Whiskey In The JAR - Thin Lizzy

Already decided that 12:00 would be a good time to check out of the El Greco a taxi was ordered with the plan turning out to be a good one.

 The WELCOMING COMMITTEE

These lovely ladies of the Port Security Division, who I had met on the last visit, were on hand to welcome me back - once seen, never forgotten! Immigration a mere formality, while Customs relieved me of yet another US$23 'departure tax', then there she was looking resplendent in the nood day sunshine

 M/V VOYAGER

 part of the Voyages of Discovery Fleet

which I hope to have time to expand on later.

 

 Don't Look Back In Anger - Oasis

After yesterday's shot of Voyager from the El Greco Hotel

this is the opposite effect.

When describing my timing as good, more by luck than judgement,it allowed me swift passage through all the formalities, board the ship,collect all documentation, litterally drop my bag in the cabin and get ashore.

What wasn't realised at the time was I also dodged the embarkation of over 300 other passengers, freshly arrived from London, something of a boon! What was missed was a photo of a pair of KILLDEER in the Terminal Compound, but hampered by baggage no chance of a shot.Returning to redress this

and a natural keenness to suss out any other potential wildlife among the docks and pontoons and I didn't have to wait long.

 Ripples on the sweet pink water revealed some company 

unthought of - The Lamia - Genesis.

 Not the first TURTLE of the trip

 but the first to be photographed

 and if time had allowed would have been the first identified.

 

Navigating rather than hunting, this fabulous creature allowed this series of shots slowly swimming below the surface and occasionally coming up for air before spotting my movement and disappearing forever. Unfortunately, arrival at the compound coincided with the arrival of the

 Freighter SEABOARD SUN

already approaching, stern first, into the same berth.

Maybe needless to say the Waders were nowhere to be seen but the 'bonus' had more than made up for that.

Returning to the ship to compose today's post

 BROWN PELICAN

was seen along with Royal Tern and Magnificent Frigatebird

 and the usual departure of Tourist Yachts

and Game Fishing Boats.

Most of the people at the Cruise Ship Terminal recognised me from last time, the Cleaner being no exception. As pleased to see him as he was me we exchanged the usual touch of clenched fists and uttering "Respect" when he went on to ask if I we still interested in birds - say no more! He then took me to a nearby tree where he pointed out this little beauty.

 Just 2 hours from departing Montego Bay and Jamaican, maybe for ever, I clue up with another 'Lifer'.

 I have to admit on first seeing the bird, I started dreaming of the 'thought extinct' Jamaican Poorwill so was determined to get a series of decent shots along with a 'spot on' description.

 'Pie in the Sky quickly disappeared from the equasion

 noting the white throat patch extending to the sides of the neck.

It is in fact

ANTILLEAN NIGHTHAWK

(a type of NightJAR)

what a fabulous Farewell Present.
 DON'T LIKE JAMAICA, OH NO! - I LOVE HER!

WHITE-WINGED DOVE, ZENAIDA DOVE, CATTLE EGRET, GREAT EGRET, LITTLE BLUE HERON, GREY KINGBIRD, TURKEY VULTURE, NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD, JAMAICAN WOODPECKER (E), AMERICAN REDSTART, NORTHERN PARULA, PRAIRIE WARBLER, BLACK-and-WHITE WARBLER, AMERICAN KESTRAL, BANANAQUIT, SAFFRON FINCH, SHINY COWBIRD, GREATER ANTILLEAN GRACKLE, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER, CAPE MAY WARBLER, WHITE-CHINNED THRUSH (E), YELLOW-BILLED PARROT* (E), VERVAIN HUMMINGBIRD, ANTILLEAN PALM SWIFT, RED-BILLED STREAMERTAIN (E), SMOOTH-BILLED ANI, OLIVE-THROATED PARAKEET, FERAL PIGEON, OSPREY, WHITE-CROWNED PIGEON*, MALLARD (?), MOORHEN, MAGNIFICENT FRIGATEBIRD, ROYAL TERN, BROWN PELICAN, GREEN HERON, INDIGO BUNTING*, JAMAICAN MANGO (E), BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON, COMMON GROUND-DOVE, HOODED ORIOLE, JAMAICAN TODY* (E), RING-TAILED PIGEON* (E), JAMAICAN BECARD* (E), BLUE MOUNTAIN VIREO* (E), JAMACAIN SPINDALIS* (E), YELLOW-SHOULDERED GRASSQUIT* (E), JAMAICAN ELAENIA* (E), JAMAICAN BLACKBIRD* (E), SNOWY EGRET, BLACK-NECKED STILT, BARN SWALLOW, KILLDEER, EUROPEAN STARLING, CAVE SWALLOW. ANTILLEAN NIGHTHAWK*.

Red = World Lifer    (E) = Endemic    * = Addition to Trip List     (?) = Of unknown provenance, Rare/Accidental on the Island

Jamaica Total = 56    Jamaica Lifers = 10      Trip Total = 710      Trip Lifers = 296

News sometimes reaches these parts a little late

No time for a Party Political Broadcast but just my own thoughts. I don’t have a God (only the one within myself) nor a belief in the ‘Hereafter’, but on this day of all days I hope to be wrong on both counts! If indeed I am, wrong that is, by now Thatcher will have met the 'Sailors from the Belgrano' and fellow Submariner Felix Arturo – I’ll leave the rest to them and the Almighty. “D’ya hear there, all hands rig the bottom-lines” I’m off for a few celebratory beers!