And I couldn't resist adding a couple more great pictures from Roberto Jovel who found a pair of Cuban Gnatcatchers last week just east of Guantanamo. They are not uncommon in thorny scrub at the east end of the island especially along the coast. The picture above is a male I think as they have a broader black stripe behind the eye than the female. And Roberto even found a nest there slung on the spines of two adjacent cacti - brilliant. There seems to be just one young visible in the nest but of course others may well be hidden out of sight. The adults normally lay 3-5 brown-spotted white eggs (Garrido & Kirkconnell) who also say that they nest from March-July whereas this nest was found at the end of August and the young have not fledged yet. Thank you again Roberto for sharing your great finds. And don't forget that anyone can stay at their beautiful 'casa particular' called Villa Paradiso in Baracoa with more details on their website here.

This is arguably the most beautiful of all the many endemic anoles of Cuba. It is Anolis smallwoodi Green-blotched Giant Anole which is one of the Anolis equestris complex. It is found from the eastern Sierra Maestra mountains east to Punta de Maisi and north to Mayari. We once found a juvenile near Sigua on the south coast but like most larger anoles it was vary wary. This superb photo was taken a few days ago just east of Guantanamo Bay by Roberto Jovel who, with his partner has a beautiful casa particular called Villa Paradiso in Baracoa and a great website that has loads of information on eco-tourism in the area. We can't wait to go there especially as they also get Anolis baracoae Baracoa Giant Anole in their garden!
Many thanks Roberto for allowing me to use your photos.

Mangrove Cuckoo is a locally common resident of mangroves along the north and south-east coasts of Cuba. They differ from Yellow-billed Cuckoo in being orange-buff rather than white on the belly and under-tail coverts. They also lack any yellow on the upper mandible. This is another great picture from Karlos Ross, the bird guide at Holguin. Thank you Karlos.

And here is a picture of Yellow-billed Cuckoo for comparison from when we there in June last year.