Barn Owls (right) are a familiar species to most visitors. These white-faced tawny-backed birds nest on the property and are most often encountered patrolling the open pastures at night. Their eerie shriek, given in flight, is occasionally heard but their wingbeats are silent, lending them a ghostly appearance.

The endemic Jamaican Owl (left) is also relatively common on the Estate, and can be heard giving their spooky, breathy “whuuhr” call most nights during the winter and spring. A medium-sized owl, they often perch in towering guango trees.

The Northern Potoo (right) is one of seven species of potoo, all found in the Caribbean and Central/South America. Potoos are cryptically colored, blending in perfectly when roosting on the tops of fenceposts. At night they are voracious consumers of flying insects, which they capture in short flights from their woody perches. We most often see them along Tower Road after dark–their red eyeshine gives them away!

Confusingly, the Jamaican name for owls and potoos is patoo and it’s often unclear which of these three species is being referenced. Many locals associate patoos with death, and the birds are therefore regarded with dread.

We also added Eurasian Collared Dove to the Estate list, as several singles have been seen in recent weeks.

Traditional Boat Building

If we were looking for a small fishing boat, most of us would check Craigslist or the local marine store. Not so here in rural Robins Bay! Justice of the Peace Mr. Ben Smith (known hereabouts as Uncle Ben) and two friends traveled several miles down the coast where they felled a 65 foot silk cotton (Ceiba) tree, cut it into two sections, then roughly hollowed it out for transport back to Ben’s yard. Over the last few months, they have cut, axed, hoed, hatcheted, adged, and shaped the logs into two boats, 16 and 12 feet long respectively, which will be sealed with mastic and brightly painted. Launching is still weeks away but Uncle Ben knows he wants to christen his boat “Give Thanks;” his neighbor Clarke plans to name his 12 footer “Moby Dick.”

The Tradition of Taino Canoe Building

What Ben and Clarke are accomplishing is in the authentic Taino tradition of canoe building. The Taino Indians thrived in the Caribbean until they were challenged by the Caribs in the 1300s, then by the Spanish in the late 1400s. Ceiba trees make excellent canoes: the wood is light, the trunks straight and massive. Columbus was known to be impressed by the size and sophistication of the Taino canoes. The photo here does not do justice to the immensity of Ben and Clarke’s work!

When asked which fish he likes to catch, Uncle Ben once quipped “The one that sells the most!” Most local fishermen set fish pots or use hand lines to catch butterfish, parrotfish, and doctorfish though snapper, spiny lobster, and yellow-fin tuna bring a better price from the area higgler. When you come to Green Castle Estate, you might just see Ben and Clarke’s boats at sea. When they’re back on shore, check out their fine craftsmanship.

Who wouldn’t be wide-eyed as Turtle Mel dug into the damp sand with his hands and pulled out multitudes of 3” Hawksbill Turtle nestlings! We dutifully counted each one, then lined them up—all 89 of them—before they began pushing along with their small flippers toward the surf 30 feet away. Once at water’s edge, the gentle waves captured each one, gave them a tumble or two, before launching them seaward. We learned they would survive their watery debut only if they raised their heads for a gulp of air.

This hatching was very unexpected at this time of year.  Female Hawksbills typically begin laying in late March or April which puts hatching 60-70 days later depending on weather.  The majority of the laying occurs in June and July so most nestlings emerge in August and September, tapering off into October–that is, if they aren’t disrupted by hurricane activity. The nest we witnessed was laid in November, having survived the cooler weather and storms of late December. Despite the aberrant timing of this nest, mortality was surprisingly low—only 4 were dead plus Mel chose to put 4 “premies” back into the nest for another day or so.

Sea turtle researchers have learned that nestling mortality can be radically reduced by carefully timing the hatch (shortly before sunset limits exposure to herons and frigatebirds) and protecting young turtles from predation by land crabs. Mel’s carefully documented successes are being shared with island agencies charged with protection of this endangered species. We thank Mel for sharing this remarkable event with Green Castle guests.

On February 12, while birding the Waterfall Trail with Green Castle guests Mike and Jenny Whiteside, a single pigeon was found sitting high in a tree by bird guide Reginald Fairweather. Identification was difficult due to the poor light conditions—a dark object against a bright sky—but eventually all agreed that the bird was a Ring-tailed Pigeon. Meanwhile, Mike took the accompanying photo.

This is the 21^st of 27 or 28 endemics recorded on the Estate (the ambiguity regarding the number of Jamaican endemics revolves around the status of “Black-billed” and “Red-billed” Streamertails.) Given Green Castle’s coastal location, the presence of 21 endemics is quite remarkable. It means that birders who spend some time at Green Castle and one or two highland locations (we can arrange day trips to these spots) have an excellent chance to see all of the Jamaican endemics plus several Caribbean endemics. Come visit!

Jamaican Crows were especially obliging, and we saw 15 to 20 while enjoying the fantastically weird jabbering calls of this species. Blue Mountain Vireo, Jamaican Pewee, both large cuckoos, both parrots, and Arrowhead Warbler added to the endemic count. But the bird of the day was an obliging Mountain Witch (Crested Quail-Dove) ambling down the road displaying its unlikely teetering gait. All in all, we counted 20 endemics in less than 4 hours of birding.

Our guests added an additional 6 endemics while birding Green Castle so left satisfied having seen all but 2 of Jamaica’s unique species plus a good number of Caribbean specialties. Perhaps just as importantly, there was ample opportunity for snorkeling, a boat trip and hike to Kwaamen Falls, learning dominos, and plenty of pool time during their 6-day stay.

We know the list will continue to grow as birding hours increase. There are a few more North American warblers that should show up, a few more shorebirds that probably occur during fall or spring migration, and even a handful of Jamaican residents that may occur in low numbers.

Any guesses on the next species to be added?

Most members arrived Saturday, birded Davey Hill Lookout, then spent the night on the Estate.  High points were nose-close views of Jamaican Mangos and Red-billed Streamertails at the Estate House feeders, a Northern Potoo that patiently allowed close approach and unlimited photo and video opportunities, and a spectacular full moonrise over the Caribbean.

Although we woke to gray skies and rain Sunday morning, Blue Mountain coffee and muffins helped to cheer us until the showers paused. Then the group headed down the popular Waterfall Trail. Highlights were good views of a female Jamaican Becard, two Jamaican Elaenias, and all 3 Myiarchus flycatchers: Rufous-tailed, Sad, and Stolid. Plus, at trail’s end, Mingo Falls’ cascades delighted everyone!

After brunch, spotting scopes on the veranda focused on an American Kestrel tearing into a Bananaquit on a nearby mango tree. Then the group was off to the ponds for more birding and “butterfly-ing” and a visit to the coastal headlands before heading home. We thank BirdLife Jamaica for making Green Castle their weekend destination and look forward to their return in the coming months.

http://www.gcjamaica.com