Fifty-Four Species in One Day

Ruddy Turnstones (Arenaria interpres)

On February 13, just one day before the start of the Great Backyard Bird Count, I had the privilege of spending the day with two visiting birders as we seek out the birds of Barbados.  And what a day it was! We visited all eleven parishes and saw over fifty species of Birds.  Here are a few of the highlights.

Our first stop was at The Graeme Hall Swamp at 6:45 AM. This important mangrove system is taking an environmental battering, which is changing the ecosystem in the area for the worse. The canals and channels along the border and throughout the mangroves are being strangled by two very destructive water weeds - Water Cabbage (Pistia stratiotes) and the beautiful but suffocating and invasive Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) aka the world's worst waterweed. Both plants were foreign to the swamp’s ecosystem pre-environmental meltdown, but that is sounding like a topic for another post.  We got a glance of one of our target birds for this stop, five Orange-winged Parrots (Amazona amazonica), and our second target a few minutes later, two Northern Waterthrushs (Parkesia noveboracensis), a migratory wood warbler which winters on the island.

Royal Terns (Thalasseus maximus)

From there we traveled along the south coast to Oistins were we saw Royal Terns (Thalasseus maximus), 51 Ruddy Turnstones (Arenaria interpres) and a few Sanderlings (Calidris alba). Then to Ocean City for Red-billed Tropicbirds (Phaethon aethereus). From there we made a few stops at private locations in St. Philip and saw 169 Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks (Dendrocygna autumnalis), a Ruff (Calidris pugnax), American Golden-Plover (Pluvialis dominica) and a few other shorebirds and herons. 

Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)

Around 11:30 AM, we started heading towards the Walkers Reserve St. Andrew, via St. John, St. George, and St. Thomas.  We saw a Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) in St. John, and hummingbirds at Farmers St. Thomas.  Walkers Reserve was one of the high points of the day.  We witnessed one of the three American Coots (Fulica americana (White-shielded)) fully diving and staying underwater for 5-10 seconds, a behavior that is uncommon to this species, it took us all by surprise. We were also amazed by the number of Common Gallinules (Gallinula galeata), 87 in total, at that location. Our final stop, in the parish of St. Lucy, sometime around 3:30 PM, gave us the birds of the day, the elusive Southern Lapwing (Vanellus chilensis) and the Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus).

All around it was a wonderful day of birding, we saw 54 species in total, a few lifers for them, and a few year birds for me, but the best part was spending the day with two birders, sharing the birds of Barbados with them.

Here is the full checklist

1.   Black-bellied Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna autumnalis)

2.   Blue-winged Teal (Spatula discors)

3.   Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps)

4.   Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) (Columba livia (Feral Pigeon))

5.   Scaly-naped Pigeon (Patagioenas squamosa)

6.   Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)

7.   Common Ground Dove (Columbina passerina)

8.   Zenaida Dove (Zenaida aurita)

9.   Eared Dove (Zenaida auriculata)

10. Green-throated Carib (Eulampis holosericeus)

11.  Antillean Crested Hummingbird (Orthorhyncus cristatus)

12. Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata)

13. American Coot (White-shielded) (Fulica americana (White-shielded))

14. Black-bellied Plover (Pluvialis squatarola)

15. American Golden-Plover (Pluvialis dominica)

16. Southern Lapwing (Vanellus chilensis)

17. Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus)

18. Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres)

19. Ruff (Calidris pugnax)

20. Stilt Sandpiper (Calidris himantopus)

21. Sanderling (Calidris alba)

22. Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla)

23. Semipalmated Sandpiper (Calidris pusilla)

24. Short-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus griseus)

25. Wilson's Snipe (Gallinago delicata)

26. Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius)

27. Solitary Sandpiper (Tringa solitaria)

28. Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca)

29. Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes)

30. Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus)

31. Red-billed Tropicbird (Phaethon aethereus)

32. Magnificent Frigatebird (Fregata magnificens)

33. Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)

34. Great Egret (Ardea alba)

35. Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)

36. Snowy Egret (Egretta thula)

37. Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis)

38. Green Heron (Butorides virescens)

39. Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus)

40. Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)

41. Rose-ringed Parakeet (Psittacula krameri)

42. Orange-winged Parrot (Amazona amazonica)

43. Caribbean Elaenia (Elaenia martinica)

44. Gray Kingbird (Tyrannus dominicensis)

45. Black-whiskered Vireo (Vireo altiloquus)

46. Caribbean Martin (Progne dominicensis)

47. Shiny Cowbird (Molothrus bonariensis)

48. Carib Grackle (Quiscalus lugubris)

49. Northern Waterthrush (Parkesia noveboracensis)

50. Yellow Warbler (Golden) (Setophaga petechia [petechia Group])

51. Grassland Yellow-Finch (Sicalis luteola)

52. Bananaquit (Coereba flaveola)

53. Barbados Bullfinch (Loxigilla barbadensis)

54. Black-faced Grassquit (Melanospiza bicolor)

Trinidad & Tobago Birding Trip 2016 - Days 6-8 - August 6-8th

Yellow Oriole - Icterus nigrogularis

Days 6, 7 and 8 were not birding days but as any birder would know there is no such thing as a non-birding day especially in a country like Trinidad.

Day 6 – August 6

Black Vulture - Coragyps atratus

Day six was the day assigned to go shopping so I decided to take up David Lindo’s challenge and become an urban birder.  I utilized the periods between shops and malls and the city center park for birding.  Black Vultures were never missing from the skyline; also present were Short-tailed Swifts.  During and after a light drizzle of rain, three other swift species flew in slowly.  Straight away, I recognized the Fork-tailed Palm-Swift, and there was also the Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift and the Grey-rumped. The latter two were lifers.  After 8 hours in Port of Spain I had recorded 17 species.

Day 7 – August 7

A drive up to one of the highest points on the island was more of a sightseeing drive than for birding but being on an island with over 400 species, birds are everywhere.  With my eyes scanning the sky, roadside and bushes I was able to find two more lifers – the beautiful Turquoise Tanager, which I saw when our driver stopped to pick a reddish skin, pear shaped fruit, commonly known as a Pomerac.  Our next bird, a raptor, flew into a tree just before we passed.  The bird was greyish and had three bands on its tail.  With the help of the field guide I identified it as a Grey-lined Hawk.  I recorded 11 species on that trip.

Day 8 – August 8

Monday August 8, 2016 was my last day in Trinidad and we made a quick trip to the city for last minute shopping.  On my way to the taxi, in an area which is normally teaming with Black Vultures, I saw two other birds soaring.  These birds looked mostly white.  I took a photo with the Nikon point-and-shoot camera and Wendell later identified the birds as Short-tailed Hawks.  This was my last lifer for the trip and at about 6:00pm that afternoon we were back home in Barbados.

Synopsis

After eight days of birding on the Island of Trinidad and Tobago I came close but did not reach my goal of 100 new species.  Even though I tallied 141 species I only recorded 97 lifers.   The field guide Birds of Trinidad and Tobago, by Kenefick, Restall, Hayes (Helm Field Guides) was very helpful with the identification and I relied on it on many occasions especially with the Swifts in Port of Spain on Day 6.  I definitely enjoyed my stay in Trinidad and Tobago.   

Thanks

I would like to say a big thank you to my family who endured the early rising, days in the hot sun, late lunches and long walks, all on our vacation.  They did it without complaining.  Also to Janna and Stan, Joan, Wendell and Ryan who made our trip even more special and many others who helped to make this birding trip the vacation it was. Thank You!

Wendell Reyes - Tour Guide

Although I met Wendell for the first time during this trip, it was as if we were longtime friends and I could not have gotten close to my goal without his help.  Here is a little about Wendell.

Photography: Wendell is an award winning photographer; his photos have graced the pages of local and international magazines including National Geographic.  His photographs are also currently on the walls at the Asa Wright Nature Sanctuary.  He willingly passes on his knowledge by offering workshops on various forms of photography.

Birding: An experienced birder with over 300 local bird species to his name.  His knowledge of the local birding habitats was flawless.  He knows the local birds, not just by sight but also by sound and that was a big plus.  He also knows where to find the birds you want to see, which made him one of the best guides on the island.  I will recommend him to anyone needing a guide there. 

Thanks Bro.

See Wendell’s work at these links:  Facebook , Youtube, Flickr, and National Geographic.

Our Sanctuary Guest House  

When I was looking for a place to stay overnight in Tobago that was affordable yet nice, I came upon Our Sanctuary on booking.com and easily booked an apartment.  When we arrived at Tobago’s Airport and could not get the hired vehicle which we had pre-booked online, it threatened to place a damper on the trip.  When we arrived at Our Sanctuary and met the owner Mr. Vish, he quickly arranged a hired car for us when he heard of our plight.  He even had it dropped off that very night.  When we missed our flight back to Trinidad he stayed at the airport until he was sure we had secured another flight out.  Thank you Mr. Vish and those at Our Sanctuary Guest House. Contact them here

To our many Trini and Tobago friends new and old, thank you for a wonderful vacation.

New Species for the Days: 05
New Lifers for the Days: 05
Total Species for the Trip: 141
Total Lifers for the Trip: 97

Port of Spain: Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift, Gray-rumped Swift.

Fond Pois Doux Road: Turquoise Tanager, Gray-lined Hawk.

Maraval: Short-tailed Hawk

Black Vulture - Coragyps atratus @ Fond Pois Doux Road

Lineated Woodpecker - Dryocopus lineatus @ Fond Pois Doux Road

Violaceous Euphonia - Euphonia violacea @ Fond Pois Doux Road

Black-crowned Night-Heron - Nycticorax nycticorax @ Trincity Mall

Great Egret - Ardea alba @ Trincity Mall

Tropical Kingbird - Tyrannus melancholicus @ Maraval

Great Kiskadee - Pitangus sulphuratus @ Maraval