5 - 14 December 2000
by Gail Mackiernan
Introduction:
For birders who wish to see all the Caribbean endemics and specialties, a trip to the Lesser Antilles is a must. Some of the region’s most spectacular birds are found on these small islands, as well as some of the most undisturbed habitat. Of the islands making up the Lesser Antilles, we selected St. Lucia, St. Vincent and Dominica as our first stops, because they support the most endemics and “shared island” endemics, including four spectacular Amazona parrots, two bizarre Tremblers, and a variety of finches, flycatchers and warblers. One downside of a trip to this area is that it is rather expensive, with island-hopping flights and tourist-rate food, accommodations and car hire.
We decided to take advantage of an Air Jamaica five-day package deal to St Lucia and extend this by four additional days to include birding trips to both St. Vincent and Dominica. The package was little more than the cost of air fare alone from American Airlines! My brother John Cooper and his wife Doreen flew in from the U.K. to join us for this trip.
The Air Jamaica package cost $719 for roundtrip airfare from Baltimore-Washington International Airport [BWI] to St. Lucia plus nine nights at the Rainbow Hotel at Rodney Bay in St. Lucia. We used the relatively new EC Express inter-island flights from St. Lucia-St. Vincent, St. Vincent- Dominica [via Barbados] and Dominica-St. Lucia. The total cost of these inter-island flights was $243 per person.
Local forestry employee birding guides were hired for each island as follows:
Accomodations:
(or jump to St. Lucia, Dominica, St. Vincent)
5 December 2000
Travel day; departed BWI at about 8.30 a.m. with brief stop-over at Montego Bay in Jamaica. Arrived St Lucia at about 5.00 p.m. We knew we had arrived at the right place when the Customs agent (upon learning we were bird-watchers) asked us if we were in SL “to see Amazona versicolor.” (This level of awareness is due to RARE’s very successful public education programmes in the Lesser Antilles, which have essentially “turned the tide” for the region’s endemic parrots and other species.) After checking through customs, we had a rather hairy 1 1/2 hour shuttle bus ride in the dark to our hotel located on the opposite end of the island. Both on SL and Dominica, the main airports are located far from the tourist centres, ostensibly to promote economic development in more remote areas. However, this negatively impacts the ease of transit to and from hotels, as well as car hire.
6 December 2000
Our local birding guide, Lyndon John, met us at our hotel at about 5.15 a.m. Due to a misunderstanding, Barry had not rented a car for the morning and we ended up leaving an hour late crammed into Lyndon’s Suzuki 4 WD. We drove to the Quillesse Forest Reserve arriving at about 7.45 a.m. and birded this area until late morning. The trail led into very good natural rain forest which in turn resulted in a very good selection of endemic and Caribbean specialty birds. In fact, during this three hour walk we saw the majority of our targeted species including St. Lucia Pewee, St. Lucia Oriole, Grey Trembler, Pearly-eyed Thrasher, Purple-throated Carib, Antillean Crested Hummingbird, St. Lucia Black Finch, Lesser Antillean Flycatcher, Rufous-throated Solitaire, and the recently split St. Lucia Warbler.
Lyndon then took us to a site that he had fairly recently discovered for the White-breasted Thrasher. This site was a mere 1/8 mile from the main east coast road and slightly north of Micoud. Unlike the traditional thrasher site near Desbarra, this site was very easy to access. We played the tape and shortly afterwards had excellent views of the Thrasher as it rushed in, trembling its wings and responding very aggressively to the tape, without doubt the birding highlight of the trip. Its behavior was more like that of the tremblers than a North American thrasher. This brushy area was also quite good for other species including the Lesser Antillean Saltator. Finally, we drove to the extreme north-east end of the island and successfully located the St. Lucia race of the House Wren - clearly a very strong candidate for splitting into separate species status, as it differs greatly from the North American species in song, plumage, bill length and behavior.
After a very successful eight hours of birding with Lyndon, we returned to our hotel and arranged a pick-up at the hotel by Avis Car Rental and rented a four wheel drive Suzuki. In the late afternoon we birded the grounds around the Forestry Dept. Administration a few miles outside of Castries.
7 December 2000
Drove to the Edmond Forest Reserve arriving at about 7.30 a.m. The forest here consists mainly of plantations and was less productive for birds than the Quillesse Forest Reserve. However, there is a good overlook for watching for parrots. As we had only brief overhead flight views of parrots on the previous day, getting better views was our top priority. In less than one hour at the overlook we obtained very satisfactory views of up to ten birds. As we had arrived before the trail was opened,we parked our car at the chained gate. This turned out to be the most productive area for forest birds, particularly the orange grove adjacent to the gate. After leaving the Edmond Forest,we drove to the extreme south of the island unsuccessfully looking for the Savannes Bay Nature Reserve. We eventually drove on to the White-breasted Thrasher site but were unable to relocate the bird [although Doreen believed she had a brief sighting].
8 December 2000
Caught an early flight to St Vincent arriving at the E.T. Joshua Airport at about 7.00 a.m. We were met at the airport by a person from Ben’s car rental company and our new guide Fitzroy Springer. After driving into Kingstown to obtain the required driving permit and dropping our bags off at the Heron Hotel, we headed to the rainforest at Vermont Nature Trail. This trail is a steep, but well-maintained 3 mile roundtrip to the parrot observation platform. Most of the specialty species were seen during this walk including Whistling Warbler, Brown Trembler, Lesser Antillean Tanager and the St. Vincent race of the House Wren. At the observation platform, the St. Vincent Parrot proved to be a much easier bird to see than its cousin on St. Lucia with many excellent views of birds in flight. Also seen from the platform were several Broad-winged Hawks and smaller numbers of Black Hawks plus two fly-by Black Swifts seen only by John and Gail. We birded this area until about mid-day and then returned to Kingstown to drop Fitzroy off. Following lunch at the Heron Hotel,we visited the productive Kingstown Botanical Gardens in the afternoon. Scaly-necked Pigeons were quite easy to see here feeding on the date palms, and we also obtained excellent views of a pair of Grenada Flycatchers plus several Bare-eyed Robins.
9 December 2000
Again drove in the early morning to the Vermont Nature Trail. Heavy rain delayed our arrival at the parrot platform, but we eventually obtained excellent views of most of the species seen the previous day, including a pair of perched parrots and a Whistling Warbler feeding a fledgling. Returned to Kingstown for lunch and birded a scrub and mangrove area south of Kingstown in the afternoon. Birds seen included Yellow-crowned Night Heron, Northern Waterthrush and our only Yellow-bellied Elaenias of the trip. We briefly visited the Botanical Gardens in the late afternoon.
10 December 2000
As we had to be at the airport at 9.30 a.m., we restricted our birding to a short walk around the Kingstown waterfront. The only bird of note was our only Shiny Cowbird of the trip - an immature bird consorting with a flock of Carib Grackles. We arrived at the Melville Hall Airport in Dominica at about 2.30 p.m., after a flight through Barbados. The forested rugged terrain of Dominica is a complete contrast to the flat, developed island of Barbados! Strangely, there are no car rental companies based at the airport. We had arranged for a Garraway rental car to be delivered from Roseau, about 1 1/2 hour drive away. No one from this rental company was there, but fortunately Barry had also arranged with Budget for a car also & they were there with a sedan which we rented and drove to the Springfield Plantation Guest House. Budget later that evening delivered a very good, large 4 WD vehicle which was invaluable the following day when our guide took us up some very steep forest tracks.
The Springfield Plantation Guest House proved to be an excellent choice as it is located on about 200 acres of good habitat bordering the forest. Also, as we were there right at the end of the low season, we rented very nice rooms with a marvelous view down to the sea for about $45 per day. The following week, at the start of the high season, these same rooms would cost $100 per day. One down side is that food here is expensive [but very good]. Birds seen on our arrival in the late afternoon included our first Scaly-breasted Thrashers of the trip. Birds seen on the grounds during the next couple of days included Brown Trembler [common], female Blue-headed Hummingbird, together with the more plentiful Caribes and Antillean Crested Hummingbirds, Dominican House Wren, Yellow Warbler, Plumbeous Warbler and Lesser Antillean Saltator. Without doubt, the most unexpected bird was an adult male Mourning Warbler seen only by Gail which could well be a new species for Dominica.
11 December 2000
We left the Springfield Guest House at about 4.30 a.m. to meet with our new guide [Bertrand Jno.-Baptiste] at 5.30 a.m and then drove on to the Syndicate Trail in the Northern Forest Reserve arriving at the trailhead at about 6.30 a.m. The road up to the forest is narrow but well maintained lacking the deep potholes of the roads into the forest of St. Lucia and, to a lesser extent, St. Vincent. After a short easy hike we arrived at the first parrot overlook. Bertrand said that this overlook was the best one for observing the parrots. Immediately after starting on this trail we had very nice views of a pair of Lesser Antillean Pewees. In about 45 minutes at the overlook we saw up to ten Red-necked Parrots and a pair of Imperial Parrots, all flight views.
After leaving the Syndicate Trail, Bertrand took us up a very steep, narrow and muddy track that went through an orange grove at the edge of the forest. This trail could only be accessed with a good 4 WD vehicle. This trail was a mile or two down the road from the Syndicate trailhead On the way down to this trail we stopped at a couple of good spots for hummers, and we were rewarded with excellent views of at least two male Blue-headed Hummingbirds. This new trail was excellent for birds with a lot more activity than the main Syndicate Trail. Many birds were feeding on the ripe oranges including twenty or more Red-necked Parrots.We also saw three Rufous-throated Solitaires, a Dominican House Wren, several Plumbeous Warblers and our only Red-legged Thrush and Antillean Euphonia of the trip.
We dropped Bertrand off at his home about mid-afternoon. After driving back to our lodge for a short rest we then headed out to the Emerald Pool to check this key Forest Thrush site out in the late afternoon. The Emerald Pool is only about 20 minute drive from the Springfield Plantation Guest House and we planned to arrive there at or before dawn the next morning. While we did not see any thrushes we did hear what we suspected was a Forest Thrush and the late p.m. check of the trails was very useful as it would be almost dark when we planned to arrive the next morning. We noted that there is a new visitor’s center and thus a new entrance to the site, and one must walk a while and cross the stream to access the picnic pavilion where other trip reports had found Forest Thrush.
12 December 2000
As planned, we arrived at the Emerald Pool just before dawn. As we started out on the trail to the picnic tables we immediately spotted a Forest Thrush on the trail a short distance ahead of us. We could not detect any coloring but what transpired to be a very distinctive upright stance on long legs and a characteristic trembling of its tail were noted. A second thrush was seen just before the picnic tables and we eventually got countable views in improving light. The second bird was in view on and off for about ten minutes. Finally we split up and worked separate trails and John and Doreen spotted a third thrush quite close to the Emerald Pool.
On the way out at the visitor center, we threw some bread out for the tame Bullfinches and was amazed to have at least six very tame Brown Tremblers plus three Agoutis suddenly appear out of the forest to pick up the crumbs just a few feet from us - great photo ops for Gail and John.
We drove back to the lodge for breakfast and some birding of the grounds,
and then we headed out to the large marshland area at Cabrits National
Park. This was rather a disappointment. There clearly is a sizeable marsh
habitat (sawgrass and mangroves) but we were unable to access it very well
-- a short boardwalk would greatly enhance the area for visitors. We did
hear a Sora Rail calling and saw a couple of Northern Waterthrushes and
a Am. Redstart. We then decided to check out our nearby Dark-breasted Barn
Owl stake-out site at the Catholic Church in Portsmouth. Much to our disappointment
we discovered that the church tower was undergoing complete renovation
with lots of workmen and noise and no roosting Barn Owl [this was confirmed
in discussions with one of the nuns and Barry also went into the church
and looked in most of the possible roosting spots].
We now drove back to the Syndicate Trail to time our arrival for the
late afternoon parrot activity. We arrived at the parrot overlook at about
2.30 p.m. and stayed until about 4.15 p.m. We saw a few Red-necked Parrots
flying back and forth and then Doreen and Barry had three Imperial Parrots
fly into the trees across the valley from us. While quite distant views,
the blue on the heads and upper-breast and red in both wings and tail were
clearly seen. After a about twenty minutes the birds departed allowing
all four of us to see them in flight.
After leaving the forest, we realized we should have enough time to stop towards dusk to look over the grassy areas at the Canefield Airport in the hope of finding a Barn Owl hunting. No luck but we did locate the cave near the Hummingbird Inn which other trip reports indicate is a Barn Owl roost site. It was too dark to climb up to the cave and this would be left for tomorrow morning.
13 December 2000
We had a full morning’s birding before having to leave to catch our flight back to St.Lucia. We decided to go once more in early morning to the Emerald Pool look for the Forest Thrush. Again we saw the bird in the vicinity of the picnic tables. This bird was feeding on bread crumbs we had placed on the trail A second bird was seen in better light fairly close to where John and Doreen had seen one yesterday. Finally, while feeding the birds by the visitor center, John and Barry were amazed to see a Forest Thrush suddenly appear. The bird came to the edge of the forest but would not come fully out to investigate the bread crumbs.
After leaving the Emerald Pool we drove down to investigate the cave near the Hummingbird Inn. While parking the car on the coast road we were pleasantly surprised to spot a fly-by Brown Booby and an immature Herring Gull, rare in these parts, perched on a buoy offshore. However, no luck with the owl despite the rather difficult climb up and into the cave. One ledge near the entrance to the cave showed some “whitewash” but there were no pellets nor other indications of recent occupancy. Our only reward was seeing a large ground lizard and an agitated Dominican House Wren. Back at the Springfield Planation Guest House we spent about a couple of hours enjoying many of the endemic species seen previously. After that it was a leisurely drive to the airport and stopping at river crossings hoping, without luck, to see the local race of Ringed Kingfisher. Our flight returned us back to St. Lucia and the Rainbow Hotel for one last night in the Lesser Antilles.
14 December 2000
As we had to be packed and ready to leave on the airport shuttle bus at 11.00 a.m. we decided not to rent a car.As a result,we spent a few rather aimless hours walking around in the vicinity of Rodney Bay. After an uneventful flight we arrived back at BWI Airport in Baltimore at about 9.00 p.m.
Our species list was not huge, in part because we concentrated on forest birds and neglected waders and seabirds, and in part because the avian fauna of these islands is not vast, albeit high in quality. Barry and Gail each saw 23 new species for their Caribbean lists, and John and Doreen about 33, as they had not visited the region before.
Species List:
Magnificent Frigatebird Fregata
magnificens
Recorded from all three islands with the
daily maximum count of 25 birds on Dominica.
Brown Booby Sula leucogaster
Single bird in flight close inshore just
north of Roseau [Dominica]
Green-backed Heron Butorides
striatus
Seen only on Dominica with up to three
birds daily.
Great Blue Heron Ardea Herodias
A single bird on Dominica was our only
record.
Little Blue Heron Egretta caerulea
Five birds seen on St. Vincent and just
single birds seen on St. Lucia and Dominica.
Snowy Egret Egretta thula
Our only sighting was two birds seen on
St. Lucia, at the ponds west of the airport.
Great Egret Casmerodius alba
Fairly common on St. Lucia with ten birds
seen plus a single bird on Dominica.
Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis
Common on all three islands and the most
numerous egret species seen.
Yellow-crowned Night Heron Nyticorax
violaceous
Two birds seen in mangroves on St. Vincent.
Sora Porzana carolina
The only record was a single bird heard
calling in the marsh at the Cabrits NP.
Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularia
Up to eight birds seen on St. Vincent
and a single bird on St. Lucia.
Herring Gull Larus argentatus
A single second-third year judged to be
of this species seen loafing with Royal Terns on Dominica.
Royal Tern Sterna maxima
Only recorded on Dominica with up to 15
birds seen daily.
Belted Kingfisher Ceryle alcyon
Only recorded on Dominica with about six
birds seen over the three days.
Common Black Hawk Buteogallus
anthracinus
A total of about six birds seen during
our two mornings in the forest at the Vermont Nature Trail in St. Vincent.
Broad-winged Hawk Buteo platypterus
Recorded from the forests on all three
islands but most numerous on St. Vincent [about 15 birds seen] and Dominica
[about twenty birds seen].
American Kestrel Falco sparverius
Recorded on all three islands with the
maximum of six seen during our stay on St. Lucia.
Feral Pigeon (Rock Dove) Columba
livia
Recorded from all three islands.
Red-necked [Scaly-naped] Pigeon Columba
squamosa
Most frequently seen on St. Vincent &
particularly easy to see at the Kingstown Botanical Gardens feeding on
date palm fruit with a daily maximum eight birds. Two birds also recorded
from Dominica.
Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto
Only recorded in the vicinity of Rosea
on Dominica where it appeared to be quite common.
Zenaida Dove Zenaida aurita
Recorded from all three islands but most
numerous on St. Lucia, including on the grounds of our hotel. We did not
see Eared Dove (Z. auriculata) on any of the islands, although it
is supposed to be common on St. Lucia and St. Vincent. An unexpected miss.
Common Ground Dove Colombina
passerina
Recorded in small numbers from all three
islands.
Jacquot (Red-necked) Parrot Amazona
arausiaca
The most numerous parrot species totalling
up to forty birds seen during our two visits to the Syndicate Trail in
the Northern Forest Reserve [Dominica]. Actually, the most productive area
was a steep very rough jeep track 1-2 miles below the Syndicate Trailhead.
This very birdy trail went through orange groves along the edge of the
forest and the parrots [and other birds] were actively feeding on the oranges.
A 4 WD vehicle is a must to get up to this area.
St. Lucia Parrot Amazona versicolor
Brief unsatisfactory views of 1-2 birds
from the Quillesse Forest trail made a visit to the overlook at the Edmond
Forest on the following day critical. After about 30 minutes at the overlook,
were rewarded with fairly close eye-level views of three birds flying up
the canyon. This was followed by several more fly-by parrots for a total
of up to ten birds in less than one hour at the overlook. A superb parrot.
St. Vincent Parrot Amazona guildingii
A truly brilliant bird even surpassing
the previous species. This species fully lived up to its reputation as
the most beautiful of all of the Amazona parrots. Also it was very
easy to see from the overlook along the Vermont Nature Trail. We estimated
about 25 birds seen each day including two perched quite close to the trail.
The bronze color phase outnumbered the green.
Sisserou (Imperial) Parrot Amazona
imperialis
We were very fortunate to see this species
on both our visits to the Syndicate Trail. On each occasion the birds were
seen from the first overlook platform with two birds on the first date
and at least three on the second. Clearly a larger and longer winged bird
than preceding species. On the first date, when seen overhead, a combination
of slow wing-beats interspersed with gliding and somewhat fingered primaries
were reminiscent of a buteo. In fact, the species is not only significantly
larger than the Red-necked Parrot but is noticeably larger than a Broad-winged
Hawk, the local buteo. On the second date, the birds flew in across the
ravine allowing plumage coloring to be seen. This included red in the wings
and tail, purplish blue on head and breast and rather dull grayish green
upperparts. The green upperparts were noticeably duller than the bright
emerald green upperparts of the Red-necked Parrot.
Successfully connecting with all four parrots was a major highlight of the trip.
Caribbean Elaenia Elaenia martinicus
Seen in small numbers on all three islands
for a combined trip total of about ten birds. The majority of sightings
were in forest or forest edge habitat.
Yellow-bellied Elaenia Eleania
flavorgaster
Our only record was of two birds in overgrown
pasture south of Kingstown.
Lesser Antillean Pewee Contopus
latirostris
A pair seen on both dates we visited the
Syndicate Trail just a few yards along the trail from the parking area.
While very attractive, this species is noticeably duller on the underparts
than the St. Lucia Pewee.
St Lucia Pewee Contopus oberi
We only saw this species in the Quillesse
Forest where we had about six birds in three hours. Very similar in size
and shape to the preceding species but with distinctly brighter reddish
buff underparts compared with the paler and duller buff underparts of the
Lesser Antillean Pewee. While this species has not yet been split by Clements,
it is treated as a full species by Raffaele in Birds of the West Indies.
Eastern Wood Pewee [prob.] Contopus
virens
A bird that appeared to be of this species
was seen in a small remnant mangrove swamp south of Kingstown on St. Vincent.
A very grey-toned small flycatcher with a dusky upper breast.
Lesser Antillean Flycatcher Myiarchus
oberi
Seen in both the Quillesse and Edmond
Forest Reserves and in scrub and mangroves south of Castries [all St. Lucia]
with a total of about eight birds. Suprisingly we did not see this species
in Dominica although it is listed as common by Raffaele in Birds of the
West Indies.
Grenada Flycatcher Myiarchus
nugator
Most easy to see at the Botanical Gardens
in Kingstown [St.Vincent] where good views obtained of at least one pair.
Quite similar to the Lesser Anillean Flycatcher although with a distinctly
heavier bill, brighter plumage and short crest. In all about five birds
seen on St. Vincent.
Grey Kingbird Tyrannus dominicensis
A common and widespread species on all
three islands predominately in disturbed/ agricultural/suburban habitat.
Purple-throated Carib Eulampis
jugularis
Very common forest hummingbird in both
St. Lucia and St. Vincent. Also occurring in smaller numbers outside the
forest such as hotel gardens. Interestingly far less numerous on Dominica.
Green-throated Carib Sericotes
holosericeus
Substantially less numerous than the preceding
species on St. Lucia and St. Vincent. With a total of five birds seen these
two islands the ratio was about 10:1 in favor of Purple-throated Carib.
While not common on Dominica, the six birds seen on this island slightly
outnumbered the preceding species.
Antillean Crested Hummingbird Orythorhyncus
cristatus
Common on all three islands although somewhat
less abundant on Dominica. The highest density was in forested areas but
quite common in the Kingstown Botanical Gardens. A very attractive small
hummer.
Blue-headed Hummingbird Cyanophaia
bicolor
Three males were seen on red flowering
plants along the road just below the Syndicate trailhead parking area.
Also a female seen in the garden of the Springfield Plantation Guest House.
Mangrove Cuckoo Coccyzus minor
A total of seven birds seen on all three
islands with a maximum of four on St. Lucia. Most of the birds were at
the forest edge or in the forest (i.e., not in mangroves).
Smooth-billed Ani Crotophaga
ani
Seen on both St. Vincent and Dominica
in small numbers in disturbed open country areas.
Black Swift Cypseloides niger
Gail and John and brief views of a pair
in flight from the parrot platform on the Vermont Trail on St. Vincent.
Lesser Antillean Swift Chaetura
martinica
A flock of about 100 birds seen feeding
over small village on the road up to the Edmond Forest Reserve [St. Lucia].
Aside from this our only sightings were about 15 birds seen principally
over the forest on Dominica.
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
The only hirudine seen on the trip
and only a few scattered birds on St. Lucia and Dominica.
House Wren Troglodytes aedon
[or Antillean House Wren T. martinicensis]
The House Wren complex on the three islands
is very interesting with each island having a distinct endemic subspecies.
As such, we were very interested in seeing [and hearing] all three races
and comparing them with the birds that breed in our garden in Maryland.
The following is a brief summary of our observations:
Cocoa Thrush Turdus fumigatus
Four birds seen in the forest along the
Vermont Trail on St. Vincent. Rather shy and quick to fly.
Bare-eyed Thrush Turdus nudigenis
We saw this species only on St. Vincent
where we estimated 15 birds seen. Not a forest bird and seen very well
and easily at the Kingstown Botanical Gardens. Suprisingly we did not record
it on St. Lucia where it is reported as being quite common per Raffaele.
Red-legged Thrush Turdus plumbeous
Only one bird seen along the forest edge
and taped briefly into view. It was seen at the far end of the steep rough
jeep track that starts a couple of miles below the parking area for the
Syndicate Trail [Dominica]. This bird was quite shy and reclusive quite
unlike the bold, unafraid Red-legged Thrushes seen in other parts of the
Caribbean [Bahamas, Cuba and Puerto Rico]. Based on our brief view, it
also appeared paler with whiter underparts. Possibly this species is a
candidate for splitting.
Forest Thrush Cichlerminia lherminieri
One of our major trip target species.
Based on earlier trip reports we focused our efforts on seeing this bird
at the Emerald Pool [Dominica]. We first visited this area in early evening
and heard what we suspected was this species calling [subsequently we confirmed
that it was indeed a Forest Thrush calling]. This call is a single rather
sharp smacking note quite similar to the sound you get when kissing the
back of your hand. We did not see any birds but it allowed us to become
acquainted with the trail system which was very useful as we planned to
arrive at dawn the next morning. Arrived the next morning while still quite
dark and almost immediately spotted a Forest Thrush about 50 yards along
the path from the visitor center. It was too dark to detect any coloring,
but its distinctive upright posture, long legs and its habit of slightly
quivering its tail were noted. A second bird was watched for about ten
minutes in front of the picnic tables. With improving light we could detect
the large yellowish eye-ring [actually bare yellowish skin which encircles
the eye], long yellowish legs and yellow bill. The chestnut brown mottling
on the breast and paler belly could just be detected. Finally, we separated
along different trails and John and Doreen had a third bird fairly close
to where the trail loops behind the Emerald Pool. The next morning we decided
again to look for the Thrush and saw three different birds in better light
when the rich brown breast mottling was well seen. It was very satisfying
to locate several individuals [probably four different birds] of this rare
species and our experience with the Forest Thrush was one of the highlights
of the trip.
Tropical Mockingbird Mimus gilvus
Fairly common and seen on all three islands
with a combined trip total of about 18 birds. A particularly easy place
to see this species was the Kingstown Botanical Gardens.
White-breasted Thrasher Ramphocinclus
brachyurus
This species, together with the Forest
Thrush and the four Amazona parrots, was the top target bird of
the trip. We had read the horror stories about the terrible driving challenge
just to get into the Thrasher's breeding area as well as the reports that
this area has an abundance of fer-de-lances [highly poisonous snake]. However,
thanks to our guide Lyndon Johns, seeing this major rarity turned out to
be quite easy. Lyndon had performed a breeding survey of the Thrasher and
had located a new site near Micoud, further south than the traditional
location. Unlike the traditional site, the new location could not be easier
to access, being a mere 1/8 mile trail from the main east coast road. We
played Lyndon's tape and shortly afterwards had excellent views of the
Thrasher as it rushed in, trembling its wings and responding very aggressively
to the tape, without doubt the birding highlight of the trip.
Scaly-breasted Thrasher Margarops
fuscus
Only seen on Dominica despite being reported
by Raffaele as being common on both St. Lucia and St. Vincent. A forest
edge species being quite common at the Springfield Plantation Guest House.
Our daily estimates were up to ten birds seen each day. Quite an attractive
bird.
Pearly-eyed Thrasher Margarops
fuscatus
Suprisingly scarce with only two sightings
on St. Lucia with one on the Quillesse Forest Trail and one at the White-breasted
Thrasher site. We did not realize this species was so uncommon in the Lesser
Antilles, having seen them in abundance earlier in Puerto Rico.
Brown Trembler Cinclocerthia
rufcauda
A fairly common forest and forest-edge
bird in Dominica and less numerous in St. Vincent. Our island totals were
eight birds seen on seen on St. Vincent and 26 birds seen on Dominica.
The Dominica total may well have some duplication due to our seeing the
same individuals particularly at the Emerald Pool and Springfield Plantation
Guest House. This highly charismatic bird was quite common at both of the
above locations and extremely tame. We were amazed at the feeding frenzy
we caused by throwing out breadcrumbs at the side of the Emerald Pool Visitor
Center. Almost immediately we had 6-8 Brown Tremblers feeding at our feet
along with many Bullfinches and two Agoutis! A superb species and one of
the highlights of the trip.
Gray Trembler Cinclocerthia
gutturalis
We saw four individuals on St. Lucia including
a couple on the Quillesse Forest Trail and singles at the Edmond Forest
and the woodland walk by the St. Lucia Forrest Administrative area. This
species appeared a little larger than the Brown Trembler with grayer upperparts
and distinctly paler underparts. Not tame like the preceding species.
Black-whiskered Vireo Vireo altiloquus
Small numbers of this species seen in
the forest areas of St. Vincent and Dominica.
St. Lucia Warbler Dendroica delicata
The St. Lucia race of the Adelaide's Warbler
has been recently split by the AOU and given the common name of St Lucia
Warbler. According to Raffaele the birds on St. Lucia inhabit forests principally
at middle and higher altitude. That is exactly where we found this species
to be most numerous with the majority of sightings from the Quillesse Forest
trail. During our two mornings in the forests we estimated we saw or heard
about twelve birds.
Yellow Warbler Dendroica petechia
A total of five birds seen on Dominica
including a pair at the Springfield Plantation Guest House. The birds were
of the Lesser Antillean race [not N.American winter visitors] as the males
had fairly obvious red crowns.
Whistling Warbler Catharopeza
bishopi
An extremely attractive and unique species
seen quite commonly in the forest along the Vermont Nature Trail on St.
Vincent. The birds were singing vigorously and responded well to our tape.
During the two mornings on this trail we estimated we saw at least six
and heard at least twelve others. This included nice views of an adult
with an immature bird.
Plumbeous Warbler Dendroica plumbea
A fairly common forest warbler on Dominica
with our estimated two day total of eleven birds. We saw it both at the
Syndicate Trail and Springfield Plantation Guesthouse. At the latter site
an immature was accompanying an adult. Much more attractive than the illustrations
in the field guides.
American Redstart Setophaga ruticilla
Just one record of an immature/female
seen in mangroves at Cabrits NP.
Northern Waterthrush Seiurus
noveboracensis
Three birds seen in mangroves with two
on Dominica and a single bird on St. Vincent.
Mourning Warbler Oporonis philadelphia
Undoubtably the most unexpected species
recorded on the trip. Gail had excellent views of an adult male which responded
to pishing and flew up and perched in plain sight. It had been in a damp
brushy area just in front of the Springfield Plantation Guest House on
Dominica. Rafaelle lists this species has having occurred in the Virgin
Islands and Greater Antilles but not the Lesser Antilles.
Bananaquit Coereba flaveola
A commonand widespread species on the
three islands. As such, we made no estimate of numbers and merely ticked
it on the daily log. Quite variable in coloring which included a very distinctive
all black form in the forest of St. Vincent. Interestingly the coastal
form on that island was of the traditional yellow & black coloring.
Lesser Antillean Tanager Tangara
cucullata
About six birds of this attractive tanager
were seen in the forest along the Vermont Nature Trail on St. Vincent,
including a small party feeding at a fruiting tree just in front of the
parrot platform.
Lesser Antillean Euphonia Euphonia
musica
Despite being present on all three islands,
we had a hard time with this species eventually having very nice views
of a single male bird on the steep trail [previously described] below the
Syndicate Trail on Dominica. A very attractive species.
Lesser Antillean Saltator Saltator
albicollis
Seen mainly in scrub and forest edge habitat
on both St. Lucia and Dominica. Fairly common on both islands.
Black-faced Grassquit Tiaris
bicolor
We only recorded four birds on St. Lucia,
increasing to an estimated thirty on St. Vincent and very common on Dominica.
On the latter island we judged it to be the second most common species
after the Lesser Antillean Bullfinch.
Lesser Antillean Bullfinch Loxigilla
noctis
An extremely common and widespread species
on all three islands. The amount of red on the face varied, being least
on Dominican birds (which often lacked the red eyebrows).
St. Lucia Black Finch Melanosspiza
richardsoni
Two females seen on the Quillesse Forest
Trail and a single male seen briefly at the White -breasted Thrasher site
were our only sightings. Constant tail-bobbing, longish pink legs, and
ground-oriented feeding are quick clues to distinquish from very common
and superficially similar Bullfinch.
Carib Grackle Quiscalus lugubris
Abundant on St. Lucia but surprisingly
scarce on St. Vincent and Dominica.
Shiny Cowbird Molothrus bonariensis
Suprisingly, our only sighting was of
an immature bird consorting with Carib Grackles in downtown Kingstown [St.
Vincent].
St. Lucia Oriole Icterus laudabllls
We saw 2-3 birds of this very attractive
species on the Quillesse Forest Trail and singles at the White-breasted
Thrasher site and the Edmond Forest.
Barry Cooper and Gail Mackiernan
216 Mowbray Rd, Silver Spring, MD USA
301-989-1828
gail@mdsg.umd.edu