Five Year Birds for May

Willet-Tringa semipalmata

The rain that was promised in the month of May seems to be showing up as the month comes to an end. Will it stay as we enter the month of June which normally signals the start of the rainy season? I hope so but time will tell.  Surprisingly though, as I reminisce on my birding last month the stats do not look that bad.  I tallied fifty species for the month, thanks to the Global Big Day held on May 14^th, five of which were first for the year, with two being considered rare birds.

Rare Birds  

Striated Heron - Butorides striata

The two birds that may be considered rare were a Striated Heron - Butorides striata and a Glossy Ibis - Plegadis falcinellus.  The Striated Heron is making its third appearance on the island since it was first sighted in July 2013. The other times were at the pond of the local recycling plant - SBRC  in September 2015 and this year. The Striated was seen on May 19^th.

Glossy Ibis - Plegadis falcinellus

The Glossy Ibis was seen in the Northern Parish of St. Lucy.  This species is becoming a regular migrant to our shores with sightings in 2013, 14, 15 and now 2016.

Black Swift - Cypseloides niger

The other first for the year were Willet- Tringa semipalmata ,  Yellow-crowned Parrot - Amazona ochrocephala , thanks to the Global Big day, and Black Swift - Cypseloides niger.

As we go into what is traditionally the rainy season and another slow month, I am hoping the promised rain will come ushering in plenty of birds.  Do enjoy your birding!

You can follow my year count by clicking (here).