We explored a new area today near the village of Jaguajay a few miles to the south-east. We took a taxi there and he waited while we went off for a walk. On the muddy track there was a group of whites and yellows taking moisture on the ground but nothing unusual amongst them.
But a little further on we saw three Caribbean Daggerwing Marpesia eleuchea, a Many-banded Daggerwing Marpesia chiron and an Impostor Duskywing Gesta gesta and Tropical Checkered Skipper Burnsius oileus.
Impostor Duskywing Gesta gesta 3 Oct 2017 Yaguajay © Tim Norriss
Tropical Checkered Skipper Burnsius oileus male 3 Oct 2017 Yaguajay © Tim Norriss
There were some interesting-looking caves near the top with Hooded Vultures entering so perhaps they nest on the cliff here. I'd love to explore this place at night as from what I know now about how nocturnal many of the Cuban reptiles are I think this could prove an interesting area. As we were leaving an ant lion flew across and landed on a twig. This is only the second time we have seen an ant lion in Cuba, the other was on 25 June 2015 at Guanahacabibes in the far west of Cuba and that was a different species.
On the way back we stopped for a while at the little harbour and creek on the eastern edge of Guardalavaca as there is always something of interest here. An Ovenbird and a Yellow Warbler were busy feeding at the edge of the mangroves. Yellow Warbler is a resident here though this is boosted in autumn by birds from N America on their way south to spend the winter.
A big male Cuban Blue Anole Anolis allisoni was climbing around in the twigs of a bare bush and made a nice photo opportunity though the number of twigs does detract from most of them. It needs photo-shopping to remove all the background clutter really. I watched it bring up a pellet which is not something I have seen an anole do before.
Cuban Blue Anole Anolis allisoni 3 Oct 2017 Guardalavaca © Tim Norriss
Cuban Blue Anole Anolis allisoni 3 Oct 2017 Guardalavaca © Tim Norriss
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