Signs of Spring Migration

Two male Blue-winged Teals in breeding plumage

It is spring migration season, and even though the island doesn’t see nearly as much avian traffic as in the fall, we still see clear signs of it taking place.  For example, some of the bird species that wintered here, e.g. Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis),  have already migrated north, while other birds are in the process of, or have already molted into breeding plumage, in preparation for migration.  (E.g. Blue-winged Teals - Spatula discors). 

Ruddy Turnstones and Sanderlings @ Inch Marlow

Another sign of spring migration is birds making pit stops on the island en route to breeding grounds.  I got a first-hand look at what this could look like when I visited the beach at Inch Marlow, Christ Church on the weekend.   There I counted over 260 individual shorebirds made up of 6 species. The most abundant were Ruddy Turnstones (Arenaria interpres), over 140 of them in various stages of molting to the bright orange-brown breeding plumage. These were busy searching the Sargassum Seaweed for food.  This contrasted with the layback resting mood of the Sanderlings (Calidris alba) who were mostly just loafing around enjoying the sun, sea, and sand.  A few of these birds also showed early signs of breeding plumage.  A few Semipalmated Sandpipers (Calidris pusilla), Least Sandpipers (Calidris minutilla), and Semipalmated Plovers (Charadrius semipalmatus) were sprinkled among the flock. 

Ruddy Turnstones in various stages of molting, Sanderlings, Least Sandpipers, and Semipalmated Sandpiper 

As we enter the latter half of the month of April into early May, another group of birds, ones not as visible as the shorebird group will pass through.  We are talking about songbirds in the family of Wood warblers, Tanager, etc.  Be on the lookout for these beauties as you are out and about.  

Stay Safe and enjoy your birding.

The Barbados Birds and Birding Report – March

Visiting birders dominated during the month of March.  Over twenty of them submitted over 120 of the 188 checklists that were submitted to ebird.org during the month.  I do hope the Ministry of Tourism is taking note.   Together with our local birders added three new birds, Laughing Gull (Leucophaeus atricilla) Leach's Storm-Petrel (Hydrobates leucorhous), and Western Sandpiper (Calidris mauri), to the island’s year checklist, ending the month with 81 species.

The sighting of the Leach's Storm-Petrel highlighted an area of the local avian fauna that is least explored, that of the birds that inhabit the seas around our island, pelagic birds.  These are birds that spend most of their life at sea only returning to, or close to land for nesting or during bad weather.  Storm-Petrels are some of the smallest birds in that group. For example, Leach's Storm-Petrels are between 5 – 7” in length (12-17cm), which is about the size of a Common Ground-Dove (Columbina passerina).  So if any of you readers have a boat, we would not mind tagging along with you every now and then, all in the name of science.

March Rare Bird Sightings

Very few new rare birds entered the list during March., and after this would be the last time the American Coot white-shielded (Fulica Americana) will be listed as a rare bird, as was done by ebird.  This bird continues to nest successfully at a few locations across the island. The red shielded variety, which is the rarer of the two will continue to be listed.  
Here are the rare birds seen during the month, highlighted below parish by parish. (* continuing Birds)

St. Lucy

Glossy Ibis

• Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) (1)*-  this bird continued its stay long-stay at a private location in the parish.

St. Andrew

• American Coot white-shielded (Fulica Americana) (15)*- 12 adults and 3 juveniles at Walkers Reserve, which continues to be the hub for this species’ strong return to the island;
  
• American Coot red-shielded (Fulica Americana)* (1) – at Walkers Reserve;
• American Wigeon (Mareca Americana) (5)* seen among a large flock of Teal.

St. Thomas

• Snail Kite (Rostrhamus sociabilis)* – after being absent for close to three months, the Snail Kite turned up in Farmers, St. Thomas on the 17th.   Sightings were also reported on the 20th and 21st.
  

St. George

• American Coot white-shielded (Fulica Americana)*(3) - a pair with a single chick at Redland.

St. John

Grey Heron

• Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) - The first sighting of the year.

ST. Philip

• Purple Gallinule (Porphyrio martinica)*- sub-adult at the Bayfield’s Pond, first reported by a  visitor to the island but as subsequently molted, or in the process of molting,  into its beautiful adult plumage.

Christ Church

Black-headed Gull

• Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)* – This bird was seen on the ice pier at Oistins, with Royal Terns on the 10^th.

Yellow-crowned Night-Heron

• Yellow-crowned Night-Heron (Nyctanassa violacea) an adult bird seen at Oistins on the 19th. 

St. Michael

• Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus)* – this large immature gull was seen at the Bridgetown Fishing Complex on the 5^th. It was most likely the bird that was seen late last year.
• Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) – most likely the same bird that was reported at Oistins Christ Church;
• Leach's Storm-Petrel (Hydrobates leucorhous) – reported to ebird by visiting birder  John Ingham who note “ (the bird) was attracted to the lights of our cruise ship in Barbados cruise terminal before we set sail and settled on a ledge. It seemed exhausted. It was the size of a small pigeon…”  The last time this species was reported on was March 2018 by another visitor;
• Snail Kite (Rostrhamus sociabilis)* seen once again at its Bay Street roost after exploring the island

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.  

 

Yellow-crowned Night-Heron - The Crab Hunter

Yellow-crowned Night-Heron

On a casual visit to Oistins on Saturday morning (March 19th), I came across one of the most mysterious, and rare birds on our island, in one of the most public places.  This bird, a Yellow-crowned Night-Heron (Nyctanassa violacea), is nocturnal and loves to eat crustaceans, especially crabs.  I was able to observe this pre-historic looking bird for a few minutes and documented, with photographs,  it catching and devouring a Blackback Land Crab (Gecarcinus lateralis), but before doing that, it did this.

The heron regurgitated a half-eaten crab, with feet and claws missing.

Then proceeded to re-consume some of the regurgitated pieces. Seeing that prompted a few questions in my mind, did the bird kill its prey then removed the feet and claws? Knowing how hard a crab's shell is, I wondered if the heron had a method of softening the shell before eating it? 

Those questions were soon answered when the night-heron's attention was drawn to movement at the base of a nearby tree.  It approached the tree purposefully but cautiously, with a laser focus attention on the area of movement, only briefly broken by the nosey approach of an airplane making its way to the nearby Grantley Adams International Airport.  With a lightning strike, the bird had a Blackback Land Crab firm in its bill.       

The night-heron moved its prey to an open area 

After tossing it around in its bill for a bit, the bird swallowed the still alive crab whole. I found this very intriguing, the bird just ate a crab, shell and all. What type of digestive system does this bird have?   A search on the topic led me to the Houston Audubon webpage that dealt with the Yellow-crowned Night-Heron. A fun fact at the bottom of the page stated in part that Yellow-crowned Night-Herons excrete stomach acid strong enough to dissolve the shells of crawfish, crabs … 

What an amazing bird, one of the many, though rare, you see on the beautiful island of Barbados.  

Stay Safe and enjoy your birding.

The Barbados Birds and Birding Report – February

After a dream start to 2022, birding-wise, February brought things back down to earth.  We only add two species to the year’s tally, Caribbean Martin (Progne dominicensis) and a Pacific Golden-Plover (Pluvialis fulva) closing the month with 79 species.

February Rare Bird Sightings

Here are the rare birds seen during the month, highlighted below parish by parish. (* continuing Birds)

St. Lucy

The long-stay Glossy Ibis remains steady in the north

• Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus)(1)*- only one of the original three birds remaining at this location;

St. Andrew

The American Coot population continues to increase 

• American Coot white-shielded (Fulica Americana) (19)*- adults and juveniles at Walkers Reserve, which continues to be the hub for this species return to the island;
• American Wigeon (Mareca Americana) (8)* – seen at Walkers Reserve with a growing number of Blue-winged Teal (Spatula discors).

Magnolia Warbler continues at THWs

• Magnolia Warbler (Setophaga magnolia) – First seen on January 15^th at Turners Hall Woods. 

St. George

• American Coot white-shielded (Fulica Americana)* seen at Redland.

ST. Philip

• Purple Gallinule (Porphyrio martinica)*- sub-adult at the Bayfield’s Pond, first reported by a  visitor to the island but has subsequently molted into its beautiful adult plumage.
• Pacific Golden-Plover (Pluvialis fulva) - Every year for the last several years this species, maybe even the same bird, returns to this location. 

Christ Church

Two sightings of a Black-headed Gull at Oistins 

• Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)* –  two sightings in the month of February on the ice pier at Oistins;
• Common Tern (Sterna hirundo)* –  seen on the ice pier at Oistins'
• Cape May Warbler (Setophaga tigrina) – wintering bird at the Graeme Hall Swamp.  This bird was first seen by John Webster on January 23^rd.

St. Michael

• Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus)* – seen on the Browns Beach on multiple occasions.  

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.  

the 25th Great Backyard Bird Count

The annual Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) is Friday, February 18 through Monday, February 21. This year, the GBBC is celebrating 25 years of coming together to enjoy birds. The GBBC was one of the first online projects to collect information on wild birds and was also instrumental in the creation of eBird back in 2002. Now there are more ways than ever to participate and share your love of birds! continue reading

How to Participate

Participating is easy, fun to do alone or with others, and can be done anywhere you find birds.

• Step 1: Decide where you will watch birds.
• Step 2: Watch birds for 15 minutes or more, at least once over the four days, February 18-21, 2022.
• Step 3: Count all the birds you see or hear within your planned time/location and use the best tool for sharing your bird sightings:

• If you are a beginning bird admirer and new to the count, try using the Merlin Bird ID app.
• If you have participated in the count before, try eBird Mobile app or enter your bird list on the eBird website (desktop/laptop).
• If you are participating as a group, see instructions for Group Counting.

The Barbados Birds and Birding Report – January

What a busy start to the new year we had, seventy-six species of birds reported,  with an increase in rare birds sightings. This surge could be the result of the colder than normal conditions we had throughout the month, or it could just be that the main birders were all out in earnest.  All three, Ed Massiah, John Webster and myself recorded at least one local lifers during the month.  One of us is doing a big year for sure, while another may be secretly doing or considering doing one, but the fact is, when these three are birding with a purpose, we tend to see more bird species being reported.  A lot of help was provided by the over ten other birders, local and visitors, who submitted over 70 checklist to ebird.  Let's hope this drive continues into February and for the remainder of the year.

January Rare Bird Sightings

Here are the rare birds seen during the month, highlighted below parish by parish. (* continuing Birds)

St. Lucy

Glossy Ibis

• Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus)(1)*- the only one of the original three birds remaining at this location;

St. Andrew

American Coot (white-shielded)

• American Coot white-shielded (Fulica Americana) (15)*- 12 adults and 3 juveniles at Walkers Reserve, which continues to be the hub for this species return to the island;

  

  American Coot (red-shielded)

• American Coot red-shielded (Fulica Americana)(2) – at Walkers Reserve;
• American Wigeon (Mareca Americana) (2) – two of these migratory ducks were reported on the 16^th but were not seen on the 21^st;
• American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla) – a yearly wintering warbler at Turners Hall Woods;

  

  Magnolia Warbler

• Magnolia Warbler (Setophaga magnolia) – First seen on the 15^th but identification was conformed by Ed Massiah on the 21^st. The bird was last seen on the 29^th, the last visit by a birder to Turners Hall Woods;
• Pearly-eyed Thrasher (Margarops fuscatus) – another one of this year’s gems from the Turners Hall Woods.  Ed Massiah heard the repeated call of this Caribbean visitor on his visit to the woods on the 23^rd.

St. Joseph

Baltimore Oriole

• Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula) - a beautiful male seen at Chimborazo on the 26^th.

St. Thomas

Snail Kite

• Snail Kite (Rostrhamus sociabilis) – after not being seen for close to three months, the Snail Kite turned up in Farmers, St. Thomas on the 17^th.   Sightings were also reported on the 20^th and 21^st.

St. George

• American Coot white-shielded (Fulica Americana)* seen at Redland.

ST. Philip

Purple Gallinule

• Purple Gallinule (Porphyrio martinica)*- sub-adult at the Bayfield’s Pond, first reported by a  visitor to the island but as subsequently molted, or in the process of molting,  into its beautiful adult plumage.
• Tricolored Heron (Egretta tricolor) – this bird was seen feeding among white egrets and herons. Maybe the same bird from last year.

Christ Church

Northern Shoveler

• Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata) - one duck was seen at Woodbourne Shorebird Refuge on the 23^rd;
• American Coot (Fulica Americana) – two juveniles  at a private location;

  

  Black-headed Gull

• Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)* – the bird was seen on the ice pier at Oistins, along with a few terns on the 19^th.  It was not seen since then;
• Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) – first seen on the ice pier at Oistins on 19^th last seen on the 21^st ;

  

  Cape May Warbler

• Cape May Warbler (Setophaga tigrina) – one of the two rare warbler species seen at the Graeme Hall Swamp during the month.  This bird was first seen by John Webster on the 23^rd;

  

  Northern Parula

• Northern Parula (Setophaga Americana) – this warbler was first seen on the 3^rd then on 19^th and  22^nd ;

St. Michael

Lesser Black-backed Gull

• Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus) – this large immature gull was seen at the Bridgetown Fishing Complex on the 5^th. It was most likely the same bird that was seen late last year at Pile Bay.

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.  

January's Warblers

Birding for wood-warblers is a tedious task.  There are small birds, between 4 -6” in length, very active, and tend to forage high up in trees. The constant looking up normally leaves you with neck pains, a condition known in birding circles as Warbler Neck.  To add to the pain(😂), for an island like Barbados, which is not in the range of many of these families of birds, the rewards, in terms of numbers seen, are not too high.  In January 2022 though we saw species of warblers we don’t commonly see on the island.  I am not sure if this was caused by some atmospheric anomaly, or because we, the birders, just spent more time looking for these birds, in habitats where there are known to frequent, like Turners Hall Woods, Graeme Hall Swamps, etc of both.  Whatever the reason, it was exciting to see these rare warblers.  Here are the warblers recorded from our native species to the much rarer ones.

Native warbler 

Golden Warbler, the local subspecies of the Yellow warbler

 

Yearly Wintering Resident

Northern Waterthrush

American Redstart

Yellow Warbler (North America sub species ) migratory 

Rare Migrants 

Northern Parula 

Cape May Warbler

Magnolia Warbler