The Barbados Birds and Birding Report – April

There were three new birds in April, one was a mega-rare. There were Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos), American Oystercatcher (Haematopus palliates), the mega-rare bird, and Willet (Tringa semipalmata), bringing the total birds species seen at the end of April to 87.

American Oystercatcher (Haematopus palliates) are large, stocky shorebird, about 17-21” (38-21cm) in length, with a long, bright reddish-orange beak, yellow iris, and a bright reddish-orange eye-ring.  The last confirmed sighting of one on the island was on August 30th, 1998. (BOS Series #24 - The Birds of Barbados (Buckley, Massiah, et al)). The bird was recorded at Inch Marlow, Christ Church on Friday, April 22nd but fishermen who frequent the area said the bird was around for a while.

April’s Rare Bird Sightings

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

St. Lucy

Glossy Ibis

• Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus)(1)*- only one of the original three birds remaining at this location;

St. Andrew

• American Coot red-shielded (Fulica Americana)(2)* – at Walkers Reserve;
  

ST. John

Grey Heron

• Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) - seen at Tappy Pond on April 1st

Christ Church

• Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) -- most likely the sane bird seen on the 1st that relocated to this location
  
  

  

  American Oystercatcher

• American Oystercatcher (Haematopus palliates) - A mega-rare bird for the island. First recorded on the 22nd at Inch Marlow

St. Michael

Lesser Black-backed Gull 

• Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus)* – this large immature gull was seen at the Bridgetown Fishing Complex on the 5^t but is now a regular along the basin of Carlise's Bay.
• Snail Kite (Rostrhamus sociabilis)* - First sighted on 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 help.