Avian abundance kicked off 2024 in Barbados! January soared with 74 bird species, including some not spotted in December. Among the highlights were a warblers twosome at Turners Hall Woods - a beautiful Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria citrea) and Northern Parula (Setophaga Americana). Other highlights were the annual return of Red-billed Tropicbirds (Phaethon aethereus) and Caribbean Martins (Progne dominicensis) for breeding, and a Red-footed Booby (Sula sula) and Masked Booby (Sula dactylatra) spotted by a birder cruising into the island.
Yes! More than 50 birders, mostly tourists, birded on the island, contributing to the 74 species seen. This is not unexpected, as birding is a rapidly growing hobby worldwide. Barbados attracts many visitors from countries with a high proportion of bird enthusiasts, who may also enjoy some birding while on vacation. It is not that these persons travel here to bird, we are not that birdy, but while on vacation may take the time to see a few species. What is interesting is that some of the most famous birding tour operators, such as Wings, Sunrise Birding, and Carefree Birding, include Barbados in their Lesser Antilles birding trips, increasing the number of birding tourists. The Graeme Hall Nature Sanctuary, if it were still open, would be a popular attraction for them, as well as a potential source of income for the government, if they developed their side of the Graeme Hall Swamp into a nature reserve. This could be a lost opportunity for a tourist destination with limited attractions.
January Rare Bird Sightings and February Notes
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| Caribbean Martins are returning from migration |
February is the month when we can listen to the songs of the Black-whiskered Vireo (Vireo altiloquus), one of our most elusive woodland birds. We can also look forward to seeing more Caribbean Martins (Progne dominicensi) flying around, as their return from their migration. Many rare birds lingered in January and we can expect the same in February. Here is a summary of the rare bird sightings for January. (*birds that remained from previous months)St. Lucy
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| One of the two remaining Glossy Ibis |
- Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus)*(6) While the year started with the usual six birds at a private sanctuary it ended with only two birds seen. The other may have migrated.
- Fulvous Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna bicolor)*(2) disappearing and reappearing at various locations.
- Killdeer (Charadrius vociferous)*(4) seen on a grassy field foraging.
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| Grey Heron |
- Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)* - a Long stay Eurasian visitor, seen to favor this location but was also seen at a egrets roost not far from this location.
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| Ruff |
- Ruff (Calidris pugnax) - this Eurasian shorebird was seen on 12th.
St. Andrew |
| Prothonotary Warbler showed well on visit to Turhers Hall Woods |
- Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria citrea)* a brief visit to the Turners Hall Woods on the 24th in search of wintering neting first this beauty.
- Northern Parula (Setophaga Americana) another find from the Turners Hall Woods visit on the 24th.
Christ Church
- Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus)* the two birds seen at Oistins appeared to have separated. I January only one was seen here.
- Yellow-crowned Night Heron (Nyctanassa violacea) this bird was a fixture at the Graeme Hall Swamp last month and the first week of this year. since then the bird has disappeared.
St. Michael- Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus) the second bird from Oistins appeared to had relocated to Pile Bay.
- Red-footed Booby (Sula sula) (5) On the 23rd, while sailing into the Bridgetown Port on a cruise ship, visitor Sushil Kumar spotted and photographed some these birds a few miles offshore. He then reported his sightings on ebird.org.
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| Masked Booby (fp) |
- Masked Booby (Sula dactylatra) Another submission to ebird by Sushil Kumar as he was sailing into Barbados. These too he reported on ebird.org.
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