The Barbados Birds and Birding Report - October

Yellow-billed Cuckoo, one of the new additions for October

October was an incredible month for birding. We added ten new species to our yearly list, including two that had never been seen on the island before. We ended the month with a whopping 121 species, amazing! Here are the ten newcomers:

• Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus)
• Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) - this year we had the highest count ever, with counts of over 200 birds on numerous occasions.
• Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe), is extremely rare, with only the third or fourth sighting for the island.
• Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus)
• Blackpoll Warbler (Setophaga striata)
• Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria citrea)
• Blackburnian Warbler (Setophaga fusca)
• Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia)
• Blue-winged Warbler (Vermivora cyanoptera) - a first for the island
• Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra)
• Brown-chested Martin (Progne tapera), another first for the island 

What’s even more remarkable is that all these birds were spotted at Harrison’s Point, Lucy.

October's Rare Bird Sightings

November usually brings some rare birds, but the past few years have been disappointing. I wonder if the great birding at Harrison's Point will continue into November but for now here is a review of the rare bird sighting for October.(*birds that stayed from previous months)

St. Lucy

Glossy Ibis 

• Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus)(6)*- These birds have been at this location for over a year now, during the month one of them was photographed carrying nesting material. Could this be a breeding attempt on its way?
• Fulvous Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna bicolor)*(2) – Two were seen at various locations in the north during the month.

  

  Common Nighthawk roosting, sent by Carla Daniel

• Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor)(3) - A high count of three birds seen throughout the month, all around the Archers Bay and Broome Field area.

  

  Blue-winged Warbler

• Blue-winged Warbler (Vermivora cyanoptera) - seen last on the afternoon of the 25th at Harrison's Point. A first for Barbados and a Mega for this region.

  

  Black-and-white Warbler

• Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia) - seen last on the afternoon of the 25th at Harrison's Point.

  

  Rose-breasted Grosbeak

• Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus)(3)- There were multiple sightings of these seed-eaters between the 15th and 20th at Harrison's Point.
  
• Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria citrea) - this beauty was seen and photographed at Harrison's Point on the 15th. 

  

  Northern Wheatear

• Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe) - another mega-rare find at Harrison's Point 
• Blackburnian Warbler (Setophaga fusca) - seen by Michael St. John at Harrison's Point on the 22nd.
• Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra) - seen by Qunicy Clarke on the 22nd at Harrison's Point.

  

  Hudsonian Godwit

• Hudsonian Godwit (Limosa haemastica) - this year was a good year for Godwits, this one was seen on the 25th at Bright Hall.
• Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Calidris subruficollis) - at North Point on the 12th. 

  

  Least Tern at North Point

• Least Tern (Sternula antillarum)* - at North Point on the 12th 

St. Andrew 

• Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus) - John saw one at the Walkers Reserve 
• Gull-billed Tern (Gelochelidon nilotica)(2)- This pair was seen at various locations

St. Thomas

• Striated Heron (Butorides striata) - after going missing for a few weeks this lone bird was back at the pond by SBRC, seen last month by Ed Massiah.

St. Philip 

Gull-billed Tern (FP)

• Gull-billed Tern (Gelochelidon nilotica)*(2) - a single bird was first reported by John on August 29th but another one joined it in October and two were last seen on the 17th. 
• Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus)* (7) - seen at a private location
• Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Calidris subruficollis) - multiple appearance and a private wetland
• Red Knot (Calidris canutus) - continue to visit the island throughout the year  

Christ Church

• Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus) - seen at Paragon
• Yellow-crowned Night Heron (Nyctanassa violacea)* - multiple sightings on south coast beaches. 

St. Michael

• Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus)(2) - at Pile Bay

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.  A new tool to help with your local bird identification is our Facebook Group, The Birds of Barbados. Click here to join