The Unexpected Return of the Southern Lapwing

Southern Lapwing 2025

A bird once thought lost to the Barbadian landscape has made an unexpected reappearance.  On September 14th, Dr. John Webster observed a Southern Lapwing (Vanellus chilensis) in the parish of St. Lucy—marking a thrilling moment for local birders. This striking South American species, known for its bold plumage and loud, defiant calls, has long held a special place in Barbados’ avian history.

First recorded on the island in 1998, the species made headlines again in 2007 when a nesting pair at Bright Hall, St. Lucy produced three chicks—the first documented breeding of Southern Lapwings in the entire West Indies.  By 2021, the last time the species was recorded here, only a lone female remained. She faithfully returned each year to the Turf Farm at Bright Hall to nest. Despite laying eggs, her efforts were in vain—without a mate, the eggs were infertile, and no chicks emerged to carry the lineage forward, effectively halting the species’ expansion on the island. With no new sightings in recent years, many feared the Southern Lapwing had been lost to Barbados. But this new observation stirs hope once more. Whether the bird is our long-resident female or a fresh migrant from South America, one thing is certain: the Southern Lapwing has returned to Barbadian soil—even if just for a little while.

Lean more about the Southern Lapwing - Here and here

Count, Rest, Repeat: Celebrate World Shorebirds Day 2025 and Join the Global Shorebird Count! by Birds Caribbean

With Migratory Shorebirds already arriving in the Caribbean we are getting ready to celebrate World Shorebirds Day on September 6! This year we’re asking you to show some love to our shorebirds and join the Global Shorebird Count, which runs from September 1 to 7. BirdsCaribbean has everything you need to help you take part. Read on to find out how to take part, and why you (and your friends!) should join the count this year! 

World Shorebirds Day is held every year on September 6. This day celebrates shorebirds, their amazing migration journeys, and most importantly, raises awareness of the threats they face and actively promotes their monitoring and conservation. The key event associated with this day is the Global Shorebird Count (GSC), which this year runs from September 1-7.

Whether you’re new to the GSC or a seasoned shorebird counter, you can rally around shorebirds in the Caribbean by joining our “Count. Rest. Repeat.” campaign! Your data will help scientists protect these special, threatened birds. 

How do you join in?

Joining is as simple as heading out to your local wetland sites and counting shorebirds! Really—it’s that easy! Don’t be intimidated if you’re a first-timer, this blog will walk you through everything you need to know to get out there—and start contributing valuable data for shorebird conservation!  First tip: Remember to record all the species you see and/or hear (including other non-shorebird species), and to note how many individuals of each species you spot. Take your time and scan the habitats carefully for birds, but be extra careful to stand and walk only in places where you won’t disturb the birds you are trying to count! continue reading >>

Banded Birds and Their Journeys

As August ushered in peak migration season, we observed an unusually high number of banded shorebirds passing through—three of which were equipped with GPS trackers. These tracking efforts, led by ornithologist, help monitor bird movements, reveal migration routes, uncover behavioral patterns, and support global conservation initiatives. Platforms like bandedbirds.org allow us to follow the journeys of these carefree world travelers in real time.

Whimbrel FF6 photograph by Michael St. John

Our first tagged bird was a Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus), with the tag FF6, recovered on August 7th by Mike St. John at Long Pond, St. Andrew.

Whimbrel FK7 photograph by Michael St. John

At the same location on 30th, Eagle eyed Mike saw another Whimbrel (FK7) with a GPS tracker. While we don't have information on this specific bird's banding location or journey, its presence here is a wonderful start to our sightings for the month.

Willet HO4 with GPS tracker photograph by Michael St. John

The next exciting sighting also occurred at Long Pond, this time a Willet with a GPS tracker, HO4, seen by Mike St. John on August 22nd.

Willet HO5 photographed by Qunicy Clarke

A few days later, Quncy Clarke spotted a second Willet, HO5, at Inch Marlow in Christ Church. Thanks to Nathan Senner, we learned that both birds were tagged in Massachusetts, USA, in June as part of a Massachusetts Audubon project.

We also had a repeat visitor! A Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres), tagged 2=T, was seen for the second consecutive year at Inch Marlow, Christ Church. This bird has made quite a journey.

Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres), tagged 2=T

• Captured and tagged: May 27th, 2018, at Mispillion Harbor, Back Beach, Delaware, USA.
• First Resighting: August 19th, 2023, at Long Beach, Christ Church, Barbados.
• Latest Resighting: August 14th, 2025, at Inch Marlow, Christ Church, Barbados.

Our final observation was of a Semipalmated Sandpiper (Calidris pusilla), tagged N20, which was spotted at River Bay, St. Lucy. 

Semipalmated Sandpiper tagged N20

• Captured and tagged: May 13th, 2024, at Fortescue, Raybins Beach, New Jersey, USA. 
• First and only resighting to date: July River Bay, August 26, 2025

Each of these sightings offers a vital clue in understanding the migratory journeys of these vulnerable species. By tracking their movements, we aim to identify and address the challenges they face along their flight paths—and ultimately help reverse their population decline.

You can play a part in this important work. If you spot a banded bird, please report it to bandedbirds.org or share the sighting with us at Birds of Barbados.

Thank you and continue to enjoy your birding!

A Rare Sighting: The Cuban Martin Visits Barbados

Male Cuban Martin

On August 27, 2025, while the air in Barbados was filled with the sounds of CARIFESTA XV, thanks to the electrifying performance by the Cuban group Rumba Allstars, a different kind of cultural exchange was taking place in the skies. Without any fanfare, a rare and unexpected visitor arrived on the island: a Cuban Martin (Progne cryptoleuca).  This iconic bird, a species endemic to Cuba, was spotted at Spring Hall, St. Lucy, mingling with a flock of its more familiar Caribbean Martin (Progne dominicensis) cousins. While they share a similar shape and behavior, a closer look reveals the distinct features of this special guest. Unlike our local Caribbean Martins, the males of the Cuban Martin species are completely glossy blue-black, with subtle hints of white on their lower underparts. The females and juveniles, on the other hand, are much less iridescent, with a muted gray-brown breast and flanks contrasting with their white underparts.

This sighting is a fantastic reminder of the incredible biodiversity of the Caribbean region.

Two New Species for the Island and the Region

The digital camera has fundamentally transformed modern ornithology and birding. This crucial role was underscored by the recent addition of two new bird species to the island and region's avian checklist, directly facilitated by photographic documentation. These two additions took the island's count to 286 species. (Clements)

A photograph by Michael St. John of the island and region's first Sharp-tailed Sandpiper

Our first bird, a Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (Calidris acuminate), was also a first for the West Indies. It was discovered by Michael St. John on June 11, 2025, at a private site in St. Lucy. Initially misidentified as a Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos) —a species commonly seen on the island—the bird’s true identity was later confirmed by renowned birder and co-author of the Lynx Field Guide to the Birds of the West Indies, Anthony Levesque of Guadeloupe, after he spotted a photo on eBird. This medium-sized shorebird is native to the Old World, breeds in eastern Siberia, and winters mainly in Australasia, following migration routes that span the Pacific. How it ended up in the Caribbean, gracing our beautiful island, remains an unsolved mystery.

The juvenile female Pallid Harrier, seen and photographed by Dr. John Webster
 in 2014, correctly identified in 2025

The second new bird proved to be even more remarkable. First sighted and photographed by Dr. John Webster on December 26, 2014, it was initially identified on eBird as a Northern Harrier (Circus cyaneus). Years later, the identification came into question when Paul Buckley (author of Birds of Barbados- an annotated checklist) noted its unusual appearance and sought further expertise. He sent John's images to the renowned Finnish ornithologist and field guide author Dick Forsman (author of The Raptors of Europe and the Middle East: A Handbook of Field Identification). Upon examining the photographs, Dick Forsman definitively identified it as a juvenile female Pallid Harrier (Circus macrourus). This species of raptor is native to eastern Europe and Central Asia, with its wintering grounds primarily in Africa and South Asia. Its confirmed presence in Barbados made not just a first for the island and the region but all of the Americas. 

These two remarkable sightings underscore how digital photography, paired with expert insight, is reshaping our understanding of bird vagrancy—not only in Barbados, but across the globe. They also highlight the value of contributing rich data to our eBird.org checklists, including detailed descriptions, photos, and audio. Once again, Barbados shines as a hotspot for exceptionally rare bird species, which can change a casual birding outing into an unforgettable adventure.

Stay safe and enjoy your birding!

GBD2025 Recap: Big Wins for Birds and Birders in the Caribbean by Bird Caribbean

From dawn choruses to birding by the last cool sliver of moonlight—the BirdsCaribbean community took flight on Saturday, May 10, for an electric 24 hours of non-stop citizen science, friendly rivalry, and collective action for birds! Oh—and they only broke almost every Caribbean Global Big Day record along the way!

Twice a year, during peak migration (once in spring and once in fall) birders across the globe spring into action to record as many different bird species as they can in 24 hours. Every eBird checklist powers research—tracking habitat use, revealing global population trends, and ensuring that conservation efforts are directed where they’re needed most. 

And what better way to strive to record every bird using the Caribbean’s lush forests, serene wetlands, city parks, and even backyards, than to unite—for some friendly competition of course! Every year, the BirdsCaribbean GBD Teams Competition pits island and multinational teams against each other—all vying to spot the most overall species and the most West Indian birds on Global Big Day! Teams get bragging rights, funds are raised to execute vital bird conservation work, and Caribbean biodiversity wins. 

Our birding community gave it their all…and then some! The numbers don’t lie—we’ve got the stats to prove how epic #GlobalBigDayBirdsCarib 2025 was...
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Global Big Day results for our BirdsCaribbean Teams. The numbers in red show which team

had the highest number for each category. 

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The Yearly Return of the Black Swifts

A Black Swift at Bell Point, St. Philip

April and May are spring migration months.  This annual journey to breeding grounds in North America can be clearly seen as the number of migratory birds on the island steadily declines. There are some exceptions to the norm, as is the case with Black Swifts (Cypseloides niger).  These birds, instead of heading north, fly to breeding sites in the West Indies.  One such nesting site can be found on the east coast of our island, nestled in a hard-to-reach sea cave in the sea cliffs of Bell Point, St. Philip.  Black Swifts are listed as “Vulnerable” on the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. This is because the species is undergoing a rapid decline throughout its North American range. The reasons for the decline are uncertain, but one of the biggest dangers to migratory birds, animals in general is the loss of habitat.  It is even more so a problem for bird species like Black Swifts, which are known to have a high nest-site loyalty (Collins and Foerster 1995), which means that these birds will return to the same site for nesting every breeding cycle. That is why I am encouraged by the Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) Plan, drafted by the Coastal Zone Management Unit.  Some of the directives within the plan can inadvertently protect the sea caves at Bell Point, thus protecting the nesting site of this vulnerable species, and trust me, migratory birds need all the help they can get.   So if you’re out and about in the Skeet’s Bay Area, or along the East Coast Road, or gazing over the vista at Melvin’s Hill, St. Joseph, you just may see them, these masters of flight – the Black Swifts.