ABC Islands: Aruba (February 11, 2026)

Sooty Tern

Aruba was our last stop in the ABC Islands, and even before I was fully awake, I managed to add a new bird to the trip list. My mornings at sea follow a simple ritual: step out onto the balcony with a cup of coffee and a few of the ship’s complimentary cookies, breathe in the fresh air, and watch the sunrise. On this particular morning, a quiet surprise awaited me—a Sooty Tern (Onychoprion fuscatus) resting calmly on one of the lifeboats. I checked it carefully for any signs of injury, but it seemed perfectly fine, simply pausing to rest. I left it be, grateful for the unexpected encounter. For Aruba, my wife had set herself the ambitious goal of climbing all 600 steps of Hooiberg, a high point in the center of the island. My mission was simpler: to find the Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia), known locally as the Shoco. Reports suggested that sightings often occurred near Hooiberg, so our plan was straightforward—she would tackle the climb, and I would bird the surroundings, keeping my eyes peeled for owls. We were among the first passengers off the ship when it docked at Oranjestad, and within minutes we were in a taxi heading toward Hooiberg. The driver was warm and talkative, and when he learned of my quest, he surprised me by saying he knew exactly where I could find a Shoco—guaranteed. He promised to take us there after our Hooiberg adventure. Intrigued but skeptical, I still intended to search on my own while my wife climbed.

Venezuelan Troupial @ Hooiberg

Looking up at the endless steps, I knew I had made the right decision to avoid the full climb. Still, peer pressure nudged me to go partway, and I managed about a quarter of the ascent before stopping to enjoy the view. The slopes were dry and dominated by cacti and acacia trees. Bare‑eyed Pigeons (Patagioenas corensis) were the most numerous, but I also spotted a Venezuelan Troupial (Icterus icterus) and a lively Bananaquit (Coereba flaveola). After descending, I wandered toward the nearby Aruba Water Park, birding along the way. I strayed off the path into the shrubs, which rewarded me with my closest look yet at a Blue‑tailed Emerald (Chlorostilbon mellisugus) —a dazzling hummingbird, though sadly I couldn’t capture a photo. From the steps I had noticed a pond not far away, so I made my way there next. Unfortunately, it was quiet, with no birds present, and my search for the Shoco remained fruitless. The taxi driver’s promise now felt like a lifeline.

Momma Burrowing Owl at Casibari Rock Formations

True to his word, the driver later took us to the Casibari Rock Formations, a popular attraction with striking boulders and plenty of visitors. He led us along a trail to a fenced‑off area, and to our delight, there were five Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia) owlets huddled together. Nearby, a parent perched watchfully in a tree. I was elated—finally, the Shoco! A lifer at last.

White‑cheeked Pintail @ Bubali Bird Sanctuary

Afterward, we headed back to the ship. I was eager to check on the Sooty Tern and was pleased to find it gone—no longer perched on the lifeboat. I imagined it had regained its strength and flown off. But my birding wasn’t finished yet. I arranged for the taxi to take us to another hotspot—the Bubali Bird Sanctuary. My son Jason joined me, and almost immediately on the trail we heard the familiar call of a Northern Waterthrush (Parkesia noveboracensis), the second one for the trip. Beneath a tree at the trail entrance was a group of domestic Muscovy Ducks (Cairina moschata), but among them I picked out two more firsts for the trip: White‑cheeked Pintail (Anas bahamensis) and Purple Gallinule (Porphyrio martinicus).

Aruba added one lifer and nine species to the trip checklist, bringing the grand total to 63 species—including five lifers. A fitting finale to a memorable journey to the ABC Islands - Bonaire, Curaçao and Aruba.

The Stats:

Day's New Birds for the Trip:                 Trip Species Tally: 63
Day's New Lifer(s):   1                          Trip Lifer Tally: 5

New species for the trip: Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, White-cheeked Pintail, Blue-winged Teal, Purple Gallinule, Sooty Tern, Neotropic Cormorant, Burrowing Owl, Peregrine Falcon, Shiny Cowbird

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ABC Islands: Aruba (February 11, 2026) Images

Mumma Burrowing Owl @ Casibari Rock Formations

One of the four Burrowing Owl, Owlets @ Casibari Rock Formations

The four remaining Owlets in their den @ Casibari Rock Formations

Venezuelan Troupial @ Hooiberg

White-cheeked Pintails @ Bubali Bird Sanctuary

Mangrove Yellow Warbler (F) @ Bubali Bird Sanctuary

A beautiful Purple Gallinule @ Bubali Bird Sanctuary

Northern Scrub-Flycatcher in an Acacia tree @ Bubali Bird Sanctuary

Sooty Tern 

ABC Islands: Curaçao (February 10, 2026)

A view of the Queen Juliana Bridge as we sailed into Curacao

We arrived in Curaçao’s capital, Willemstad, around 6:30 a.m. As usual, I was up early to watch the ship dock and squeeze in a bit of birding before the day began. My expectations for the island were modest—our plan was to spend most of the day exploring the city rather than touring the countryside or birding extensively as we had in Bonaire. Yet, to my surprise, the day ended with one lifer and eleven new species added to the trip tally.

Juvenile Yellow‑crowned Night‑Heron at Rif Mangrove Park

I said “most of the day” because in the early morning I visited Rif Mangrove Park, conveniently located right next to the port. Unfortunately, when I reached the pay booth I realized I had left my wallet in my room, so my birding was limited to the park’s exterior. Almost immediately, I was rewarded with my fourth lifer of the trip: two parakeets flushed from the trees, flew across the road in front of me, and disappeared into the mangroves. Their mostly green plumage with a wash of blue on the head made it clear these were not the more common Brown‑throated Parakeet (Eupsittula pertinax), but rather Blue‑crowned Parakeets (Thectocercus acuticaudatus). I also added several other species, including Yellow‑crowned Night‑Heron (Nyctanassa violacea) and Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius).

One of the many avian themed murals around Curacao

Curaçao seems to have a special affection for birds—murals of them appear throughout the city. While admiring one particularly striking piece in the square that houses Café Copacabana, I had my best look yet at a Blue‑tailed Emerald (Chlorostilbon mellisugus), feeding from a flowering tree nearby. Another memorable sighting was a pair of Green Herons (Butorides virescens) nesting right in the midst of busy pedestrian traffic, a reminder of how wildlife and city life often intertwine in unexpected ways.

As the ship pulled away from Willemstad, I thought back on the day. What supposed to have been the quietest birding day of the trip delivered—a lifer, a few firsts for the year, and fresh additions to the trip tally.

The Stats:

Day's New Birds for the Trip: 9                 Trip Species Tally: 54
Day's New Lifer(s): 1                                Trip Lifer Tally: 4

New species for the trip: Blue-tailed Emerald, Common Gallinule, Spotted Sandpiper, Laughing Gull, Yellow-crowned Nightheron, Green Heron, Western Cattle Egret, Blue-crowned Parakeet, Northern Waterthrush. Images

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ABC Islands: Curaçao (February 10, 2026) Images

The ubiquitous Bare-eyed Pigeon

Juvenile yellow-crowned Nightheron

Brown-throated Parakeet

Venezuelan Troupial

Venezuelan Troupial

Saffron Finch

 A few of the Avian Murals from around Williemstad

 White-Tailed Hawk- Artist Garrick Marchena painted name "I am Curaçao" 

Tropical Mockingbird - A section of "Chromatic Nature" by Jhomar Loaiza

 Venezuelan Trupial in the courtyard by Café Copacabana

ABC Islands: Bonaire: The Northern Journey (February 09, 2026)

The road carried us back through the capital and into the northern part of Bonaire, the landscape shifting from busy streets to rugged, windswept terrain—more dramatic even than the southern side. In my mind, two birds stood out as targets for the day: the Yellow-shouldered Parrot (Amazona barbadensis), a bucketlist species, and the Hooded Warbler (Setophaga citrina), which had been appearing on the island’s eBird rare bird alert. Our first stop was Kunuku Arawak, where a giant lizard sculpture caught our eye, though the site itself was closed. Next door, Bonaire Landsailing Adventures was also shut, so we continued on, admiring the rugged and sometimes surreal scenery until we reached the historic town of Rincon. From there we turned onto the road leading toward Washington-Slagbaai National Park, only to find its gates closed as well. Disappointment quickly gave way to excitement when I caught sight of a bird diving into roadside shrubbery. A patient search revealed another lifer, the Northern Scrub-Flycatcher (Sublegatus arenarum). The area proved to be quite birdy, so I lingered and enjoyed familiar companions such as Mangrove Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia), seen in numbers greater than I had ever encountered before, Caribbean Elaenia (Elaenia martinica), Bananaquit (Coereba flaveola), and the less familiar Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus). As we approached the junction leading back into Rincon proper, near the Cadushy Distillery, I heard unmistakable parrot calls, and to my delight nine Yellow-shouldered Parrots appeared, perched casually as if waiting to be admired. My heart raced—this was the bucketlist lifer I had hoped for.

Yellow-shouldered Parrots was my third lifer for the day

We carried on to Mirante GotoMeer, stopping at the lookout point over the saltwater lake where BirdsCaribbean and company had placed more informative boards. The scenery was breathtaking, and the close views of American Flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber) feeding in the shallows were the best of the trip so far.  I also got my first proper images of the Northern Scrub-Flycatcher, while there. on leaving GotoMeer we ended up on a narrow and busy one-way road but was quickly pointed in the correct direction.  Later, near the BOPEC storage facility, I searched for the elusive Hooded Warbler but came away empty-handed.

Northern Scrub-Flycatcher at the GotoMeer lookout

My wife suggested visiting the iconic 1000 Steps, so after pausing at Landhuis Karpata we tried to continue south along the road. To our surprise, it turned out also to be a one‑way, and we had to consult the hire car’s map, which showed a long detour. An off‑road shortcut looked promising, but the track quickly became too rough for our vehicle. While we stopped to figure out the best route, I was rewarded with clear views and photographs of a Pearly‑eyed Thrasher (Margarops fuscatus), logged at Kaminda Karpata. We never did reach 1000 Steps—something to save for our next visit.

Pearly‑eyed Thrasher

By late afternoon, after a few more navigational blunders, we returned to the capital, dropped off the car at the Divi Flamingo Beach Resort, and birded our way back to the ship. Two more species were added to my day's checklist before boarding, bringing the tally for the day, and my first stop in the ABC Islands, to forty-three species, including three lifers. Tomorrow Curaçao.

See more images here

Days & Trip Tally:  45 species     Lifers: 3

Birds Seen: Southern - Rock Pigeon, Bare-eyed Pigeon, White-tipped Dove, Eared Dove, Black-necked Stilt (190), Black-bellied Plover, Semipalmated Plover, Short-billed Dowitcher, Lesser Yellowlegs, Greater Yellowlegs, Ruddy Turnstone, Stilt Sandpiper, Sanderling, Least Sandpiper, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Royal Tern, American Flamingo, Magnificent Frigatebird, Brown Booby, Tricolored Heron, Reddish Egret, Snowy Egret, Great Egret, Great Blue Heron, Brown Pelican, Osprey, Brown-throated Parakeet, Tropical Mockingbird, House Sparrow, Carib Grackle, Bananaquit. Northern: Scaly-nape Pigeon, Crested Caracara, Yellow-shouldered Amazon, Common ground Dove, Caribbean Elaena, Northern Scrub-flycatcher, Brown-crested Flycatcher, Venezuelan Troupial, Mangrove Yellow Warbler, Gray Kingbird, Pearly-eyed Thrasher, Yellow Oriole, Black-faced Grassquit, Saffron Finch.

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ABC Islands: Bonaire: The Northern Journey - Images (February 09, 2026)

Yellow-shouldered amazon (Amazona barbadensis) in flight - Lifers, bucketlist bird 

I saw these in Rincon close to Cadushy Distillery

I couldn't believe I found them after two trips to Bonaire

Northern Scrub-Flycatcher (Sublegatus arenarum) was my 3rd lifer for the day. This guy was photographed at GotoMeer

Those eyes can't lie - a Pearly-eyed Thrasher

Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus) photographed in the are of Washington-Slagbaai National Park

Mangrove Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia), seen extremely common on Bonaire

A more familiar fly-catcher - Caribbean Elaenia (Elaenia martinica)

ABC Islands: Bonaire: The Southern Journey (February 09, 2026)

We docked at Kralendijk, Bonaire’s capital, at 7 a.m. With a comfortable hired Chevy SUV waiting, our plan was simple yet full of promise: circumnavigate the island in search of birds and adventure. The route would take us south toward the salt flats, around to Sorobon, back through the capital around mid‑day, then north to Rincon before looping through the rugged Washington Slagbaai National Park. By 5 p.m., we aimed to conclude the journey back on board the ship.

Bare‑eyed Pigeon

Even before leaving the port, the birding had already begun. On our short walk to collect the vehicle, we encountered the ubiquitous and comical Bare‑eyed Pigeon (Patagioenas corensis), the ever‑present Tropical Mockingbird (Mimus gilvus), and the invasive House Sparrows (Passer domesticus). Sharing the rocks with these birds were Green Iguanas (Iguana iguana), their prehistoric appearance a striking reminder of the island’s wild character—an unforgettable sight to behold.

First Lifer of the trip - Reddish Egret 

The first stop after leaving the port was a wetland just outside Kralendijk at the capital’s ponds, where I was overjoyed to spot my first lifer of the trip: a Reddish Egret (Egretta rufescens). Other wading birds were scattered across the shallows and mudflats, feeding gracefully in the morning light.
Continuing our journey, we paused at a beach just past Flamingo International Airport to check out another remarkable creature—a lizard unlike any we see at home. Much longer than our familiar anoles, it carried an impressively long tail. What truly caught our attention was its coloration: a stunning blend of gray and brown, accented with shimmering shades of blue and green. Later I learned this striking reptile was the Bonaire Whiptail Lizard (Cnemidophorus murinus).

Bonaire Whiptail Lizard

The salt flats were breathtaking. First the towering salt pyramids came into view, followed by the shimmering pink lakes spread across the flats. We made a brief stop at the salt pier, the loading point where salt is transferred onto ships for export and collected a few salt blocks as souvenirs.
Just offshore, two Brown Boobies (Sula leucogaster) perched on a buoy, while an Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) circled above, scanning the waters for its next fish. A signboard highlighting the birdlife of the area caught my attention, and I later learned it was part of an important conservation partnership between BirdsCaribbean, the salt field manager Cargill, and other collaborators. (Read here).

Flamingos nest building

Moving on from the salt flats, we made stops at the historic slave huts and the Willemstoren Lighthouse, built in 1837. Along the way, we paused periodically for birding, adding several species of shorebirds and herons, as well as Royal Terns (Thalasseus maximus), Brown Pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis), of course the iconic American Flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber) and Donkeys. Some of these stops were part of the Caribbean Waterbird Census, administered by Birds Caribbean.

We returned to the capital just after noon to begin our northern trek. The day was already full of adventure, birds, and lifers—so look out for that post.

ABC Islands Bird Species Tally:

Species Seen: 30    Lifers: 1

Birds Seen: Rock Pigeon, Bare-eyed Pigeon, White-tipped Dove, Eared Dove, Black-necked Stilt (190), Black-bellied Plover, Semipalmated Plover, Short-billed Dowitcher, Lesser Yellow Legs, Greater Yellowlegs, Ruddy Turnstone, Stilt Sandpiper, Sanderling, Least Sandpiper, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Royal Tern, American Flamingo, Brown Booby, Tricolored Heron, Reddish Egret, Snowy Egret, Great Egret, Great Blue Heron, Brown Pelican, Osprey, Brown-throated Parakeet, Tropical Mockingbird, House Sparrow, Carib Grackle, Bananaquit.

Link to Images 

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