Birds of the Sargassum - Aerial Insectivores

A Caribbean Martin with an insect in its mouth

Another family of migrating birds that take advantage of the Sargassum Seaweed invasion is Aerial Insectivores.  These birds specialize in catching and feeding on insects while in flight.  Between 2018 and now, four of such species have been recorded at Inch Marlow and Long Beach, Christ Church with three of the four recorded there for the year.

The four species are, with the * indicating species already seen for the year:

1. Caribbean Martins - Progne dominicensis*
2. Bank Swallow aka Sand Martin - Riparia riparia
3. Barn Swallow - Hirundo rustica*
   
4. Cliff Swallow - Petrochelidon pyrrhonota*

The aerial insectivorous species that we saw first was the Caribbean Martins (Progne dominicensis).  These birds took advantage of this abundant food supply to feed their quickly growing chicks and to store fat in preparation for migration. (Read more about Caribbean Martins migration here)

Barn Swallow

Barn Swallows (Hirundo rustica) were the next species that arrived at Inch Marlow and Long Beach.  These are much smaller than the Martin and are very easy to differentiate between the two, but this is not the case with our third aerial insectivorous species that turned up to benefit from the food made possible by the Sargassum Seaweed Invasion.

Cliff Swallow

This species was the Cliff Swallow(Petrochelidon pyrrhonota). One put in an early appearance on Wednesday ( August 24th) among a flock of Barn Swallows but we should see a lot more next month September. 

The fourth, Bank Swallow (Riparia riparia) is not as common as the aforementioned species.  We historically see them in small numbers yearly and only on two recorded occasions at our highlighted locations feeding among the seaweed but we will keep an eye out for them.

The food source provided by the Sargassum Seaweed is a blessing for migratory birds, who continue to lose important feeding pit stops along their migratory flyways but it is not just these birds that benefit, local bird species also take advantage of this seasonal food supply.  I would highlight a few in the final part of this series Birds of the Sargassum. 

    

Birds of the Sargassum - The Shorebirds

Short-billed Dowitcher & a Semipalmated Sandpiper among the mountain of seaweed 

The Sargassum Seaweed invasion this year is terrible! I cannot remember the last time I saw so much seaweed on the shores.  Some of our famous white sandy beaches along the south and east coast are now covered with this gold and brown plant matter, and the stench from the rotting plant can be detected from miles away.  Over the last few years though, I've come to realize that this scourge to our shores has provided a much-needed food supply for birds, especially migratory shorebirds, and there is no better place to witness this than at Inch Marlow and Long Beach, Christ Church.  Between 2018 and now, I have seen about fifteen shorebird species at these locations feeding among the seaweed, and a tremendous amount of birds especially when bad weather is amidst.  Even though it is still early in the shorebird migration season nine species have already been detected there.  

There were:

1. Semipalmated Plover - Charadrius semipalmatus
2. Ruddy Turnstone - Arenaria interpres
3. Whimbrel - Numenius phaeopus
4. Least Sandpiper - Calidris minutilla
5. Semipalmated Sandpiper - Calidris pusilla
6. Short-billed Dowitcher - Limnodromus griseus
7. Spotted Sandpiper - Actitis macularius
8. White-rumped Sandpiper - Calidris fuscicollis
9. Red Knot -  Calidris canutus

Click here for images

A Semipalmated Sandpiper disturbing the swarm of  flies attracted to the seaweed 

What are these birds finding to eat you may wonder.  While at sea, the Sargassum rafts provide housing and protection for various species of crustaceans, small fish, and even fish eggs.  Some are trapped in the seaweed as it comes ashore providing an easy meal for these birds.  Another food source presents itself as the seaweed rots.  It attracts flies, who lay eggs in the weed, which quickly becomes lava and a score of valuable protein for these migrants. 

There is no doubt that the Sargassum invasion is a menace to our beaches, beach life, and those living close to the sea but it is good to see a positive from it - providing a much-needed food source for this declining family of birds as there make their treacherous journey south.  If you get a chance go take a look at them feeding at Inch Marlow and Long Beach.

Shorebirds are not the only family of birds that take advantage of this food supply. As the weeks go on I will highlight a few more.

Stay safe and enjoy your birding!

Birds of the Sargassum - Images

Between 2018 and now I have seen about fifteen shorebird species at Inch Marlow and Long Beach, Christ Church feeding among the Sargassum Seaweed.  Here are a few images of some I saw this year. 

The two semis - Semipalmated Plover (L) and  Semipalmated Sandpiper (R)

Semipalmated Plover  standing on rotting seaweed with fresh golden ones in the background 

A Short-billed Dowitcher taking a drink 

Semipalmated Sandpiper foraging among the seaweed for crustaceans, small fish, or
even eggs  

A Semipalmated Sandpiper disturbing the flies attracted to the seaweed 

Semipalmated Sandpiper

Short-billed Dowitcher in flight

White-rumped Sandpiper

Spotted Sandpiper - Actitis macularius

The Barbados Birds and Birding Report – July

Red-footed Booby a rare bird seen in June 

I am happy to be presenting The Barbados Birds and Birding Report  after an absence of three months.  During that time the total species count for birds seen on the island this year moved from 87 to 95 species at the end of July. Here is a list of the new additions during the months, May to July:

• July - Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus), Collared Plover (Charadrius collaris), Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis);
• June: Red-footed Booby (Sula sula), Roseate Tern (Sterna dougallii);
• May: Fulvous Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna bicolor), Striated Heron (Butorides striata), Black Swift (Cypseloides niger).

Stilt Sandpipers were one of the shorebird species migrating in  late July

The start of the southern migration became evident in July when we saw the subtle and not-so-subtle return of migrants.  One such event took place on the 17^th when over 1000 Lesser Yellowlegs were recorded during a day of bad weather. Since then we have observable 2 to 3 smaller flights of  the same species, Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla), Semipalmated Sandpiper (Calidris pusilla), and Stilt Sandpiper (Calidris himantopus) in the weeks following. We also saw subtle signs of the return of Spotted Sandpipers (Actitis macularius) and Sanderlings (Calidris alba).

As we move into August we are expecting to see even more species of shorebirds and other birds passing through the island as the fall migration continues.

July’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;

  

  Fulvous Whistling-Duck

• Fulvous Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna bicolor)*- A single bird was first seen on May 2nd with multiple sightings since then. This bird remained into the month of August;

  

  Tricolored Heron

• Tricolored Heron (Egretta tricolor) - First appeared during the bad weather event on June 17 and remained into the month of August;

  

  Black-necked Stilt

• Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus) - The bird was first seen on the 8th and remained for two days before moving on;

  

  Collared Plover

• Collared Plover (Charadrius collaris) - first seen  July 8th on the trail between Animal Flower Cave and the dilapidated  North Point Resort. This continued into the month of August.

Christ Church

• Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) - was first reported in the area of Atlantic Shores, later seen on a buoy off Enterprise Beach,

St. Michael

• Lesser Black-backed Gull(Larus fuscus)* – is enjoying its long vacation here in Barbados. This bird has become a staple along the south .coast.  

Feel free to contact, Julian Moore @ 100birdsbarbados@gmail.com, John Webster @ barbadosbirds@gmail.com, or Ed Massiah @ ebmassiah@hotmail.com on use our Facebook Group to report any rare bird sightings, or if you need assistance identifying a bird, we would be happy to help.