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:
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| Northern Waterthrush |
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| Mangrove Yellow Warbler |
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| Grey Kingbird |
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| Caribbean Elaenia |
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| Caribbean Elaenia |
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