A Cuban Interlude

I have just returned from a wonderful trip to Cuba, and it feels as if I have come back to a different country than the one I left a few weeks ago. When I left in March the first hesitant signs of spring were showing, but winter was still clinging on grimly and the nights were cold and the weather unpredictable. I stumbled out on Friday morning, eyes blurry and head fuzzy with jet lag and was astonished at how much things have changed in just three short weeks. As I stepped out of the car at Wilstone Reservoir I was greeted by a racket of Blackcaps in the hedgerows. Chiffchaffs were singing all around and Swallows and House Martins were chattering happily above me. I spent a few minutes searching through a large group of Common Terns feeding noisily over the water, hoping to find an Arctic Tern, but with no success. The sounds of spring echoed all around me, the morning sun felt warm on the back of my neck and I instantly felt the post holiday blues melt away. Over at Marsworth, Sedge Warblers were making short noisy display flights over the reed beds and a Cetti's Warbler was shouting exultantly from the bushes on the far side of the reservoir. On Saturday morning I watched at least 20 Northern Wheatear chasing each other across the rabbit scarred slopes of Ivinghoe Beacon, the air filled with their angry tacking calls. Further along the slope I was lucky to have great views of a male Ring Ouzel, feeding boldly in the open until, suddenly spooked, it disappeared into a tiny Hawthorn bush. Ring Ouzels are one of my favourite birds and each spring I look forward excitedly to seeing one of these enigmatic and shy Thrushes. This morning, wandering idly round Wilstone on another glorious sunny day accompanied by the raucous cries of the Common Terns, I heard my first Cuckoo, singing and occasionally displaying over the reed beds - a sound that sums up the joy and thrill of Spring like nothing else. If you have to come home from holiday, what better time than Spring!

But it's my blog and I'll post what I want to! This is Cuba's national bird, the vivid and beautiful Cuban Trogon Priotelus temnurus, whose repetitive deep 'toctorok' call was a constant soundtrack to my time birding in the forests of one of the most colourful and friendly countries I have ever visited.

Cuban Trogon Priotelus temnurus (11/04/2011)