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.