Rare Birds Update: End of March

The COVID-19 was threatening the island for most of the year, and in the latter half of the month it arrived followed by a string of restrictions. Birding came to a screeching halt as birders put into practice social distancing and staying at home.  But in the weeks before the arrival of this dreaded disease, local and visiting birders submitted over 120 observations, with close to 70 different species, and adding two new species to the islands year count. This brought the total at the end of the month of March to 83 species.  The two species were the seclusive Masked Duck (Nomonyx dominicus) and the rare Pearly-eyed Thrasher (Margarops fuscatus).

Here is a list of the rare birds seen during March

* continuing Bird (Birds from last month)

St. Lucy

Glossy Ibis

• Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus)- this bird was with us from the start of the year and going as far back as August 2019

• 

  American Coot (Red Shielded)
• American Coot ((Red Shielded) Fulica Americana)* - Another bird that is enjoying our hospitality
• Purple Gallinule (Porphyrio martinica)* this for sure is not the same bird from last month, the bird was an adult but this one is a juvenile. We may be looking and two PUGA at this location
• Southern Lapwing (Vanellus chilensis) - a bird that once successfully bred on the island but now only a lone female remains. She disappears for months on end before reappearing to lay infertile eggs, because of no male, in a private field.

St. Andrew

• American Coot ((White Shielded) Fulica Americana) - 4 birds remain at Walkers Reserve and are still being monitored for signs of nesting.

St. Joseph

Pearly-eyed Thrasher by John Webster

• Pearly-eyed Thrasher (Margarops fuscatus) – reported by a resident accompanied by images.

St. George

• Purple Gallinule (Porphyrio martinica)* 

St. Philip

Ruffs

• Ruffs (Calidris pugnax)*- the 2 ruffs continued in the east during the month of march.

  

  Pacific Golden-Plover

• Pacific Golden-Plover (Pluvialis fulva)* 
• Red-billed Tropicbird (Phaethon aethereus)* – First reported by John Webster on January 16.

St. Michael

• Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus) this large gull relocated from the north to the fishing complex at Pile Bay.
• Brown Pelican  (Pelecanus occidentalis) – was seen sitting on one of the buoys at Pile Bay.

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 assist.