The Barbados Birds and Birding Report - November, December

Glossy Ibis no longer consider a rare species

After a bustling October, November and December brought a sense of normalcy with three new yearbirds in November and one in December, wrapping up 2024 with a total of 122 species recorded in Barbados. The three November birds, all mega-rarities, included a Gadwall (Mareca strepera) spotted in St. Lucy, an Eastern Wood-Pewee (Contopus virens), and a Nashville Warbler (Leiothlypis ruficapilla), the latter being a first for the island. December's sole yearbird was a Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus).  The Glossy Ibis ( Plegadis falcinellus) has been a regular feature in this report for several months. Consequently, its status on the island has been upgraded from rare to locally common. Therefore, it will no longer be individually highlighted in this report.

Looking Ahead to January

January is usually very quiet in terms of rare bird arrivals, so don't expect much. However, we have a few birders doing a big year, along with the additional eyes from our new local birders, who completed the tour guide training, plus the start of the tourist season and we are seeing more visitor birding. If there's something to be seen, we will see it. Here is a recap of those rare bird sightings from the previous months, organized parish by parish.

(* denotes birds that remained from previous months)

St. Lucy

• Red Knot (Calidris canutus)(1) a bird seen and photographed by Michael St. John on November 11 and 19th;

  

  Hudsonian Godwit

• Hudsonian Godwit (Limosa haemastica) - one bird at North Point on November 14th, last seen on 16th;

  

  Gadwall 

• Gadwall (Mareca strepera) - the duck was seen first seen by Mike St. John on 15th, it relocated to another location in the parish and remain into the new year;
• Fulvous Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna bicolor) - long stay bird
• Common Swift (Apus apus) - discovered by Niels Larsen at Harrison's Point on the 26th. Identity confirmed by Ed Massiah;

Western House Martin

• Western House Martin (Delichon urbicum) (8) was first seen in a mixed flock of swallows on the 23rd at Harrison's Point. (see)

Lesser Black-backed Gull

• Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus)—This bird was seen and photographed at North Point during the October Big Day, but the juvenile bird was spotted at multiple locations around the island thought November and into December, being last seen on December 6th in St. Philip. 
• Tricolored Heron (Egretta tricolor) (2) - two birds seen at North Point on the 5th.  

St. Andrew

Prothonotary Warbler

• Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria citrea) this warbler was recorded at Turners Hall Woods by Julian and Jason Moore on December 14th;

St. Philip

• Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) first seen by John Webster on December 28th. This bird moves between this location and Oistins, in Christ Church;
• Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus) this bird was first seen in October but was last seen in this parish on December 6th;

Christ Church

• Fulvous Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna bicolor) - seen at Woodbourne Shorebird Refuge during the October Big Day Islandwide birding event;

  

  Gull-billed Tern

• Gull-billed Tern (Gelochelidon nilotica) suddenly appeared at WSR on November 16th
• Eastern Wood-Pewee (Contopus virens) - heard by Ed Massiah at Graeme Hall Swamp;
• Nashville Warbler (Leiothlypis ruficapilla) - A new species for the island, first seen on November 14th and last seen on December 7th;
• Tricolored Heron (Egretta tricolor) seen at Woodboure Shorebird Refuge throughout November and December and into the new year .
• Bridled Tern (Onychoprion anaethetus) (5) - seen by Quncy Clarke at Oistins on November 17th;

  

  Lesser Black-backed Gull

• Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus) this bird made it round at different location around the island and was seen at the Oistins ice pier on the 16th of November;
• Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) first recorded in St. Philip but was frequently seen on the ice pier at Oistins;

  

  Northern Parula

• Northern Parula (Setophaga americana) this wood warbler was a surprised find at the Graeme Hall Swamp by Julian Moore and Ocean Campbell.

St. Michael

• Masked Booby (Sula dactylatra) (4) seen offshore by a visitor cruising into the island.

Feel free to contact me, Julian Moore @ 100birdsbarbados@gmail.com, John Webster @ barbadosbirds@gmail.com, or Ed Massiah @ ebmassiah@hotmail.com to report any rare bird sightings, or if you need assistance identifying a bird, we would be happy to help.  A new tool to help with your local bird identification is our Facebook Group, The Birds of Barbados. Click here to join   

Trust to Manage Graeme Hall, Expand Conservation Efforts from Barbados Today

The Graeme Hall Nature Sanctuary, home to Barbados’s largest remaining mangrove forest, is set to reopen in March following a multi-million-dollar acquisition. The South Coast wetland, closed since 2008, will now operate as a paid facility, creating jobs and boosting ecotourism, the new owner has told Barbados TODAY exclusively. When the sanctuary is reopened, some 20 people will be in full-time jobs and there will be approximately 40 more during the $2.5 million upgrade of the physical amenities. The owner – prominent businessman and philanthropist Anthony Da Silva – also said that by the end of this month, a new entity he spearheaded — the Barbados Wetlands Trust (BWT) – will take control of managing the sanctuary as a national asset dedicated to nature conservation, community engagement and sustainable ecotourism.  The owner – prominent businessman and philanthropist Anthony Da Silva – also said that by the end of this month, a new entity he spearheaded — the Barbados Wetlands Trust (BWT) – will take control of managing the sanctuary as a national asset dedicated to nature conservation, community engagement and sustainable ecotourism. (continue Reading >>>)

Emmanuel Joseph emmanueljoseph@barbadostoday.bb

Investing in the Future of Barbados’ Biodiversity: Empowering Local Bird Guides with Caribbean Birding Trail Guide Training

BirdsCaribbean is pleased to present our Caribbean Birding Trail 2024 cohort!
(Photo by WIRRED)

Although Barbados may not be known primarily as an ecotourism or bird watching hotspot, its wetlands and coastlines are critically important in supporting tens of thousands of migratory shorebirds each year—making them a goldmine for bird lovers! Barbados is also home to the Barbados Bullfinch, a unique and delightful species found nowhere else on earth. Positioned further east in the Atlantic than the rest of the Lesser Antilles, Barbados often welcomes unexpected feathered visitors, adding to its special charm! By cultivating a vibrant birding culture and tourism market, Barbados has the opportunity to raise awareness of the value wetlands and other habitats for birds, fostering sustainable livelihoods in local communities, and build momentum for long-term conservation efforts. 

From October 21-25, participants dove into an immersive workshop designed to equip them with the essential skills for delivering exceptional birding experiences. The comprehensive curriculum covered bird identification, behaviour, ecology, habitat conservation, and environmental interpretation—the art of telling stories to connect visitors with the natural and cultural heritage of Barbados. Led by expert instructors from BirdsCaribbean, the training blended in-depth knowledge and hands-on field experiences, including visits to key birding sites around the island to hone bird identification and guiding techniques. Curious about the highlights? Keep reading as Georgie Thornton, Project Officer at WIRRED, and her colleagues share their insights! Continue Reading 

Save Our Shorebirds! BirdsCaribbean Urges Action Amid Alarming Population Declines

Birds Caribbean is sounding the alarm over the significant declines in shorebird populations, highlighted in a recent update to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. The report, released during the COP16 UN Biodiversity Conference in November, reveals that 16 shorebird species have been moved to higher threat categories, with some populations plummeting by at least 30% over the past three generations.

“This is a wake-up call,” said Lisa Sorenson, Executive Director of Birds Caribbean. “The Caribbean is a lifeline for migratory shorebirds, providing critical stopover and wintering sites along the Atlantic Flyway. When these habitats are lost or degraded, or disappear, these birds face severe challenges.”

Many of the reclassified species are familiar visitors to the Caribbean, reflecting the region’s vital role in their life cycles. Among the newly listed species are the Lesser Yellowlegs, now classified as “Vulnerable,” and the Greater Yellowlegs, listed as “Near Threatened.” Other widespread species like the Ruddy Turnstone are also in decline, facing threats such as habitat loss, disturbance, and climate change-related impacts. The Short-billed Dowitcher has also experienced worrying population declines. continue reading 

The Barbados Birds and Birding Report - October

American Wigeon, one of the year birds

October was a bustling month for birds and birding in Barbados. On October 12th, World Migratory Bird Day, we participated in the October Big Day and recorded a record number of species (see here). From the 21st to the 25th, at Walkers Reserve, Birds Caribbean conducted a Bird Guide Certification workshop, introducing a few locals to birding, eBird, and bird guiding. As usual for October, local birders spent many days at Harrison's Point and came away with a few rarities. With all this activity,  eleven species were added to the 2024 checklist, bringing the year's tally to one hundred and seventeen species.
These were the yearbirds during October:   

• Blackpoll Warbler (Setophaga striata) - Harrison's Point and few other locations;
• Hudsonian Godwit (Limosa haemastica) - two birds in St. Philip 
• Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus) - multiple sighing 
• Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata) - three birds at Woodbourne Shorebird Refuge;
• Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica) seen once at Harrison's Point;
• Common Swift (Apus apus) was also seen at Harrison's Point;
• Western House Martin (Delichon urbicum) another from Harrison's Point;
• Blue Grosbeak (Passerina caerulea) - also seen at Harrisson's Point; 
• Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Calidris subruficollis) - St. Philip;
• American Wigeon (Mareca Americana) - at North Point, St. Lucy.

Looking Forward to November

I don't have to guess about birds and birding in November since we're already past the middle of the month. I can tell you that rare birds continue to pour in, but you'll hear all about that next month.

October's Rarebird Alerts

The number of rare bird sightings this last month was astonishing, it highlighted the island's incredible ability to attract these "unusual" species not only from North America but also from across the Atlantic. Here is a breakdown of the other rare sightings for the month, organized parish by parish.

(* denotes birds that remained from previous months)

St. Lucy

Glossy Ibis

• Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus)*(7)  - at the usual location at a privately owned wetland.  This species has been removed from the island rarebird list on ebird and hence will no longer appear on this list.
• Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor) -bird seen in the in the Checker Hall area;
• Ruff (Calidris pugnax) (1) - showed nicely at North Point for a couple of days;

  

  Chimney Swift

• Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica) - first seen at Harrison's Point on the 14th by J. Moore in a mixed flock of swallows;
• Common Swift (Apus apus) - discovered by Niels Larsen at Harrison's Point on the 26th. Identity confirmed by Ed Massiah;

  

  Western House Martin

   
• Western House Martin (Delichon urbicum) (8) was first seen in a mixed flock of swallows on the 23rd at Harrison's Point. (see)
• Blue Grosbeak (Passerina caerulea) - a bird calling from the power line just in front of the isolation center at Harrison's Point, was seen briefly by Ed Massiah on the 19th. This would be the third record of the species on the island;

  

  Lesser Black-backed Gull

• Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus)—This bird was seen and photographed at North Point during the October Big Day, but the juvenile bird was spotted at multiple locations around the island for a week or so. 

  

  Tricolored Herons at North Point

• Tricolored Heron (Egretta tricolor) (2) - two birds seen at North Point on the 5th.  

St. Peter

• Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus) seen around the Six Men's area. Most likely the same bird that was seen at various coastal locations across the island
• Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria citrea) (3) brought excitement to the members of the Bird Guide Certification workshop during an early morning field trip to Cherry Tree Hill;
• Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor) (4), four seen late afternoon in the Oxford area;

St. Joseph

• Red Knot (Calidris canutus) was seen by some of the members of the Bird Guide Certification workshop  at Bathsheba on the 20th; 

White-tailed Hawk

• White-tailed Hawk (Geranoaetus albicaudatus)* - A bird seen and described by a nonbirder this bird in the location where this bird was last seen at Cambridge. This bird was first seen at the end of April and later found regularly at a pond in St. John. It then relocated to the East Coast, hills of Cambridge, St. Joseph. 

St. Philip

• Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) (7) - seven birds were photographed by Reg Wilson and posted on Facebook on October 3rd;
• Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Calidris subruficollis) briefly seen by John Webster at a private location; 
• Hudsonian Godwit (Limosa haemastica)(2) - seen by John Webster at a private location on the 8th;
• Tricolored Heron (Egretta tricolor) - this was the first record of this species for the month;
• Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) - seen on the 15th;
• Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus) seen at Green Point by Mike St. John. This was the first sighting of this large gull for the month.

Christ Church

• Fulvous Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna bicolor) - seen at Woodbourne Shorebird Refuge during the October Big Day islandwide birding event;

Two of the five Least Terns at Inch Marlow

• Least Tern (Sternula antillarum) (5) - these birds spent a few days on the beach at Inch Marlow
• Tricolored Heron (Egretta tricolor) was and is regularly seen at Woodboure Shorebird Refuge.

St. Michael

Audouin's Gull

• Audouin's Gull (Ichthyaetus audouinii)* This bird was first seen on June 20th and remained throughout October.

St. Thomas

• Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor) - this roosting bird was seen by Beny Wilson, one of the facilitators for the Bird Guide Certification workshop,   while on tour at Earthworks Pottery, Edgehill.

St. James

Common Nighthawk

• Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor) - I saw and photographed this bird while driving along the Ronald Mapp by Landcaster on the 14th. It was busy hawking for insects with hundreds of bats.

Feel free to contact me, Julian Moore @ 100birdsbarbados@gmail.com, John Webster @ barbadosbirds@gmail.com, or Ed Massiah @ ebmassiah@hotmail.com to report any rare bird sightings, or if you need assistance identifying a bird, we would be happy to help.  A new tool to help with your local bird identification is our Facebook Group, The Birds of Barbados. Click here to join   

Record October Big Day for Barbados

A Grey Kingbird during the October Big Day, emphasizing the theme of WMBD - "Protect Insects, Protect Birds"

On October 12th, World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD), birdwatchers from every continent united for an extraordinary celebration of nature. In just 24 hours, over three-quarters of a million birders in 201 countries contributed to the most successful October Big Day ever, breaking the world record with over 7,800 species documented. Our island played a vital role in this global event, shattering our previous record for bird species seen on a single day. Local birders scoured Barbados, recording an astonishing 72 species – six more than the previous best year of 2020. (Click to see the Day's ebird Trip Report)
One of the highlights of the day was the impressive counts of several migrating shorebirds. Like the globally threatened Semipalmated Sandpiper (Calidris pusilla) with over 100 individuals recorded.

Other notable shorebird sightings included:

• Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus): 168 individuals were counted.
• White-rumped Sandpiper (Calidris fuscicollis): 136 of these birds were observed.
• Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres): A total of 115 Ruddy Turnstones were spotted.

One clutch of Black-bellied Whistling-Duck ducklings

The day also brought a heartwarming surprise – over 42 Black-bellied Whistling-Duck ducklings were recorded at a single location.

I had the privilege of leading a field trip with a group of young scientists from McGill University to North Point, St. Lucy. While excited to share my knowledge of local birds and how to identify them, I was disheartened to see a billboard announcing the erection of one or more wind turbines on this beautiful and unique landscape. I do hope a thorough environmental assessment is conducted, as this area is a hotspot for biodiversity. It serves as a prime nesting area for the Grassland Yellow-Finch (Sicalis luteola), a protected bird under the Barbados Wild Birds Protection Act.

Students from McGill during a field trip at North Point, St. Lucy

Despite this concern, our field trip was a success. We observed 18 species, including the globally threatened Semipalmated Sandpiper (Calidris pusilla), and two rare visitors – the Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus) and the Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus).

This day highlighted the rich avian life that Barbados boasts, both native and migratory. It's a reminder that we must protect these precious creatures and their habitats, remembering the theme of World Migratory Bird Day - Protect Insects, Protect Birds.

Safe and enjoy your birding adventures!

World Migratory Bird Day 2024: Protect Insects, Protect Birds

Yellow Warbler with a Caterpillar

Saturday, October 12th is World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD).  It is a global awareness-raising campaign celebrated annually to highlight the importance of migratory birds and the need for international cooperation to conserve them. In 2024, the theme was "Protect Insects, Protect Birds".   The campaign emphasized insects' critical role in migratory birds' survival.  Insects are a primary food source for many bird species, especially during breeding and migration periods. The decline in insect populations due to factors such as habitat loss, pesticide use, and climate change poses a significant threat to migratory birds.  Insects provide essential nutrients for birds, especially during breeding and migration, they play a role in maintaining healthy ecosystems that support bird migration and are vital components of food webs and help regulate plant populations.  By protecting insects, we can help ensure the survival of migratory birds and maintain the balance of our ecosystems.  On World Migratory Bird Day birders from all over the world take part in this campaign that seeks to draw attention to the ply of birds. It is called the October Big Day.

October Big Day

 Last year's October Big Day, a staggering 36,332 people from 191 countries spent part or all of the day seeking out and recording birds in their local areas. The collective effort resulted in an impressive 83,735 checklists submitted to eBird.org, showcasing the incredible diversity of birds across the planet. In Barbados, the Big Day resulted in an underwhelming 38 species recorded.  Local birders are determined to do much better this year! We are preparing to hit the ground running on Saturday morning aiming to significantly increase the number of species recorded and contribute more significantly to the global day of birding. You can help. 

Here is how to participate

• Get an eBird account: eBird is a worldwide bird checklist program used by millions of birders. It’s what allows us to compile everyone’s contributions into a single massive October Big Day list—while at the same time gathering data to help scientists better understand birds. Sign up here. It’s 100% free from start to finish.
• Watch Birds on 12 Oct: It’s that simple. You don’t need to be a bird expert or go out all day long, even 10 minutes of birding from home counts. October Big Day runs from midnight to midnight in your local time zone. You can report what you find from anywhere in the world.
• Enter what you see and hear in eBird: You can enter your observations via our website or download the free eBird Mobile app to make submitting lists even easier. Please enter your checklists no later than 15 Oct to be included in the results announcement.
• Watch the results roll in: During the day, follow along with bird reports from more than 180 countries in real time on our October Big Day page.

So whether you are here on the island or overseas, a veteran birder or a newbie get out birding on Saturday, October 12th, World Migratory Bird Day. Submit your sightings to ebird.org and become part of this global celebration of birds and remember "Protect Insects, Protect Birds". 

Enjoy your birding!!