Waterfowl to Shorebirds

Two adult Snow Geese flew over three observers at Ciego de Avila, Cuba 21 Nov (Lynn Beaton, Cathy Bailey, Susan Weaver). Two Cinnamon Teal were seen in La Habana, Cuba 10 Oct (Orlando Llerena).  A female Northern Shoveler was on Muddy Pond, Frigate Bay, Saint Kitts and Nevis 1 Oct (Michael Ryan). A Gadwall was photographed at The Commons, West Bay, Grand Cayman 10 Nov (Peter Davey). A Eurasian Wigeon was photographed and seen at various locations in Bermuda 15–30 Nov+ (Eva Bottelli). Two American Wigeon were on Cockleshell Pond, Saint Kitts and Nevis 22 Nov (Michael Ryan). One Redhead was seen on Little Cayman, Cayman Islands 19 Nov (Matt Southgate). Four Lesser Scaup were photographed at Laguna Playa Grande, Vieques, Puerto Rico for the second island record 6 Nov (Erick Bermúdez)—the first record was in 1937. A male and female Masked Duck were present on Renegade Rum Swamplands, Saint Andrew, Grenada 7 Nov (Amonie Holas). A nighthawk corpse found on Paynter’s Road Tucker’s Town, Bermuda 23 Oct was identified as a Lesser Nighthawk, only the second record for the country (Eva Bottelli)—details on eBird can be viewed here. The previous record was one taken into care after hitting a screen door on 3 Dec 1965! A Chuck-will’s-widow was seen at Splash House, Little Cayman 22 Nov (Nick Ebanks). A single Chimney Swift, a rare vagrant to Cuba, was photographed in El Vedado, Havana 13 Oct (Maikel Cañizares, Abel Luis Simeón, Claudia Pérez) with another at Pinar del Rio 27 Oct (Carlos Hernández Peraza); while a further sighting came from a well-described bird at Codrington, Barbuda 7 Nov (Jonathan Heller). One Ruby-throated Hummingbird was photographed at Petersfield, Bermuda 11 Nov (Richard Brewer). A Purple Gallinule was photographed at Renagade Rum Swamplands, Grenada 3–21 Oct (Kenrith Carter).

An estimated 190 Black-necked Stilts and 300 Stilt Sandpipers were on the mud flats on the westside of Laguna Playa Grande, Vieques, Puerto Rico 30 Nov (Daphne Gemmill, Erick Bermúdez). An American Golden Plover was seen at Playa Grande, Vieques, Puerto Rico 30 Sep for a seventh island record (John Martin). A one-year airport wildlife survey on Cayman Brac, Cayman Islands resulted in three island firsts: an American Golden-Plover 5 Nov (Nick Ebanks); a Whimbrel 30 Sep–30 Nov+ (Nicole Martin); and a Buff-breasted Sandpiper 24 Oct (Nicole Martin, Nick Ebanks). Further single Buff-breasted Sandpipers were seen at Brighton Pasture, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 28 Aug (Glenroy Gaymes); and at Telescope, Estuary Lane, Grenada 20 Sep and 8 Nov (Kenrith Carter). Rare on Grenada, a Killdeer was photographed at Renegade Rum Swamplands 18 Nov (Kenrick Carter). An Upland Sandpiper at Pointe Colibri, La Désirade Island 21 Nov was the latest date in Guadeloupe (Anthony Levesque). Hudsonian Godwit is a vagrant species in the region, but they were seen at Bermuda Airport 18 Sep (Paul Watson); at Renagade Rum Swamplands, Grenada 26 Oct and 7 Nov (Kenrith Carter, Kate Charles); at Fox’s Bay, Montserrat 30 Oct–4 Nov (Adam Stinton); and at River Road, Barbuda 5–7 Nov (Jonathan Heller). Good counts of Hudsonian Godwit included ten at Congo Road, Barbados 3 Sep (John Webster) and ten at St François, Guadeloupe 24 Oct (Mattéo Antoine). A Ruff was at Congo Road, Barbados 19 Sep (John Webster); and one was photographed at Le Moule, Guadeloupe 29 Sep (Anthony Levesque, Romain Demarly). Rare on Grenada, a Red Knot was seen at Westerhall, Saint David 23 Sep (Vaughan Francis). A Baird’s Sandpiper was photographed on Little Cayman, Cayman Islands 26 Sep (Nicole Martin)—new for the island.

Jaegers to Flycatchers

A Parasitic Jaeger was unseasonal off Daniel’s Head, Bermuda 24–26 Sep (Kevin Winter). A Long-tailed Jaeger was photographed close to shore at María Trinidad Sánchez, Dominican Republic 7 Sep (Mary Corporan Dunn).  An immature Lesser Black-backed Gull was photographed at Turtle Farm, Grand Cayman 5 Nov (Matt Southgate). A White-winged Black Tern was at Punta Boca Morena, Puerto Rico 30 Sep–22 Nov (Gustavo Torres et al.)— see photos here. Erick Bermúdez observed some significant tern sightings at Mosquito Pier, Vieques, Puerto Rico including: the island’s first Black Tern 25 Sep; the eighth fall record of Roseate Tern 8 Sep; sixth fall record of Common Tern 22 Oct; and second record of Forster’s Tern (2 birds) 22 Oct. An adult Northern Gannet circled a cruise ship about 330km north of Marsh Harbour, Bahamas for 30 mins on 19 Aug (Rich Armstrong). An injured Manx Shearwater was discovered at Morgan Lewis Beach, Barbados 25 Nov—it was taken into care but died two days later (Ed Massiah). An American White Pelican was seen feeding at Coco Point Pond, Barbuda 18 Sep (Shawn Maile)—perhaps the same bird that has been regularly reported since 2019. Little Egrets are regularly recorded in the region with two on Mustique Island, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 29 Sep (Raven H) and one photographed at La Tante Beach, Saint Andrew, Grenada 14 Nov (Kenrith Carter). On 27 Sep, Barbados witnessed an unprecedented sight of 14 Glossy Ibis, a rare species—six remained in St. Lucy, while two spotted in Christ Church joined a group of six more at a private location in St. Philip. Six Glossy Ibis have now remained at St. Lucy, Barbados for over a year, present to 30 Nov+ (Julian Moore). A non-breeding plumage White-faced Ibis was photographed at Lynford GC, New Providence, Bahamas 25 Sep–21 Oct—almost certainly the same bird seen here in June (Peter Kemp).

A long-staying Snail Kite at Renagade Rum Swamplands, Grenada was still present to at least 18 Nov (Kenrith Carter). A Short-eared Owl over Bermuda Airport 9–30 Nov was joined by a second bird 30 Nov+ (Paul Watson). Scarce on Bermuda, single Northern Flickers were seen at Mid-Ocean GC 11 Nov and Kindley Field 23–30 Nov+ (Paul Watson). A Black-headed Parrot of unknown origin was photographed at La Sagesse Heights, Saint David, Grenada (Kenrith Carter)—see here on eBird. A Blue-and-yellow Macaw was recorded on the Keto Road, Carriacou, Grenada 12 Oct (Kate Charles, Kenrith Carter). A Red-and-green Macaw was seen at Pommerose Mountains, Grenada 10 Aug, likely the same bird that has been seen at nearby locations since May 2020 (Kenrith Carter). A Western Wood-Pewee was a super reward for Sergio Luis del Castillo and his fellow bird banders at Guanahacabibes, Pinar del Río, Cuba 8 Oct)—see here on eBird. An Eastern Wood-Pewee at Petite Terre NR 23 Oct was the third Guadeloupe record (Anthony Levesque). A Least Flycatcher was photographed in the Cayman Islands at East End, Grand Cayman 14–15 Oct (Kelsey Rae-Smith). Bermuda’s second record of Say’s Phoebe was discovered at Ruth’s Point 22 Oct (Luke Foster)—the previous record was in 1994. A juvenile Vermilion Flycatcher was photographed at Guanahacabibes, Pinar del Rio, Cuba 20 Oct (Carlos Hernández Peraza). An Ash-throated Flycatcher, the fourth record for Bermuda, was discovered on St. George’s GC 9 Nov (Paul Watson) and likely the same bird re-found at Clearwater 26–30 Nov+ (Eva Bottelli). A Great Crested Flycatcher was recorded at Savanah Grand, Grand Cayman 18 Sep (Peter Davey). A Western Kingbird was at Pinar del Rio, Cuba 24–25 Oct (Carlos Hernández Peraza); while another was at Outer Lea Farm, Bermuda 16–22 Oct (Paul Watson) with perhaps the same bird in Devonshire 29 Oct (Eva Bottelli). Scissor-tailed Flycatchers were seen in Cuba at Pinar del Rio 24 Sep (Alejandro Llanes Sosa) and photographed at Las Terrazas, Artemisa 2–16 Nov (Ernesto Reyes, Tania Piñeiro)—a rare vagrant in Cuba; while another was a first record for Little Cayman, Cayman Islands 19–26 Nov (Nicole Martin, Nick Ebanks); and an additional bird reaching the Bahamas at Ardastra Zoo and Gardens, New Providence 23 Oct (Hendrew Haley).

Vireos to Bobolink

La Désirade Island’s location in the Atlantic to the east of mainland Guadeloupe is known to attract migrants. A week’s monitoring of bird arrivals 26–31 Oct cemented its reputation as a migrant hotspot. As well as 17 shorebird species, rare arrivals included 225 Yellow-billed Cuckoos, 20 Common Nighthawks, Philadelphia Vireo, Golden-winged Warbler, an astonishing 1277 Blackpoll Warblers, Scarlet Tanager, 6 Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Dickcissel, and 112 Bobolinks—the full list and photos can be viewed here (Anthony Levesque).

Guadeloupe’s second record of Philadelphia Vireo and first photo record was seen at La Désirade Island 29 Oct (Anthony Levesque & Muriel Aboso). Cuba’s first record of Yucatan Vireo was made when one was captured at Faro Roncali on the Guanahacabibes Peninsula as part of a migratory bird banding and monitoring project on 2 Oct, with photos viewable here (Sergio Luis del Casteillo et al). Northern Rough-winged Swallow is very rarely seen in Bermuda, but a single bird seen on St. George’s GC Oct was a herald to four birds that were at Bermuda Airport Pond 19–27 Oct, with the last individual departing 8 Nov (Paul Watson).  A Brown-chested Martin was photographed overhead at San Andrés, Providencia y Santa Catalina, Colombia 23 Aug (Frantz Delcroix, Eric Delcroix, Anthony Levesque); and another probable Brown-chested Martin was photographed at Harrison Point, St. Lucy, Barbados 16 Oct (Quincy Clarke)—a potential first record for the Lesser Antilles. Two White-winged Swallows were photographed at La Sagesse Field, Grenada 23 Nov (Kenrith Carter). A Ruby-crowned Kinglet was photographed at La Sabina, Sancti Spiritus Cuba 7–20 Nov (Antonio Martinez, Marion Bittinger). Two Bicknell’s Thrushes were seen and photographed near Newcastle Hill, St Andrews, Jamaica 22 Oct (Ricardo Miller)—see here on eBird; while another was well described from St Georges GC, Bermuda 4 Nov (Paul Watson). A Swainson’s Thrush was heard and seen on the Cerro Playuela Trail, Vieques, Puerto Rico 20–21 Nov for an island first record (Rebecca Lovejoy)—the next day Erick Bermúdez added further confirmation when the bird responded to playback. The second record of Swainson’s Thrush for Guadeloupe was discovered at Deshaies, Guadeloupe 20 Nov (Anthony Levesque). A Wood Thrush was a good find at Lower Valley, Bodden Town, Grand Cayman 14 Oct (Peter Davey). Northern Wheatears were seen on Bermuda at Port Royal GC 7–18 Sep (Chris Gibbons) and on Saint Croix, US Virgin Islands 6 Oct (Lisa Yntema); while another was at Harrison Point, Barbados 9–12 Oct for only the third record of this species on the island and the first since 1994 (Julian Moore).

For the second time this year, Ricel Polán reported the very rare White Wagtail in the Marea del Portillo wetlands, Granma, Cuba 16 Oct–2 Nov—surely the same individual seen in the same place 26 Feb. An American Pipit was present at Fondo de casa del lenador, Pinar del Rio, Cuba 8–22 Oct (Carlos Hernádez Peraza). A Chipping Sparrow was seen at Guanahacabibes, Pinar del Rio, Cuba 9 Oct (Sergio Luis del Castillo). A Lark Sparrow was photographed at Freeport, Grand Bahama 16 Sep (Bridget Davis). An exceptional fall of sparrow species at the cruise ship terminal in Dockyard, Bermuda was almost certainly the result of birds encountering bad weather and seeking shelter on cruise ships en route to Bermuda—Dark-eyed Juncos were present 25–29 (Joren van Schie) with a maxima of 12 on 26 Oct (Miguel Mejias); White-throated Sparrows were present 25–29 Oct (Joren van Schie) with a maxima of 9 on 26 Oct (Eva Bottelli); and Song Sparrows were present 25–29 Oct with a maxima of 3 on 25 Oct (Joren van Schie). An extraordinary count of over 400 Bobolinks was made at Harrison Point, Barbados 24 Oct (Michael St John).

Warblers to Dickcissel

A total of 35 species of warblers passed through Bermuda during the fall migration including single Golden-winged Warblers at Port Royal CG 3–16 Oct and the Arboretum 17 Oct (Paul Watson). Guadeloupe’s first record of Golden-winged Warbler appeared at La Désirade Island 28 Oct (Anthony Levesque & Muriel Aboso). A Blue-winged Warbler, the first for Barbados, was photographed at Harrison Point 23–25 Oct (Julian Moore). Always a good find in the region, a Tennessee Warbler was at Pointe Allègre, Guadeloupe 24 Oct (Anthony Levesque, Dominique Londe, Jacky Froidefond) for the sixth Guadeloupe record. An Orange-crowned Warbler was recorded on Elbow Cay, Abaco, Bahamas on 24 Nov (Brian Sullivan).  A Kentucky Warbler was seen at Canaries, Saint Lucia 4 Oct (Heather Arrowood). Three Common Yellowthroats at La Désirade, Guadeloupe 26–30 Oct were notable (Anthony Levesque, Muriel Aboso). An influx of Cape May Warblers into the region saw 30 records during the period, including six at Saint Mary, Antigua & Barbuda (Simon Buckingham). A Cerulean Warbler was nicely photographed in Havana, Cuba 17 Aug (Vladimir Mirabal). In Guadeloupe, single Magnolia Warblers were at Port-Louis Swamp 3 Nov and Grande Anse 15 Nov (Anthony Levesque). Single Blackburnian Warblers were recorded at Saint Lucy, Barbados 22 Oct (Michael St John) and Tropical Mansion Suites, Montserrat 18 Nov (Kevin Johnson). Three Black-throated Blue Warblers were observed at Wallings Forest and Reservoir IBA, Saint Mary, Antigua & Barbuda 10–18 Nov (Jonathan Heller et al). A Black-throated Green Warbler was seen at Savanne Porte d’Enfer, Guadeloupe 27 Oct (Jérémy Delolme). A Canada Warbler on the Ecclestone Road, Portland, Jamaica was an extremely rare find 31 Oct (Ricardo Miller).

A Summer Tanager was at North Point, St. Lucy, Barbados 22 Oct (Quincy Clarke). A Scarlet Tanager was seen in Mustique, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 25 Oct (Raven H). Two females Western Tanagers seen at Canaan Land Road, Grand Cayman 14 Oct constituted a new record for the Cayman Islands (Peter Davey)—”they appeared to be the same size as a Western Spindalis. I noted the pale bill, (the size typical of Tanagers), the greenish lower back and rump and the two prominent, pale wing bars in darkish wings of the female. These three features together are diagnostic of this species”. Three Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, very rare in Barbados, were seen at Harrison Point, St. Lucy between 15–20 Oct (Julian Moore); and several records in Guadeloupe included a late observation at Le Moule 15 Nov (Anthony Levesque). A Painted Bunting on the Mastic Trail, Grand Cayman 25 Oct was a very rare sighting for Cayman Islands (Peter Davey)—”almost certainly a first-year male, the bright olive-green back (with no wingbars) was striking and unmistakable”; and another Painted Bunting was found amongst Indigo Buntings at Ruth’s Point 22 Oct (Miguel Mejias). A Dickcissel, only the third record for Guadeloupe was photographed at La Désirade Island 28–29 Oct (Anthony Levesque & Muriel Aboso).

During October, birds were banded and migration monitored at Cabo de San Antonio, Pinar del Río, Cuba with the following unusual records (Carlos Hernández, Alejandro Llanes, Sergio Luis del Castillo, Dayron Breto):

Sooty Shearwater 21 Oct

Vermilion Flycatcher 20 Oct

Western Kingbird 24–25 Oct

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher 24–25 Oct

American Pipit 8–22 Oct

Clay-colored Sparrow 13–24 Oct

Lark Sparrow 13–22 Oct

White-crowned Sparrow 20–24 Oct

Savannah Sparrow 7–22 Oct

Lincolnʼs Sparrow 17–20 Oct

Golden-winged Warbler 8 Oct

Blue-winged Warbler 8 Oct

Nashville Warbler 27 Oct

Report processed by Andrew Keaveney, 15 Jun 2024.