From Barbados to Beyond: Chasing 300 Birds (updated August 18th)

#222. Arctic Tern was one of the lifers from my trip to Canada

It’s been a while since I last shared how my 2026 birding challenges are going. As you may recall, I set two goals:

1. To record 100 local bird species in areas accessible to the average birder.
2. Chasing 300 bird species worldwide in a single calendar year.

One challenge is going very well—I’m now just one species away from the 100 local bird milestone. The other, the 300‑species global goal, is proving to be much more difficult.

The One Hundred Birds Update

#97/271 - Fulvous Whistling duck

Since my last update on July 30, I’ve added 18 new species to my list. What makes this especially rewarding is that I was away from the island for most of August. As expected, common public access birding hotspots such as Woodbourne Shorebird Reserve (WSR), Chancery Lane, Inch Marlow, and Long Beach produced the majority of sightings. 

But some unexpected places also delivered:

• The Apes Hill Polo Field in St. James - viewing from the roadside
• Grantley Adams International Airport in Christ Church - viewing from outside the fence
• Even a random tree at Spring Hall in St. Lucy

As of this update, I’m just one species shy of 100 local birds and if all goes to plan, I could reach my goal as early as tomorrow, Monday October 19th. Honestly, there was a time when I doubted I would get this far, now I’m just excited to see which bird will push me across that milestone and how many more species I will see before year end.

Chasing 300 Update

238. Canada Warbler was a year bird for my Canadian trip

As mentioned above, I was off the island for most of August, visiting relatives in Alberta, Canada. I managed to fit in some birding, which gave my 300‑species challenge a welcome boost. (See Trip Page Here) The trip was both refreshing and rewarding, reminding me how travel opens doors to new habitats and species I’d never encounter at home. At my last update in July, my count stood at 261 species. By the end of the Alberta trip, that number had climbed to 271—an encouraging gain of 10 species. 
With just under three months left in the year, the path to 300 may seem improbable, but I’m still pressing forward. I’ll stay alert for migrants and rarities, making every outing count. With steady effort, I’m determined to push closer to that milestone. 
Already, this journey has surpassed expectations: I’ve broken my personal best for birds seen in a calendar year, added nearly 40 lifers, and photographed over 100 species. Whether I reach 300 or not, the experience has been deeply rewarding.

The story continues, follow along under the tab - “From Barbados to Beyond: Chasing 300 Birds” here as the story unfolds. See bird list below.

• Caribbean Cruise: Checklist | Ebird Trip Report
• Canadian Trip: Checklist | Ebird Trip Report

Keys: Rare birds; Barbados Purple lifer; W.I Lifers; World Lifer; World total * Rare for the time of year