The Barbados Birds and Birding Report – October

Black-and-white Warbler was
seen at Harrison's Point

October was a good month for birding.  Seven year-birds were added to the island’s 2022 checklist, including two rare songbirds and a few ducks, closing the month with 114 species. The new species were Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus), Northern Pintail (Anas acuta), Ring-necked Ducks (Aythya collaris), Blackpoll Warbler (Setophaga striata), White-winged Tern (Chlidonias leucopterus) and our two rare songbirds - Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra) and a Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia). The last record of these birds on the island was, for the Black and White Warbler in 1988, in the Turner's Hall Woods, Saint Andrew and for the Summer Tanager, 2004 at Graeme Hall Nature Sanctuary, Christ Church, so both were welcome additions.

November Birding

November is an exciting month for birding. This is because historically, not just rare-birds were recorded during this month, but mega-rare birds - birds you usually only see once in a lifetime in this region.  Here are a few examples of mega-rare birds seen during November:

• Squacco Heron (Ardeola ralloides) – 26^th November, 2021
• Eurasian Marsh-Harrier (Circus aeruginosus)  - 5^th November, 2015
• Franklin's Gull (Leucophaeus pipixcan) -  24^th  November, 2015
• Common Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) – 19^th  November, 2014
• Blackburnian Warbler (Setophaga fusca) – 2^nd November, 2014
• Common Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna)  - 18^th  November,  2013
• Greater Ani (Crotophaga major) – 18^th  November, 2012
• Glaucous Gull (Larus hyperboreus) – 15^th November 2009

Let's see what will turn up this year.

 

October’s Rare Bird Sightings

October saw a few new birds entering the list. Here is a complete list, highlighted parish by parish. (* continuing Birds)

St. Lucy

• Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus)(6) – remains at this location. Six other birds were seen in the east, which may or may not be these birds.
  
  

  

  Fulvous Whistling-Duck

• Fulvous Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna bicolor)(2)* - numbers varies between 1 to 3 birds 

  

  Gull-billed Tern

• Gull-billed Tern (Gelochelidon nilotica)* - This bird appears to be carrying a slight injury last month, happily, it now appears in good health.
• Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus) - a high count of 6 birds seen at Harrison's Point.
• Hudsonian Godwit (Limosa haemastica) - seen and photographed at a private location.
• White-winged Tern (Chlidonias leucopterus) - first seen on the 1st of the month and last seen on the 30th.
  
  

  

  Summer Tanager

• Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra) - seen at Harrison's Point
• Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia) - seen at Harrison's Point

  

  Blackpoll Warblers

• Blackpoll Warblers (Setophaga striata) - seen at Harrison's Point
• Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) - seen at Harrison's Point.

St. Philip

• Gull-billed Tern (Gelochelidon nilotica)* - not far from where it was first seen last month.
• Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) (2) - female birds seen first, one or both relocated to WSR and lost themself among a sea of teal.
• White-winged Tern (Chlidonias leucopterus) - most likely our bird from St. Lucy relocating to the east.
• Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) - (6) - may or may not  be the six from the north 

  

  Least Tern

• Least Tern (Sternula antillarum)* - relocated from North Point, St. Lucy to Chancey Lane

Christ Church

Glossy Ibis

• Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) (1) -  a single bird seen at WSR.
• Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) - A female among a large flock of teal

  

  Snail Kite

• Snail Kite (Rostrhamus sociabilis) - was seen in the back lake at WSR

St. Michael

• Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)(2) - Reported at Pile Bay.
• Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus) –  on Carlise Bay.

  

  Snail Kite

• Snail Kite (Rostrhamus sociabilis) - seen at its roost in Bay Street

St. James

Brown Pelican

• Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) - Seen at Paynes Bay but known to roost just off of Sunset Crest. The same birds were seen in Pile Bay, St. Michael. 

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.