Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus)

Description: 5.5 – 7.25 inches; small plover; brown upperparts; white underparts; breastband brown – black; crown brown; forehead white; short neck; legs yellow – orange and partially webbed between toes(Semipalmated) bill dark. Breeding: bill black tip with orange base; orange eye ring.  Habitat: Tidal wetlands, marshes and mudflats, both fresh and saltwater; beaches Statue: common migrant

Non-breeding plumage of Semipalmated plover

The breeding plumage of the Semipalmated Plover

Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca)

Description: 13 - 15 inches; legs long, bright yellow; bill dark long may appear slightly upturned; upperparts mottled greyish brown with white speckles; underparts white; neck and breast speckled; rump white; tail barred. Breeding: upperparts heavily speckled; Habitat: Tidal wetlands, marshes and mudflats, both fresh and saltwater

Statue: common migrant

Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)

Description: 5.75 – 7.5 inches; Adult: underparts brownish; upperparts dark blue; throat reddish brown; tail deeply forked, white spot and elongated. Immature: Throat upperparts white. Habitat: open areas – fields etc Statue: common migrant

Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis)

Length:18.1-22.1 in (46-56 cm); Habitat: Open fields, grasslands, agricultural areas freshwater.  Status: Resident Breeder, Very Common, island-wide. 

Comments: Frist seen on the island in the early 70's now the most visible and numerous egret/heron on the island. 

adults non-breeding 

Juveniles

January in Review

The first month of the birding challenge was good, as expected.  I was able to post ten (10) photographs, my year count stands at 42 species with three new species added to my life count.

  

The Photo of the Month

My photo of the month was chosen from some shots which I took of a group of shorebirds at Inch Marlow in the southern parish of Christ Church.  This group of shorebirds was made-up of Semipalmated   Plovers “Charadrius semipalmatus”, Sanderlings “Calidris alda” and Ruddy Turnstones “Arenaria interpres”.  They were very cooperative allowing me to get very close and to get some good shots.  To me though, the best photograph was that of three (3) Semipalmated Plovers on a wall. This is my Photo of the Month.

Extreme Birding Event of the Month

After standing for days, weeks then months on the cliff looking over Chancery Lane Swamp and having  a bird’s eye view of  Egrets, Yellowlegs and Teals below, I decided to climb down to get closer to our bird friends.  I found what looked like an easy way down a rock about 8 to 10 feet down and it was quite easy but climbing back out was a bit harder. After walking head first into a low lying branch I managed to climb up with a bad headache but it was fun.  Let’s hope we don’t have this every month I don’t think my wife will like it.

Photo from the cliff at Chancery Lane

Greater Yellowlegs at eye level

Greater Yellowlegs

Egrets and Blue Winged Teals @ base of cliff

Blue Winged Teals

Blue Winged Teals

 My Bird of the month

My bird of the month is a bird I have not mentioned on this blog before but one I followed and continued to observe with great interest.  As yet I’m not sure if it a Lesser Antilles Bullfinch (LAB) “Loxigilla violacea” or a Hybrid of the LAB and the Barbados Bullfinch “Loxigilla  barbadensis”.  I first saw this bird late last year, and sought the help on noted experts on the island for confirmation on its ID.  It is an ongoing saga and I’ll keep you guys up to date on the Case of the Bird with no Identity.  LOL Sherlock Holmes on the case. What do you think it is?

Update: DNA testing show this bird to be a Hybrid of the Barbados and Lesser Antillean Bullfinch

Let see what birding fun February has in store.