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.)  

Local Lifer #164 - Audouin's Gull

 

 The Audouin's Gull at Pile Bay on June 20th

When people ask about the unique birding experience in Barbados – a country with just one endemic bird, limited native nesters, and fewer woodlands or wetlands – I often compare it to a box of Cracker Jacks. Just like those surprise-filled snacks, birding here is full of unexpected treasures. Or, as a birding Forrest Gump might say, "Birding in Barbados is like a box of chocolates – you never know what you'll find." And somehow, I seem to have a knack for stumbling upon these delightful discoveries!  This knack recently led me to my third lifer for 2024 – an Audouin's Gull (Ichthyaetus audouinii)! I spotted this incredible bird on June 20th at the fishing complex at Pile Bay, St. Michael. 

Audouin's Gull (center) with Laughing Gulls 

It wasn't a planned birding outing. Returning home from a hospital visit after an early morning emergency, I decided to make a quick stop at Pile Bay. There, amidst the familiar Laughing Gulls (Leucophaeus atricilla) perched on buoys offshore, a larger, paler gull caught my eye.  Initially, I thought it might be a Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus), a yearly visitor to the island. However, its size seemed off – bigger than the Laughing Gulls but smaller than the Lesser Black-backs. Based on its pale back, black bill mark, and size, I leaned towards a Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis), but doubt lingered.

Sharing a quick photo from my camera with our local birding group, I received an unexpected response: "Audouin's Gull!" from our resident expert, Ed Massiah. However, he emphasized the need for a live sighting for confirmation due to the photo quality.  Intrigued, I sent the photo to Nigel Lallsingh, a friend in Trinidad who is familiar with the species after discovering the first record for Trinidad (and the Western Hemisphere) in 2016. His reply solidified my hopes – "Looks like a second-winter Audouin's Gull!" Later that day, Ed was able to observe the bird live, confirming it as an Audouin's Gull (Ichthyaetus audouinii) – a truly remarkable find! This wasn't just a first record for Barbados, but also the first sighting for the entire West Indies!

About the Audouin's Gull

Audouin's Gulls are medium-sized gulls, measuring about 17-24 inches (44-60 cm) in length with a wingspan of up to 4.5 feet (142 cm). Adults have a light grey body with a paler white head. Their light gray wings have black tips and lack the white spots common in many other gulls. They boast a dark red bill and dark gray legs. Juveniles have a mottled brown body with a distinct white rump patch. These birds are primarily coastal, inhabiting the Mediterranean Sea. They winter along the southern and western African coasts and the Iberian Peninsula.

This unexpected encounter highlights the thrill of birding in Barbados. You never know what fascinating bird you might spot next!

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!

Barbados Lifer, #162

Tropical Mockingbird from a trip to Bonaire

My first local lifer of 2024 was a Tropical Mockingbird (Mimus gilvus), a bird that gave me both joy and a little disappointment. Let me tell you how it happened. I was birding along the south coast of Barbados after work, stopping at Graeme Hall, Oistins, and Chancery Lane. I saw the usual suspects, but nothing out of the ordinary. As the sun was setting, I reached the Woodbourne Shorebird Refuge (WSR).  This was just an exploratory stop, as the fading light made general photography strenuous.  It was to see if two duck species  I was struggling to photograph all season, Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca) and Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) were still around. I didn’t think I would find anything new, so I left my camera in the car and headed to the western end of the reserve, where there is a spot we birders call the “back pond”. That’s where I spotted the bird. It was obvious from the first glance that it was not a common bird. It flew up from the ground, showing the white edges in the tail that no other bird on the island has. It then landed next to a Grey Kingbird, which confirmed its identity. I recognized it immediately as a Tropical Mockingbird, having seen many of them in my Caribbean travels. I wanted to capture it on camera, so I ran back to get my camera, but when I came back, the bird was gone. I looked for it in the following days, but it never reappeared.

The last photo of a Tropical Mockingbird in Barbados by Richard Roach 2009

The only other time I saw a Tropical Mockingbird in Barbados was in a photo taken by my good friend and fellow photographer Richard Roach. He snapped that bird in 2009, not far from the WSR. The Tropical Mockingbird has greyish upperparts and paler underparts. Its tail is long and has wide white tips on the outermost feathers, which are very noticeable when the tail is open or in flight. Young birds may be more brownish or buffy than adults and have weak dark streaks on the chest and sides. While this bird is rare for our island it is a common bird for the Lesser Antilles.

My first new local bird of 2024 was a rewarding experience, but I regret not having a photo of it because I didn’t bring my camera with me. But that’s birding for you.