Barbados Birding Highlights: December - February (Winter Birds)

This period brought an exciting mix of rare visitors and continuing highlights across the island. From flooded cane fields in St. Lucy to coastal lookouts in st. Philip, birders recorded several noteworthy species— from a common rare bird to a first for Barbados, all the discoveries are listed below.

Waterfowl Surprises

• Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata) – First observed at a flooded cane field in St. Lucy by Michael St. John.

  

  Wigeons - Eurasian (L) and American (R)

• Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope) – One bird appeared at Fosters, St. Lucy on December 24. Two days later, another was seen at Woodbourne Shorebird Refuge (WSR) among American Wigeons.

Shorebirds 

• Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus) – Of three discovered by Quincy Clarke on September 28, one remained at Congo Road, St. Philip.
• Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) – First noted by Ian “Bolt” Atkins on November 30 at WSR and continued at the site into March.
• Common Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula) – Discovered by Muriel Aboso and Anthony Levesque at North Point, St. Lucy, and still showing well into March.
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Seabird

• Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) – Seen at Oistins, Christ Church by Ocean Campbell.
  
  
  
• American Herring Gull (Larus smithsonianus) – Also recorded at Oistins by Ocean Campbell.
• Masked Booby (Sula dactylatra) – Three records this season: one off North Point, St. Lucy on December 10 (Julian Moore), and two more at Deeble Point, St. Lucy on February 21 (Quincy Clarke).

Spoonbills, Herons and Egrets

• Eurasian Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia) – Continued presence at Fosters, St. Lucy.
• Tricolored Heron (Egretta tricolor) – Possibly multiple individuals, with sightings ranging from Fosters, St. Lucy to Congo Road, St. Philip, and even the reopened Graeme Hall Nature Sanctuary.
  
  
  
• Western Reef-Heron (Egretta gularis) – Discovered by Ian “Bolt” Atkins on December 26 at WSR, where it showed well.
• Gray Heron (Ardea cinerea) – A regular visitor, continuing this year.

Raptors

• Eurasian Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) – Rediscovered at Deeble Point, St. Philip by Quincy Clarke.

Songbird Rarities

Grey  Trembler - A new bird for Barbados

• Grey Trembler (Cinclocerthia gutturalis) – A brand-new species for Barbados! First noticed by a resident near her home, with a second bird confirmed on January 1 at My Ladies Hole, St. John by Edward Massiah.
  
  
  
• Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia) – Found at Turners Hall Woods, St. Andrew on February 25 by Julian Moore.

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Closing Note

This winter season has been remarkable, with both expected visitors and extraordinary surprises. The Gray Trembler stands out as a historic addition to the island’s bird list, while the diversity of waterfowl and seabirds underscores Barbados’ importance as a stopover and wintering site.

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