The Barbados Birds and Birding Report – September

September is by far the best month of the year.  I am not just saying that because it just happens to be my birth month but look at the evidence, it is always a month to remember.   This September was no different, we add nine new year-species to bring up the island 100^th for 2021.  These birds, some of them rare, were:

1. Bank Swallow (Riparia riparia) at Chancery Lane, Christ Church with Barn and Cliff Swallows;
2. Upland Sandpiper (Bartramia longicauda), two sightings, a very low count for this “grasspiper”  in September;
3. Red Knot (Calidris canutus) three sightings, two in St. Philip and one at Long Beach, Christ Church;
4. Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Calidris subruficollis) three seen in the east;
5. Ruff (Calidris pugnax) two records of this Eurasian shorebird at opposite ends of the island, St. Philip and St. Lucy
6. Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) at Oistins ice pier, Christ Church;
7. Tricolored Heron (Egretta tricolor) in St. Philip;
8. Hudsonian Godwit (Limosa haemastica) two birds made a brief appearance in St. Lucy.

September was definitely a high point for shorebird migration, with high counts in various species reported throughout the month.  Well over 300 Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes), Ruddy Turnstones (Arenaria interpres), and Semipalmated Sandpipers (Calidris pusilla) were reported, along with fair numbers for American Golden-Plovers (Pluvialis dominica) and White-rumped Sandpipers (Calidris fuscicollis).

It was truly a September to remember.

September Rare Bird Sightings

September saw an increase in bird activity with migration well on its way.  This movement also brought a few rare birds to the island,  Here is a complete list of birds considered rare for Barbados that were seen during September. (* continuing Birds)

St. Lucy

Fulvous Whistling-Duck

• Fulvous Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna bicolor) - one bird seen in St. Lucy
• Hudsonian Godwit (Limosa haemastica) (2) - two birds made a brief appearance in a private location.
• Ruff (Calidris pugnax) - the 2nd of two sighting for the month.

Glossy Ibis

• Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) (3) – made a return to the island after an absence of over five months.

St. Andrew

• American Coot (Fulica Americana)* - 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.
• American Coot (Fulica Americana)* – Greenland Irrigation Pond, probably one of the two birds recorded last month.

St. Philip

Red Knot

• Red Knot (Calidris canutus) - two birds appeared days after each other.

  

  Ruff

• Ruff (Calidris pugnax) the first of two birds seen during the month. This one spent a few days at Woodbourne Shorebird Refuge (WSR);

  

  Buff-breasted Sandpiper

• Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Calidris subruficollis) (3) - first seen on the 20th by John Webster and remained into October

  

  Tricolored Heron

• Tricolored Heron (Egretta tricolor) Briefly seen by John Webster but resighted in October 

Christ Church

• Least Tern (Sternula antillarum) First seen at chancery Lane on the second and last see September on Long Beach.
• Bridled Tern – (Onychoprion anaethetus) (11) these seabird were seen at Oistins during bad weather sitting on a boat
• Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) also at Oistins

St. Michael

Snail Kite

• Snail Kite (Rostrhamus sociabilis)*- It was over a year when this bird was first reported when last seen the bird was still at its accustomed locaton catching and feeding on red crabs.

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.