Have You Seen These Birds?

They since to be a major influx of White-crowned Pigeon into the island.  The first record of this bird on the island was at Moncrieffe, St. John on April 9^th, 2014, a single bird. White-crowned Pigeons are between 13-14” in length, dark grey with a contrasting white-crown or head, closely resembling the more common Scaly-nape Pigeon aka Ramier aka Wildleys. Thus far over 10 birds were seen in 4 parishes.  If you see this bird please let me know where you saw it and the amount seen. You can leave a comment in this post or email me at 100birdsbarbados@gmail.com.
 
Here are the sightings to date:

• March 8th 1 bird @ Moncrieffe, St. John
• March 16th 1 bird @ Chancery Lane, Christ Church
• March 19th 6 birds @ The Graeme Hall Swamp, Christ Church
• March 22nd 2 birds @ Westmoreland, St. James
• March 23rd 2 birds @ Searles, Christ Church 
• March 24th 1 bird @ near Christie Village, St. Thomas 
• March 24th 1 bird @ Mount Standfast, St. James

Three Lifers in Three Months

White-crowned Pigeon - Patagioenas leucocephala

In January it was the Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus), February the American Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber) and March brings a White-crowned Pigeon (Patagioenas leucocephala), three local lifers in three months.  The first record of this latest species on the island was at Moncrieffe, St. John on April 9^th, 2014 and then at Warrens, St. Michael in 2016.  The first recorded sighting this year was on March 8^th at the same location of the first ever record, Moncrieffe, St. John.  Then there was another sighting at Chancery Lane on March 16^th.  My sighting on the 19^th at The Graeme Hall Swamp may have highlighted a movement in this species to the island and time will tell if it becomes established here.

White-crowned Pigeons are between 13-14” in length, dark grey with a contrasting white-crown.  It is listed as near threatened on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species   because of hunting, mainly in the US, and loss of habitat, which is the main problem in the Caribbean. 

These birds normally nest in coastal mangroves throughout the Caribbean and are fading due to the effect of natural disasters and encroachment by man for development and agriculture.

It is a resident breeder mainly in the Bahamas, Cuba, Jamaica and Antigua.  It breeds in smaller numbers in Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Anguilla and a few other Caribbean islands.  It can also be found in the Florida Keys - the southern tip of mainland Florida and also along the Caribbean coast of Central America.

Finding so many birds on the island, especially in the coastal wet areas at Chancery Lane and Graeme Hall has excited local birders to the prospect of them breeding here.  There is no evidence of that thus far but I will keep you updated.

Excited!! Enjoy Your Birding!!

Second Lifer For 2018

American Flamingo - Phoenicopterus ruber

After an adventurous journey on February 14^th to see my first wild Flamingo, an American Flamingo affectionately known as “Pinkie“, that took up residence in a flooded cow pasture at Quebradillas, Camuy, Puerto Rico, imagine my surprise on returning home and seeing my first local one just a few days later.

I first saw the bird while making a casual visit to the Swamp at Chancery Lane, Christ Church on February 24^th.  This Important Birding Area (IBA) is not a stranger to attracting migrants or vagrants but like most arrears on the island, was having a lean 2017-18 winter thus the reason for my casual visit. It now holds the second record of a wild flamingo on the island.  The first, a juvenile American - Phoenicopterus ruber, was recorded on May 22^nd, 2004 (Birds of Barbados P.A Buckley, E. B. Massiah et al).  This bird is also a juvenile P. ruber - pale plumage mostly, some pink in the neck, with brownish uppers. The Flamingo looks health, it is feeding, preening and snoozing appearing comfortable with its surroundings.

Let hope he hangs around for a bit like the Spoonbill. Until next post enjoy your birding

Birding Puerto Rico 2018

I spent a few day on the Caribbean island of Puerto Rico and did a little birding. Here are a few images of some of the birds I saw. Total number of Species seen 76, 30 of which were lifers.

 The Endemics  

Puerto Rican Tanager - Nesospingus speculiferus

Puerto Rican Tody - Todus mexicanus

Puerto Rican Woodpecker - Melanerpes portoricensis

Puerto Rican Flycatcher - Myiarchus antillarum

The Rare 

American Flamingo - Phoenicopterus ruber

Lesser Black-backed Gull - Larus fuscus

The Commoners 

Greater Antillean Grackle - Quiscalus niger

Turkey Vulture - Cathartes aura

Mangrove Cuckoo - Coccyzus minor

Pied-billed Grebe - Podilymbus podiceps

Black-necked Stilt, Glossy Ibis, White-cheeked Pintails

Pin-tailed Whydah - Vidua macroura

White-crowned Pigeon - Patagioenas leucocephala

Prairie Warbler - Setophaga discolor

Northern Parula - Setophaga americana