March 24: Gavin Bieber on his just-concluded tour to Puerto Rico
I just wrapped up a really enjoyable weeklong tour to Puerto Rico. This small Caribbean gem, known for its excellent weather, beautiful Caribbean beaches, and fine local seafood (here a seafood paella for two complete with a Rock Lobster centerpiece)
is also an excellent birding island. Over the course of our five days touring the island we spotted 16 of the 17 island endemics (plus two more that will surely be split soon) including the dazzling Puerto Rican Woodpecker, jewel-like Puerto Rican Tody and more utilitarian Puerto Rican Flycatcher.
Our attention also wandered to endemic reptiles, here an impressive Puerto Rican Giant Anole, and even to more leggy creatures, like this hulking eight inch long Puerto Rican Giant Centipede.
For such a small island, Puerto Rico has a wealth of natural history to offer the visiting birder, and I look forward to returning every year....and next year it can be combined with a tour to the different but equally fascinating and nearby Dominican Republic.
Posted: March 24, 2015