Jamaica
Endemic Island Paradise
Welcome to Your Jamaican Adventure!
Jamaica is the birding gem of the Caribbean, boasting 29 endemic birds… and the best part is that all of them are attainable in a one week tour.
Northern Virginia Bird Alliance in association with Arrowhead Birding Tours, will take you on a journey throughout the island to experience the birds, the food, the culture and the people. See you in Jamaica!
This trip will be led by NVBA Board member Dr. Herlitz Davis, an Associate Professor of Biology & Environmental Science (Northern Virginia Community College). An Ornithologist by training with a Ph.D. in Environmental Science & Policy from George Mason University, Dr. Davis researched bird survivorship in Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee agroecosystems. Dr. Davis is a Research Associate at the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center and field naturalist.
Birding in Jamaica
At a glance
Sunday, January 3, 2027
Monday, January 4, 2027
Tuesday, January 5, 2027
Wednesday, January 6, 2027
Thursday, January 7, 2027
Friday, January 8, 2027
Saturday, January 9, 2027
Sunday, January 3, 2027
Day 1 - Arrival in Kingston and Welcome Dinner
Arrive Kingston, Meet Guide, Enjoy Jamaican Cuisine
Arrival in Kingston
On your arrival in Kingston, Jamaica you will be met at the airport and transported to the Hotel Four Seasons. You will meet your guide and go over the details of the trip.
Welcome Dinner
DateSunday, Jan 3, 2027
You will have your first taste of local Jamaican cuisine that evening before settling in for the night.
Hotel Four Seasons
Check inSunday, Jan 3, 2027
Stay at Hotel Four Seasons in Kingston after arrival and welcome dinner.
Monday, January 4, 2027
Day 2 - Hellshire Hills, Hope Gardens, and Blue Mountains
Hope Gardens
Birding at Hellshire Hills and Blue Mountains
Breakfast
DateMonday, Jan 4, 2027
After breakfast, the group will travel by bus to Hellshire Hills, the extremely dry forest southeast of Kingston.
Birding at Hellshire Hills
DateMonday, Jan 4, 2027
Travel by bus to Hellshire Hills, the extremely dry forest southeast of Kingston, where its unique landscape provides some unique birds and a picturesque setting. This is the only location on this trip where we hope to see the Bahama Mockingbird, a Caribbean endemic. The Jamaican Mango is also plentiful in this area as their preferred feeding plants are the flowers of the Opuntia (prickly pear) cacti.
Lunch
DateMonday, Jan 4, 2027
After a break for lunch we make a brief visit to Hope Gardens.
Visit to Hope Gardens
DateMonday, Jan 4, 2027
Make a brief visit to Hope Gardens to see the parrots and some of the easier birds before starting the journey into the Blue Mountains.
Journey into Blue Mountains
DateMonday, Jan 4, 2027
Start the journey into the cool Blue Mountains, Jamaica’s only National Park and a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Starlight Chalet
Check inMonday, Jan 4, 2027
You will spend the next 2 nights here, staying at the Starlight Chalet.
Tuesday, January 5, 2027
Day 3 - Blue Mountains Birding Adventure
Blue Mountains
Birding for Rare Endemics in Blue Mountains
Full Day Birding in Blue Mountains
DateTuesday, Jan 5, 2027
You will be in the heart of the best birding area of the Blue Mountains and we hope to use this full day of birding to unlock all its secrets. While this area does not have the most endemics, instead, what it has is the really rare endemics in good numbers. Our main targets will be the endangered Jamaican Blackbird, the beautiful and secretive Crested Quail-Dove, the elusive Greater Antillean Elaenia, the Blue Mountain Vireo and many more. No Arrowhead Birding Tours is complete without seeing the Arrowhead Warbler and this is where we plan to see it.
Meals at Starlight Chalet
DateTuesday, Jan 5, 2027
Starlight Chalet will cater for all our needs while we are there.
Wednesday, January 6, 2027
Day 4 - Blue Mountains to Portland Rainforest
Crested Quail-Dove
Birding, Scenic Drive, and Rainforest Exploration
Morning Birding in Blue Mountains
DateWednesday, Jan 6, 2027
The last morning in the Blue Mountains we will continue to search for any targets that may have eluded us. We may choose to spend just a couple hours or several hours before heading down the mountain.
Travel from Blue Mountains to Portland
Departure
Blue Mountains
Wednesday, Jan 6, 2027Destination
Portland
Head down the mountain via northern valley pass to the north coast, then east along the north coast to the parish of Portland.
Explore Portland Rainforest
DateWednesday, Jan 6, 2027
You will immediately notice that the trees are greener and taller as you are in a true tropical rainforest. If we played our cards right we would only need to find the Jamaican Crow, Black-billed Streamertail and Black-billed Parrot by this time. No worries though, because if we missed anything we still have a chance to find them here.
BayView Eco Resort
Check inWednesday, Jan 6, 2027
Check into our lodge at BayView Eco Resort and explore the forests nearby.
Thursday, January 7, 2027
Day 5 - Hector's River and Ecclesdown Rainforest
Jamaican Spindles
Birding at Hector's River and Ecclesdown Road
Early Morning Birding at Hector's River Cliffs
DateThursday, Jan 7, 2027
We will make an early morning journey to the eastern cliffs at Hector’s River with the hopes of seeing White-tailed Tropicbirds that nest there. January is a little earlier in the season for them but with fingers crossed, we hope to see a few.
Rainforest Birding at Ecclesdown Road
DateThursday, Jan 7, 2027
We journey into the rainforest at Ecclesdown Road to find all our remaining birds and get more views of some of our favourites from the first few days.
Return to Lodge
DateThursday, Jan 7, 2027
Once we are satisfied we will make our way back to the lodge for our final night in this area.
Friday, January 8, 2027
Day 6 - Birding, Beach Option, Castleton Gardens, Return to Kingston
Castleton Botanical Gardens
Final Birding, Beach or Castleton Gardens, Return
Morning Birding or Beach Option
DateFriday, Jan 8, 2027
This is the final morning to bird this area. Chances are, we would have hit all the endemics and so persons may choose the option to go to the beach. Whatever you decide, birding will still be an option.
Stop at Castleton Gardens
DateFriday, Jan 8, 2027
On our return to Kingston in the afternoon we will make a stop at Castleton Gardens where we hope to get close-up views of the Jamaican Crow which can be hard to see in the large rainforest.
Return to Kingston
Departure
Portland
Friday, Jan 8, 2027Destination
Kingston
We return to Kingston and back to our familiar stay at Hotel Four Seasons.
Hotel Four Seasons
Check inFriday, Jan 8, 2027
Return to Hotel Four Seasons in Kingston for the night.
Saturday, January 9, 2027
Day 7 - Wetland Birding and Departure
Mangrove Cuckoo
Wetland Birding and Farewell at Airport
Final Birding in Wetlands and Coastal Forests
DateSaturday, Jan 9, 2027
This is the last official day of birding and now that we have all the endemics in the bag (fingers crossed) we hope to do a little birding before going to the airport if time permits. We will go searching the wetlands and coastal forests for wetland birds. Our main targets will be the Masked Duck, Mangrove Cuckoo, Clapper Rail, migratory shorebirds.
Travel to Airport and Farewell
Departure
Kingston
Saturday, Jan 9, 2027Destination
Airport
We then travel to the airport and say our farewells.