Local Lifer #166

Western House-Martin

Another lifer from Harrison's Point in October! This marks my seventh sighting at that location during this month over the past three years. I spotted a Western House-Martin (Delichon urbicum) on the evening of the 23rd while on a field trip with members of the Tour Guide Workshop organized by Birds Caribbean at the Walkers Reserve. The bird was flying with other swallows and martins, and at first, I was puzzled by its appearance. It resembled a Bank Swallow (Riparia riparia) aka Sand Martin but had the white rump of a Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) —both species were also flying in the area. Thanks to the Merlin Bird ID app and local expert Ed Massiah, I was able to positively identify it.

Western House-Martins are small, swallow-like birds, measuring around 5 inches (13 cm) in length with a wingspan of 10-11.5 inches (26-29 cm). Males in breeding plumage feature a glossy blue crown and back, a white rump, white underparts, and a forked tail. In non-breeding plumage, they have white on their rump, face-sides, and throat, with brownish flanks. Females have a grayer underparts than males while juveniles are duller, browner, and have shorter tails.

It  breeds in Europe, north Africa and across the Palearctic; and winters in sub-Saharan Africa and tropical Asia with migration periods between September–October and April–May.  This species was first recorded at Harrison's Point in October 1999 (8 birds). There were two other records since then - Fosters, St. Lucy, November 2000 (1) and St. Bernard's Village, St. Joseph, June 2002 (1). (Birds of Barbados Buckley, Massiah et al.)  

Two New Lifers Years Apart

Chimney Swift at Harrison's Point

In the past week, I added two new lifers, though one wasn't from this year. Curious how that works? Well, let's dive into the details. The latest addition is a Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica), spotted at Harrison's Point on the evening of October 14th. This small swift, often dubbed a "flying cigar" due to its shape, has been recorded on the island a few times. Measuring about 4-5 inches (10-12.5 cm) in length with a wingspan of 12-14 inches (30.5-35.5 cm), it sports a sooty gray-brown coloration with a slightly paler throat. Chimney Swifts have faced population declines due to habitat loss and are considered globally threatened, appearing on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List category. These tiny birds breed in North America and spend their winters in the upper Amazon basin of Peru, Ecuador, Chile, and Brazil.

Pomarine Jaeger photographed off the coast of Dominica in 2015

The second lifer I recorded goes back to 2015, when I saved every photo I took—good or bad, sharp or blurred. I don't do that now, but last weekend I was scrolling through old hard drives, reminiscing on family photos, and marveling at how quickly the kids grew up. That's when I stumbled upon an image of a bird I photographed while sailing into Dominica on a cruise in 2015. I knew it was a Jaeger, either a Parasitic or Pomarine—the two most common species in the region. Local birding expert Ed Massiah identified it as a Pomarine Jaeger (Stercorarius pomarinus). This large seabird measures around 20-24 inches (51-61 cm) in length with a wingspan of 47-56 inches (119-142 cm). Adults have predominantly dark brown plumage with a paler gray underside, a white patch under their wings, and a dark brown cap on their heads. Juveniles are more mottled brown with white patches on their wings. Pomarine Jaegers breed in the Arctic and subarctic regions of North America, Europe, and Asia, and winter in all major oceans, including the Atlantic.

Two new birds years apart.

October Big Day 2024, Count Me In!

Blackpoll Warbler - a bird I am hoping to see during OGBD 2024

Tomorrow, October 12th, is World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD), and I'm excited to join our local birders and countless others worldwide for a full day of birding. This year's October Big Day marks my quest to surpass my previous record of 65 species in 2020. While that was a remarkable achievement, I'm aiming for a respectable 55 species this time around.

My birding day will kick off in the north, at Harrison's Point, and gradually wind its way east, south, and finally west. I'll also be leading a field trip with visiting students from McGill University, adding an extra layer of excitement to the day.

Follow My Progress

You can stay updated on my birding journey in two ways:

• eBird Trip Report: Check out my eBird trip report for the most up-to-date information on my sightings.
• X (Twitter) Updates: Follow my Enthusiastic Birder X account for periodic updates on my progress.

Let's celebrate these amazing birds together!

Alberta 2024 - Day 9 - Banff Day 3

Our last day in Banff was an open day, meaning no planned group events as a group. While the other went to explore the town, it shopping, food and search for the famous Banff sign, I went birding.  From my ebird.org research I selected two places to visit, Fenland Nature Trail and The Cave & Basin Historic Site, and my target bird was the Canada Jay (Perisoreus canadensis).  This was supposed to be a common bird, but it was proving difficult to locate.  These two locations were going to be my best chance for the trip as it is not a common bird in Calgary.  I planned to bird the Bow River Trail until reaching the Fenland Nature Trail.  My first journey to the trial started at 6:40am. It was very cold, even though I was insulated with my many lays of clothing.  I started in Central Park, just behind The Banff Park Musem and worked my way along the trail. I was happy to find the two Common Yellowthroats (Geothlypis  trichas). 

Tennessee Warbler

About 45 minutes in I came upon of mix species quickly moving through the trees. Made up mostly of Yellow-rumped Warblers (Setophaga coronata) but I found a couple of Tennessee Warblers (Leiothlypis peregrina) among them. After birding the area for over an hour I return to the hotel for Breakfast to finish pack and checkout. 
At 11:00 am, I rejoined the group for our visit to the Cascade of Time Garden. This beautiful botanical garden featured vibrant flowers, well-manicured lawns, and ample walkways. I had hoped to spot a hummingbird species but was surprised by the lack of birds. 
After our visit, we split up - main group headed through town to the Banff sign, while I birded along the Bow River Trail to Fenland Nature Trails. The highlight birding that trail was a close-up encounter with a Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius) which made a low pass overhead as I watched a Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) feed her noisy chicks. As I continued along the trail, I encountered train tracks and then the entrance to Fenland Nature Trail. A sign warned of a high possibility of running into bears attracted to the fruiting shrubs and berries in the area. That sign ended my Fenland plans. 

Canada Jay as seen at Fenland trail - Lifer 

On my way back to the town center, I met the others heading to the Banff sign, which was near Fenland. We all went to the sign, and the group decided to join me on the Fenland trail for safety in numbers. It was the fastest and tensest birding I’ve ever done, with everyone on high alert for bears. We reached a bridge over a river leading to a picnic area, marking the end of the trail. I saw or heard no birds and was quite disappointed. However, as we exited the trail into the picnic area, I spotted a bird hanging around some people at a table. It was gray with a white head and dark nape—the Canada Jay (Perisoreus canadensis), lifer!

Unfortunately, I didn't have the chance to visit my second planned stop, the Cave and Basin Historic Site. Around 8 PM, we boarded a Go bus for the hour-long journey back to Calgary. I thoroughly enjoyed my three days in Banff - the beautiful town, stunning scenery, delicious food, excellent service, and even the cold weather, yes even that, and of course, the understated birding opportunities were the icing on the cake. I'm definitely planning to return to Banff in the near future.

Trip Stats
New Trip Species:  2 | Lifers for the Day: 1| Total Trip Species: 107 | 
Total Lifers: 16 | World: 395 | Banff e-bird Trip Report

  Banff Day 2 |Home | Day 9

Some of the Images from Banff Day 2

Tennessee Warbler

Tennessee Warbler Feeding on the Ground 

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Yellow Warbler

Warbling Vireo

Warbling Vireo

White-throated Sparrow

More Yellow Warblers

Mountain Chickadee 

Titania's Fritillary Butterfly

  Banff Day 2 |Home | Day 9

Alberta 2024 - Day 8 - Banff Day 2

The second day in Banff was dedicated to touring. We had planned to take the Banff Gondola up Sulfur Mountain, followed by a Roam Public Transit Bus ride to Moraine Lake and Lake Louise. However, I began the morning by birding along Bow Avenue along the Bow River. The Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) I had spotted the previous day was still present. That morning, the only new bird I encountered by the river was an Empidonax flycatcher, yet to be identified, which are infamously challenging to identify without their calls. After birding for about thirty minutes, I met up with the others for our 8:05 am Banff Gondola appointment.

Banff Gondola

Dark-eyed Junco

Our gondola adventure began at the visitor center, where my family, friends, and I, a group of nine, queued for a gondola pod. My wife and I were the first to ascend Sulfur Mountain. We shared a pod, designed for four adults, with two women. The mild motion sickness I experienced from the pod's gentle sway during the eight-minute ride became a humorous icebreaker for everyone but me. We learned they were from Taiwan and exchanged thoughts on Banff's chilly weather, comparing it to the climate back in our respective homes.

The summit proved to be even chillier than the base. We took in the summit building, astonished by the stunning vistas of Banff, along with the adjacent peaks and valleys. A few of us endured the biting cold to traverse a solid, well-kept boardwalk up to Sanson's Peak. Ordinarily, I would find this walk effortless, but the rarefied air at such an elevation made it laborious. The conspicuous absence of birds was remarkable; none were seen or heard, yet the intimate sightings of local mammals made up for it to an extent. I enjoyed clear views of two Bighorn Sheep (Ovis canadensis) and charming Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel (Callospermophilus lateralis). The first bird I came across was a first-time sighting; its call was heard before it disappeared into the trees. It was a grey bird, displaying a white tail with a black center as it took flight, identified as a Clark's Nutcracker (Nucifraga columbiana). Additionally, I observed two other species, the ever-present Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) and Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis), before we left the summit for our next stop, Moraine Lake.

Moraine Lake

Swainson's Thrush at Moraine a lifer

The drive to these two locations, Lake Louise and Moraine Lake were just stunning - snowcapped mountains, flowing rivers, evergreen trees wow! but not even those sense could have prepared us for the magic of Moraine Lake.  The pit toilets kind of throw us off a bit but after following the trial along the rock pile and looking down on the rich turquoise water of the lake, it all vanished. The setting with the snowy mountains in the background and the greens of the evergreen trees was just amazing.  After having my full the surrounding vista, it was time to bird.  I saw two small drab birds flicking around in one of the pine trees, then another and another.  In a few minutes, like a wave, this small area was covered with this drab bird, Yellow-rumped Warblers (Setophaga coronata).  There were joined by Mountain Chickadees (Poecile gambeli) and some other birds, along with my second lifer from Banff for this trip a Swainson's Thrush (Catharus ustulatus).  I got good looks and Images of Clark's Nutcracker (Nucifraga columbiana), which was another plus. From here we moved on to our final stop of the day Lake Louise

Lake Louise

A good bird but poor image, a Steller's Jay at Lake Louise, lifer

Lake Louise may not be as breathtaking as Moraine Lake, yet it too appears as though it's lifted straight from a postcard. The presence of the grand Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise along its shore somewhat diminishes its wild, natural allure. To me, it felt more populated than Moraine Lake. While most common birds in the area were visible, I was surprised by an unexpected sighting of the peculiar yet stunning Steller's Jay (Cyanocitta stelleri). Capturing a good photograph proved challenging as the bird flitted through the dark woods surrounding the lake. Spotting this bird was the highlight of my second day in Banff.

By the end of my second day in Banff and the eighth day of my trip, my count of lifers stood at fifteen, bringing my total tally to 394 species. Stay tuned for my next post on day three in Banff to discover which bird becomes my next lifer.

Trip Stats at this Point

New Species for the Day:  4 | Lifers for the Day: 3 | Total Species for this Trip: 105 | 
Total Lifers for this Trip: 15 | World: 394

  Banff Day 1 |Home | Banff Days 3

Some of the Images from Banff Day 2

View of the world-famous Fairmont Banff Springs from Sulfur Mountain 

A Big Horn Sheep on Sulfur Mountain

Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel 

Dark-eyed Junco

Fist Lifer of the day - Clark's Nutcracker

2nd Lifer of the day Swainson's Thrush

Yellow-rumped Warbler aka Butter butt

White-throated Sparrow

 Banff Day 1 |Home | Banff Days 3

Air Canada Flight Cancelation Give Bonus Days

I had anticipated that by this time, I would be preparing to reunite with my family and loved ones in Barbados after an extensive and my longest journey to date, spanning 27 days. However, it seems Air Canada had other plans, as I find myself drafting this post from a hotel room at the Wingate by Wyndham, conveniently located near the airport. Here's what transpired: my five family members and I arrived at Calgary International Airport at 11pm for our 1am flight, AC158 to Toronto, only to discover it had been cancelled. There were no available flights to connect us to our subsequent flight, AC1840 from Toronto to Barbados. The Air Canada desk attendant, appearing unsure of how to assist, directed us to a phone near the check-in desk. Securing a flight out of Calgary seemed an insurmountable task, even with assistance over the phone. That's when a kind-hearted young lady, Sarah Alajele, offered her help. And indeed, she was a godsend. After numerous calls and discussions with her supervisor, staying on the task even when here shift was over, we managed to secure flights that would eventually bring us home by the 14th. Air Canada is accommodating us at the Wingate for two nights. We will then depart for Toronto on flight AC130 on the 13th, endure a 21-and-a-half-hour layover there, before boarding AC1336 to Grenada on the 14th at 9:15am. After nearly a 5-hour layover, we will finally board Caribbean Airline flight BW233, arriving home at 8:20pm. 

One of the 2 Wilson's Warblers seen from the window

Today marked our first bonus day, which I spent entirely indoors. Mentally prepared to head home, I awoke feeling very tired for the first time on this trip. I stayed in to avoid the cold weather, which ranged from 9 to 14°C, and spent most of the day sleeping. From the room's large window, I did some birding, with views towards the Airport Casino and a hedge of shrubs. The highlight was observing two male Wilson's Warblers (Cardellina pusilla) foraging in the hedge for insects, along with three White-throated Sparrows (Zonotrichia albicollis). Raptors are a constant presence here, and I hope to photograph them tomorrow. Let's see how it goes. :(

One of the 3 White-throated Sparrows seen from the window

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Alberta 2024 - Day 7 -Banff, First Day

The resort town of Banff is arguably one of the most beautiful places on earth. Its landscapes are the stuff of postcards, and while it’s renowned for encounters with North America’s largest mammals like Grizzly and Black bears, wolves, deer, and moose, its avifauna is often overlooked. I had a fantastic time exploring the stunning locations with friends and family, all while seeking out and recording the bird species we encountered. By the end of our three-day stay, I had spotted twenty-seven species, eight of which were lifers. Here are some of the highlights.

August 21st

Our birding adventure began before dawn. As we stepped out of the house around 5 AM, a chilly breeze greeted us. My son, Jason, excitedly pointed out what he thought was the largest bat he'd ever seen. However, upon closer inspection, we realized it was an owl. Unfortunately, we couldn't definitively identify the species, though local expert Keith Miles suggested it might have been a Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus), a known species in the environ.
We boarded a FlixBus in downtown Calgary for the hour-and-a-half drive along the Trans-Canada Highway 1 to Banff. I had a window seat, which made for some interesting drive-by birding. One of the highlights was spotting the Whooping famous Whooping Crane standing out prominently in a nearby field. Its white plumage was a stark contrast against the green landscape, as even then was unwittingly entertaining a few birders who were parked and observing for the customarily lookout point in an adjacent road to the highway. I witnessed a fascinating encounter between a Swainson's Hawk (Buteo swainsoni) and an adult Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) at a small a small pond in one of the fields along the way.  I am still at awe at the size of the Bald Eagle as it was much larger than what is considered to be a medium to large hawk. 

White-crowned Sparrow

Two things surprised me when we eventually arrived in the town of Banff. First, it was incredibly cold, much colder than Calgary. Without a doubt, it was the coldest I have ever been. Thankfully, we took my aunt’s advice and brought heavier coats. These, along with the coats we normally wear in Calgary, offered some protection, but we still hurried to the nearest store to purchase mittens, which helped somewhat. The second surprise was how easy it was to spot my first two lifers: the White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys) and the Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis). From my first visit to Calgary, I had searched for these species, which are not considered too rare, without success. Yet here, they were extremely common. However, they were not as common as the invasive House Sparrow (Passer domesticus), whose calls and presence dominated the main street.

We spent our first day exploring the attractions in and near the town. Our visit to the world-famous Fairmont Banff Springs gave me a lifer I was not expecting: a Rufous Hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus). My final lifer for the day, a Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Corthylio calendula), appeared as I followed the trail along the Bow River. Over the three days, this area proved to be very productive for birding, and I visited it daily, mostly in the early mornings.  There I saw birds such as Northern Waterthrush (Parkesia noveboracensis), Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas), Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata), both Audobon and Myrtle variance, Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus) and even a Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius).  

I had a very active and productive first day in the town of Banff which set the tone for the days to come. 

Trip Stats at this Point

New Species for the Day:  7 | Lifers for the Day: 5 | Total Species for this Trip: 101 | Total Lifers for this Trip: 12 | Total Lifers: 27

Bird Seen

Rufous Hummingbird, Common Yellowthroat, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Mountain Chickadee, Warbling Vireo, White-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco

  Days 1-6 |Home | Banff Days 2