Maggie May - Rod Stewart or Cape May - Bagsy?

While composing today's post, I sat here watching and listening to what has to be one of (if not 'THE') most powerful performance in the history of Rock 'n' Roll. It is through such words I gain my own inspiration, drive and strength - so ever onward!

Oh let the sun beat down upon my face, stars to fill my dreams
I am a traveler of both time and space, to be where I have been
To sit with elders of the gentle race, this world has seldom seen
They talk of days for which they sit and wait and all will be revealed
Talk and song from tongues of lilting grace, whose sounds caress my ear
But not a word I heard could I relate, the story was quite clear

Kashmir - Led Zeppelin 

 

With Claudio at the helm again today in was back to
 Jardin Botanical, Santo Domingo - Part III

 

with first on parade was this fairly obliging, 

although again a little too high,

juvenile male ANTILLEAN MANGO

 

but my concentration was distracted by a strange looking bird in another nearby tree.

 

With, as usual, no Field Guide to hand I pondered a couple of possibilities

until 'clocking' that grit cone of a bill.

From this distance it had to be a

 

female ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK

not a bad start to the day.

 

This photograph was in fact taken yesterday as ALL that was seen of this Warbler Sp in the hope of securing an identification. With no Field Guide, again, it was at first thought to be a Blackburnian Warbler, but on reaching my cabin found it to be the similarly marked

 CAPE MAY WARBLER
which fortunately showed up again this morning.

This was THE 'bogie bird' of 'more common' Yank Warblers to reach my World List and only then was it recorded after 4 visits to the place of the same name, 

 in New Jersey State.

I have often asked, particularly USA 'birders', which is their favoured Warbler with the most popular answer, almost unanimous, being Blackburnian.

For myself I still remain in a quandary, but the top 3 (in no particular order) Black-and-While, Cape May and that already mentioned. While I have enjoyed all I have seen, Prothonotary Warbler is up there as well! 

 

 

This montage doesn't involve a single individual as there were thought to be at least 'half a dozen' on site today.

 While it still mystifies me why

 the World's Second Smallest Bird

VERVAIN HUMMINGBIRD

 has to favour the highest perch in the land?
 Oh, pilot of the storm who leaves no trace, like thoughts inside a dream
Heed the path that led me to that place, yellow desert stream
My Shangri-La beneath the summer moon, I will return again
Sure as the dust that floats high in June, when movin' through Kashmir.
Oh, father of the four winds, fill my sails, across the sea of years
With no provision but an open face, along the straits of fear 
Feel sure you'll agree Bonzo's nipper, Jason,
adequately fills Father's vacant drum stool!

Black-and-White - Three Dog Night

There is no great gallop to leave Dominican Republic, so the next day or two will continue to be centered on the Botanical Gardens where, since the last visit on 02/02/13, there should be a build up of Yank Warblers passing through at the very least?

A fleeting glimpse of the CAPITAL BUILDING

as we sped past. It is probably of note to say

that throughout this trip the 'driving' has remained the same.

"Everyone is itching to overtake"

 The tranquility of the Botanical Garden

and the first stop to check out the ANTILLEAN PALM SWIFT COLONY and try and capture a shot or two. These 'tiny' Swifts dart into the fronds at lighting speed and leave ever faster, so what chance? Neck straining up into the foliage, glancing down and there were c2 perched on the ground only 2 feet away from my feet. The lack of an image of any sort tells the rest of the story!

 

 First to fall to the lend was, not surprisingly, the ubiquitous BANANAQUIT all now in full song and busily nest building.

In quick succession there followed a number of 

 

 

 female AMERICAN REDSTART, the males were also there but not venturing within the mile range scale.

 The 'endemic' HISPANIOLAN WOODPECKER were far more obliging

 

 and likely more numerous.

 BLACK-CAPPED PALM TANAGER

were less so, but that was made up for adequately by

 BLACK-and-WHITE WARBLER

 Feast Your Eyes!

 

 There, I told you it was possible to get fed up of BLACK-and-WHITE WARBLER????

 

so a PALM WARBLER to finish!