The Barbados Birds and Birding Report – December

The last month of 2020 brought with it many birds and birding opportunities.  The influx of ducks that we started seeing at the end of last month amplified into this month.  In December seven birders submitted over 70 checklists to ebird with over 59 species, with an American Wigeon (Mareca Americana) at Chancery Lane Swamp, Christ Church, being the only new addition to the islands 2020 list.  We can now say Barbados has recorded 115 different bird species for the year 2020.

Ducks and more Ducks

Lesser Scaups

The number and species of migratory ducks increased immensely during the month of December. Blue-winged Teal (Spatula discors), our most numerous migratory ducks, was present at many locations right across the island with a high count of 138 birds at The Woodbourne Shorebird Refuge (WSR) on December 7. The WSR continued to be the favorite landing spot for ducks with its playing host to several species, Lesser Scaups (Aythya affinis) (11),  Green-winged Teals (Anas crecca) (4), Ring-necked Ducks (Aythya collaris) (3) and a breeding group of Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks (Dendrocygna autumnalis) (20+).  Other than the WSR we also had a high count of 20 Lesser Scaups (Aythya affinis) at Chancery Lane’s Swamp, and one at a location in St. Lucy.  The Lane was also the only location for an American Wigeon (Mareca Americana), which was seen swimming at a group of 8 Blue-winged Teal (Spatula discors) and 3 Ring-necked Ducks (Aythya collaris).  A Fulvous Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna bicolor) put in a late appearance in the duck-fest, when a signal bird was seen in St. Lucy.  I am expecting to see more ducks arriving in January.

December Rare Bird Sightings

2020 has been a difficult year for many and as we roll over into 2021 I hope you will have a wonderful year as we continue to adjust to the changes caused by COVID.  Here is hope you’ll have a wonderful and productive 2021.  May all your nemesis birds become lifers and all your dream locations become just sidenotes. Stay safe and enjoy your birding,

Here are the rare birds seen during the month, highlighted below parish by parish. (* continuing Birds)

St. Lucy

• Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) (2)* The first bird has been around since August 2019, it was joined by another in August and another one in September but now only two birds remain at this location with one of them molting to breeding plumage.

  

  American Coot

  
  
• American Coot ((White Shielded)* Fulica Americana) bird first seen by John Webster.
• 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

• 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 their call. 

Fulvous Whistling-Duck

• Fulvous Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna bicolor) this bird returns to the island yearly around this time.
• Purple Gallinule (Porphyrio martinica)- this species was seen at this location around this time last year.  This maybe the same bird returning to the same location

 St. Andrew 

• American Coot ((White Shielded) Fulica Americana) (6)*, 5 at The Walkers Reserve, and 1 at Bawdens. These birds were there for more than a year, nesting expected. 
• American Coot ((Red Shielded) Fulica Americana)* the rarer of the two American Coots, continue at The Walkers Reserve

St. Philips

• Purple Gallinule (Porphyrio martinica) seen a day before the one recorded in the parish of St. Lucy, maybe a suggestion that this species is in the process of migrating
• Red-billed Tropicbird (Phaethon aethereu) an earlier than a normal visit by a birder to the nesting area highlighted 4 birds

 Christ Church

• Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)* seen at Oistins sitting on a buoy in the Bay.

  

  Glossy Ibis

  
  
• Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus)* - This bird was seen at a location in this parish but relocated to a private location in St. Philip in the latter half of the month
• Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria citrea) seen at the Graeme Hall Swamp
• American Coot ((White Shielded) – 2 at Chancery Lane 

St. Michael

Snail Kite

• Snail Kite (Rostrhamus sociabilis)* - our star raptor is still here at Bay Street on its usual perch looking for red crabs. (see this) It has extended its range with one sighting in St. Philip at the end of the month.
• Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) - seen at Pile Bay multiple times during the month

 

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.