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