BOAC, Breakfast in London' (and below) 'Dinner in New York', under which some wag had written in equally bold letters 'BAGGAGE IN SYDNEY'.

........but Hey Man, we're back in JAMAICA.

Regular readers will likely remember we spent just 2 days in Montego Bay back on 4th and 5th January this year, aboard the MV Voyager as part of an extensive Caribbean Cruise.During that time, along with fellow 'birder' Peter Davis, we managed to record 50% of the Island's 'endemic' birds, if of course you consider the Petrel and Poorwill to be extinct? This stay will be a little longer, during which time it is hoped a few more will join the World List.

On most Visa Application Forms there is a question asking 'address while in the country', with my stock answer being (the name of the city?) Hotel. Whatever you put doesn't necessarily mean that is where you are going to reside, so have considered the question irrelevant. However, I got my comeuppance today as I was marched to the Tourist Information to book accommodation before they would allow me to enter the country! No good arguing, always remember "they have the POWER", so that done I hired Vincent to taxi me to the above address - so at least I can claim to have been at SANDHURST (in England the home of Training for Army Officers) now! 

Only a brief look around showed the potential for something good
 
 
with first on scene GREAT ANTILLEAN GRACKLE

Bag parked in the corner I was quickly on my way to the
BOTANICAL GARDEN
surveying the surroundings en route.
 
NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD
was well represented (as ever) but this
 
BROMELIAD seemed rather unusual as I had
never seen a spherical one before.
 
 Then something far more interesting
a Psittacine of sorts hiding in the depths of a dense bush.

 Most obligingly it soon revealed itself

as a (not photographed before)
OLIVE-THROATED PARAKEET
 
The walk was a good deal longer than anticipated, having to
zig-zag my way through the urbanisation onto
OLD HOPE ROAD
and then it was still further than the eye could see!
 
ZENAIDA DOVE

SAFFRON FINCH

which I read is an 'introduced' species to the Island.

Something equally familiar as finally arriving at the gateway

to the HOPE BOTANICAL GARDENS

CAPE MAY WARBLER

Something of a conundrum followed as the 'endemic'

ARROW-HEADED WARBLER

would have been nice, but more realistically,

a female CAPE MAY WARBLER?
 
No doubting the next contenders as 'endemic'

as it seems my investigations had proved correct in finding

YELLOW-BILLED PARROT
the close cousin (Black-billed) will doubtless prove more difficult?

Another new species for the trip was spotted within the confines

of a Water Treatment Plant Compound

WHITE-CROWNED PIGEON
which quickly disappeared at ground level at my approach.

 
circa Banksy, I did ask a homeless man at the gate if I could enter
(who seemed to have no problem) so
"it is easier to get forgiveness than permission"
kicked in!
 

 

Next up, another 'endemic'
RED-BILLED STREAMERTAIL
(the National Bird of Jamaica)
but all were either juveniles or had for some reason lost their tails.
 

Couldn't resist another shot 'in foliage'.

Same could be said of an abundance of

CAPE MAY WARBLER

and there were other things in the mix

but it was getting late and probably not a good idea
to be wandering around Kingston after dark?