The Barbados Birds and Birding Report - October

American Wigeon, one of the year birds

October was a bustling month for birds and birding in Barbados. On October 12th, World Migratory Bird Day, we participated in the October Big Day and recorded a record number of species (see here). From the 21st to the 25th, at Walkers Reserve, Birds Caribbean conducted a Bird Guide Certification workshop, introducing a few locals to birding, eBird, and bird guiding. As usual for October, local birders spent many days at Harrison's Point and came away with a few rarities. With all this activity,  eleven species were added to the 2024 checklist, bringing the year's tally to one hundred and seventeen species.
These were the yearbirds during October:   

• Blackpoll Warbler (Setophaga striata) - Harrison's Point and few other locations;
• Hudsonian Godwit (Limosa haemastica) - two birds in St. Philip 
• Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus) - multiple sighing 
• Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata) - three birds at Woodbourne Shorebird Refuge;
• Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica) seen once at Harrison's Point;
• Common Swift (Apus apus) was also seen at Harrison's Point;
• Western House Martin (Delichon urbicum) another from Harrison's Point;
• Blue Grosbeak (Passerina caerulea) - also seen at Harrisson's Point; 
• Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Calidris subruficollis) - St. Philip;
• American Wigeon (Mareca Americana) - at North Point, St. Lucy.

Looking Forward to November

I don't have to guess about birds and birding in November since we're already past the middle of the month. I can tell you that rare birds continue to pour in, but you'll hear all about that next month.

October's Rarebird Alerts

The number of rare bird sightings this last month was astonishing, it highlighted the island's incredible ability to attract these "unusual" species not only from North America but also from across the Atlantic. Here is a breakdown of the other rare sightings for the month, organized parish by parish.

(* denotes birds that remained from previous months)

St. Lucy

Glossy Ibis

• Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus)*(7)  - at the usual location at a privately owned wetland.  This species has been removed from the island rarebird list on ebird and hence will no longer appear on this list.
• Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor) -bird seen in the in the Checker Hall area;
• Ruff (Calidris pugnax) (1) - showed nicely at North Point for a couple of days;

  

  Chimney Swift

• Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica) - first seen at Harrison's Point on the 14th by J. Moore in a mixed flock of swallows;
• Common Swift (Apus apus) - discovered by Niels Larsen at Harrison's Point on the 26th. Identity confirmed by Ed Massiah;

  

  Western House Martin

   
• Western House Martin (Delichon urbicum) (8) was first seen in a mixed flock of swallows on the 23rd at Harrison's Point. (see)
• Blue Grosbeak (Passerina caerulea) - a bird calling from the power line just in front of the isolation center at Harrison's Point, was seen briefly by Ed Massiah on the 19th. This would be the third record of the species on the island;

  

  Lesser Black-backed Gull

• Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus)—This bird was seen and photographed at North Point during the October Big Day, but the juvenile bird was spotted at multiple locations around the island for a week or so. 

  

  Tricolored Herons at North Point

• Tricolored Heron (Egretta tricolor) (2) - two birds seen at North Point on the 5th.  

St. Peter

• Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus) seen around the Six Men's area. Most likely the same bird that was seen at various coastal locations across the island
• Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria citrea) (3) brought excitement to the members of the Bird Guide Certification workshop during an early morning field trip to Cherry Tree Hill;
• Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor) (4), four seen late afternoon in the Oxford area;

St. Joseph

• Red Knot (Calidris canutus) was seen by some of the members of the Bird Guide Certification workshop  at Bathsheba on the 20th; 

White-tailed Hawk

• White-tailed Hawk (Geranoaetus albicaudatus)* - A bird seen and described by a nonbirder this bird in the location where this bird was last seen at Cambridge. This bird was first seen at the end of April and later found regularly at a pond in St. John. It then relocated to the East Coast, hills of Cambridge, St. Joseph. 

St. Philip

• Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) (7) - seven birds were photographed by Reg Wilson and posted on Facebook on October 3rd;
• Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Calidris subruficollis) briefly seen by John Webster at a private location; 
• Hudsonian Godwit (Limosa haemastica)(2) - seen by John Webster at a private location on the 8th;
• Tricolored Heron (Egretta tricolor) - this was the first record of this species for the month;
• Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) - seen on the 15th;
• Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus) seen at Green Point by Mike St. John. This was the first sighting of this large gull for the month.

Christ Church

• Fulvous Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna bicolor) - seen at Woodbourne Shorebird Refuge during the October Big Day islandwide birding event;

Two of the five Least Terns at Inch Marlow

• Least Tern (Sternula antillarum) (5) - these birds spent a few days on the beach at Inch Marlow
• Tricolored Heron (Egretta tricolor) was and is regularly seen at Woodboure Shorebird Refuge.

St. Michael

Audouin's Gull

• Audouin's Gull (Ichthyaetus audouinii)* This bird was first seen on June 20th and remained throughout October.

St. Thomas

• Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor) - this roosting bird was seen by Beny Wilson, one of the facilitators for the Bird Guide Certification workshop,   while on tour at Earthworks Pottery, Edgehill.

St. James

Common Nighthawk

• Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor) - I saw and photographed this bird while driving along the Ronald Mapp by Landcaster on the 14th. It was busy hawking for insects with hundreds of bats.

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   

Record October Big Day for Barbados

A Grey Kingbird during the October Big Day, emphasizing the theme of WMBD - "Protect Insects, Protect Birds"

On October 12th, World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD), birdwatchers from every continent united for an extraordinary celebration of nature. In just 24 hours, over three-quarters of a million birders in 201 countries contributed to the most successful October Big Day ever, breaking the world record with over 7,800 species documented. Our island played a vital role in this global event, shattering our previous record for bird species seen on a single day. Local birders scoured Barbados, recording an astonishing 72 species – six more than the previous best year of 2020. (Click to see the Day's ebird Trip Report)
One of the highlights of the day was the impressive counts of several migrating shorebirds. Like the globally threatened Semipalmated Sandpiper (Calidris pusilla) with over 100 individuals recorded.

Other notable shorebird sightings included:

• Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus): 168 individuals were counted.
• White-rumped Sandpiper (Calidris fuscicollis): 136 of these birds were observed.
• Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres): A total of 115 Ruddy Turnstones were spotted.

One clutch of Black-bellied Whistling-Duck ducklings

The day also brought a heartwarming surprise – over 42 Black-bellied Whistling-Duck ducklings were recorded at a single location.

I had the privilege of leading a field trip with a group of young scientists from McGill University to North Point, St. Lucy. While excited to share my knowledge of local birds and how to identify them, I was disheartened to see a billboard announcing the erection of one or more wind turbines on this beautiful and unique landscape. I do hope a thorough environmental assessment is conducted, as this area is a hotspot for biodiversity. It serves as a prime nesting area for the Grassland Yellow-Finch (Sicalis luteola), a protected bird under the Barbados Wild Birds Protection Act.

Students from McGill during a field trip at North Point, St. Lucy

Despite this concern, our field trip was a success. We observed 18 species, including the globally threatened Semipalmated Sandpiper (Calidris pusilla), and two rare visitors – the Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus) and the Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus).

This day highlighted the rich avian life that Barbados boasts, both native and migratory. It's a reminder that we must protect these precious creatures and their habitats, remembering the theme of World Migratory Bird Day - Protect Insects, Protect Birds.

Safe and enjoy your birding adventures!

World Migratory Bird Day 2024: Protect Insects, Protect Birds

Yellow Warbler with a Caterpillar

Saturday, October 12th is World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD).  It is a global awareness-raising campaign celebrated annually to highlight the importance of migratory birds and the need for international cooperation to conserve them. In 2024, the theme was "Protect Insects, Protect Birds".   The campaign emphasized insects' critical role in migratory birds' survival.  Insects are a primary food source for many bird species, especially during breeding and migration periods. The decline in insect populations due to factors such as habitat loss, pesticide use, and climate change poses a significant threat to migratory birds.  Insects provide essential nutrients for birds, especially during breeding and migration, they play a role in maintaining healthy ecosystems that support bird migration and are vital components of food webs and help regulate plant populations.  By protecting insects, we can help ensure the survival of migratory birds and maintain the balance of our ecosystems.  On World Migratory Bird Day birders from all over the world take part in this campaign that seeks to draw attention to the ply of birds. It is called the October Big Day.

October Big Day

 Last year's October Big Day, a staggering 36,332 people from 191 countries spent part or all of the day seeking out and recording birds in their local areas. The collective effort resulted in an impressive 83,735 checklists submitted to eBird.org, showcasing the incredible diversity of birds across the planet. In Barbados, the Big Day resulted in an underwhelming 38 species recorded.  Local birders are determined to do much better this year! We are preparing to hit the ground running on Saturday morning aiming to significantly increase the number of species recorded and contribute more significantly to the global day of birding. You can help. 

Here is how to participate

• Get an eBird account: eBird is a worldwide bird checklist program used by millions of birders. It’s what allows us to compile everyone’s contributions into a single massive October Big Day list—while at the same time gathering data to help scientists better understand birds. Sign up here. It’s 100% free from start to finish.
• Watch Birds on 12 Oct: It’s that simple. You don’t need to be a bird expert or go out all day long, even 10 minutes of birding from home counts. October Big Day runs from midnight to midnight in your local time zone. You can report what you find from anywhere in the world.
• Enter what you see and hear in eBird: You can enter your observations via our website or download the free eBird Mobile app to make submitting lists even easier. Please enter your checklists no later than 15 Oct to be included in the results announcement.
• Watch the results roll in: During the day, follow along with bird reports from more than 180 countries in real time on our October Big Day page.

So whether you are here on the island or overseas, a veteran birder or a newbie get out birding on Saturday, October 12th, World Migratory Bird Day. Submit your sightings to ebird.org and become part of this global celebration of birds and remember "Protect Insects, Protect Birds". 

Enjoy your birding!!

Environment For The Americas is hosting its first-ever ✨WMBD Photo Contest✨

 

To learn more, click here

Become a Certified Bird Tour Guide with the Caribbean Birding Trail

 

Show Some Love for Shorebirds: Celebrate World Shorebirds Day and Join the Global Shorebird Count!

With Migratory Shorebirds already arriving in the Caribbean we are getting ready to celebrate World Shorebirds Day on September 6! This year we’re asking you to show some love to our shorebirds and join the Global Shorebird Count, which runs from September 2 to 8. BirdsCaribbean has everything you need to help you take part. Read on to find out how to take part, and why you (and your friends!) should join the count this year! 

World Shorebirds Day is held every year on September 6. This day celebrates shorebirds, their amazing migration journeys, and most importantly, raises awareness of the threats they face and actively promotes their monitoring and conservation. The key event associated with this day is the Global Shorebird Count (GSC), which this year runs from September 2-8. WhetherWhether you’ve never taken part in the GSC before, or you are a seasoned shorebird counter—make sure that this fall migration you Show Some Love to Shorebirds in the Caribbean! 

How do you join in?

First, and most importantly—get out to your local wetland sites and get counting! Remember to...  continue reading here>>

October Big Day—12 Oct 2024 By Team eBird

October is right around the corner, and that means its time to mark your calendars for October Big Day—12 Oct 2024!

Like Global Big Day, October Big Day is an opportunity to unite around our shared love of birds. Last October, nearly 36,332 people from 191 countries submitted 83,735 checklists with eBird, demonstrating the power of birds to bring people together. Each year more and more participants join in this global celebration, how many people will contribute this year?  continue reading here

The Barbados Birds and Birding Report - July

July began on a tumultuous note with the passage of record-breaking Hurricane Beryl. While the storm caused minor damage to the island, it did significant damage to our neighboring islands. It also unexpectedly brought some pelagic birds closer to the island. One of these avian visitors, a Brown Noddy (Anous stolidus), was spotted on the south coast by Mike St. John, marking a new species record for the year.  Adding to the month's birding excitement, a rare Red Knot (Calidris canutus) in breeding plumage was discovered at Chancery Lane, Christ Church, by Ed Massiah on the first of the month. Furthermore, a Striated Heron (Butorides striata) was observed at the SBRC pond in Mangrove, St. Thomas.  These three remarkable sightings brought Barbados' 2024 bird species count to over 100, specifically 102.

Looking Ahead to August

Spotted Sandpiper was one of the first species to return from breeding grounds

Fall migration in Barbados usually kicks off in earnest around mid-August. However, we’re already witnessing signs of this seasonal shift in late July, with the return of Spotted Sandpipers (Actitis macularius) and a few Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes). As the month progresses, keep an eye out for increasing numbers and species of shorebirds in the birding areas across the islands.

July's Rarebird Alerts

Outside of the rarebirds seen during and after the passing of Hirricane Beryl it was a relatively slow month for new rare birds sightings. Here's a breakdown of the other rare sightings for the month, listed parish by parish.

(* denotes birds that remained from previous months)

St. Lucy

Glossy Ibis

• Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus)*(1)  - Long-stay birds who enjoy this location.
• Fulvous Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna bicolor)(2)* - the month started with one bird sighted but was joined by a second bird on the 13th which remained through the month.

St. Joseph

White-tailed Hawk

• White-tailed Hawk (Geranoaetus albicaudatus)* - this bird was first seen at the end of April, and later found regularly at a pond in St. John. It then relocated to East Coast, hills of Cambridge, St. Joseph. 

Christ Church

 

Red Knot

• Red Knot (Calidris canutus) - this bird was seen on the 1st, the day Hurricane Beryl passed to the south of the island.  It was in full breeding plumage, which is rare for the island.

St. Michael

Audouin's Gull

• Audouin's Gull (Ichthyaetus audouinii)* This bird was first seen on June 20th and remained throughout July.
• Brown Noddy (Anous stolidus) (4) - these birds were seen during and after the passing of  Hurricane Beryl. Two were reported by Micaeh St. John at Hasting during the passage and two by Ed Massiah at Oistins after the all clear was given.
• Red-footed Booby (Sula sula) -mutiple birds seen during at after the passing of  Hurricane Beryl. A undisclosed amount were reported by Micaeh St. John at Hasting during the passage and one by Ed Massiah at Inch Marlow after the all clear was given.

St. Thomas

Striated Heron at the SBRC

• Striated Heron (Butorides striata) - bird was firstly seen on 28th at its ugual location at the pond at SBRC.

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   

The Barbados Birds and Birding Report - June

Two species were added to the Islands 2024 checklist including a new species for Barbados and a second for the year.  The two latest additions were an Audouin's Gull (Ichthyaetus audouinii) - the new species for the island - seen at Pile Bay, St. Michael on the 20th, and a Collared Plover (Anarhynchus collaris) in St. Lucy, closing the month at ninety-nine species for the year.

Looking Ahead to July

In July, as migration season begins, we’ll observe the return of migratory birds, with Spotted Sandpipers and Lesser Yellowlegs commonly two of the first to returneies. Additionally, this month marks the start of the shorebird hunting season, which runs from July 15 to October 15.”

May Rare Bird Sightings

A new bird for the island and a thinny south American Plover highlighted last month rare birds update. Here's a breakdown of the other rare sightings for the month, listed parish by parish.

(* denotes birds that remained from previous months)

St. Lucy

Glossy Ibis

• Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus)*(1)  - Long-stay birds who enjoy this location.
• Fulvous Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna bicolor)* - reported periodically throughout the month.

  

  Collared Plover

• Collared Plover (Anarhynchus collaris) -  a rare but yearly visitor around this time.

St. Andrew

• White-tailed Hawk (Geranoaetus albicaudatus) - this bird was first seen at the end of April, and later found regularly at a pond in St. John. It then relocated to Cambridge, St. Andrew 

Christ Church 

• Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis) - relocated from the pond at Kendal t. John. 

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   

Storm Birding

Record-breaking Hurricane Beryl narrowly avoided our island, but its impact was still felt. The fishing industry suffered, and some structures sustained minor damage. However, our neighboring islands bore the brunt of its fury, experiencing major devastation. Our hearts go out to them as we tirelessly work to provide essential relief.  

However, the south wind associated with the storm brought a flurry of seabird sightings!

A birder, staying along the south coast, reported an incredible two hours of bird sightings while the hurricane impacted the island. The seabirds he saw were:

• Two Brown Noddys (Anous stolidus)
• An estimated thirty Red-footed Boobys (Sula sula)
• Seven Laughing Gulls (Leucophaeus atricilla)
• Over thirty Magnificent Frigatebirds (Fregata magnificens)

Red Knot @ Chancery Lane - photo by John Webester

Once the all-clear was given, several birders ventured out. While exploring the south coast, Edward found a Red Knot (Calidris canutus) in stunning breeding plumage at Chancery Lane. He then spotted a white morph Red-footed Booby at Inch Marlow and two Brown Noddys at Oistins all in the Christ Church parish.

A small fraction of the Magnificent Frigatebirds over the Mellows Valley

Meanwhile, on the east coast at Chimborazo, I was awestruck by a magnificent sight – over 130 Magnificent Frigatebirds effortlessly gliding on updrafts over Mellows Valley in St. Joseph. Edward suggested these birds likely came from the colony on Little Tobago, a few miles southwest of Barbados.

Juvenile Magnificent Frigatebird

In the days following the storm, the extra rainfall brought by Beryl proved beneficial, replenishing the island's wetlands. These sightings highlight the influence of weather systems on bird migration patterns and offer valuable data for local birders. As the island recovers and relief efforts continue for affected regions, the birding community remains hopeful that Beryl's unwelcome visit will ultimately contribute to our understanding of avian diversity in the Caribbean.

A New Avian Species Record for Barbados – Audouin's Gull

When people ask about the unique birding experience in Barbados – a country with just one endemic bird, limited native nesters, and fewer woodlands or wetlands – I often compare it to a box of  Cracker Jacks. Just like those surprise-filled snacks, birding here is full of unexpected treasures. Or, as a birding Forrest Gump might say, "Birding in Barbados is like a box of chocolates – you never know what you'll find."

Audouin's Gull between two Laughing Gulls ay Pile Bay

On June 20th, I made a brief stop at the Pile Bay fishing complex in St. Michael, and stumbled upon an unexpected treasure! A pale-looking gull perched on a buoy, noticeably larger than the surrounding Laughing Gulls (Leucophaeus atricilla), caught my eye. Initially, I thought it might be a Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus), a yearly visitor to Barbados. However, its size seemed off - bigger than the Laughing Gulls but smaller than the Lesser Black-backs. Because of its pale back, black bill mark, and size, I leaned towards a Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis), but doubt lingered.  I Shared a photo with our local birding group, and received an unexpected response from our resident expert, Ed Massiah: "Audouin's Gull!". While thrilled, he emphasized the need for a live sighting to confirm the identification due to my photo quality, which was a cell phone shot on my camera display.  On hearing that I sent the photo to Nigel Lallsingh, a friend in Trinidad who is familiar with the species after discovering the first record for Trinidad (and the entire Western Hemisphere) in 2016.  His reply was – "Looks like a second-winter Audouin's Gull!" Later that day, Ed saw the bird and confirmed it to be an Audouin's Gull (Ichthyaetus audouinii)! This incredible sighting did not only marked the 283rd recorded avian species for Barbados (Clements) but also a historic first sighting of the species for the entire West Indies!

About the Audouin's Gull

Audouin's Gulls

Audouin's Gulls are medium-sized gulls, measuring about 17-24 inches (44-60 cm) in length with a wingspan of up to 4.5 feet (142 cm). Adults have a light grey body with a paler white head. Their light gray wings have black tips and lack the white spots common in many other gulls. They boast a dark red bill and dark gray legs. Juveniles have a mottled brown body with a distinct white rump patch.  These birds are primarily coastal, inhabiting the Mediterranean Sea. They winter along the southern and western African coasts and the Iberian Peninsula.

This unexpected encounter perfectly exemplifies the thrill of birding in Barbados. You never know what fascinating feathered wonder you might find next! 

Stay safe and enjoy your birding!

The Barbados Birds and Birding Report - May

White-rumped Sandpiper - year and rare bird 

So much happened in May birding-wise, but I was so busy that I couldn't keep everyone up to date. We recorded five new yearbirds during the month, closing it with 97 species seen for 2024. These new birds were:

• Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra)
• Bridled Tern (Onychoprion anaethetus)
• Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis)
• Short-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus griseus)
• White-rumped Sandpiper (Calidris fuscicollis)

May was also Global Big Day month. This year, it was held on May 11th. Our local birding team, The Bajan Birders & Friends, once again participated in Birds Caribbean's annual Global Big Day (GBD) fundraiser and delivered a commendable performance. The team, consisting of 10 birders from three countries—Barbados, Canada, and the United States— saw 224 bird species and raised $375. I'd like to express my gratitude to all team members, both local and international, for joining us on this day of birding.

May Rare Bird Sightings

We saw three new rare birds during the month - White-rumped Sandpiper,  Ruddy Duck, and Summer Tanager.  While the White-rumped Sandpiper is uncommon during this time of year, it's a frequent visitor during the southern bird migration. Here's a breakdown of the other rare sightings for the month, listed parish by parish.

(* denotes birds that remained from previous months)

St. Lucy

Glossy Ibis

• Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus)*(1)  - Long-stay birds who enjoy this location.
• Red-footed Booby (Sula sula) (172) - A significant sighting at North Point between the 22nd and 24th 172 birds flying east to west. Most birds were in brown phase with one in white. 
• Fulvous Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna bicolor)* - reported periodically throughout the month.

  

  White-rumped Sandpiper

• White-rumped Sandpiper (Calidris fuscicollis) - bird seen during the GBD, May 11th.  While common during the southern bird migration it very uncommon in spring.
• Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra) - Michael St. John had a brief look at a reddish bird he identified as the above. Here is his description "Beautiful all-red, darker on upperparts and lighter crimson underparts, pale yellow bill."

St. Andrew

Least Tern

• Least Tern (Sternula antillarum) - this bird relocated from the south coast to Long Pond;

  

  American Coot (Red-Shielded)

• American Coot (Red-Shielded) (Fulica Americana) - one at Walker Reserve 

St. John

• Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis) - discovered in a pond at Kendal, St. John, while birder was searching for the White-tailed Hawk;

  

  White-tailed Hawk, a first record for the island

  
  
• White-tailed Hawk (Geranoaetus albicaudatus) - regular hunting ground, in an open field with a pond, at Kendal St. John.  Multiple sightings at this location during the month.

St. Philip

Ruff 

• Ruff (Calidris pugnax)* (2) - The birds moved between WSR and this location throughout the month. 

Christ Church 

• Ruff (Calidris pugnax) (1)-  Of the three birds seen here last month, only one was seen at Woodboure Shorebird Refuge (WSR) in May.  
• Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis) - relocated from the pond at Kendal t. John. 

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