September to Remember

After a slow month of August, where I registered only two new birds for the year, September is trying to make up for it.  Already I have registered five new birds for the year with one being a lifer.  
The five birds are:

 

1. American Golden-Plover ( Pluvialis dominica)which was observed late on the afternoon of September 2^nd in St. Lucy.
   
2. The Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) I saw this while I was on the Highway on the morning of September 8^th.  The bird was not hard to identify as it flew towards me and directly over my car. I noted the dark color, decurved bill and the extended neck position synonymous with an Ibis in flight.  The bird was next seen and photographed by R. Roach on September 13^th in the parish of St. Lucy.  Glossy Ibis are considered vagrants to Barbados.
   
3. Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) was my second “first for the year” bird I saw on September 8^th.  I saw the bird when I checked an irrigation pond on my way home from work.  At first I thought it was a Great Blue, but was not sure so I shared the images with fellow birders and it was Edward Massiah who pointed out that it was a Grey Heron.  He pointed out the white thighs, white headlights (white marks just in front of the eyes), black and white feathering down the plain grey neck.
   
4. Red Knot (Calidris canutus) this was seen in the parish of St. Philip by Dr. J. Webster on September 9^th.  He alerted the local birders of its presence and I was able to see it that afternoon.

   

   Photo by R. Roach

5. Fork-tailed Flycatcher (Tyrannus savanna) a lifer for me, was seen on the morning of September 13^th at Harrison’s Point in St. Lucy.  I had a clue that R. Roach and I would have seen something special on that day from the time I took out my camera to take my first shot for the day.  Caribbean Martins were sitting on the power line, but when I went to take my first shot, I realized that I had left my compact flash card at home.  No problem I thought, as I have a backup card, Not!!  That card was also not in the bag but sitting on my desk at home.  Within minutes of packing my equipment back into the car, the Fork-tailed Flycatcher flew overhead.  Luckily Richard was able to get a few shots before it disappeared for good.

 
With many days still left in this month I will be trying to better my 2014 September tally of seven birds. The Flycatcher was my best for the month so far but the month is still young so you never know what may turn up in this September to remember.

World Shorebird Day 2015

I did my part for World Shorebirds Day by joining in the global shorebirds count on September 6^th. I registered four locations.  They were Oistins, Inch Marlow and Long Beach on the South Coast and the Woodbourne Shorebird Refuge (WSR) which was being affected adversely by the low rainfall which the island is experiencing this year.

Birding the South Coast 

Ruddy @ Oistin

I started my count in the popular Oistins area, the home of the world famous Friday Night Fish Fry.  This fishing complex not only attracts hundreds of tourist and locals alike, but also migrating shore and sea birds yearly.  I observed thirteen species of birds, three of which were shorebirds - Spotted Sandpipers (Actitis macularius), Semipalmated Plovers (Charadrius semipalmatus) and Ruddy Turnstones (Arenaria interpres) . (My Ebird's Checklist) 

My next stop along the South Coast was the surfing hotspot of Inch Marlow.  This location has registered its fair share of shorebirds including rarities.  On this occasion however, I was not that fortunate.  I recorded six species at Inch Marlow of which three were shorebirds.
 (My Ebird's Checklist)  
  

Whimbrel @ Silver Sands

My most productive stop of the morning was at Long Beach.  Here, various species of shorebirds were busy feeding on a buffet served up by the Sargassum Seamoss which is affecting beaches on the South and East Coast of the island.  I recorded twelve species of birds of which nine were shorebirds.
(My Ebird's Checklist)   
     
I got a bonus as I was traveling from Oistins to Inch Marlow.  I saw a Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) at De Action Man's Beach, Silver Rock.  This bird was wading in a small pond.

 Woodbourne Shorebird Refuge

Solitary Sandpiper @ WSR

For my final stop I traveled west away from the South Coast to the only shorebird sanctuary on the island, the Woodbourne Shorebird Refuge (WSR).  This year WSR, like the rest of the island is being affected by the low rainfall that was impacting the entire region.  It was not difficult to see the effects as you drove onto the property.  Only two of the trays still contained water and both of their levels were very low.  A few shorebirds were around, mostly Semipalmated Sandpipers (Calidris pusilla).  I observed thirteen species there. 

Synopsis 

I was happy to be a part of the second World Shorebirds Day.  I was expecting to see more shorebirds than I did but with the island’s low rainfall it was understandable.  Thirteen species of shorebirds was registered in total with Ruddy Turnstones the most numerous. The  World Shorebirds Day is here to stay and I am looking forward to next years count.

World Shorebird Day 2015 (images)

I did my part for World Shorebirds Day by joining in the global shorebirds count on September 6^th.  I registered four locations.  They were Oistins, Inch Marlow and Long Beach on the South Coast and the Woodbourne Shorebird Refuge (WSR)  Below are a few of the images from that day.

Ruddy Turnstone

Ruddy Turnstone 

Whimbrel @ Silver Rock

Whimbrel

Least Sandpiper

Black-bellied Plover

Solitary Sandpiper

Roseate Tern

Magnificent Frigate Bird (F)

Laughing Gull

Royal Tern with breakfast

World Shorebird Day

Celebrate Shorebirds by joining in the Global Shorebird Counting from 4-6th September 2015.

 Shorebirds are on the decline worldwide and any effort to highlight their plight should be encouraged.  So get out this weekend to your beaches, wet area, parks and fields where ever shorebirds maybe to join in the big count. For more information on The Global Shorebird Day follow this link.

South Coast Birding

On the last afternoon of the month of August I paid a visit to three south coast beaches for birding. With the fall migration season in full effect many shorebirds were seen on the beaches, these included Semipalmated, White-rumped, Spotted and Least Sandpipers, Semipalmated Plovers and Ruddy Turnstones. I was so impressed with the birds I saw that I registered all three locations, for counting, during this weekend's World Shorebirds Day bird count. Here are a few images of the birds I saw. 

Semipalmated Plover in breeding plumage

Ruddy Turnstone and Sanderlings on the lookout

Peeps - Semi and White-rumped Sandpipers

Sanderlings

Semipalmated Sandpiper

Least Sandpiper

 

Two Rarity Seen in July

In the month of July, Barbados registered two rare birds; one could even be considered a major-rarity. The first bird, a Purple Throated Carib (Eulampis jugularis), was seen on July 3rd 2015 by a friend and the deputy director of The Barbados Sea Turtle Project, Carla Daniel.  Carla is also somewhat of a birder and my go-to person when I find stranded or injured birds.  The day she saw the bird was a sad day for the Sea Turtle Project and other nature loving people.  This island is being affected by an influx of Sargassum seaweed that is critically affecting the sea turtles.  On that day, over 20 Green and Hawks-billed turtles were discovered dead among the sea weed on Long Beach on the South Coast, not too far from Chancery Lane Swamp.  

Carla was on the beach assisting with the recording and removal of the dead turtles when the birds alighted not too far from her. She saw the purple throat which confirmed the identification.  Purple Throated Hummingbirds are about the same size as our native Green Throated Carib, about 4.5 inches.  This is a large hummingbird with a down curved bill, emerald green wings and of course a purple throat and chest.  Though this hummer is not common to our island, it is to the neighboring islands of Grenada, St. Vincent and St. Lucia, which are just over 100 miles to the west of us. 

Pearly-eyed Thrasher photographed by Gregg Skeete

The other rare visitor was also seen on the South Coast.  It is a common bird  to the neighboring island of St. Lucia. The bird was first seen by Gregg Skeete who then posted a photo of the bird on Facebook for identification assistance.  The bird was correctly identified as a Pearly-eyed Thrasher (Margarops fuscatus) by noted local birder Dr. Karl Watson.  Pearly-eyed Thrashers are about 11-12 inches in length, with brown upperparts and streaked brown underparts.  It has a yellowish bill and white or pearly colored iris hence it name.  According to the book The Birds of Barbados – an Annotated Checklist, there were four records of this bird up to 2006. Add to that the one I saw and photographed in February 2013 at The Codrington College, making Gregg’s finding the sixth confirmed sighting on the island. (The Birds of Barbados – an Annotated Checklist pg 179)

I am hoping to see both of these birds in person, photograph them and of course share them with you.   

So stay tuned!