The Barbados Birds and Birding Report – July

In July, especially the latter half, the birding was starting to heat up. The fall shorebird migrants were starting to reach the island, and we saw a few high bird counts throughout the month.  For the month seven birders submitted 34 checklists to www.ebird.org recording 50 different species.  Of that fifty, four species Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos), Roseate Tern (Sterna dougallii), Striated Heron (Butorides striata), and Southern Lapwing (Vanellus chilensis) were first for the year, closing July with 88 species seen for the year.

High Bird Counts For the Month

We saw a few high counts of some common and semi-common species throughout July.  On the 18^th Ed Massiah tallied 30 Zenaida Dove (Zenaida aurita) and 50 of the smaller Common Ground-Dove (Columbina passerine) at Animal Flower Cave, North Point, St. Lucy. The day after, while driving along the Ermy Bourne Highway, St. Joseph I saw and recorded close to 10 Black Swift (Cypseloides niger) but what was more surprising was a high flying and noisy flock of 25 Laughing Gull (Leucophaeus atricilla)  heading out to sea.  

Roseate Tern

Another seabird specie reported was Roseate Tern (Sterna dougallii). 6 at Cove Bay, St. Lucy was a high count for the month.  Shorebirds dominated the last week of July, with Dr. John Webster tallying over 150 Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes) and yours truly added 6 Willets (Tringa semipalmata) in that week.   In August the birds will continue to increase as migration heats up.

April Rare Bird Sightings

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

 St. Lucy

• American Coot (White shielded(Fulica Americana) – seen hiding among tall grass at a private location.

Southern Lapwing 

• Southern Lapwing (Vanellus chilensis)*- This was the first sighting of this local bird for the year. I am always happy to see it survive another year.

St. Andrew

American Coot 

• American Coot (White shielded(Fulica Americana)* at Walkers Reserve
• American Coot (White shielded(Fulica Americana) – A pair of coots at Greenland Irrigation Pond the other red shielded
• American Coot (Red shielded(Fulica Americana) – A pair of coots at Greenland Irrigation Pond the other white shielded

Christ Church

• Yellow-crowned Night-Heron (Nyctanassa violacea) – A sub-adult in the Cannel at Graeme Hall. 

St. Michael

Snail Kite 

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

St. Thomas

Striated Heron

• Striated Heron (Butorides striata) – This bird loves this location and is becoming a yearly visitor.

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.