Holiday Jamaica

Overview

Nestled in forested hills overlooking Montego Bay, Rocklands Bird Sanctuary is a cottage property with a small bird-feeding station that has operated continuously since 1962. Famous for enabling guests to hand-feed Red-billed Streamertails and Jamaican Mangoes, the feeding station also offers close views of Caribbean (“Red-necked”) Dove, Orangequit, and Jamaican Oriole, among others. The property often has stakeouts for roosting “Caribbean Potoo” and sometimes Jamaican Owl. Visits can be arranged from resorts and cruise ship port-calls.

Rocklands is Jamaica’s best-known birdwatching site, attracting tourists and Jamaican visitors who have only a passing interest in birds. All the tour operators, hoteliers, and taxi drivers in Montego Bay know it as the place for birdwatchers.

It usually delivers intimate encounters with hummingbirds and close views of feeder-tame Caribbean (“Red-necked”), White-winged, and Common Ground-Doves, Jamaican Woodpecker, Jamaican Oriole, Shiny Cowbird, Greater Antillean Grackle, “Greater Antillean Bananaquit,” Yellow-faced and Black-faced Grassquits, and Orangequit. From October to April, a few migrant warblers (especially Black-throated Blue and American Redstart) often attend.

The feeding station at Rocklands is open daily from 9:00 or 10:00 to 5:00. The admission fee (“suggested donation”) was US$20/person at last report.

Accommodations

The Rocklands cottage (on-site) has accommodations for up to eight guests, and can be rented through Airbnb.com.

Montego Bay’s hotel district is a 20- to 30-minute drive from Rocklands. Some hotels there that have been regarded as offering reasonable value and comfort include: Toby’s Resort; Relax Resort; Verney House Resort; The Belevedere; and the Seabreeze Inn.