Dominica is a beautiful island, almost unspoiled, and with not one but two endemic parrots; early the first morning, we set off for the Island's interior, on the slopes of Morne Diablotin, to find them. It wasn't much of a hike, and might have been shorter were it not for Ryan's obsession with finding different-colored house wrens. I think he hopes to have them split into six endemic lesser Antillean species.
Anyway, up at the parrot observation area, overlooking a deep valley, we almost immediately saw red-necked parrots, which were calling and just flying around. We heard Imperial Parrots, but they remained hidden. We also saw a couple of ruddy quail doves, a smooth-billed ani back at the base station, Antillean crested hummingbirds, lots of lesser Antillean swifts, broad-winged hawks, a purple throated carib, a lesser Antillean saltator, a pearly eyed thrasher, and black-whiskered vireos.
Back at the base station, here's a David's orchid. The species was apparently blown to Dominica by a hurricane.
And a bullfinch, pausing in its quest to kill the bullfinch in the wing-mirror.
At a location which I won't disclose (at Ryan's request), later, we saw a beautiful barn owl, roosting in the daytime.
And then back to the hotel, for some food and drink.
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