2024 Lifers

Life #393 - Swainson's Thrush

Key: Barbados - Bar; Canada - Can; Grenada - Gre; West Indies -WI; World - Wor.

34.  Nashville Warbler - Leiothlypis ruficapilla (Bar: 169; WI: 218; Wor :414)
33.  Western House-Martin - Delichon urbicum (Bar:167; WI: 216; Wor: 413)
32.  Chimney Swift - Chaetura pelagica (Bar:166; WI: 215; Wor: 412)
31.  Yellow-bellied Seedeater - Sporophila nigricollis (Gre: 30; WI: 214 Wor: 411)
30.  Swamp Sparrow - Melospiza georgiana (Can:155; Wor: 410)
29.  Evening Grosbeak - Coccothraustes vespertinus (Can:154; Wor: 409)
28.  Palm Warbler - Setophaga palmarum (Can:153; Wor: 408)
27.  Greater White-fronted Goose - Anser albifrons (Can:147; Wor: 407)
26.  Cooper's Hawk - Accipiter cooperii  (Can:145; Wor: 406)
25.  White-throated Sparrow - Zonotrichia albicollis (Can:144; Wor: 405)
24.  Red Crossbill - Loxia curvirostra  (Can:143; Wor: 404)
23.  Brown Creeper - Certhia americana (Can:142; Wor: 403)
22.  Boreal Chickadee - Poecile hudsonicus (Can:141; Wor: 402)
21.  American Three-toed Woodpecker - Picoides dorsalis (Can:140; Wor: 401)
20.  Mountain Bluebird - Sialia currucoides (Can:139; Wor: 400)
19. Common Loon - Gavia immer (Can:138; Wor: 399) 
18. Canada Jay - Perisoreus canadensis (Can:136; Wor: 398) 
17. Steller's Jay - Cyanocitta stelleri (Can:135; Wor: 397) 
16. Swainson's Thrush - Catharus ustulatus  (Can:134; Wor: 396) 
15. Clark's Nutcracker - Nucifraga columbiana (Can:133; Wor: 395) 
14. Rufous Hummingbird - Selasphorus rufus (Can:132; Wor: 394) 
13. Ruby-crowned Kinglet - Corthylio calendula (Can:130; Wor: 393) 
12. White-crowned Sparrow - Zonotrichia leucophrys (Can:129; Wor: 392) 
11. Dark-eyed Junco - Junco hyemalis (Can:128; Wor: 391) 
10. Canada Warbler - Cardellina canadensis  (Can:125; Wor: 390) 
9.   Western Meadowlark - Sturnella neglecta (Can:124; Wor: 389)
8.   Western Kingbird - Tyrannus verticalis (Can:123; Wor: 388)
7.   Nelson's Sparrow - Ammospiza nelsoni (Can:122; Wor: 387)
6.   Northern Harrier - Circus hudsonius (Can:121; Wor: 386)
5.   Baird's Sandpiper - Calidris bairdii (Can:116; Wor: 385)
4.   Marbled Godwit - Limosa fedoa (Can:113; Wor: 384)
3.   Whooping Crane - Grus americana (Can: 108; Wor: 383)
2.   Audouin's Gull - Ichthyaetus audouinii (Bar:165;WI: 213; Wor: 382)
1.   White-tailed Hawk - Geranoaetus albicaudatus (Bar:164;WI: 212; Wor: 381)

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.

Local Lifer #163 - White-tailed Hawk

White-tailed Hawks, local lifer 163 

My second lifer for 2024 was an incredible find, thanks to my son Jason's sharp eye. While observing a flock of Western Cattle Egrets (Bubulcus ibis) on April 30th, he noticed their unusual behavior. Peeking through his binoculars he spotted a bird so high in the sky it was only visible through the lenses. Luckily, the bird eventually came closer, allowing me to capture a few images. Using these images, our local birding expert, Ed Massiah, made the exciting identification: a White-tailed Hawk (Geranoaetus albicaudatus)! This magnificent sighting marked a new bird species record for Barbados.

White-tailed Hawks are large and stocky, measuring approximately 17-24 inches (44-60 cm) in length with a wingspan of up to 4.5 feet (142 cm). Adults are primarily gray above with a rufous chest and a white belly. Juveniles, on the other hand, are a darker brown with streaking. Their natural range extends from southern Texas in the United States down through Central and South America, reaching central Argentina and Trinidad. However, in Trinidad & Tobago, they are considered "very rare visitors" (Birds of Trinidad & Tobago by Kenefick et al.).

This remarkable bird not only became my 163rd local lifer, my second for the year but also my 210th West Indian lifer and 378th worldwide lifer.  Days after the sighting the bird was seen multiple times in Kendal St. John.  What a find, what a bird, so far my best for the year - thanks, Jason!

Lifer # 154 - Garganey

My second local lifer for the year, and it's a mega.  I saw it while afternoon birding in the north.  The bird was a Garganey (Spatula querquedula), a small dabbling duck that breeds mostly in Europe and Asia.  It was among a flock of Blue-winged Teals (Spatula discors) and could have easily been mistaken for the female of that species, but what alerted me that it was different, was the distinctive facial markings, two clearly defined lines, one passing through the eyes and the other just below.  Also, the brownish patch just above the eyes, and the lack of the white patch at the base of the bill were not field markings of the Blue-winged Teal. 

Comparing the Female BW Teal, (front), and Garganey (back)

Taking the field markings into account, I tentatively thought - Garganey but having ever only seen an example of one in a field guide, I wanted expert confirmation. That was found with our local expert Ed Massiah, who I shared images with on our local Bird Alert messaging board, and Whatsapped said images to a friend and bird expert living in Guadeloupe,  Anthony Levesque of Birding Guadeloupe (If you are visiting Guadeloupe and need a guide, look him up, he's the best).  Both of them confirmed Garganey.  The task now is to get quality images of this species before it migrates.

Here is how my birding numbers look: 

• Barbados - 154 species
• West Indies - 198 species
• World - 363 species
• 2023 checklist 

can you find the Garganey among the BW Teal?

First Lifer for 2023 - #153 House Sparrow

First Lifer for 2023 - A House Sparrow 

I have not been doing much birding thus far for the year so this local lifer, #153, caught me by surprise.  It presented itself as I was parking my car in a public car park in the lower part of Bridgetown, the island's capital. The bird, a male House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) in breeding plumage, flew into a Neem tree (Azadirachta indica) but was soon flushed by passersby.   It was later heard singing and then reappeared in the same tree where I first saw it.  On both occasions, it was in the company of another bird which I believe to be a female House Sparrow but was unable to make a positive identification.  The fact that a female was spotted on September 30th, at the Bridgetown Port by Ed Massiah added to that thinking. 

House Sparrows are no strangers to our shores with the first confirmed record in 1997, followed by a colonization attempt in 2009 and multiple reports since then, including 2 records in the last 10 years.  This small songbird is said to be one of the most widely distributed birds in the world but it is not a bird of the Americas. It originated in Eurasia and northern Africa, and as the story goes, was introduced in Brooklyn from Europe in 1851 as a method of biological pest control, which it did effectively.  As the population of this sparrow grew it soon spread across the Americas and is now considered a pest itself. Listed as a dangerous invasive species because it competes aggressively with native birds for food and nesting space.  

House Sparrows are about 5.75" in length, about the size of our Barbados Bullfinch (Loxigilla barbadensis). Adult males are mostly reddish brown with a light grayish underside and a prominent black “bib”; their heads are patterned with darker rusty brown and have a gray patch on top. Female and young House Sparrows are streaked brownish-gray overall and have a lighter stripe near their eyes.  I will try to see if the bird that is with this male sparrow is a female and try to get a few more images to share here.  So stay tuned

Lifer #149 - Red-footed Booby

Lifer 149 - Red-footed Booby

A lot has happened since my last post on May 3rd.  This long pause was not because of a lack of birding activity, but because of a badly-behaving PC that I am happy to say is now behaving the way it should.  During that period I registered my 149th Local lifer, a Red-footed Booby (Sula sula). It also became my 194th and 360th records for the West Indies and the World respectively.  The bird was seen by Carla Daniel of The Barbados Sea Turtle Project while she was patrolling the beach at the East Coast Road, St. Andrew.  This pelagic species is usually only seen this close to land during bad weather, especially, as two local experts put it, "when winds were from offshore", yes on those very rare occasions when the island gets "westerly (blowing) winds". 

Red-footed Booby in its brown phase

Red-footed Boobys are seabirds about 28" (70cm) in length and with a wingspan of up to 60" (152cm). This species has various morphs.  In the brown morph, like my 149th, the bird is predominantly brown with a white hind-part and tail.

Red-footed Booby in its white phase

In the white phase the bird is all white with black on the edges of both wings. Juveniles are sooty brown, paler below, sometimes with a slightly darker breast band. Its dionostic red feet can be seen in all morphs.

My epic 10th year of birding continues to be one of my best years and I am thoroughly enjoying it. With the business end of the year, fall migration, quickly approaching I have a strong feeling 151 is on its way.

Lifer #148 - American Oystercatcher

American Oystercatcher

My fifth lifer of the year (#148) is one of those birds that you just cannot mistake for any other.  This large, stocky shorebird is about 17-21” (38-21cm) in length and sports a long, bright reddish-orange beak, yellow iris, and a bright reddish-orange eye-ring.  Yes, I am talking about the American Oystercatcher (Haematopus palliates), a bird that feeds almost exclusively on shellfish and other marine invertebrates.  I saw this bird at Inch Marlow, Christ Church on Friday, April 22^nd, it was my 82^nd species for the year. (110/10 Big Year)  This year, my tenth year of birding continues to be a memorable one. With eight more months to go is another lifer out there? let's hope so.

Lifer #146 - Baltimore Oriole

Male Baltimore Oriole

Yes, another lifer, the third for the month, I AM ENJOYING JANUARY 2022 BIRDING.  This one came as a surprise, a bird that I never dreamt of seeing in Barbados and it came so casually. But I’ll take it, Barbados Lifer 146 a male Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula) it all its splendor.  

The male Baltimore is a stunner, bright orange with a black head and bold white wingbar. Females vary from yellowish to bright orange below, often with blotchy black on the head.  The last record of this species here was netted at Harrison Point, St. Lucy on October 25, 1998 (Frost & Massiah 2001).

Lifer 148 is closer than you think can we get to 150 in the first month of the year?  It’s in the works.

Stay Safe

Lifer #145 – Magnolia Warbler

Magnolia Warbler

My second lifer in just the first month of the year whoopee!  I actually saw this bird, a Magnolia Warbler (Setophaga magnolia), in the second week of the year while birding in the Turners Hall Woods, St. Andrew.  I incorrectly identified it, on seeing the bird’s white undertail, as a Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria citrea), but thanks to the keen eyesight and the birding acumen of Ed Massiah the correction was made.  

According to the book The Birds of Barbados (an annotated checklist by Buckley, Massiah, et al), there were seven records of this species on the island, before this one, with the last sighting in March 1981.   

It is a small bird 4.3-5.1” (11-13 cm) in length, weighing about 0.2-0.5 oz. (6-15 g) and nest in North America while spending winters in South and Central America. 

This second rare warbler and lifer has motivated me to keep warbling (birding for warblers) at Graeme Hall and Turners Hall Woods in February and into the spring migration period, April-May, because I have placed the goal of ending the year with 150 local lifers back on the table, and I am four species away.  

Lifer #144 - Northern Parula

Northern Parula

It is just the third day into my 10^th year of birding, and I have registered my 145^th bird species for Barbados.  It happened while I was birding at the Graeme Hall Swamp today, looking for two species of warblers, Northern Waterthrush (Parkesia noveboracensis) and Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria citrea) both of which put in a no show.  An unexpected warbler did show, a Northern Parula (Setophaga americana), a bird considered rare for the island.

Northern Parulas breed in eastern North America from southern Canada to Florida.  It is about 4.3 to 4.9" in length, with a mainly blue-gray upper parts with two white wing bars.  The adult male have an extensive black and rufous breast band and a prominent white eye crescent while young females are plain yellow.

It was a welcome addition to my 110 for ten big year challenge, helping me to close the day with 46 species for the year.