GBBC 2026 - Day 3 February 15 (Grand Turk)

Wilson’s Plover was one of the two yearbirds on Day 3

The final day of the GBBC turned into a shorebird spectacle on Grand Turk. My focus was on two target species—Snowy Plover (Anarhynchus nivosus) and Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus)—but despite my efforts, neither made an appearance.

Stilt Sandpipers at West Point Salinas

I visited two of the island’s major wetlands, with a quick glance at a third. Killdeers (Charadrius vociferus) were ever-present, their calls ringing out across the wetland near the cruise port. At the first, West Point Salinas, eBird flagged my checklist for the unusually high number of Stilt Sandpipers (Calidris himantopus) recorded—perhaps an uncommon occurrence for the island, but they were certainly present in significant numbers. Another wetland held a handful of Black-necked Stilts (Himantopus mexicanus) and two large gulls, which turned out to be Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) and Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus).

American Flamingos at Hawkes Nest Salina

My final stop was at Hawkes Nest Salina, a wetland adjacent to the cruise port, where I tallied a striking group of American Flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber) 95 in total, along with a few warbler species. By the end of the day, I had added no lifers, missing my two target plovers, but I did secure two yearbirds: Wilson’s Plover (Anarhynchus wilsonia) and Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus).

This GBBC was truly unique—an adventure across land and sea that I’ll always remember. My bird of the count, without question, was the Black-capped Petrel (Pterodroma hasitata) seen on Day 2.

The Stats

• New for the count:
• - Lifers: 0
• Year birds: 2; Wilson’s Plover, Lesser Black-backed Gull 
• For the GBBC
• Total species seen: 59
• Total lifers: 12

Day 2 | Home | Images |Trip Report 

GBBC 2026 - Day 3 February 15 (Grand Turk) Images

One of the few Black-necked Stilts at Town Salina

A Lesser Blackback Gull at Town Salina

Donkeys are a part of Grand Turks history and these
Cattle Egret are benefiting for them 

Palm Warblers were ever present

Shorebirds were the main birds at Great Salina

Greater Yellowlegs

Ruddy Turnstone

Wilson's Plover

Wilson's Plover

Least Sandpiper

I was not expecting to see Sanderlings at the mud flats

One of the many Stilt Sandpipers I saw

Semipalmated Plover

GBBC 2026 - Day 2 February 14

The coastline of Cuba

Day 2 was, for the most part, uneventful as the ship sailed along the eastern coast of Cuba, through the Windward Passage in route to the Turk & Caicos Islands, island of Grand Turk. I say “mostly” because the morning’s sea watching gifted me a lifer—an unforgettable highlight in an otherwise quiet day.

It was impossible not to be awed by the sheer size, rugged beauty, and dramatic coastline of eastern Cuba. I rose just before daybreak to find the ship already gliding past the shore. In the darkness, only two faint red lights—perhaps from an antenna—hinted at civilization. As dawn broke, a haze lingered, but the ghostly outline of the land drew the attention of nearly everyone gathered on the port side.

Later in the day, as the haze lifted slightly, I tried to capture the landscape in photographs. Though the coastline remained a distant backdrop for most of the journey, its presence was striking.

Birding was quiet, with only two species recorded:

One of the two Black-capped Petrel - Lifer

• And my lifer of the day—two Black-capped Petrels (Pterodroma hasitata), spotted a few miles apart.
• Four Brown Boobys (Sula leucogaster) that accompanied us, diving sporadically for flying fish.
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Though sightings were few, the lifer made the day memorable.

The final day of the GBBC found me in Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos Islands. You can read about that adventure here.

Day 1 | Home | Day 3

GBBC 2026 - Day 1 February 13 (Jamaica)

The Jamaican Owl was my best bird for the GBBC Day 1

My first-ever trip to Jamaica turned out to be deeply satisfying—and from a birding perspective, absolutely incredible. I lucked out with a taxi driver who, although not a birder himself, was down for a bit of birding and trusted my instincts when I asked him to stop at a promising-looking wooded area in an upscale development called Moon Palace. At first it was quiet, almost too quiet, and then everything changed. Our first sighting was an American Kestrel (Falco sparverius). Moments later, my second lifer of the trip appeared: a stunning Red-billed Streamertail (Trochilus polytmus). From that point on, the birds just kept coming. Lifers, yearbirds—one after another in a steady, exhilarating flow. The biggest surprise was a pair of Jamaica Todys (Todus todus), flitting through the understory. Between sightings, I even got an impromptu lesson in how authentic Jamaican jerk is made. The highlight was being introduced to the Pimento Tree—the heart of jerk seasoning. As if on cue, the tree opened the floodgates to a wave of birds, especially warblers drawn to its red berry-like fruit. American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla), Black-throated Blue (Setophaga caerulescens), Cape May (Setophaga tigrina), and Palm Warblers (Setophaga palmarum) all made appearances. Local species joined the feast too: Loggerhead Kingbird (Tyrannus caudifasciatus), Olive-throated Parakeet (Eupsittula nana), Orangequit (Euneornis campestris), and Jamaican Oriole (Icterus leucopteryx)—every one of them a lifer for me. We spent about an hour soaking in the action before heading back to the port.

Red-billed Streamertail at Moon Palace

After a quick stop on the ship, I made my way to a nearby park called Turtle River Park, and once again I was blown away by the richness of the birdlife. I recorded three lifers in the short time I was there - Jamaican Owl (Asio grammicus) and a pair of Antillean Palm Swifts (Tachornis phoenicobia)circling overhead, and two Yellow-throated Warblers (Setophaga dominica).

By the end of Day 1 of the GBBC—and my first day ever in Jamaica—I had recorded 38 species, including 24 yearbirds and 11 lifers.  See trip report here |more image here

Day 2 will be a day at sea, but if today is any indication, this GBBC is shaping up to be one for the books.

New Species for GBBC: 38 Species
Total Lifers: 11 Species

Home | Day 2

GBBC 2026 - Day 1 February 13 (Jamaica) - Images

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Loggerhead Kingbird

Turkey Vulture

Sad Flycatcher

Yellow-throated Warbler

Jamaican Woodpecker

Jamaican Owl

Palm Warbler

Red-billed Streamertail

Home

A GBBC With a Difference: Counting Birds Across the Caribbean

Brown Booby is one of the birds on my GBBC list

This year’s Great Backyard Bird Count is going to look a little different for me—mostly because my “backyard” will stretch across the Caribbean. Instead of watching my feeders from home, I’ll be counting birds from three countries in four days, with each stop offering its own set of species and surprises.
February 13 kicks things off in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, where I’ll be chasing as many of the island’s endemics as I can find. Jamaica’s birdlife is legendary, and I’m hoping to add several specialties to my life list before the day is done.
Day two, February 14, will be spent at sea, cruising the strait between Cuba and Haiti. With luck, the open water will deliver a few pelagic treasures—maybe a petrel, a jaeger, or one of the noddys that roam the region. Pelagic birding is always a gamble, but that’s part of the thrill.
Finally, on Sunday, February 15, I’ll wrap up the count on Grand Turk, where my targets shift to shorebirds. Piping Plover and Snowy Plover are at the top of my wish list, and the island’s beaches should give me a fighting chance.

It’s shaping up to be a GBBC unlike any I’ve done before—two countries, countless miles, and who knows how many birds. I can’t wait to see what turns up.

You can keep track here >>

Thursday Afternoon Birding: Graeme Hall from (05/02/2026)

Thursday afternoon found me at one of my favorite birding spots—Graeme Hall Swamp. My main goal was to search for members of my favorite bird family, the warblers. While most birders head to the “public entrance” off Highway 7, I’ve grown fond of the opposite end, entering from the Amity Lodge end. With the regrowth of Acacia trees, this section has become especially attractive to birds.
I began around 3:45 p.m. and spent about an hour and a half following the trail that runs along the agricultural fields, down to the sewage treatment plant, and back again. Over the course of the walk, I recorded fourteen species, including two warblers. The first was the local Mangrove Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia), also known as the Golden Warbler. The second was the Northern Waterthrush (Parkesia noveboracensis), a familiar wintering migrant in Barbados. Both were highlights of the afternoon, reminding me why warblers hold such a special place in my birding heart.

Here’s the full list of species I observed, accompanied by images:

Zenaida Dove - Zenaida aurita
Common Ground Dove - Columbina passerina
Eurasian Collared-Dove - Streptopelia decaocto
Scaly-naped Pigeon  - Patagioenas squamosa
Antillean Crested Hummingbird - Orthorhyncus cristatus
Green-throated Carib - Eulampis holosericeus
Western Cattle-Egret - Ardea ibis
Caribbean Elaenia - Elaenia martinica
Grey Kingbird - Tyrannus dominicensis
Carib Grackle - Quiscalus lugubris
Mangrove Yellow Warbler - Setophaga petechia
Northern Waterthrush - Parkesia noveboracensis
Barbados Bullfinch - Loxigilla barbadensis
Bananaquit - Coereba flaveola

As the light began to fade and I made my way back along the trail, I couldn’t help but reflect on how this pressures landscape continue to change. A point that was clearly seen as I came upon the cleared area where government is about to start a new project that will work along with the sewage treatment plant. Fourteen species in under two hours, this far from the main mangroves was a reminder that Graeme Hall continues to be a vital refuge for both resident and migratory birds. Let's hope it remains that way for generation after generation to enjoy like I did on this Thursday afternoon of birding. 

Please enjoy the images:

Northern Waterthrush

Mangrove Yellow Warbler

Grey Kingbird

Caribbean Elaenia

Caribbean Elaenia