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 8th. 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.
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| 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).
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| 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 12th. 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, 1st, 2nd 3rd 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, 2nd 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
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| 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
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| 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.
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