The Botanical Garden in San Juan, Puerto Rico

I've been on a conference trip to San Juan, Puerto Rico. Lots of work, but also some birding. The Botanical Garden at the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras, holds not only lots of flowers, bromelias, palms and orchids, but also lots of birds. Most of these I only heard (I'm not used to birdspotting among palm-trees), but I saw some. On May 25, 2015.

I almost missed this lovely striated (green-backed) heron [brunryggig häger], fishing in one of the almost dried out streams.

Canon PowerShot A620, ISO 50, 29mm, f/4.1, 1/100.

There are lots of common gallinules [amerikansk rörhöna] in the ponds, waiting for the visitors to throw them some bread and hoping to catch it before the freshwater turtles or the fish does.

Canon PowerShot A620, ISO 50, 29mm, f/4.1, 1/160.

The pearly-eyed thrasher [vitögd härmtrast] is a lovely singer! But not at all cooperative when it comes to posing for a photographer!

Canon PowerShot A620, ISO 50, 29mm, f/4.1, 1/125.

The pitirre or gray kingbird [grå kungstyrann], is a flycatcher and sits most of the on a branch, waiting to spot a fly. When it does, it makes a quick raid to snatch it, and then it's back to the branch to wait for the next snack.

Canon PowerShot A620, ISO 50, 29mm, f/4.1, 1/400.


The zenaida dove [zenaidaduva] is the national bird of Anguilla. There's plenty of these very curious birds in Puerto Rico as well.

Canon PowerShot A620, ISO 50, 29mm, f/4.1, 1/250.