Help Us Find the ‘Missing’ Red Knots! Do a CWC Count July 10-20 by Birds Caribbean

Red Knots are known for their extraordinary long-distance migrations. On the Atlantic Flyway they head north from their main wintering areas in South America to breed in the Arctic, traveling as far as 15,000 km each way! Here in the Caribbean, they winter in small numbers on various islands, and we see them also during Fall and Spring migration. Counts of birds on northward migration are way down from previous years, causing great concern. Did something different happen this year? Where are the missing Red Knots? We need your help to find out!

When Red Knots migrate north to their breeding grounds they will stop along the way to refuel, gathering in large flocks at key sites to rest and feed. These sites are vital for Red Knots and other shorebirds to re-build fat reserves before completing their long journeys north to breed. Counting birds at these sites can give us an indication of how the populations of these birds are faring. continue re
ading >>

BirdsCaribbean is a vibrant international network of members and partners committed to conserving Caribbean birds and their habitats in the insular Caribbean (including Bermuda, the Bahamas and all islands within the Caribbean basin).

The Barbados Birds and Birding Report – May

We had a few highlights in May, a record-breaking Global Big Day, World Migratory Birds Day, and a new Birds of Barbados Facebook group but outside of that it was a relatively slow birding month.  This month fourteen birders submitted 197 checklists to ebird.org, with more than ¾ of the sightings recorded during the Global Big Day count, on May 8^th. One new species, a Black Swift (Cypseloides niger), was added to the island’s 2021 checklist, closing the month at 83 species seen for the year.

Global Big Day 2021

Golden (Yellow) Warbler from Global Big Day 2021

The Global Big Day 2021 was a record-breaking affair for Barbados, the region, and the World.  The event held on May 8th, saw more than 51,000 persons spanning 192 countries taking part, recording over 7,200 bird species in just 24 hours. The region’s birders reported 364 bird species from the 1,670 reported checklist of which 51 species were seen in Barbados (click to see the full regional report).   Barbados 51 species were recorded by 14 birders, including a first-time ebirder, out of 159 submitted checklists.  The local birders also joined a fundraising effort through Birds Caribbean to raise funds for the conservation of Caribbean birds.  We formed a team called Bajan Birders, made up predominantly, of local birders, but also a birder from the island of St. Lucia.  The team tallied 61 species (51 Barbados, 10 St. Lucia) and raised $225. (Click Here to make your donation).

World Migratory Birds Day

Allan Walrond's  winning photograph from
the Birds of Barbados Photographic Challenge

In an effort to bring our local birds into focus during World Migratory Birds Day, May 8th, Birds of Barbados teamed up with the Barbados Photographic Society for the Birds of Barbados Photographic Challenge.  With the theme “the birds around me” members of the society’s Facebook group were invited to get out and photograph wild birds, any time between Thursday, May 6th and Wednesday, May 12^th.  Then post them on the group's Facebook page where two judges, birder and bird photographer, Dr. John Webster, along with award-winning local photographer, Himal Reese, would select four images in positions, 1^st, 2^nd 3^rd along with an Honorable Mention.   Beautiful images of local bird species were shared on the FB page during that period but in the end, the judges selected the above image of an Antillean Crested Hummingbird (Orthorhyncus cristatus) by Allan Walrond as the winner,  2^nd place John Landers with Cattle Egrets in Flight, third was Bradley Benskin “Grey Kingbird on the powerline” and an Honorable mention for the image by Alison Elliot- Barbados Bullfinch.  You can see all the images at the new Birds of Barbados Facebook Group.  We are planning to run the Challenge again for October World Migratory Birds Day.

Birds of Barbados Facebook Group

In the continuation of our goal to highlight and promote the Birds of Barbados, especially to Barbadians, the local birders established a Facebook group.  We are happy to see that it attracted over 120 members thus far, and we were able to assist in identifying two species for members.

May Rare Bird Sightings

May and June are normally slow months for birding as most of the migrating birds have moved on and are making their way to, or are already on their breeding grounds.  We still have a few long-stay rarities with us as listed below  (* continuing Birds)

St. Andrew

American Coot (White shielded) at Walkers Reserve

• American Coot (Fulica Americana)*(10+) –  white-shielded for sure maybe a few red or hybrid if you can still refer to them as that -  Walkers Reserve has become one of the established breeding areas for this species on the island, with multiple successful nesting records over the last year.

Christ Church

• Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)* (1)–  Was seen at a private location during the Global Big Day count.
• American Coot (White shielded) (Fulica Americana)* (3) – John Webster continues to monitor an adult with two juveniles plus an orphaned juvenile at a private pond.  As the juveniles now have face shields John noted the two of them are of the red shielded variety even though parents were white-shielded.
• American Coot (Red-shielded) (Fulica Americana)* (2)  – John Webster continues to monitor an adult with two juveniles plus an orphaned juvenile at a private pond.  As the juveniles now have face shields John noted the two of them are of the red shielded variety even though parents were white-shielded.

  

  Long-billed Dowitcher at Chancery Lane on Mat 8th, Global Big Day

• Long-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus scolopaceus)* - Was seen at Chancery Lane during the Global Big Day count.

St. Michael

Snail Kite also seen during Global Big Day

• Snail Kite (Rostrhamus sociabilis)*- First seen in September 2020, a first for the island.

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.