The Barbados Birds and Birding Report – January

The first month of the year went by pretty fast and even though it was not a normal month, due in part to the increasing spread of COVID in the society, the local birders tallied seventy-five species.  

January Rare Bird Sightings

Here is a list of Rare Birds seen during the last month parish by parish (*continuing Birds)

St. Lucy

• Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) (1)* a high count of three birds was seen at this location throughout last year, one of which has been around since August 2019. Only one bird was seen during the limited visits to this location in January;
• American Coot ((White Shielded) Fulica Americana) A juvenile, most likely hatched at this location, this is a very big deal.

• Purple Gallinule (Porphyrio martinica)* – an adult and a juvenile bird was seen at a private location. The adult most likely is the same bird seen at this location late last year
  
  
  
• Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis)* - a single bird first seen on December 29^thremained into the new year.

• Fulvous Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna bicolor)* seen with a family of Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks (Dendrocygna autumnalis)
• Long-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus scolopaceus)* two birds held over from last year

 St. Andrew 

• American Coot ((White Shielded) Fulica Americana) (6)*, 5 at The Walkers Reserve. Finally, we can confirm nesting of at least 2 pairs with a total of 5 chicks at this location. This is a big deal!

St.Philip

• Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) this yearly Eurasian visitor was seen on the 30^th 
• Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus)* this very active bird appears to move between 2 locations in Christ Church, one being Woodbourne Shorebird Refuge (WSR) and a private impoundment in this parish.
• Snail Kite (Rostrhamus sociabilis)* this bird appears to be expanding its range from its roosting location at Bay Street, St. Michael

Christ Church

• American Wigeon (Mareca Americana)* first seen last month, was reported early in the month but was not seen after that.
• American Coot (Fulica Americana)* – a high count of three birds seen with one appeared to be nesting.
• Yellow-crowned Night-Heron (Nyctanassa violacea) The rarer of the two night herons that can be found on the island, this one was seen and photographed by Carla Daniel of the Barbados Turtle Project on Dover Beach.
• Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus)* - seen at WSR on the 25^th but relocated to another location in the parish of St. Philip.

St. Michael

• Snail Kite (Rostrhamus sociabilis)* Still at Bay Street but is extending its range to other wet lands.
• Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)  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 help.