Chivo Beach. Havana. Cuba.
I got up early to have my first great birdwatching experience. It was precisely because @muhammadhalim had invited me to the place par excellence in this city—where those first unforgettable encounters with feathered friends truly feel like a party.
To be there watching and listening to these beautiful creatures, who come from far away to enjoy our warm waters and skies of such beautiful and varied shades of blue, is so enchanting that I, frankly, have not yet finished processing it. I am still missing that moment when the emotion settles and I can write more objectively.
I am going to tell you, however, some things that I experienced with intensity and joy deep in my heart.
I said in a previous post that when you have a first encounter with a bird, in this world of sightings, it is known as a Lifer. Well, I had many first encounters here. Just imagine... The photos have been uploaded a bit disorganised but there are 4 birds there, two American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana) and two Cachiporras or Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus) which are a marvel to see. I used to say that my favourite birds were the Hummingbird and the Cuban Tody, but now... I don't know. There are so many birds that I like.... It's hard to choose after what I've seen today.
It's not that I haven't seen birds in my life... Of course I see many birds here in Hive, in magazines, in my backyard, in the trips I've taken around this island, but today.... I don't really have much objectivity.
Hahaha... Look for example that Great White Egret, Universe, she was lonely but she was really a queen, with her refined ways...others looked like they had had a very bad night. hahaha.... I thought about the open bar that awaits me tomorrow in Varadero. I will try not to look like them on Friday. And if it should happen, I'll wear sunglasses.
I witnessed a few food fights. Some go fishing to provide for their juveniles, while others find it more convenient to act like gangsters.
Who said life is simple. Anja, isn't it? This reminded me of this reel I saw last night and it really touched me.
The members of the birdwatchers' group we met there also had interesting conversations and I learned that there is another important place for this activity. It is near Casablanca and is known as Triscornia. This is a place with a lot of history, as it was here that many Spanish emigrants entered Cuba and had to pass through a dreaded quarantine... I think. I haven't done much research about it.
There were also a few fishermen and I took the opportunity to take some pictures of them, integrating the birds... Or vice versa. I think it's better to say it the other way around, because there the birds are the protagonists.
I am still making a list of all the birds that were there. It's not something I can do easily as I don't know them very well yet. But I do know that some of them have stuck in my mind. The American Avocets are two birds with their beaks slightly curved upwards. The Cachiporras are those black and white ones with long red legs. There are two of them too. The Zarapicos chicos or Western Sandpiper (Calidris mauri) are the smallest ones and there is one that is called a Revuelvefango... oh, I don't know. 😃
Wait... searching... Revuelvepiedras or Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres). 🤣
Please, I need a chance to learn all this. For the time being enjoy these pictures and I will tell you in detail and precision about each one of them.
My colleagues say that the migration hasn't really started yet... So we will have a big party here I think.
😉👋🏻
P.S. I had to tweak things a bit here, because truth be told, it needed a touch more precision. I suppose things will improve as I get more familiar with all this.
Original content by @nanixxx. All rights reserved ©, 2025. Every image I include in my posts is mine. When it’s not, I credit the source in a caption.