10000 Birds Flock to Mocking Bird Hill Jamaica

At the end of 2009 we had 10,000 Birds founder Mike Bergin stay at Hotel Mocking Bird Hill spending some time discovering how good birding in Jamaica actually is!  It is always a pleasure to host guests that have an unquenchable thirst for travel and an insatiable desire to learn more about the natural world.  If you are still undecided about whether birding in Portland is for you, we'd like to share some of the links to the various posts that he has written about his stay with us – be careful, they may make you hop on the next plane away from the winter chill!

• Hotel Mocking Bird Hil – Birding in Eco Luxury  – "Hotel Mocking Bird Hill is undoubtedly one of the finest lodges I’ve had the pleasure to visit. It is also one of the most sustainably-operated. Barbara and Shireen’s commitment to the smallest carbon footprint possible is unimpeachable." 

• The Doctor Bird – "The site is stupendous for Doctor Birds" 

• Birding In Jamaica's Blue Mountains – "When you visit Jamaica (staying at Hotel Mocking Bird Hill of course), don’t just stick to the coast; the mountains will truly amaze you."

• Rafting Down the Rio Grande – "The Rio Grande, wide and shallow with rocky banks, is an ideal location to spy the local waders. Snowy Egrets and Little Blue Herons appeared around every bend, often intent on spearing a piscine snack."

• Eager for Ecclesdown Road – "In Jamaica, the birding may very well be best in Portland Parish, the northeastern corner of this gorgeous island. Narrowing our focus even further, the best birding in Portland is reputed to be found on Ecclesdown Road"     

• Headman John Crow – "How long has the Headman been ruling the John Crow Mountains?"  

• Butterflies & Moths of Jamaica – "I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention how much I liked its leps. Jamaica offers predictably potent butterfly watching." 

• The Jamaican Croaking Lizard – "Visiting Jamaica is truly a sensory experience. Not only does one see astounding beauty and feel that warm Caribbean sun, but one also hears every night a collection of chirps, croaks, and hoots that fairly falls between a symphony and a cacophony."

• Birds of the West Indies – "A superior field guide, with a form factor that lends itself to use in the field while still suitable for untold hours of pleasurable study in anticipation of visits to blue-water beaches attended by Antillean avifauna!"

• Top 10 Birding Moments 2009 – "November"

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Calling all New York State Twitchers

Are you a twitcher based based  in or around the state of New York?   If so how do you fancy escaping the Fall for a long weekend birding treat in Jamaica, it’s only 3 hours 43 minutes away!

Jet Blue are now flying to Kingston Jamaica, our nearest airport daily for just $250 return!  Cheap yes but with leather seats, plenty of legroom, first run movies and unlimited snacks we don’t think it’s too bad a deal…. especially if you come the weekend of 7-10 November with 10000birds.com who are coming down to experience Hotel Mockingbird Hill’s reputation for one of the best places for bird watching in Jamaica for the possibility to see its 28 endemics.

10,000 birds was founded by Bronx based Mike Bergin in 2003 and by 2007 this fantastic birding resource was declared one of the 100 Most Informative Blogs in the world by Carnegie Mellon University in 2007!  Wouldn’t you just fancy a birding weekend accompanied not just by a fantastic local guide but in the company of someone as passionate about birding as you are!

Here’s the itinerary.

Saturday 7 November

• Transfer from Kingston and arrival to the hotel.
• Late afternoon birding in the hotel's 7 acres accompanied by the guide early evening.
• 3 course organic a la  carte dinner at Mille Fleurs Restaurant

Sunday 8 November Early morning birding at MBH – on grounds

• Transfer to rafting after breakfast
• Rafting down Rio Grande, fantastic for waders etc
• Lunch at Miss Betty's  on the river – the chance to sample authentic Jamaican style cooking
• Drop off at Frenchmans Cove – home to both a white sand beach & fresh water springs (aside from swimming, great afternoon birding)
• Pick up from Frenchmans Cove
• 3 course organic a la  carte dinner at Mille Fleurs Restaurant

Monday 9 November

• Take packed breakfast and transfer to Ecclesdown Road and Reach Falls for early morning birding accompanied by guide
• The possibility to visit Reach Falls – Jamaica's most beautiful waterfalls (entrance fee not included)
• Lunch on San San Beach with possibility to relax at beach
• Late afternoon birding San San area and on the grounds again with guide
• 3 course organic a la  carte dinner at Mille Fleurs Restaurant

Tuesday 10 November

• Early morning departure to go birding in the Blue Mountains
• Continue on to Kingston for late afternoon departure

The cost of this 3-night half board trip is $842 for double occupancy based on 6 people signing up (the price drops if more people want to join the trip) but  it excludes airfare, beverages, entrance to Reach Falls and  lunch on the beach at San San  Beach.   If everyone arrives/departs  from Kingston we can hire a Espace style van for reduced transfer otherwise please allow $165.00 based on 1-2 passengers sharing a chartered taxi. If you are interested please send an email to info@hotelmockingbirdhill.com adding Twitchers into the subject line.

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