March 21-26, 2026 with Jesse Fagan
Participants often ask me which tour is my favorite, and the Bahamas consistently rises to the top. This itinerary is compact yet full of charm, offering charismatic endemic birds, excellent meals, and (usually!) delightful weather. Island‑hopping adds its own sparkle, too. The 2026 adventure delivered once again. We explored three islands—Abaco, Eleuthera, and Andros—with a brief stop on New Providence, tallying 79 species, including every possible endemic and regional specialty. That may not sound like a huge list, but this tour is all about quality, not quantity.
Avian highlights included Great Lizard-Cuckoo (still amazing that it’s a Coccyzus cuckoo!), Bahama Woodstar, Kirtland’s Warbler, Cuban Parrot, and the striking Bahama Oriole, which easily claimed Bird of the Trip honors. Our non‑bird moments were equally memorable: learning about native plants and coppice habitat at the Leon Levy Preserve on Eleuthera, savoring a sunrise breakfast at the Abaco Beach Resort, and flying to Andros aboard a 59‑year‑old De Havilland Canada DHC‑6—an experience in itself.
Abaco
Our journey began on Abaco Island, just a quick hop from the U.S. mainland. On our first morning, we headed south to Abaco National Park, where reminders of Hurricane Dorian’s 2019 devastation are still visible. The native Caribbean Pine forest (Pinus caribaea) shelters several endemics, including Bahama Woodstar, Bahama Yellowthroat, and Bahama Warbler. We also tracked down Cuban Pewee, Greater Antillean Bullfinch, and a couple of fleeting but satisfying views of Bahama Swallow, which nests in tree cavities. Cuban Parrots—uniquely nesting in limestone holes—also made an appearance.
Lunch at the lively Pete’s Pub featured seared yellowfin tuna sandwiches and a backdrop of turquoise water on a picture‑perfect day. Later, we caught up with more parrots at Bahama Palm Shores, quietly feeding in gumbo‑limbo trees.
Eleuthera
We visit long, narrow Eleuthera for several reasons, but the star attraction is experiencing Kirtland’s Warbler on its wintering grounds. It’s also a superb island for Bahama Mockingbird and Great Lizard Cuckoo. Our first morning began with fantastic views of a very vocal Bahama Mockingbird.
Next, we headed to my secret Kirtland’s spot and wandered for a while without much luck. Doubt was creeping in when I finally heard the distinctive “chip” note. Slowly, the bird worked its way toward us and eventually perched just above our heads. Moments later, a Great Lizard Cuckoo barreled in to proclaim his territory. Finding both target species within minutes left us all grinning.
We celebrated with a group photo on Eleuthera’s famous pink‑sand beach. That evening, we enjoyed dinner on the deck—tasty Caribbean dishes (spiny lobster, anyone?) accompanied by live music—and capped the day with another spectacular Bahamian sunset.
Andros
Our final island was Andros. Despite being the largest island in the Bahamas, it remains one of the least developed and least visited—though anglers and divers know it well. For birders, Andros is essential because it is the only place on Earth to see the Bahama Oriole. This elusive endemic occurs at low densities and favors nesting in native palms. After steady searching, we were rewarded with a pair perched beautifully for the group.
We also enjoyed improved views of Bahama Swallow around Fresh Creek and again on the drive north to Stafford Creek. With that, we completed a clean sweep of all the Bahamian endemics and regional specialties.
Thank you to everyone who joined this adventure. It was a lively, fun‑spirited group, and I wish you all excellent birding throughout 2026.
Other Noteworthy Critters:
Bahamian Racer (Cuphobis vuddii) = The snake we found at Captain Bill's Blue Hole on Andros Island.
Keys Bark Scorpion (Centruiroides guanensis) = The scorpion we found in Abaco National Park turning over rocks. This is the only native scorpion found in the Bahamas.
You can see my complete trip report on eBird at this link: https://ebird.org/tripreport/519083
You can download a combined PDF of this page and the eBird report at this link: https://fieldguides.com/triplists/bah26TRIPLIST.pdf
-- Jesse Fagan (aka Motmot) from Dahlonega, Georgia, USA