Lifer Gained, Lifer Lost

I always depend on getting an image to identify peculiar birds.  It is easy, take a picture and share it among the experts both local or on the internet, most often than not, a positive ID is made.  Easy Peasy! This all changed when my trusted work horse of a lens, my Sigma 120-400mm, suddenly developed a fault, rendering it unusable, now positively identifying these strange birds has become 100% more difficult.  This fact was cemented on Monday when I added a new lifer, my 138^th for the island but also lost one because I was unable to make a positive identification.  This is what happened:

Lifer Gained

On Tuesday November 27^th my birding pal, Jason, and I visited The Turners Hall Woods (THW) in the Parish of St. Andrew in search of migrating warblers.   Historically THW is a good birding spot for migrating warblers from late November to mid –February but for various reasons it is not used for birding very often.  Jason and I started birding around 9:00 am, stopping and phishing at various clearings and attracting the usual suspects – Yellow Warbler, Black-whiskered Vireo, Caribbean Elaenia, Barbados Bullfinch and the ubiquitous Carib Grackles.  We came to a point, a depression in the woods where I found my first and only American Redstart a few years ago.  Phishing at that location brought a yellow bird from high in the canopy.  At first we thought it to be a Yellow Warbler, then we saw the white undertail and quickly recognized it as a Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria citrea).  This bird became my 138^th local lifer, 104^th year bird and my 5^th lifer for 2018.  That was the lifer gained.

The Lifer Lost

We saw this bird as we were leaving THW. Unlike the case with the Prothonotary Warbler, I was unable to identify this bird straight away so I made an audio recording describing what I saw as the bird hung around feeding for 3-5 minutes. The bird was pale, with white underparts and grayish uppers. The head was slightly darker, dustier than the back, no supercilium or eye ring of note.  We mainly saw the bird from its underparts but on one occasion were able to see a bright white wingbar.  The bird’s appearance was slim, and longish, not as round as a Yellow Warbler but about the same size.  I contacted Ed Massiah, our local expert and with my description he suggested, tentatively, Black-throated Blue Warbler (Setophaga caerulescens), a bird he himself saw at this location some years ago.  I ruled that out after examining images of that warbler, mainly because the female’s underparts were not white enough and the males black throat.  If the female had the male’s white belly with a less pronounced supercilium that would be our bird.  If I had my lens and camera, by now I would have had a positive identification but for now until it is repaired or replaced I will have to sharpen my live “real time” birding skills.  This maybe a blessing in disguise.

Any suggestions?

Here is a list of Warblers recorded at Turner’s Hall Wood between November to February:

• American Redstart - Setophaga ruticilla 
• Black-and-white Warbler Mniotilta varia
• Black-throated Blue Warbler Setophaga caerulescens
• Kentucky Warbler Geothlypis formosa
• Northern Parula - Setophaga americana  
• Ovenbird Seiurus aurocapilla
• Prothonotary Warbler Protonotaria citrea
• Worm-eating Warbler Helmitheros vermivorum - 1st Record for Barbados

                                                                                                                          

Another Year Another One Hundred

Bank Swallow (Riparia riparia)

I was so busy this month that I forgot to mention I reached my 100^th bird species for the year; actually my tally now stands at 103 species.  My 100^th bird was a Bank Swallow (Riparia riparia) I saw it in the parish of St. Lucy on November 11^th.  It took me by surprise as it was hawking for insects over a pond with Barn Swallows (Hirundo rustica).  Bird 101 was discovered by Dr. John Webster on November 11^th, a Wilson Phalarope, in the parish of St. Philip.  I saw it the following day, thanks John for the heads up.  My 102^nd bird was one that went missing from the island’s checklist for about two years but American Wigeons (Mareca Americana) are back!  I saw two males at the Chancery Lane’s Swamp, hurray!  My 103^rd was another duck but this time it was a diving duck, a Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis).  This duck, well twelve of them were seen in a flooded cane field at Padmore, St. Philip.  The ducks were sharing the pond with 100+ Blue-winged Teals, the largest flock I have seen for the year by far.  My goal now, is to break my highest year total of 104 species. Can I do it? I have a whole month to try. Lets see. 

Enjoy your birding

A Second Eurasian Spoonbill

2nd Eurasian Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia) @
Walkers Reserve - photograph by Jonathan Ramsay

Regeneration Coordinator

Walkers Reserve

1st Eurasian Spoonbill

It is official; we have a second Eurasian Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia) on the island.  The first one, a juvenile, was first seen on November 30^th, Independence Day, last year at Belleplane, St. Andrew.  That bird relocated to St. Philip and remained there up to the time of this post.  On Monday, November 19^th, Shae Warren of Walkers Reserve, sent me an image of a Eurasian Spoonbill he saw in one of their ponds.  Was this the long staying bird or a 2nd spoonbill?  That question was answered on Tuesday (20th) when both Shae and I saw the respective birds at both locations at the same time thus confirming a second spoonbill.  This is not the first time we had two Eurasian Spoonbills on the island.  In 2008 the first record of this species on the island consisted of two birds.  It would be interesting to see their reaction if both birds met up. This is just one of the exciting happenings for this month of November, rarity month.  I will update you in an upcoming post.  Enjoy your birding!

More images of the 2nd Eurasian Spoonbill thanks to Jonathan Ramsay - Regeneration Coordinator Walkers Reserve

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Blackpolls at HP Finally

Blackpoll Warbler Setophaga striata

After not birding last weekend, 27^th or 28^th October I thought I had missed the opportunity to see a tiny bird that undertakes one of the longest migration routes of any animal.  The bird I am referring to is the Blackpoll Warbler Setophaga striata.  Every year between the last week of September and the first week of November, a small area of woodland at Harrisons Point (HP) in the northern parish of St. Lucy, is the most reliable location to see these birds.  But after visits by me and other birders, even during the peak flight period – 24^th & 25^th October, none were seen.  With that in mind I was skeptical in making this, HP that is, one of my birding spots last weekend, November 3^rd. 

The trip went just as the previous weekend – Yellow Warbler (Golden), Black-whiskered Vireos, Caribbean Elaenia and other common birds.  I tried my best to make a Black-whiskered a Red-eye Vireo but to no avail.   After about half an hour, I decided to leave and on my way out I got sight of a Yellow-billed Cuckoo.  This was exciting for me because this bird has not been recorded here at HP in over two years.  This may be due to the cutting and clearing of a large percentage of the woodland to facilitate a project by the local water authority.  Seeing the cuckoo invigorated me to give the look for the Blackpoll one more try and I started phishing vigorously.  In less than 2 minutes my calls were answered when a beautiful Blackpoll popped out from the canopy of river tamarind plants.  Soon it was joined by another and both flew into the mid to low areas of the wooded section.  Finally, I was able to record not only Blackpolls but also Yellow-billed Cuckoos at HP for 2018.