Reach for the skies!!! My tern to fly high!

[Dave Williams]

Like the Cuban Emerald it takes it's name from the island but it's not an endemic being also found in the Bahamas

38)Cuban Pewee

Cuban Pewee.  BY37 by Dave Williams, on Flickr

[Dave Williams]

39)Frigatebird

Frigatebird.    BY39 by Dave Williams, on Flickr

[Dave Williams]

The Grackle is described as omnivorous and no where is that more apparent than at our hotel to which the Grackles have adapted themselves superbly making use of all the hotel's facilities. They remind me of European Starlings, opportunist thieves who will steal the food off your plate given the opportunity.

40) Greater Antillean Grackle.

Greater Antillean Grackle.  BY40 by Dave Williams, on Flickr

[Dave Williams]

The Canon R5's biggest weakness is, in my opinion, trying to focus on small birds in bushes. I found nothing harder than the B&W Warbler which rarely stands still as it moves at a fair pace through the undergrowth. I got lucky with this one which posed very briefly in the open!

41)Black and White Warbler

Black and White Warbler.    BY 41 by Dave Williams, on Flickr

[TonyQ]

Some lovely additions from Cuba @Dave Williams

[Dave Williams]

Some likely confusion when several birds look very similar, if you look carefully, the one on the second left has white eyes and a bigger tail...that's a Grackle amongst the Cowbirds.

 

42)Shiny Cowbird

 

Shiny Cowbird.     BY42 by Dave Williams, on Flickr

[Dave Williams]

It's just that, another black bird but a bit special as it's endemic to Cuba. The brown eye helps to nail the species...I think! Tell me if your opinion differs.

43)Cuban Blackbird

Cuban Blackbird.  BY43 by Dave Williams, on Flickr

Edited February 12, 2022 by Dave Williams

[Dave Williams]

Not the best shot but clearly shows the tawny shoulder. When you are counting numbers towards your Big Year every one counts!

44) Tawny-shouldered Blackbird

Tawny-shouldered Blackbird. BY44 by Dave Williams, on Flickr

[Dave Williams]

Another black bird with a coloured shoulder but under the tail shows the yellow of an out of breeding plumage Oriole. Another record shot but one for my Big Year!

45)Black-cowled Oriole

Black-cowled Oriole.  BY 45 by Dave Williams, on Flickr

[Dave Williams]

Yet another black bird but another special one, the endemic Bullfinch.

46)Cuban Bullfinch

Cuban Bullfinch.  BY 46 by Dave Williams, on Flickr

[shazdwn]

You did well sorting out all those black birds

[Galana]

6 hours ago, Dave Williams said:

the one on the second left has white eyes and a bigger tail...that's a Grackle amongst the Cowbirds.

Do you mean 2nd right? Just showing that I do read these things. Love the B&W Warbler and the Bullfinch.

[Dave Williams]

28 minutes ago, Galana said:

Do you mean 2nd right? Just showing that I do read these things. Love the B&W Warbler and the Bullfinch.

oops, and the eyes are actually yellow!

[Soukous]

19 hours ago, Dave Williams said:

The Canon R5's biggest weakness is, in my opinion, trying to focus on small birds in bushes. I found nothing harder than the B&W Warbler

 

you nailed it though

[Dave Williams]

A fairly common bird but usually hidden in the middle of a bush as it moves from branch to branch looking for prey.

47)Great Lizard-Cuckoo

Great Lizard-Cuckoo.   BY47 by Dave Williams, on Flickr

[Dave Williams]

A common species that cleverly mimics other bird calls which can make life confusing for a birdwatcher!

48) Northern Mockingbird

Northern Mockingbird.  BY48 by Dave Williams, on Flickr

[Dave Williams]

49)Ground  Dove

Ground Dove   BY49 by Dave Williams, on Flickr

[Dave Williams]

50 up with a Cuban endemic and the only one I saw. Very distant but it sat long enough to try two lenses, both with a teleconverter.This was with the inexpensive 800mm f11 plus the 1.4TC

50)Cuban Solitaire

Cuban Solitaire.  

 

BY50 by Dave Williams, on Flickr

 

and the 100-500 with a 1.4TC

Cuban Solitaire.  BY50 by Dave Williams, on Flickr

Edited February 13, 2022 by Dave Williams

[Galana]

Very nice additions.

It would be interesting if we could see the comparative shot for the Cuban Solitaire.

[Dave Williams]

1 hour ago, Galana said:

Very nice additions.

It would be interesting if we could see the comparative shot for the Cuban Solitaire.

 

For you Fred...it's done!

[TonyQ]

@Dave Williamslovely place additions. The Cuban Bullfinch is particularly beautiful.

[Dave Williams]

51)Loggerhead Kingbird

 

Originally posted as a Grey , or given it's an American species perhaps the spelling should stick to Gray, I had it pointed out it's actually a Loggerhead Kingbird. I deliberated over the choice for some time and came up with the wrong answer. Thanks to @offshorebirderit's now corrected.

 

Grey Kingbird.      BY51 by Dave Williams, on Flickr

Edited February 20, 2022 by Dave Williams

[Dave Williams]

52)Cattle Egret

Cattle Egret   BY52 by Dave Williams, on Flickr

[Dave Williams]

53)Green-backed Heron

Green-backed Heron. BY53 by Dave Williams, on Flickr

[Dave Williams]

54)Great-blue Heron

an immature specimen!

Great-blue Heron. BY54 by Dave Williams, on Flickr