We are just back from another great wildlife trip to Cuba. I caught up on four new butterfly species as adults. These were Cuban Hairstreak Allosmaitia coelebs, Caribbean Ruby-eye Perichares philetes, Orbis Sulphur Phoebis orbis and Caribbean Yellow-tipped Flasher Astraptes anausis. For the last two this is possibly the first time they have been photographed in the wild in Cuba! We also saw Bartram’s Scrub-Hairstreak Strymon acis and had amazing close-up views of Silver Emperor Doxocopa laure and Red-striped Leafwing Siderone galanthis.
Silver Emperor Doxocopa laure 11 Jun 2018 Hanabanilla © Tim Norriss
Going during the summer meant that we saw some beautiful Odonata including several new for the website.
Scapanea frontalis 12 Jun 2018 Topes de Collantes © Tim Norriss
I had never seen Northern Bobwhite before so seeing two in Habana Botanical Gardens was a nice surprise. And although we have seen Antillean Nighthawk on previous trips, this time we saw them every day and quickly became familiar with their querequeté call.
Antillean Nighthawk 11 Jun 2018 Hanabanilla © Tim Norriss
I’ve long had a soft spot for swifts and it was great to find Antillean Palm Swifts nesting in natural sites in palms and also in the thatched roofs of one of the hotels at which we stayed.
Antillean Palm Swift nestsite in palms 09 Jun 2018 Cienfuegos Botanic Garden © Tim Norriss
All that with some wonderful reptiles - snakes, anoles and sphaeros, along with some good mothing, great company and the lovely Cuban people.
Cuban Lesser Racer 15 Jun 2018 Topes de Collantes © Tim Norriss
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