The Barbados Birds and Birding Report – September

Yellow-billed Cuckoo one of the seven yearbirds

It was a birding September to remember with plenty of highlights like World ShorebirdDay and Global Bird Count,  the reactivation and installation of MOTUS monitoring stations, Birds Caribbean Wondrous West Indian Wetland Workshop and lots of birds.  Yes for the month of September 7 species were added to the islands 2022 checklist, there were Gull-billed Tern (Gelochelidon Nilotica) and Hudsonian Godwit (Limosa haemastica) on the 4^th,  Upland Sandpiper (Bartramia longicauda) on the 8^th, another rare tern Least Tern (Sternula antillarum) the 12^th, Long-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus scolopaceus), Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus) and House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) on the 23^rd, 27^th and 30^th respectively.  This meant at the end of September the island had a year tally of 107 species.

World Shorebird Day and Global Bird Count

more than 2,400 Lesser Yellowlegs seen

World ShorebirdDay and Global Bird Count were started to raise awareness of the need to protect shorebirds and their habitats throughout their life cycles; to raise public awareness of the need for continued shorebird research, monitoring, and conservation, and to connect people with shorebirds through wetland sites around the world.  This year's event took place between the 1st - 7th of September and clearly highlighted the need for continued work in the area of shorebird conservation.  Over that week the island's birders saw 18 species of shorebirds totaling 3,953 individual birds at just 5 locations.  This total was made up of over 2,400 Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes), mainly juveniles, in an unprecedented week-long "flight" sadly many did not make it off the island.

MOTUS Monitoring Stations

On the 26th a team from Birds Caribbean visited the island and installed and reactivated MOTUS monitoring stations.  A new monitoring station was set up at Walker Reserve, St. Andrew while another, at Golden Grove, St. Philip, was reactivated.  The Motus Wildlife Tracking System (Motus) is an international collaborative research network that uses coordinated automated radio telemetry to facilitate research and education on the ecology and conservation of migratory animals. Motus is a program of Birds Canada in partnership with collaborating researchers and organizations like Birds Caribbean.

Wondrous West Indian Wetland Workshop

Michele Kading talking about mangroves

Then on the 27th and 28th, Birds Caribbean ran the workshop Wondrous West Indian Wetland at The Walkers Reserve.  This train-the-trainer training program was led by Lisa Sorenson, Birds Caribbean Executive Director, and Wetlands Educator Michele Kading, who equipped participants with the skills and materials needed to train others about the beauty and importance of wetlands to the island, region, and the world.

September’s Rare Bird Sightings

Yes, it was a September to remember with many birds and birding highlights.

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

St. Lucy

• Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus)(6)*- The six birds that was first seen in August continued into September.
  
  
  
  
  
• Fulvous Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna bicolor)* – the lone duck that was seen last month was joined by another 2;
  
  
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• Collared Plover (Charadrius collaris)*seen in the same near Little Bay.
  
  
  
• Gull-billed Tern (Gelochelidon nilotica) - This bird appears to be carrying a slight injury but was first reported in St. Philip.
  
  
  
• Least Tern (Sternula antillarum) - this tinny tear was spotted among shorebirds at North Point.
• Hudsonian Godwit (Limosa haemastica) - one bird was seen at a private mash during heavy weather, 
• Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)(2) - two birds were seen on the rock just off of North Point.

St. Philip

• Gull-billed Tern (Gelochelidon nilotica) - the first reported sighting of this bird for the year, this same bird was seen in St. Lucy days later.
• Long-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus scolopaceus) - first for the year
  
  
  
• Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) - one bird was at Woodbourne Shorebird Refuge.  It is unclear if this bird was part of the six in the north.

St. Michael

• Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus) – was seen at Carlise Bay
• House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) - Ed Massiah was surprised by a female bird not far from the entrance to the port.

Honorable Mentions 

Pink Cattle Egret

• Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) - Is the pinkish colorization dye or is it natural? The debate will continue about this beauty seen at Pile Bay, St. Michael.
• Carib Grackle (Quiscalus lugubris) a grackle with an unfamiliar call and a greenish iridescent sheen was seen and heard close to the port. 

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.