On February 17, 2023 I spent a little over two hours at Rocklands Bird Sanctuary situated around a house on a hill above Montego Bay, Jamaica. I made arrangements in advance to meet with Fritz, the caretaker, and had a private tour. When I arrived around 7:00 a.m. Fritz had just spread out feed in two areas on the ground and had filled up multiple hummingbird feeders and the place was alive with birds - I've never seen anything like it.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjW2oyT85bNqK7UcIaTYMd5DOjdbdH4VelAa32k7_pkadFcqJcmnb2Wr8d7nSs7JlGjJwFHFMkWpJdlXsdy13y3WthoCLIQDN6HwSh-qMNXlumhIine7HlKmpYNiVbhBnMPXwsyx6iBkH8KEUDwDacBYuXfoIamyddz8E9O7LQmU89Krl8w6HRqxnj/w400-h300/20.jpg) |
Birds gather around grain. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFfOSWY-O73LMOyigfJDtIrAU6Hq4BqP7lD4t023xhedtQWxaNvCHZbMQYj0GludMsQ9peJtwWqjekdD42CjDcdxph5grvevlPpo-wOSh7AGp3O8SM9qiLOkv7VYzhymbekpD8GvDK1xXpfYC4YIZUdwehqYg-ZC6cWpWXBWifEYA11HSKdoZ1EobD/w400-h300/21.jpg) |
Birds were also here, but scattered as I walked up. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Bj-pB2AkDjs_Wsjo7KNemPTvYHVGCJbeA-VE75ejq-X0pT8fGkhLFEpiy9_OJCekAccFkPnaNvpfwQG6C3YgcNvHIe9h5Ytcfgpf7iHNtT0CJrENz01dT9KiG9tcMnSk0rGcsYSCHx19GNEVpFJ3LZR1XH09Pu2us4KYCG1DxqZqFhw25hG5hBs3/w400-h290/22.jpg) |
Red-billed steamertails and Jamaican mangos were almost a non-stop presence at these hummingbird feeders. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP9pOKH7iBk7cfWrRfD-i_Us51RkCQp6MAnVVfWXPCKk2m5-qgJkn4bkZXS9youI82avEsTRhY1rn_L2hRLAc1dj3zo36AYj6nCj1QOlijuZWYjNnGE6ca0Bnv-jq0089l04tIHFB-e3RUNpof45GI19AGSFU4M-kU4i6Psf3D-QLApEcfZxSeebOB/w400-h300/24.jpg) |
Montego Bay below. |
Fritz indicated that the home became a sanctuary for birds about 50 years ago and the lady who had owned the home had died relatively recently. I walked around alone for awhile, while Fritz got things set up, and I took photos. Caribbean doves, common ground doves, black-faced grassquits, yellow-faced grassquits and a ruddy quail-dove fed on the feed spread on the ground. Red-billed streamertails, Jamaican mangos, bananaquits and a Jamaican oriole fed on the hummingbird feeders and other nectar feeders. Then Fritz took me down a road and up a hill where we encountered a Jamaican woodpecker, an American redstart. a northern mockingbird, a greater Antillean bullfinch, a Jamaican vireo, a loggerhead kingbird and an olive-throated parakeet. Fritz also pointed out a turkey vulture and an osprey flying at some distance away. We went back to the house and took a little trail to the side and back. There we saw a northern potoo, an ovenbird, a white-chinned thrush and finally a Jamaican owl, just as I was leaving. It was an amazing two hours.
Below are some of the photos from that morning:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ9UQANPDXNWh04knWbIhmaJQwJidAr5Nw-4gFwL6EiccKb_g6yf7QDjTyy0X_9hvgLjoZIrYD9nLXx7_JjktqznRPgXzLEWCkH7fYwp0a_xyCYH5VgnJTTsiltSt37Z7Ko-z8d3n2W1T_rhRfiZpQTVwOANrgIZgOA_uPAgjyCgSMqLDSy-T7SV2_/w400-h221/300%20Black-faced%20grassquit%20-%20Rocklands%20-%20Jamaica.jpg) |
Male black-faced grassquit. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4pZG2I9uYvB1NfhJbIeJs_GQ9_v_DLgE6Hmy30U0U1D5QqyYvdRqNuZfEIa5e-YTdbCnZ52OSd-mxVDG8q8qWCbCGWrh6fpiJjmQbuRLQsJ3wWvgZkbwaw958putZVxbilIFOdCw6o6IU7AdU8JqBiN1SvNZu-VDAXFJ5XuOtQ5p5wfEaZTOBbJBB/w400-h199/315.jpg) |
Female black-faced grassquit. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUODpKRWVrpCzLrdX3Z-pPT8t1A4txkv6ane_AZaH8MzrA70mM2ykSEAsqfo5uXt97wZiFVdoebRmSBTOGQT9fbXoOxMMbwJ9ZT0jAn-22iTWEuXEimtWa5oIohcQ2lcclGgC7GYjozYFUSOZKTIWa50Xy4KSncl2-5VpPv5e67FgG-LUp2sXcimtX/w400-h276/201%20Yellow-faced%20grassquit%20-%20Rocklands%20-%20Jamaica.jpg) |
Male yellow-faced grassquit. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2jVhkoD5AOZPGMTo2qD4x-B4SD-XRBt2ZbAuRG7MxqM4_iqmULgvsswL0bTMZDraNrfOv13UGbYKjuBOlZSzka_UppNeYMsh7z1ru7bps66zGPFm_S4FVRrDkMv6GM2yZyiFq6aWOiU2A0LQ2Vv6BQ4WP_wMGLhJT9MHBi1zENmKsBeARQmBuNKe1/w400-h213/215.jpg) |
Female yellow-faced grassquit. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvDuOtAN1jRonRtFUElv6CjEcppJmVpATtqtGhgvfXAXHhZlbVGV-4o4jH5prPOi_jtdI7w30FEas3-jRA7bScVtw1GBraiTklWTkrLyzoD2Uq8MUuFH37HEFUbccm96S4ZDR7OTNG1HvVmygtBJ68i421t77MnbyoKqKdq0_H4WOxgaKIAqAZGHaz/w400-h283/200.jpg) |
Caribbean dove |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDzLCzpiRpP8eaPOnBeLWoKjyMcRN9FGTlsaexNYI-0dJXnY0h9hfkOhRkAFOGMYN-7vgCvz4aLT8uHXGPgpeFgWByR0Ix5lvFSgwodP_i3c_JLTeRCsU3buvYnH62XurXV53vJJ_vVgVzId2BioF-58f2kh1jo_oUCDXW8AqpzUxBsdqI8D9N2RfH/w400-h204/205.jpg) |
Common ground dove |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisVuEp93ndgZj0YM936k4e9TXROJsg9KdbY9BtC42bJOxaWJh3nHujYvYc-MbeWVh0nQizufWSfmHnZwRfiTx_Xb3mcu53jw0z5M_vSW8s7hNECdd1ny8R3MObHSXIDVlA-ymAye11dkkEEbzgTDnorH_slo7y0--HjoH2Y_Rp6JmsyZEZ430p8qhv/w400-h243/75.jpg) |
Ruddy quail-dove |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmtgPNaZZCAnCnwvB6GSY3dxs-A6fLeZ6WXkS26SLzZXxZLSUq3uliQKDc_d4pId-mZ11K43uj6D2G0UslQYN8umoAO-Pq5vCgGq6TAmeW4RAOf_Wj_uE_c8bhTf1xmPgxJib5wIGQypE3rYjXdaMuaZ_z7bqEh8Tvya_GHbhmsvvXfyN1x4ezqTEq/w400-h315/900.jpg) |
Red-billed streamertail - the national bird of Jamaica. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHzu_30w1a0Eu4bnfQhFM26yseMtl0D7dPyjgxXB_5g54VSkb9nEpj4xkCgy-asQEjZB6GT__mEirEMHr-JxzWqMYCq9dIeUqer364FNwXFBX4mZ4xFRLrJVCgSCYL6uyElmcwWfnD6p7RN27ap248Mj02rSL4S3LG5-5MuV2VWjPn0b20Oj7da2Tl/w400-h335/600%20Jamaican%20mango%20-%20Rocklands%20Bird%20Sanctuar%20-%202-17-2023.jpg) |
Jamaican mango |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtUr-GsXcHDa35Bo4gS2g7SdNvV-VpgKyHGL8snvQ-TALhMwz6Pst603AONdz9XVO1k6hPn3HfYCPV-NSSBqy8FSQrs8vOyC0SUBhk2E9THa2KrujaClJy72r_VJl4QsCLYm-k6cNTz4L20Xf3o8nhdevVvieK2HPW0njGmKyYaZc8VmSBb6NOh5ar/w400-h239/730.jpg) |
Bananaquit |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRxQ-t9p6QG7uAZCJMwMCO815VQHKKHoXk4Qr0djQ3mjT1m2inYFfyXZv8MpDVye98W19P2WA5izRyZqcdKg2rFuTpDopB1thOu-i0HCLXe2UYxhT2lxnpi9DRCIE2AXQEgKRbVsM00XmUzdGNw1fDLlSLk5d1doWbzE2oD3ADt8YmUid5baaEXJs3/w400-h295/751%20Jamaican%20Oriole%20-%20Rocklands%20Bird%20Sanctuary%20-%202-17-2023.jpg) |
Jamaican oriole |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtJautA24zDeetR1qwXvW65p2b9_7sLhSPbl0Y0UliEc1to7dMcfSBn6S3qpvf0RG2xXdqIZ3kld_II-enqzmyFsBxc_lpnb86i2B9L3KSjNwb0tjuzfW0vwvs5idv63jXDe2BW2qVhtbZ-5DgxJeB7IfSHxtVYINdLtHte382DW4FENRYzc0TOx14/w400-h261/50%20Jamaican%20woodpecker.jpg) |
Jamaican woodpecker |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZSZPl0-5-suIDOE-Ytj5DOHeiu5Jfo7m_M_k7GmHSYIF7aI6270_XKGo05CvUrOLvVPFYLW12Roo7iuXYFlOMQqLp2S2elrjutsMkjM1Hk43K-NF942Bl-UI4f9_x9bPEeRfpFHQPnYkvm8NbK0L-0Vzs59xTq4oytE-S4WQKgELkjovuB19Mgrfz/w400-h254/100%20American%20Redstart.jpg) |
American redstart |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc0_ijY7M7kghTIkcOoceYv9LT1lt5XmaTxci1x5IzOuGfhkqgIVfkZvgkiyOd_FXGsR0VzTZZmCx7DK7dTNOxOReeBHBTQaaBh5D3b2yAnhrkZuPvArVXkkqkxJgEJ6maUkJ7CbeXG9EGDn7OjnnoJSdGEIAN8DZFIk-wuyauTYNZOqGR27Ie84nb/w400-h309/102%20Greater%20Antillean%20Bullfinch.jpg) |
Greater Antillean bullfinch |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxgDrNKaIyCKm5WIzig-NQAlg7Y2DT72BdbXd-SShgb54fyxrYq5Nks73JXaypu6dSKBhPDF6gUuXxjb6Y1KTtiRgr6ixQnCW_kT9Yolx97i498OHKft3xiKp3azKEBzKC8l7GltAfqJBqEwawO5jX5PkadzcmnL1WOFt1yEPmsleeWyE9GSEUYTQt/w400-h254/360%20Loggerhead%20kingbird%20-%20Rocklands%20Bird%20Sanctuary.jpg) |
Loggerhead kingbird |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXIlhUm_PkE1NHvIn3SqjJn_FIOtIpwJc5uhKKNzl4AuJinbgdA7NOMKaqC0nfRQlprH1CUJ80S7RScjUDScxUUTSW_MTsSfFvU1ACoM64BZTeX4lHxSmfFzMRPPSPDhR0a_cag4qWYZHzyG5U5tL3f6N7h6pdysjCaW2VqDDYgS2G9MAfbLYjM6nf/w400-h378/100%20Olive-throated%20parakeet%20-%20Rocklaads%20Bird%20Sanctuary%20-%20Jamaica.jpg) |
Olive-throated parakeet |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitpUdfXJdQbjHbisPvRp4bmWndQEScbDyH4-kYr3XcSIkCxb6HSOvghOu7uDwmH07wYXoLOXx5CcsW29bc3UDQZ0TMaUsnFNEv1nFvya6i5ptMe2GeYBoMfuzCf1Bv5kfdLlOTW152WE4U6mjNS9TrBNPLER3zQIYMKKCjFStfi5MYXWG77TgNzQuf/w400-h294/15%20Jamaican%20vireo%20-%20Rocklands%20Bird%20Sanctuary%202-17-2023.jpg) |
Jamaican vireo |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgNCOkmm26Dt6aK3IFXBSkL4IWet_iAWiCITPqWrBGYvFMwkvMwnpyT2Ob6aO-9n-ZXss03mjq71I6eBQvsg_t6RCjA61_ldpCwc4Mlf5A8PFkgNZFq20n_IxbOJAFIM1QmIPK7YdiyLJvrxa_FUc8kVTH4QyyAUQ6JdW8FYaVzb2RHMleJxoXWs1K/w400-h328/190.jpg) |
Northern mockingbird |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT5quh1GYkQl64r0id7yEn55dW79MNswiNSpNclb-vDjxk-_YRSFNKVeI11IMYqkxhAB7cgQEljZdZMWxkKPv-aftebmlLIuMa49fwNfSikx2J6uN8xSF6IT6yJ8nNv9itdkiqRBkx0Lr7VGuIH8MfpkayT-B3k5bXsBCbfGB3vTLGGxSFMaObFEVz/w379-h400/800.jpg) |
Northern potoo |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlOWpLlYnjo4AFjQojgSlCadcvGxfSBI2-EBBMVRFb0-f2aBJVpfdrfvr5PxW2EbSEqQ2Wi-Caamyafpi9etwAygr3PZuy3mP87mwyx3yeAabM2HEcUbWs-0N9bnJWvOBD3hmOaDnBpm6Bb5332UIuuhMmd5nzHKzMiiYOhIBDDl786QqrcRtN9aUg/w400-h289/414%20Ovenbird.jpg) |
Ovenbird |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYXS3N39xYYNV1fAusS05MXB-PWqrvKUyMY7AiYpnGGgA48f8UuqV8-em7PRLTb_65HokrBThQ1IHRBdJu3es1HjodVBAJrmHOMY-SUPQjsScLtkNVbQSfme-NHAoT0utfbqWIZiFuAIdjk0D0YTqtU74uST6nzVB6pTprjxF-B_79UCx2p2qM2opU/w400-h289/573.jpg) |
White-chinned thrush |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBFSVvB85qkMASEYt5eUANyTkqdEARKyxIm8UPgpyZlx9AJYPixvpvqFtyRidR9PuxgrZM5CdKgCZNvR1GH2tSoIJ7CE7Ees3XKxbaSFGc9xgmJiUmp2pq7izJ134PpEBZpBKbhcAWIxnTOuelQv_7l4YHZ14jzz-bWaNVywJG3QmiNM_rO8cOyG9f/w400-h341/51.jpg) |
Jamaican owl |
Wow, that is a ton of birds for one location! Even in my ten minutes with you, I probably saw four or five. I do love the streamertail hummingbird. They had huge models of them flitting about the ceiling in the airport in Kingston.
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