The Barbados Birds and Birding Report – November

White-winged Tern

Migration slowed but birds were still on the move.  During November, six birders submitted 63 checklists to ebird.org, for a total of 69 species, with a White-winged Tern (Chlidonias leucopterus) and a Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis) being first records for the year, moving the island's tally to 113 species. (112 reported to ebird, 1 unreported) 

Migratory ducks arrived and continued throughout the month of November.  Over 100 Blue-winged Teals (Spatula discors), our most numerous migratory duck, were reported at locations in the east and the north, with smaller amounts at other ponds.  Accounts of the closely related duck species, Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis) and Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris) at two locations in the south and east, also a Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis) in St. Lucy added to the influx of ducks.

November  Rare Bird Sightings

Several rare birds showed well during November but the two highlights, because of the number of birds seen, were five Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) and four juvenile Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus) at Pile Bay St. Michael on the 9th.  Other rare birds seen during the month are highlighted below parish by parish. (* continuing Birds)

St. Lucy

• Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) (3)* The first bird has been around since August 2019, it was joined by another in August and another one in September
• American Coot ((White Shielded)* Fulica Americana) bird first seen by John Webster during the October Big Day.
• Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus)*- A few hanged around last into the month with John Webster reporting one on the 20^th
• Hudsonian Godwit (Limosa haemastica)* – one bird remaining from last month
• 
  
  White-winged Tern (Chlidonias leucopterus) - First seen at a private location but then relocated to the wet area at North Point. (See this)
• Killdeer (Charadrius vociferous) - expect at this time of the year.  this one was first seen by Ed Massiah at  North Point on the 30^th
• 
  
  Long-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus scolopaceus) - One of the most difficult shorebirds to identify because of its similarities to the more common Short-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus griseus). John Webster was able to locate and identify these two by they call. 
• 
  
  Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis) - a single bird seen on the 29^th

St. Andrew 

• American Coot ((White Shielded) Fulica Americana) (6)*, 5 at The Walkers Reserve, and 1 at Bawdens. These birds were here for more than a year, nesting expected. 
• American Coot ((Red Shielded) Fulica Americana)* the rarer of the two American Coots.  This bird is paired with one of the White Shielded mentioned above at Bawdens.

Christ Church

• Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)* seen at the Board Walk at Hasting and Oistins during the month.
• Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus)* - This is the fourth Glossy on the island 

St. Michael

• Snail Kite (Rostrhamus sociabilis)* - our star raptor is still here at Bay Street on it usual perch looking for red crabs. (see this)
• Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus) - five of these large gulls continue at Pile Bay, all juveniles.
• Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) - Five of our national bird were seen between Pile Bay and Payne's Bay, St. James 

St. James

• 
  
  Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) - two birds seen sitting on a boat and one flying around

 

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.