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

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Loggerhead Kingbird

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Sad Flycatcher

Yellow-throated Warbler

Jamaican Woodpecker

Jamaican Owl

Palm Warbler

Red-billed Streamertail

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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

A Record-Breaking Year of Birding in Barbados – 2025

What a year 2025 turned out to be! I recorded 124 bird species on the island, out of a total of 132 seen overall. Even more thrilling, eight of those were lifers, pushing my personal Barbados checklist up to 178 species.

Here are some of the highlights from this unforgettable year:

May Surprises

Black-throated Blue Warbler

• Black-throated Blue Warbler (Setophaga caerulescens) – My first lifer of the year, spotted in Turners Hall Woods on the evening of May 10th. Completely unexpected, but it lingered just long enough for me to capture a few documentary photos.
• Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus) – Just days later, this Old-World raptor appeared. Its identification took months to confirm, making the sighting even more rewarding.

October Trio

After a quiet summer, October delivered three lifers in quick succession:

A pair of Red-eyed Vireos

• Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus) – Found at Harrisons Point on a rainy Sunday afternoon, October 19th.
• Common Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula) – Seen at North Point, St. Lucy on October 21st.

  

  Eurasian Kestrel

• Eurasian Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) – A strong contender for “Bird of the Year,” spotted at The Belle, St. Michael on October 26th. Special thanks to Muriel Aboso and Anthony Levesque, visiting birders from Guadeloupe, who found the last two birds.

December Big Three

The year closed with a final burst of lifers:

• Masked Booby (Sula dactylatra) – Soaring along the cliffs at North Point on December 10th.

  

  Western Reef-Heron

• Western Reef-Heron (Egretta gularis) – Found at Woodbourne Shorebird Refuge on December 26th.

  

  Gray Trembler

• Gray Trembler (Cinclocerthia gutturalis) – A rare and exciting sighting at Consett Bay, St. John, also on December 26th.

Bird of the Year

My Bird of the Year is without question the juvenile Western Reef-Heron, first seen at Woodbourne Shorebird Refuge on December 26th. Some may wonder why this particular heron deserves the title. The truth is simple: I’ve been waiting many years for its return. I missed its last appearance early in my birding journey, and ever since, I’ve hoped for another chance. To finally see it gracing our shores felt like closing a long-awaited chapter in my birding story.

Best Birding Story 

Every bird comes with a story—where you were, what you were doing, and who was there to share the moment. I could fill a book with birding tales from 2025, but one that truly stood out was my encounter with the White-crowned Pigeon (Patagioenas leucocephala).

White-crowned Pigeon

The Date: February 1st, 2025 - I was sitting on my bed, deep in conversation with my wife, getting dressed to head out. In fact, I was just pulling on my socks when I glanced out the window. Normally, I’d expect to see the familiar Scaly-naped Pigeon (Patagioenas squamosa) feeding on the flowers of the vine outside. But this time, something different caught my eye—a pigeon of similar size, but with a striking white cap. In that instant, I knew exactly what it was. My heart raced as I frantically called for my son and searched for my camera. My wife looked on, jaw dropped and bewildered by my sudden burst of excitement. With my own camera locked away downstairs in the car, I grabbed hers instead and managed to capture a few images before finally retrieving mine. That brief, unexpected moment turned an ordinary morning into one of the most memorable birding highlights of the year.

From unexpected warblers, rare raptors and seabirds to countless rare and mega rare birds, not to mention gps tagged birds - 2025 was an extraordinary year for birding inn Barbados, kept me on my toes and filled my birding scrapbook with tons of memories. From lifer to common birds, each added a new layer of excitement to my birding journey, and I’m grateful for the community of birders who shared in these discoveries.

Here’s to even more surprises and milestones birding in 2026!

December 26: My Best Birding Day of 2025 (3 yearbirds, 2 lifers)

Western Reef-Heron, lifer

December 26 will forever stand out as one of—if not the—best birding days of my life. In a single day, I added three new species to my 2025 year-list, including two lifers, and witnessed a record-breaking moment for Barbados birding.
The day began with a buzz in our Birds Alert WhatsApp group. Ian “Bolt” Alkins, principal of the Woodbourne Shorebird Refuge (WSR), had photographed a strange, light-grey heron with striking white markings on its face. When the ID came through, my heart skipped: Western Reef-Heron (Egretta gularis)—a bird at the very top of my bucket list, and my first lifer for the day.

Eurasian Wigeon - yearbird #2

Soon, local birders gathered at WSR to admire this rarity. None of us realized another surprise was hiding in plain sight. Four Wigeons - all thought to be American Wigeon (Mareca americana) - had been lingering at the refuge, but as I studied them more closely, I noticed something unusual. Among the females, one had a brownish head while another showed a grayish tone. I suggested the possibility of a female Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope), and after careful study with the group, my hunch was confirmed:  a second rare bird, Eurasian Wigeon, yearbird number two.

Gray Trembler - lifer #2, Yearbird #3

As birders chatted and compared notes of the two finds at WSR, Macrae Hoyos—one of our newer, enthusiastic members—shared a video of a bird no one expected to see in Barbados - a Gray Trembler (Cinclocerthia gutturalis). He led me and fellow birder Ocean Campbell on a winding drive through St. Philip and St. John, eventually arriving at Consett Bay and we were not disappointed, the bird showed in all its glory.  This species, which is near endemic on Saint Lucia and Martinique, is not known to migrate. The plot thickens when other birders visited the site on the following and not only found one bird, but also a second - two bird on the island.  Our local experts, Ed Massiah, noted they appeared to belong to the St. Lucian race. How they reached Barbados remains a mystery, but their presence marked a first record for the island and a life for me.

With these three additions, my 2025-year tally climbed to 124 species—a new personal best and an island record for the number of bird species seen in a single calendar year.

December 26 wasn’t just another day in the field. It was a day of lifers, surprises, and history-making discoveries. Without question, it was my best birding day of 2025.

My 2025 Checklist (updated 31/12/2025)

121.Black-and-white Warbler

In my previous update, I celebrated passing my 110th bird of the year and set a bold target of 115+ species. Fast forward to just a few days before the end of 2025, and I’ve not only crossed that threshold—I’m now sitting at 121 species, a major personal and local record. What makes this stretch even more thrilling is the quality of the birds. Among them are two unforgettable local lifers: the Eurasian Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) and the Masked Booby (Sula dactylatra), along with several other rare sightings that added extra excitement to the tally. While my birding has never been just about the tick, reaching 120+ species in a single calendar year feels like a milestone worth celebrating. After all, I began this journey simply aiming to see 100 local birds. Now, I find myself officially in big year mode.
Who knows what the next outing will bring? One thing’s certain—it’s not over yet.

           __________________________________________________________________

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

_________________________________________________________________

124.Gray Trembler (Cinclocerthia gutturalis) (178;226;421)
123.Western Reef-Heron (Egretta gularis) (178;225;420)
122.Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope)
121.Black-and-white Warbler - Mniotilta varia
120.Masked Booby - Sula dactylatra (Barbados: 176)
119.Northern Shoveler - Spatula clypeata
118.Killdeer - Charadrius vociferus
117.White-winged Tern - Chlidonias leucopterus
116.Brown Pelican - Pelecanus occidentalis
115.Eurasian Kestrel - Falco tinnunculus (175;224;419)
114.Ruff - Calidris pugnax
113.Common Ringed Plover - Charadrius hiaticula (174;222;418)
112.Blackpoll Warbler - Setophaga striata
111.Red-eyed Vireo - Vireo olivaceus (173; 221)
110.Lesser Black-backed Gull - Larus fuscus
109.Bank Swallow - Riparia riparia
108.Merlin - Falco columbarius
107.Yellow-billed Cuckoo - Coccyzus americanus
106.Buff-breasted Sandpiper - Calidris subruficollis
105.Southern Lapwing - Vanellus chilensis
104.Grey Heron - Ardea cinerea
103.Upland Sandpiper - Bartramia longicauda
102.Eurasian Spoonbill - Platalea leucorodia
101.Cuban Martin - Progne cryptoleuca
100.Bridled Tern - Onychoprion anaethetus
99.  White-rumped Sandpiper - Calidris fuscicollis
98.  Red Knot - Calidris canutus
97.  Sandwich Tern - Thalasseus sandvicensis
96.  Willet - Tringa semipalmata
95.  Hen Harrier - Circus cyaneus (172;220;417)
94.  Black Swift - Cypseloides niger
93.  Roseate Tern - Sterna dougallii
92.  Common Swift - Apus apus
91.  Least Tern - Sternula antillarum
90.  Whimbrel - Numenius phaeopus
89.  Western Sandpiper - Calidris mauri
88.  Bobolink - Dolichonyx oryzivorus* (seen in May)
87.  Pectoral Sandpiper - Calidris melanotos* (seen in May)
86.  American Oystercatcher - Haematopus palliatus
85.  Striated Heron - Butorides striata
84.  Black-necked Stilt - Himantopus mexicanus 
83.  White-tailed Hawk - Geranoaetus albicaudatus
82.  Common Tern - Sterna hirundo
81.  Cliff Swallow - Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
80.  Stilt Sandpiper - Calidris himantopus
79.  Pacific Golden-Plover - Pluvialis fulva
78.  Fork-tailed Flycatcher - Tyrannus savana
77.  Long-billed Dowitcher - Limnodromus scolopaceus
76.  Ruddy Duck - Oxyura jamaicensis
75.  Black-throated Blue Warbler - Setophaga caerulescens (171;219;416)
74.  Northern Parula - Setophaga americana
73.  Pearly-eyed Thrasher - Margarops fuscatus
72.  Brown Booby  - Sula leucogaster
71.  Laughing Gull - Leucophaeus atricilla
70.  American Wigeon - Mareca americana  
69.  Yellow-crowned Night-Heron - Nyctanassa violacea
68.  Prothonotary Warbler - Protonotaria citrea
67.  White-crowned Pigeon - Patagioenas leucocephala
66.  Great Blue Heron - Ardea herodias 
65.  Black-crowned Night-Heron - Nycticorax nycticorax 
64.  Red-billed Tropicbird - Phaethon aethereus
63.  Masked Duck - Nomonyx dominicus 
62.  Gadwall - Mareca strepera 
61.  Glossy Ibis - Plegadis falcinellus
60.  Green-winged Teal - Anas crecca 
59.  Northern Pintail - Anas acuta 
58.  Barn Swallow - Hirundo rustica 
57.  Short-billed Dowitcher - Limnodromus griseus
56.  Northern Waterthrush - Parkesia noveboracensis
55.  Orange-winged Parrot - Amazona amazonica
54.  Little Blue Heron - Egretta caerulea
53.  Purple Gallinule - Porphyrio martinica
52.  Eared Dove - Zenaida auriculata
51.  Ring-necked Duck - Aythya collaris
50.  Yellow Warbler - Setophaga petechia
49.  Shiny Cowbird - Molothrus bonariensis
48.  Rose-ringed Parakeet - Psittacula krameri
47.  Black-whiskered Vireo - Vireo altiloquus
46.  Caribbean Elaenia - Elaenia martinica
45.  Peregrine Falcon - Falco peregrinus
44.  Osprey - Pandion haliaetus
43.  Lesser Yellowlegs - Tringa flavipes
42.  Solitary Sandpiper - Tringa solitaria
41.  Wilson's Snipe - Gallinago delicata
40.  Magnificent Frigatebird - Fregata magnificens
39.  Least Sandpiper - Calidris minutilla
38.  Grassland Yellow-Finch - Sicalis luteola
37.  Little Egret - Egretta garzetta
36.  Pied-billed Grebe - Podilymbus podiceps
35.  Common Ground Dove - Columbina passerina
34.  Caribbean Martin - Progne dominicensis
33.  Semipalmated Sandpiper - Calidris pusilla
32.  Black-bellied Plover - Pluvialis squatarola
31.  Rock Pigeon - Columba livia
30.  Pacific Golden-Plover - Pluvialis fulva
29.  Gray Kingbird - Tyrannus dominicensis
28.  Belted Kingfisher - Megaceryle alcyon
27.  Great Egret - Ardea alba
26.  Green Heron - Butorides virescens
25.  Snowy Egret - Egretta thula
24.  Tricolored Heron - Egretta tricolor
23.  Greater Yellowlegs - Tringa melanoleuca
22.  Spotted Sandpiper - Actitis macularius
21.  Semipalmated Plover - Charadrius semipalmatus
20.  American Coot - Fulica americana
19.  Sora- Porzana carolina 
18.  Lesser Scaup - Aythya affinis
17.  Blue-winged Teal - Spatula discors
16.  Black-bellied Whistling-Duck - Dendrocygna autumnalis
15.  Sanderling - Calidris alba
14.  Western Cattle Egret - Bubulcus ibis
13.  Royal Tern - Thalasseus Maximus
12.  Black-headed Gull - Chroicocephalus ridibundus
11.  Black-faced Grassquit - Melanospiza bicolor
10.  Barbados Bullfinch - Loxigilla barbadensis
9.    Bananaquit - Coereba flaveola
8.    Carib Grackle - Quiscalus lugubris
7.    Common Gallinule - Gallinula galeata
6.    Antillean Crested Hummingbird - Orthorhyncus cristatus
5.    Green-throated Carib - Eulampis holosericeus
4.    Zenaida Dove - Zenaida aurita
3.    Ruddy Turnstone - Arenaria interpres
2.    Eurasian Collared-Dove - Streptopelia decaocto
1.    Scaly-naped Pigeon - Patagioenas squamosa

Alberta 2024 - Acknowledgements

The Black-caped Chickadee is still my favorite Canadian bird after two trips

My second visit to Alberta turned out to be even better than the first, and for many reasons:

• This time, I had my entire family with me, and we all had a blast.
• I was able to spend extended, meaningful time with my uncle and aunt.
• And of course, the birding was simply fantastic, thanks to some local birders.

I want to say a big thank you to my uncle and aunt for opening their home and allowing my family and me to share their space for an entire month. Their hospitality made this trip truly special.

In total, I recorded 145 species, including 29 lifers. One person played a huge role in making that possible—Keith Miles. I first met Keith during my 2019 visit, and we quickly became friends. When he heard I was returning to Calgary, he promised to take me birding. True to his word, he took me out not once, but three times.  Thanks to Keith, I was able to see several of my target birds, including the White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) and the Boreal Chickadee (Poecile hudsonicus). He also surprised me with lifers I hadn’t expected, such as the Greater White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons) and the Western Kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis). In all, he helped me secure 14 of my 29 lifers. Beyond the birds, as we travel to various hotspots, he allowed me to see Alberta’s stunning landscapes, from Brown-Lowery Provincial Park to Frank Lake.  Thank you, my friend, for spending your time with me and helping make my vacation wonderful. Another friend I must acknowledge is John MacGillivray. Despite not being in the best of health, John still joined us for birding outings. His effort and companionship meant a lot, and I am truly grateful.

We faced challenges with canceled flights, both from Calgary to Toronto and from Toronto to Barbados, on our way back home - thanks Air Canada. One young lady, Sarah Al-ajele, at Calgary International Airport went above and beyond. Though she had already clocked out for the day, seeing how we were being turn around by the Air Canada checking staff, she returned to help us. She worked tirelessly on the phone for what felt like hours, eventually securing a way home for us and arranging accommodation near the airport. Her dedication turned a stressful situation into a manageable one, and we all owe her a big thank you.

These are just a few of the many people—named and unnamed—who helped us along the way. To all of them, I extend my deepest gratitude.

This won’t be my last visit to Calgary. In fact, I’m already thinking about returning in winter to try for some of those iconic cold-weather birds, including the Snowy Owl but I am not sure if I can handle the cold, but I am thinking about it.